#Gas Services Central Coast
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Gas Services In Central Coast
O’Neill Plumbing Solutions is your local Hamlyn Terrace plumbing contractor servicing the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and surrounding areas that can cater for all your residential and commercial installations and maintenance.
We cover all aspects of plumbing, drainage and gas fitting from sewer/stormwater blockages, water jetting, cctv camera inspections and much more.
Whenever you require a plumber you can feel confident knowing we will be able to help.
Our professional and courteous service ensures that all our work is completed to the highest standard at affordable rates.
We are skilled, fully licensed and experienced with training on all the tools required for the job.
Our vans carry state of the art gas leak, water leak and blocked drain equipment and spare parts, so the team can work independently and complete each job with ease.
What you need is state of the art plumbing services and exemplary staff. And that’s exactly what we guarantee. We service in Hamlyn Terrace and the neighbouring suburbs and beyond.
#local plumbers#plumber services#plumbing services#plumber#plumbers near me#plumbing#Gas Services In Central Coast#Gas Services Central Coast#Gas Service Central Coast
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Harnessing the Sun: Solar Hot Water Systems on the Central Coast
Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Introduce the concept of solar hot water systems and their significance in harnessing renewable energy on the Central Coast. Highlight the benefits of solar hot water systems in reducing energy costs, lowering carbon emissions, and promoting sustainability.
Understanding Solar Hot Water Systems: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Define solar hot water systems as renewable energy systems that use solar panels to heat water for residential and commercial use. Discuss the components of solar hot water systems, including solar collectors, storage tanks, pumps, and controllers.
How Solar Hot Water Systems Work: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Explain the process of how solar hot water systems harness sunlight to heat water for domestic use. Discuss the different types of solar collectors used in solar hot water systems, such as flat-plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors.
Benefits of Solar Hot Water Systems: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Explore the numerous benefits of installing solar hot water systems on the Central Coast, including lower energy bills, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and increased property value.Highlight the Benefits of Solar Hot Water Systems: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coastenvironmental benefits of solar hot water systems, such as reducing carbon emissions and decreasing dependence on finite resources.
Installation Considerations: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Discuss important factors to consider when installing solar hot water systems on properties in the Central Coast, such as roof orientation, shading, and available space.Highlight the importance of hiring certified solar installers with experience in installing solar hot water systems.
Financial Incentives and Rebates: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Discuss available financial incentives and rebates for installing solar hot water systems on the Central Coast, such as federal tax credits, state rebates, and utility incentives.Provide information on how property owners can take advantage of these incentives to offset the upfront costs of installing solar hot water systems.
Maintenance and Longevity: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Outline the recommended maintenance practices for solar hot water systems to ensure optimal performance and longevity.Discuss the typical lifespan of solar hot water systems and how proper maintenance can extend their lifespan.
Environmental Impact: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Highlight the positive environmental impact of solar hot water systems on the Central Coast, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting renewable energy adoption.Discuss the role of solar hot water systems in contributing to the region's sustainability goals and reducing its carbon footprint.
Choosing a Solar Hot Water System Provider: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Provide tips for selecting a reputable and experienced solar hot water system provider on the Central Coast. Emphasize the importance of researching company credentials, reading customer reviews, and obtaining multiple quotes before making a decision.
Conclusion: Solar Hot Waters Systems Central Coast
Summarize the benefits of solar hot water systems on the Central Coast and their role in promoting renewable energy adoption and sustainability.Encourage property owners to consider installing solar hot water systems to lower energy costs, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to a greener future.
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"How will people get healthcare?
(...)
During the Spanish Civil War, Barcelona’s Medical Syndicate, organized largely by anarchists, managed 18 hospitals (6 of which it had created), 17 sanatoria, 22 clinics, 6 psychiatric establishments, 3 nurseries, and one maternity hospital. Outpatient departments were set up in all the principal localities in Catalunya. Upon receiving a request, the Syndicate sent doctors to places in need. The doctor would have to give good reason for refusing the post, “for it was considered that medicine was at the service of the community, and not the other way round.”[40] Funds for outpatient clinics came from contributions from local municipalities. The anarchist Health Workers’ Union included 8,000 health workers, 1,020 of them doctors, and also 3,206 nurses, 133 dentists, 330 midwives, and 153 herbalists. The Union operated 36 health centers distributed throughout Catalunya to provide healthcare to everyone in the entire region. There was a central syndicate in each of nine zones, and in Barcelona a Control Committee composed of one delegate from each section met once a week to deal with common problems and implement a common plan. Every department was autonomous in its own sphere, but not isolated, as they supported one another. Beyond Catalunya, healthcare was provided for free in agrarian collectives throughout Aragon and the Levant.
Even in the nascent anarchist movement in the US today, anarchists are taking steps to learn about and provide healthcare. In some communities anarchists are learning alternative medicine and providing it for their communities. And at major protests, given the likelihood of police violence, anarchists organize networks of volunteer medics who set up first aid stations and organize roving medics to provide first aid for thousands of demonstrators. These medics, often self-trained, treat injuries from pepper spray, tear gas, clubs, tasers, rubber bullets, police horses, and more, as well as shock and trauma. The Boston Area Liberation Medic Squad (BALM Squad) is an example of a medic group that organizes on a permanent basis. Formed in 2001, they travel to major protests in other cities as well, and hold trainings for emergency first aid. They run a website, share information, and link to other initiatives, such as the Common Ground clinic described below. They are non-hierarchical and use consensus decision-making, as does the Bay Area Radical Health Collective, a similar group on the West Coast.
Between protests, a number of radical feminist groups throughout the US and Canada have formed Women’s Health Collectives, to address the needs of women. Some of these collectives teach female anatomy in empowering, positive ways, showing women how to give themselves gynecological exams, how to experience menstruation comfortably, and how to practice safe methods of birth control. The patriarchal Western medical establishment is generally ignorant of women’s health to the point of being degrading and harmful. An anti-establishment, do-it-yourself approach allows marginalized people to subvert a neglectful system by organizing to meet their own needs.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, activist street medics joined a former Black Panther in setting up the Common Ground clinic in one of the neediest neighborhoods. They were soon assisted by hundreds of anarchists and other volunteers from across the country, mostly without experience. Funded by donations and run by volunteers, the Common Ground clinic provided treatment to tens of thousands of people.
The failure of the government’s “Emergency Management” experts during the crisis is widely recognized. But Common Ground was so well organized it also out-performed the Red Cross, despite the latter having a great deal more experience and resources.[41] In the process, they popularized the concept of mutual aid and made plain the failure of the government. At the time of this writing Common Ground has 40 full-time organizers and is pursuing health in a much broader sense, also making community gardens and fighting for housing rights so that those evicted by the storm will not be prevented from coming home by the gentrification plans of the government. They have helped gut and rebuild many houses in the poorest neighborhoods, which authorities wanted to bulldoze in order to win more living space for rich white people."
-Peter Gelderloos, "Anarchy Works" (2010)
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Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #11
March 22-29 2024
The Administration, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in the lead responded to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Working with Governor Wes Moore and Mayor Brandon Scott (both Democrats) The Department of Transportation promises to clear the harbor and rebuild the bride. DoT has already released $60 million in emergency funds as a "down payment" and President Biden is expected to seek $1 billion from Congress.
Vice President Harris announced a number of actions and investments designed to improve the quality of life of the peoples of northern central America. driven by poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and out of control crime people in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras are taking great risks and trusting criminal human traffickers to try to reach the US. The Administration is working to improve conditions in the Northern Triangle so that is no longer necessary. Vice President Harris announced $1 billion dollars in new investments as part of the Central America Forward public-private partnership, since 2021 it has invested $5.2 billion in the region. Harris also announced $175 million dollars of direct aid from the US to Guatemala at a meeting with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo.
The Department of Energy announced a $1.5 billion dollar loan to help restart the Palisades Nuclear Plant. This would mark the first time a nuclear power plant was brought back online after being decommissioned. The hope is keep the plant running till 2051, this 100% green power source is projected to prevent 111 million tons of CO2 emissions in its new life time, the same as taking 100,000 cars off the road. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer touted it as key for her state reaching its goal of 100% clean energy by 2040.
Vice President Harris launched a social media push to inform the public about the Biden-Harris Administration's SAVE Plan. The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan was launched last year as part of President Biden's efforts to bring student loan forgiveness to millions of borrowers. Currently 7.7 million people are enrolled in SAVE, under which anyone making $16 a hour or less has a monthly payment of $0 on their student loans. 4.5 million SAVE enrollees are making $0 a month payments and another 1 million pay less than $100 a month on their loan repayment, over 150,000 people so far have had their loans totally forgiven. Republicans are suing to try to shut down the SAVE Plan
President Biden took keep steps to ensure quality healthcare this week. Biden extended the window for low-income Americans to apply for Obamacare. The original deadline of July 31st has been pushed back to November 30th. Biden also rolled back Trump era rules that allowed subsidies for "Junk Health insurance" These plans offer very little coverage and often mislead consumers into believing they have insurance when they aren't covered. These short term plans also don't have meet Obamacare standards and can refuse coverage for preexisting conditions.
The EPA announced new regulations aimed at "turbocharging" the number of electric trucks on the road. The new rules aim to have 25% of new long-haul trucks, the heaviest often diesel trucks on the road, and 40% of medium-size trucks (box trucks and landscaping vehicles) be nonpolluting by 2032, currently just 2% are. The regulation would apply to more than 100 types of vehicles including tractor-trailers, ambulances, R.V.s, garbage trucks and moving vans. The new tailpipe limits are expected to prevent about a billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2055.
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that thanks to President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, 41 different drugs will coast those on Medicare Part B less money than it did last year. An estimated 763,700 people on Medicare use at least one of these drugs every year. Some enrollees will save as much as $3,575 per dose.
The Department of Energy announced $6 billion for an effort to decarbonize energy-intensive industries. The investment in 33 projects across 20 states will eliminate 14 million metric tons of CO2 emissions each year when finished. Each project is meant to be highly replicable and serve as a blueprint for future private sector ventures.
President Biden signed an Executive Order to Strengthen the Recognition of Women’s History. The Order will launch a review of all historic sites run by the National Parks Service to determine ways to better highlight the role of women, from all backgrounds, in American History.
The Senate Confirmed President Biden's nominees, Ernesto Gonzalez, and Leon Schydlower to federal judgeships in Texas. This brings the total number of federal judges appointed by President Biden to 190.
#Thanks Biden#Joe Biden#Democrats#politics#US politics#student loans#climate change#health care#immigration#bridge collapse
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Good News - May 1-7
Like these weekly compilations? Support me on Ko-fi! Also, if you tip me on Ko-fi, at the end of the month I'll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn't use each week - almost double the content!
1. New study says conservation works, providing hope for biodiversity efforts
“A new study published in Science reveals that conservation works, with conservation actions improving or slowing the decline of biodiversity in two-thirds of the cases analyzed.”
2. Monk Seal Pup Debuts in Waikīkī on Lei Day
“Endangered Hawaiian monk seal RK96 (Kaiwi) gave birth to her sixth pup on popular Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī, Oʻahu! […] Hawaiian monk seals are one of the most endangered seal species in the world, so each pup represents hope for the species’ recovery.”
3. West Coast Indigenous-led marine conservation area gets global spotlight
“A coastal First Nation is celebrating global recognition of its marine protected area after recently snagging a “blue park” designation that highlights exemplary ocean conservation efforts around the world. […] Kitasu Bay supports one of the last abundant herring spawns along the central coast, vital to the nation’s communal herring roe on kelp (ROK) fishery - which harvests the protein-rich eggs but leaves the fish alive to flourish and spawn again.”
4. The number of fish on US overfishing list reaches an all-time low. Mackerel and snapper recover
“The report states that 94% of fish stocks are not subject to overfishing, which is slightly better than a year ago. The U.S. was able to remove several important fish stocks from the overfishing list, NOAA said in a statement. […] The removal of species from the overfishing list shows the U.S. is making progress, said Rick Spinrad, NOAA’s administrator.”
5. Researchers Collaborate with the Shipping Industry to Cut Costs, Fuel Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Shipping
“Through coordinated ship scheduling and an optimisation of ship operations and port services, the objective is to achieve a substantial increase in energy efficiency and a 10-20% reduction in fuel consumption, consequently resulting in lowered greenhouse gas emissions [and] leading to substantial economic benefits for shipping and environmental advantages for society[….]”
6. The city flower farm that is changing lives
“Heart of BS13 Flowers in Hartcliffe is part of the wider Heart of BS13 charity which tackles food insecurity in south Bristol. Profits from the flower sales to run workshops, offer volunteer and trainee placements, and create education opportunities for people from Hartcliffe.”
7. Four falcon chicks hatch in Glasgow university tower
“Members of the [Glasgow Peregrine] project hope to […] fit [the chicks] with electronic tags that will enable monitoring of their movements. Mr Simpson added: "With the identification tags we can see where they have gone, how high they fly and other information that would be really useful." In recent years the group have held peregrine watches at the university, allowing people to see the birds in their nest.”
8. 'Banana pingers' are saving whales and dolphins around the world
“[T]he Kibel brothers, Pete (a fisheries biologist) and Ben (an engineer) […] have been utilising light to protect turtles, sound to protect porpoises and electro pulses to protect sharks. [… Trials] showed reduced average catch rates of blue shark by 91%, and catch rates of pelagic stingray by 71% […as well as] a fall in the number of sea turtles being trapped by 42%.”
9. New vaccine effective against coronaviruses that haven't even emerged yet
“Researchers have developed a new vaccine technology that has been shown in mice to provide protection against a broad range of coronaviruses with potential for future disease outbreaks -- including ones we don't even know about. […] The new vaccine works by training the body's immune system to recognise specific regions of eight different coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and several that are currently circulating in bats and have potential to jump to humans and cause a pandemic.”
10. Grassland birds, Forest birds and Other Migratory Birds to Benefit from More Than $22 Million in Funding Throughout the Americas
“This year, more than $4.87 million in federal funds will be matched by more than $17 million in partner contributions going to 30 collaborative conservation projects in 19 countries across the Americas. “These investments will [… protect] millions of acres of diverse habitats needed by grassland birds, forest birds and shorebirds for wintering, breeding and migration,” said Service Director Martha Williams.”
April 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)
#good news#hopepunk#sorry its late i got distracted lol#biodiversity#conservation#seal#monk seal#hawaiʻi#oahu#first nations#fish#noaa#shipping#climate change#greenhouse gasses#ships#flowers#falcon#glasgow#university#peregrine falcon#birds#whale#dolphin#shark#turtles#vaccine#coronavirus#health#animals
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Here's the complete list of DHS flagged search terms. Don't use any of these on social media to avoid having the 3-letter agencies express interest in your activities!
DHS & Other Agencies
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Coast Guard (USCG)
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Border Patrol
Secret Service (USSS)
National Operations Center (NOC)
Homeland Defense
Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Agent
Task Force
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Fusion Center
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
Secure Border Initiative (SBI)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)
Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Air Marshal
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
National Guard
Red Cross
United Nations (UN)
Domestic Security
Assassination
Attack
Domestic security
Drill
Exercise
Cops
Law enforcement
Authorities
Disaster assistance
Disaster management
DNDO (Domestic Nuclear Detection Office)
National preparedness
Mitigation
Prevention
Response
Recovery
Dirty Bomb
Domestic nuclear detection
Emergency management
Emergency response
First responder
Homeland security
Maritime domain awareness (MDA)
National preparedness initiative
Militia
Shooting
Shots fired
Evacuation
Deaths
Hostage
Explosion (explosive)
Police
Disaster medical assistance team (DMAT)
Organized crime
Gangs
National security
State of emergency
Security
Breach
Threat
Standoff
SWAT
Screening
Lockdown
Bomb (squad or threat)
Crash
Looting
Riot
Emergency Landing
Pipe bomb
Incident
Facility
HAZMAT & Nuclear
Hazmat
Nuclear
Chemical Spill
Suspicious package/device
Toxic
National laboratory
Nuclear facility
Nuclear threat
Cloud
Plume
Radiation
Radioactive
Leak
Biological infection (or event)
Chemical
Chemical burn
Biological
Epidemic
Hazardous
Hazardous material incident
Industrial spill
Infection
Powder (white)
Gas
Spillover
Anthrax
Blister agent
Exposure
Burn
Nerve agent
Ricin
Sarin
North Korea
Health Concern + H1N1
Outbreak
Contamination
Exposure
Virus
Evacuation
Bacteria
Recall
Ebola
Food Poisoning
Foot and Mouth (FMD)
H5N1
Avian
Flu
Salmonella
Small Pox
Plague
Human to human
Human to ANIMAL
Influenza
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Drug Administration (FDA)
Public Health
Toxic
Agro Terror
Tuberculosis (TB)
Agriculture
Listeria
Symptoms
Mutation
Resistant
Antiviral
Wave
Pandemic
Infection
Water/air borne
Sick
Swine
Pork
Strain
Quarantine
H1N1
Vaccine
Tamiflu
Norvo Virus
Epidemic
World Health Organization (WHO and components)
Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
E. Coli
Infrastructure Security
Infrastructure security
Airport
CIKR (Critical Infrastructure & Key Resources)
AMTRAK
Collapse
Computer infrastructure
Communications infrastructure
Telecommunications
Critical infrastructure
National infrastructure
Metro
WMATA
Airplane (and derivatives)
Chemical fire
Subway
BART
MARTA
Port Authority
NBIC (National Biosurveillance Integration Center)
Transportation security
Grid
Power
Smart
Body scanner
Electric
Failure or outage
Black out
Brown out
Port
Dock
Bridge
Canceled
Delays
Service disruption
Power lines
Southwest Border Violence
Drug cartel
Violence
Gang
Drug
Narcotics
Cocaine
Marijuana
Heroin
Border
Mexico
Cartel
Southwest
Juarez
Sinaloa
Tijuana
Torreon
Yuma
Tucson
Decapitated
U.S. Consulate
Consular
El Paso
Fort Hancock
San Diego
Ciudad Juarez
Nogales
Sonora
Colombia
Mara salvatrucha
MS13 or MS-13
Drug war
Mexican army
Methamphetamine
Cartel de Golfo
Gulf Cartel
La Familia
Reynose
Nuevo Leon
Narcos
Narco banners (Spanish equivalents)
Los Zetas
Shootout
Execution
Gunfight
Trafficking
Kidnap
Calderon
Reyosa
Bust
Tamaulipas
Meth Lab
Drug trade
Illegal immigrants
Smuggling (smugglers)
Matamoros
Michoacana
Guzman
Arellano-Felix
Beltran-Leyva
Barrio Azteca
Artistics Assassins
Mexicles
New Federation
Terrorism
Terrorism
Al Queda (all spellings)
Terror
Attack
Iraq
Afghanistan
Iran
Pakistan
Agro
Environmental terrorist
Eco terrorism
Conventional weapon
Target
Weapons grade
Dirty bomb
Enriched
Nuclear
Chemical weapon
Biological weapon
Ammonium nitrate
Improvised explosive device
IED (Improvised Explosive Device)
Abu Sayyaf
Hamas
FARC (Armed Revolutionary Forces Colombia)
IRA (Irish Republican Army)
ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna)
Basque Separatists
Hezbollah
Tamil Tiger
PLF (Palestine Liberation Front)
PLO (Palestine Libration Organization)
Car bomb
Jihad
Taliban
Weapons cache
Suicide bomber
Suicide attack
Suspicious substance
AQAP (Al Qaeda Arabian Peninsula)
AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb)
TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan)
Yemen
Pirates
Extremism
Somalia
Nigeria
Radicals
Al-Shabaab
Home grown
Plot
Nationalist
Recruitment
Fundamentalism
Islamist
Weather/Disaster/Emergency
Emergency
Hurricane
Tornado
Twister
Tsunami
Earthquake
Tremor
Flood
Storm
Crest
Temblor
Extreme weather
Forest fire
Brush fire
Ice
Stranded/Stuck
Help
Hail
Wildfire
Tsunami Warning Center
Magnitude
Avalanche
Typhoon
Shelter-in-place
Disaster
Snow
Blizzard
Sleet
Mud slide or Mudslide
Erosion
Power outage
Brown out
Warning
Watch
Lightening
Aid
Relief
Closure
Interstate
Burst
Emergency Broadcast System
Cyber Security
Cyber security
Botnet
DDOS (dedicated denial of service)
Denial of service
Malware
Virus
Trojan
Keylogger
Cyber Command
2600
Spammer
Phishing
Rootkit
Phreaking
Cain and abel
Brute forcing
Mysql injection
Cyber attack
Cyber terror
Hacker
China
Conficker
Worm
Scammers
Social media
SOCIAL MEDIA?!
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Chapter 3. Economy
How will people get healthcare?
Capitalists and bureaucrats see healthcare as an industry — a way to extort money from people in need — and also as a way to appease the population and prevent rebellion. It’s no surprise that the quality of the healthcare often suffers. In the richest country in the world, millions have no access to healthcare, including this author, and every year hundreds of thousands of people die from preventable or treatable causes.
Since poisonous working and living conditions and lack of healthcare have always been major grievances within capitalism, providing healthcare is generally a chief goal of anti-capitalist revolutionaries. For example, unemployed piqueteros and neighborhood assemblies in Argentina commonly set up clinics or take over and fund existing hospitals left defunct by the state.
During the Spanish Civil War, Barcelona’s Medical Syndicate, organized largely by anarchists, managed 18 hospitals (6 of which it had created), 17 sanatoria, 22 clinics, 6 psychiatric establishments, 3 nurseries, and one maternity hospital. Outpatient departments were set up in all the principal localities in Catalunya. Upon receiving a request, the Syndicate sent doctors to places in need. The doctor would have to give good reason for refusing the post, “for it was considered that medicine was at the service of the community, and not the other way round.”[40] Funds for outpatient clinics came from contributions from local municipalities. The anarchist Health Workers’ Union included 8,000 health workers, 1,020 of them doctors, and also 3,206 nurses, 133 dentists, 330 midwives, and 153 herbalists. The Union operated 36 health centers distributed throughout Catalunya to provide healthcare to everyone in the entire region. There was a central syndicate in each of nine zones, and in Barcelona a Control Committee composed of one delegate from each section met once a week to deal with common problems and implement a common plan. Every department was autonomous in its own sphere, but not isolated, as they supported one another. Beyond Catalunya, healthcare was provided for free in agrarian collectives throughout Aragon and the Levant.
Even in the nascent anarchist movement in the US today, anarchists are taking steps to learn about and provide healthcare. In some communities anarchists are learning alternative medicine and providing it for their communities. And at major protests, given the likelihood of police violence, anarchists organize networks of volunteer medics who set up first aid stations and organize roving medics to provide first aid for thousands of demonstrators. These medics, often self-trained, treat injuries from pepper spray, tear gas, clubs, tasers, rubber bullets, police horses, and more, as well as shock and trauma. The Boston Area Liberation Medic Squad (BALM Squad) is an example of a medic group that organizes on a permanent basis. Formed in 2001, they travel to major protests in other cities as well, and hold trainings for emergency first aid. They run a website, share information, and link to other initiatives, such as the Common Ground clinic described below. They are non-hierarchical and use consensus decision-making, as does the Bay Area Radical Health Collective, a similar group on the West Coast.
Between protests, a number of radical feminist groups throughout the US and Canada have formed Women’s Health Collectives, to address the needs of women. Some of these collectives teach female anatomy in empowering, positive ways, showing women how to give themselves gynecological exams, how to experience menstruation comfortably, and how to practice safe methods of birth control. The patriarchal Western medical establishment is generally ignorant of women’s health to the point of being degrading and harmful. An anti-establishment, do-it-yourself approach allows marginalized people to subvert a neglectful system by organizing to meet their own needs.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, activist street medics joined a former Black Panther in setting up the Common Ground clinic in one of the neediest neighborhoods. They were soon assisted by hundreds of anarchists and other volunteers from across the country, mostly without experience. Funded by donations and run by volunteers, the Common Ground clinic provided treatment to tens of thousands of people. The failure of the government’s “Emergency Management” experts during the crisis is widely recognized. But Common Ground was so well organized it also out-performed the Red Cross, despite the latter having a great deal more experience and resources.[41] In the process, they popularized the concept of mutual aid and made plain the failure of the government. At the time of this writing Common Ground has 40 full-time organizers and is pursuing health in a much broader sense, also making community gardens and fighting for housing rights so that those evicted by the storm will not be prevented from coming home by the gentrification plans of the government. They have helped gut and rebuild many houses in the poorest neighborhoods, which authorities wanted to bulldoze in order to win more living space for rich white people.
#anarchism#daily posts#communism#anti capitalist#anti capitalism#late stage capitalism#anarchy#anarchists#libraries#leftism#anarchy works
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As the Midwestern and Eastern U.S. braced for what could be the longest heatwave in decades for some locations, a wildfire near Los Angeles forced more than 1,000 people to evacuate over Father's Day weekend.
The climate crisis caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels is making both heatwaves and wildfires more frequent and extreme, and politicians and environmental advocates pointed out the role that state and national policy can play in fueling extreme weather.
"Each of the last 12 months have been the hottest on record," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wrote on social media on Sunday. "This week, cities across the country will see record-high temperatures. A vote for Donald Trump is a vote to surrender the fight against the devastation of climate change. We cannot let that happen."
"Politicians making bad policy decisions (like killing congestion pricing) is the number one cause of climate change, which makes heatwaves like this one worse."
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told oil and gas executives this spring that donating $1 billion to his campaign would be a "deal" for them because he would dismantle the Biden administration's climate regulations.
Sanders' remarks came as the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center forecast that "record-breaking heat" would "expand from the Midwest and Great Lakes to the Northeast this week, potentially lingering through early next week."
NWS said the heatwave would be the "first significant" heatwave of the season and could break daily temperature records and some monthly June temperature records for the portion of the country stretching from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast between Monday and next Saturday.
"The longevity of dangerous heat forecasted for some locations has not been experienced in decades," NWS said.
The heat index could come close to 105°F in many places, and nighttime temperatures of around 75°F mean that those without cooling infrastructure will see "little to no relief."
The high temperatures could impact millions of people from Michigan to Maine. As of Saturday, 22.6 million people were under extreme heat warnings, watches, or advisories, according toThe New York Times.
University of California, Los Angeles, climate scientist Daniel Swain told the Times that the heat would "affect a bunch of highly populated areas where there hasn't been quite as many stories about extreme heat recently," adding, "Now, it's New England's turn."
The NWS warned, "With the intense heat and high humidity it is important to take precautions to protect one's health, particularly those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a warning on social media on Saturday, pointing out that extreme heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the U.S.
However, climate advocates criticized Hochul for exacerbating the root cause of more extreme heatwaves with her last-minute cancellation of a New York City congestion pricing plan earlier this month.
"Politicians making bad policy decisions (like killing congestion pricing) is the number one cause of climate change, which makes heatwaves like this one worse," the Sunrise Movement wrote in response to Hochul's post.
Long-time climate advocate and author Bill McKibben said: "This governor just blocked congestion pricing, one of the most important climate policy advances possible. She's redefining trolling."
Climate Central noted that, "while heatwaves are common in summer, this early season excessive, likely record-breaking heat is made as much as two times to five times MORE likely to occur in mid-June due to human-caused climate change (particularly overnight warmth)."
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the Post Fire ignited at around 1:45 pm on Saturday local time in Los Angeles County, California, about 65 miles from downtown Los Angeles, The Washington Post reported.
As of Sunday afternoon, it had spread 12,265 acres and was 2% contained, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Fire officials said the blaze was fanned by heat, low humidity, and wind and had damaged two structures.
"Currently crews are working to construct perimeter fire lines around the flakes of the fire. Aircraft are working to stop forward progress but have limited visibility," Cal Fire wrote on Sunday, adding that "the fire is pushing up into Hungry Valley Park. California State Park Services have evacuated 1,200 people from Hungry Valley Park. Pyramid Lake is closed because of the threat of the Post Fire."
One of those evacuated was 33-year-old Oscar Flores, who was visiting Hungry Valley Park with his 12-year-old son on Saturday.
"It looked like it was the last day of the world," Flores told the Los Angeles Times. "People were loading quickly and merging out, driving fast. The ranger said you have 10 minutes [to get] whatever you can pack."
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Michael de Adder :: @deAdder :: Nov 1 :: The Toronto Star
* * * *
LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN
November 3, 2023
HEATHER COX RICHARDSON
NOV 4, 2023
Today, Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT), who was former president Trump’s Interior Secretary until he left under accusations of misconduct, introduced a bill to ban Palestinians from the United States and to revoke any visas issued to Palestinians since October 1 of this year. Although the U.S. has resettled only about 2,000 Palestinians in the last 20 years, ten other far-right members of the House signed onto Zinke’s bill, which draws no distinction between Hamas and Palestinian civilians.
This blanket attack on a vulnerable population echoes Trump’s travel ban of January 27, 2017, just a week after he took office. Executive Order 13769 stopped travel from primarily Muslim countries—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen—for ninety days. The list of countries appeared random—Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, countries from which terrorists have sometimes come directly to the U.S., weren’t on the list—and appeared to fulfill a campaign promise and assert a new view of executive power.
Insisting that immigrants endanger the country is a key tactic of authoritarians. Excluding them is a central principle of those eager to tear down democracy: they insist that immigration destroys a nation’s traditions and undermines native-born Americans. With tensions in the nation mounting over the crisis in the Middle East, this measure, introduced now with inflammatory language, seems designed to whip up violence.
Representative Greg Landsman (D-OH) called out his Republican colleagues on social media. “Un-American and definitely NOT in the Bible, [Speaker Johnson],” he wrote. “You going to tell them to pull this bill?”
But, far from trying to work across the aisle, Johnson has been throwing red meat to his base. In the last two days, for example, the House has voted to slash 39% of the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 13% of the budget of the National Park Service. It voted to require the Biden administration to advance oil drilling off the Alaska coast. It has voted on reducing the salary of the EPA administrator, the director of the Bureau of Land Management, and the Secretary of the Interior to $1 each.
Yesterday, Johnson told reporters he considers extremists Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) close friends and said “I don’t disagree with them on many issues and principles.”
To direct his communications team, Johnson has tapped Raj Shah, a former executive from the Fox News Corporation, who was a key player in promoting the lie that Trump won the 2020 presidential election. As the head of the “Brand Protection Unit,” Shah demanded that the Fox News Channel continue to lie to viewers who would leave the station if it told the truth. Johnson has hired Shah to be his deputy chief of staff for communications and, according to Alex Isenstadt of Politico, “help run messaging for House Republicans.”
The extremists are doubling down on Trump and his election lies even as his allies are admitting in court that they are, indeed, lies. Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows is in trouble with the publisher of his memoir after admitting that under oath that the election had been fair. The publisher is suing him for millions in damages for basing his book on the idea that the election had been stolen and representing that “all statements contained in the Work are true.”
The publisher says it has pulled the book off the market.
House extremists continue to back Trump even as he is openly calling for an authoritarian second term. In September, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley had to take “appropriate measures” for his own security after Trump accused him of disloyalty to him, personally, and suggested that in the past, such “treason” would have been punished with death.
On Wednesday, Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage, and Maggie Haberman of the New York Times reported that Trump was frustrated in his first term by lawyers who refused to go along with his wishes, trying to stay within the law, so Trump's allies are making lists of lawyers they believe would be “more aggressive” on issues of immigration, taking over the Department of Justice, and overturning elections.
They are looking, they say, for “a different type of lawyer” than those supported by the right-wing Federalist Society, one “willing to endure the personal and professional risks of association with Mr. Trump” and “to use theories that more establishment lawyers would reject to advance his cause.”
John Mitnick, who served in Trump’s first term, told the reporters that “no qualified attorneys with integrity will have any desire to serve as political appointees” in a second Trump term. Instead, the lawyers in a second term would be “opportunists who will rubber-stamp whatever Trump and his senior White House staff want to do.”
Trump has also made it clear he and his allies want to gut the nonpartisan civil service and fill tens of thousands of government positions with his own loyalists. Led by Russell Vought, who served as Trump’s director of the Office of Management and Budget, Trump’s allies believe that agencies like the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission should not be independent but should push the president’s agenda.
This week, Trump vowed to take over higher education too. In a campaign video, he promised to tax private universities with large endowments to fund a new institution called “American Academy.” The school, which would be online only, would award free degrees and funnel students into jobs with the U.S. government and federal contractors.
“We spend more money on higher education than any other country, and yet they’re turning our students into communists and terrorists and sympathizers of many, many different dimensions,” Trump said. “We can’t let this happen.” In his university, “wokeness or jihadism” would not be allowed, he said.
In admirable understatement, Politico’s Meridith McGraw and Michael Stratford noted: “Using the federal government to create an entirely new educational institution aimed at competing with the thousands of existing schools would drastically reshape American higher education.”
Trump has made no secret of his future plans for the United States of America.
Meanwhile, Republicans appear determined to push their agenda over the wishes of voters. In Ohio, where voters on Tuesday will decide whether to amend the state constitution to make it a constitutional right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” Republicans first tried to make it harder to amend the state constitution, and then, when voters rejected that attempt, the Republican-dominated state senate began to use an official government website to spread narratives about the constitutional amendment that legal and medical experts called false or misleading.
Adding reproductive health protections to the state constitution is popular, but In an unusual move, the Republican secretary of state, Frank LaRose, quietly purged more than 26,000 voters from the rolls in late September. LaRose is a staunch opponent of the constitutional amendment and is himself running for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
In Virginia, where Republicans are hoping to take control of the state legislature to pass new abortion restrictions as well as the rest of Republican governor Glenn Youngkin’s agenda, a study by the Democratic Party of Virginia shows that officials are flagging the mail-in ballots of non-white voters for rejection much more frequently than those of white voters. As of today, 4.82% of ballots cast by Black voters have gotten flagged, while only 2.79% of the ballots of white voters have been flagged.
In Richmond, The Guardian’s Sam Levine reported, city officials flagged more than 11% of ballots returned by Black voters but only about 5.5% of ballots cast by white voters. After the ballots are fixed, or cured, the rate of rejection for Black voters remains more than twice as high as that of white voters.
Virginia officials also reported last week that they had accidentally removed more than 3,400 eligible voters from the rolls.
—
LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN
HEATHER COX RICHARDSON
#Letters From an American#Heather Cox Richardson#election 2023#gerrymandering#election interference#voter suppression#Radical Right Wing Agenda#US House of Representatives
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Books of 2023
Book 36 of 2023
Title: Alone in the Valley: A Soldier's Journey in the Vietnam War Authors: George R. Lanigan ISBN: 9781518825378 Tags: AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF AA SAS Special Air Service (ASAS), AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS Australia, B-52 Stratofortress, Bolivia, Buddhism (Religion), C-119 Flying Box Car, C-123 Provider, Catholic, Che Guevara, Cold War (1946-1991), HUN Hungarian Revolution of 1956, HUN Hungary, KHM Cambodia, KHM Cambodian Army (Vietnam War), KHM Cambodian Civil War (1967-1975), KHM Dr Son Ngoc Thanh, KHM FANK Khmer Army / Forces Armees Nationals Khmeres (1970-1975) (Cambodian Civil War), KHM General Lon Nol, KHM Khmer Rouge, KHM Khmer Serei (Cambodia Civil War), KHM Prince Norodom Sihanouk, M-113 APC, Medevac helicopter, Nungs, OV-10 Bronco, PAN Chagres River, PAN Colon, PAN Panama, PAN USA Fort Sherman, PAN USA Fort Sherman - Jungle Operations Training Center, PAN USAF Howard Air Force Base, POW, Rangers, SpecOps, Tamara Bunker Bider (East German Guerilla/KGB), U-10 Helio Courier, US AK Alaska, US AK ALCAN highway, US AK Delta Junction, US AK Gulkana Glacier, US CIA Central Intelligence Agency, US George Peppard (Actor), US Lodge Act, US Martha Raye (Actress), US Medal Of Honor, US OH Kent State University, US OH Kent State University Shootings (1970) (Vietnam War), US OH Ohio, US President Richard M. Nixon, US Raymond Burr (Actor), US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, US USA 117th Assault Helicopter Company, US USA 117th Assault Helicopter Company - 2 Plt - Pink Panthers, US USA 75th Rangers, US USA 75th Rangers - P Co, US USA 75th Rangers - P Co - RT 1-6, US USA ANG Army National Guard, US USA Camp Mackall NC, US USA Col Lamar Welch, US USA Fort Benning GA, US USA Fort Bragg NC, US USA Fort Bragg NC - JFK Special Warfare Center / School, US USA Fort Bragg NC - Smoke Bomb Hill, US USA Fort Gordon GA, US USA Fort Gordon GA - Camp Crocket, US USA Fort Gordon GA - Range Road, US USA Fort Greely AK, US USA Fort Jackson SC, US USA Fort Lewis WA, US USA Fort Mitchell AL, US USA Fort Mitchell AL - Fryar Drop Zone, US USA Fort Wainwright AK, US USA Francis Marion (Swamp Fox), US USA General John L Throckmorton, US USA Major James N. Rowe, US USA NWTC Northern Warfare Training Center AK, US USA Sgt David Dolby (MOH), US USA SP4 Roy Burke (Ranger), US USA United States Army, US USA USSF 5th SFG, US USA USSF 6th SFG, US USA USSF 6th SFG - A Co, US USA USSF 7th SFG, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USA USSF Team ODA-442, US USA USSF Team ODB-36, US USA USSF Team ODB-43, US USAF Pope Air Force Base - NC, US USAF United States Air Force, US USN ASPB Assault Support Patrol Boat, US USN United States Navy, US USO United Service Organizations, VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Field Hospital - Vung Tau (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AA AATF Australian Army Training Team (Vietnam War), VNM Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem (1963) (Vietnam War), VNM Ba Ria, VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Buddhist Crisis (1963) (Vietnam War), VNM Cam Ranh Bay, VNM Chi Lang, VNM CIA Air America (1950-1976) (Vietnam War), VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM Hill 282, VNM Hmong Meo Tribesmen, VNM Ho Chi Minh Trail (Vietnam War), VNM I Corps (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM IV Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Long Hai, VNM Long Hai Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM Minh Dam Secret Zone, VNM My Lai Massacre (1968), VNM Nha Trang Air Base, VNM Nui Dat, VNM Operation Arc Light (1965-1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Ivory Coast - Son Tay Raid (1970) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Ranch Hand (1962-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM Parrots Beak, VNM Phuoc Hai, VNM Phuoc Tuy Province, VNM Quang Tri Province, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN CIDG Civilian Irregular Defense Group, VNM RVN ARVN LLDB Luc Luong Dac Biet Special Forces, VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF Regional Forces/Popular Forces (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan, VNM RVN Ngo Dinh Diem, VNM RVN RVNP Can Sat National Police, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM Tay Ninh Province, VNM Tay Ninh West Air Base, VNM UITG Chi Lang Training Center (Vietnam War), VNM UITG Long Hai Training Center (Vietnam War), VNM US Agent Orange (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Advisory Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV IV Corps Advisory Team (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US USA USSF 3rd Mobile Strike Force (Vietnam War), VNM US USSF Mobile Strike Force (MIKE) (Vietnam War), VNM USA USARV UITG Individual Training Group (Vietnam War), VNM USA USARV United States Army Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM USN MRF Mobile Riverine Force (Vietnam War), VNM USN NATSB Ben Keo, VNM USN NATSB Go Dau Hau, VNM USN NATSB Naval Advanced Support Base, VNM USN TF 117 MRF Mobile Riverine Force (Vietnam War), VNM Vam Co Dong River, VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vung Tau, VNM Xuyen Moc Rating: ★★★★ (4 Stars) Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.ARVN, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Australia, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Cambodian Civil War, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Specops.Green Berets, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Advisor
Description: In 1968, George Lanigan leaves the University of Maryland and sets off on the journey of his life. He volunteers to serve his country in the Vietnam War and enlists in the army where he becomes an elite Special Forces advisor in a top-secret program. The United States is clandestinely training the Cambodian Army, Forces Armees Nationales Khmeres, and Lanigan is at the heart of the mission. In this personal memoir, LTC George R. Lanigan, USA (Retired), adapts his forty-year-old letters and correspondence to his parents into an emotionally compelling and suspenseful narrative that relates his daily life of survival and political tension. It's an inside, firsthand look at a rare, and previously classified, Vietnam War experience. But its scope reaches beyond the war itself and illuminates the realities soldiers face returning home, building a life, and even visiting war zones four decades later. Its openness and honesty will resonate with war veterans, their friends and family members, those suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, and people of all ages who are interested in American history. Readers will learn about war life, a volatile political environment, and how personal experiences weave together to create the person one eventually becomes.
#Books#Ebooks#Booklr#Bookblr#non-fiction#history#military history#cambodia#vietnam war#cambodian civil war#us army#special forces#green berets
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CAN YOU BELIEVE?
There's a place in the middle of nothing and nowhere, where a psychic named Nellie once saved my life. A small, central Florida town off US highway 4 with a population of less than 100 people, 90 percent of whom possess “the gift” as they called it. I was 23 and my best friend Kate and I had been separated by an entire country for an entire year. She had been living in LA and I, in New York City, both of us working our first jobs in advertising, and slowly finding ourselves disillusioned with adult life, and city life, and maybe just modern life in general. That rude little awakening that most millennials had in the 20-teens when we began to realize that after all those many years of toiling away for a degree and a “good job” that maybe capitalism wasn’t the key to everything after all. We’d call each other for hours at a time and daydream about all the things we thought we really wanted.
“What if, what if—omg Kate what if we made a documentary?!. Like just quit our jobs and take the year, and drive around the country interviewing people? From all walks of life! In all 50 states! It will be like the rediscovering of America!”
“Omg omg. Could we do that? Dude we could totally do that. I bet my sister would let me borrow her car for the summer, and we could just go! How much money do we have between us? What kind of camera would we need to get?”
“Dude, I think we can actually pull this off.”
And so the plans were made. Kate and I cocked back our loaded hearts like a handgun and made the necessary preparations for our year-long journey around the country—to make the great American documentary. The art project we thought, would change our lives! That would free us from this 9-5 malaise! That would make us famous! That would prove them all wrong! That would SAVE America!
The year was 2012 and the violent political ravine that now exists so deeply in this country had only just begun to show signs of cracking— with the recent invention of Facebook, and the election of Barack Obama. No one knew exactly how to explain it yet, but we all knew something felt different. There had never been so much division in recent memory. There had never been so much hostility at Thanksgiving dinners. News outlets had never felt so inflamed, and a decade before we ever heard the words “make america great again” we could all feel the bedrock of everything we held dear about our national institutions beginning to crumble beneath us. We just didn’t have words for it yet.
What we did have was a 2008 cranberry red Jeep Patriot, a top of the line Nikon video camera with recording equipment, a general sense that we’d live forever, and each other. So we drove. We picked up the car in Atlanta from my incredibly generous little sister and headed south. We hit Charleston, Savannah, and most of the east coast low country coast before making a sharp turn across central Florida on our eventual way to Miami.
I suggested stopping in the little town of Cassadaga as a sort of roadside attraction—something to keep us entertained in this long stretch of nothingness.
“What is it called again?” Inquired Kate.
“Cass-ah-day-ga.” I read from a cracked, caseless iphone 8 with spotty 2G service. “So it’s like this spiritualist camp. A tiny little town where 90 percent of the population is psychic! Apparently you go to this haunted place in the center of town called ‘hotel cassadaga’ and you choose from the photos on the wall of all the mediums, and just… go to the one you’re drawn to.”
Kate looked back at me with a sick kind of fascination and a smile “Whoaaa. And so like, you have to prove you’re psychic to live there?”
“Yes,” I confirmed as I read on. “In fact, the city subsidizes the housing of all the mediums. I guess that’s basically how the town makes money—spiritual tourism. Like I bet the only people who aren’t psychic are the mailmen, and the gas station attendants.”
“Well, I mean we have to do it right?”
“Right”
So we took the exit.
Kate and I rolled up to hotel Cassdaga sweaty, and hungry. The oppressive, July central floridian air threatening to vaporize us. We took solace in the top notch AC of the kitschy lobby of hotel Cassdaga, where we were offered perfunctory lorna doones and lemonade by an unenthused, elderly concierge woman in a panama jack button down and khaki slacks.
“Just find the one that ya’ll like and I’ll point ya to their address” She perfunctorily assured us.
Kate and I chose “Nellie” a 70 something latina looking, stout little woman who stared back at us from a 3x5 throw away camera photo on the wall of endless mediums. We made our way on foot to Nellie’s house through an impossibly quaint neighborhood of Victorian homes on sand-paved streets. Some graffiti on a cement wall read “Where mayberry meets the twilight zone!” As I felt the sun begin to set, and the wind change directions. We were greeted by Nellie at a particularly beautiful, blue victorian, and I noted an eerie feeling in the pit of my stomach that had no name.
“These palms trees” I said to Kate. “I feel like they’re staring at us.”
We sat in the screened in lanai with Nellie at a wrought iron card table where she had no doubt been playing solitaire and drinking tea. Were we here first customers that day? That week? That year?
“You can give me a name, and then ask me a question.” Nellie instructed us.
First I inquired about my sister, who’s jeep we had arrived in.
“Will my sister ever get married?” I asked.
Nelly squinted into the distance.
“Yes. She will be married twice. The first will be brief, but the second one will last.”
I suppose I had love on the brain. In hindsight, Kate and I were trying so hard to outrun the eventual implosion of America by opting out of the life we thought we were supposed to be living in New York and LA. But secondarily—I was running from my relationship. I had been with my boyfriend Doc for 3 years, and torturously and secretly in love with my friend Piet for 2 of those years. Kate and I would spend hours on the road wrestling with whether or not I should finally just break up with him, making pro/con lists and beating that horse so dead it decomposed. So naturally, I asked Nellie.
“Will I always love Doc?” A kind of sadness fell across her face, “He…hmmm…he has to be left behind.” She answered. Kate and I glanced at each other with goosebumps.
“Will I always love Piet?” I asked. “I actually see you severing ties with him very soon, maybe by the end of the summer.”
Nellie went on like that, answering questions about my life, sometimes knowing in great detail things I had never told another living soul. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I noticed the time. “Well, I guess we better get back on the road”
“Wait!” She said.
“Ask me just one more question” Her eyes piercing through me as though she knew I had been holding just one more question in the sides of my cheeks—the way a squirrel holds acorns.
“Will I ever get married?” I asked
She took a deep long breath, and in looking over my shoulder as if she had just watched it play out on a tv behind me she said “Ah ok. So I see you, you’re in your early 40s. You’ve become well known in your field for something. And you’re going back and forth from the east coast to the west coast for work quite a bit. I see you’re speaking on a panel with other experts in your field, and you’re playfully disagreeing with them all at once. It’s causing quite a stir. There’s a man in the audience, and he’s laughing on the inside, because he agrees with you. After the panel he approaches you with a business card, and asks you to breakfast. If you agree to go with him, then you will marry him, and it will be a long, happy marriage.”
I chuckled at the unbelievable specificity of it all, Kate and I skeptically smiled and thanked Nellie before shuffling quickly back to the Jeep. Back on the road, we were mostly quiet. “That was weird.” Was all I could muster to say. “Yeah.” Was all she could conjure back, and we made our way through the endless dark asphalt south toward Miami.
After that road trip, life went on. Kate and I grew up. We eventually got jobs, and 401ks again. We never did make that great American documentary, having had instead a great American falling out somewhere in Idaho when our personal issues boiled to a fever pitch after four months in a car together.. She took an Amtrak train home to LA, and I ended up driving the Jeep home by myself. We never spoke again after that summer.
We wouldn’t have been able to tell you then, but looking back on it now, a mighty schism had been brewing beneath the surface of everything. Of our friendship, our beliefs, of the world really. I mostly forgot about Nellie and her predictions, except for the occasional late night when I’d lie awake in bed realizing that something she had predicted that day, did indeed come true after all. My sister did get married, and then quickly divorced. I did in fact cut ties with Piet after that Summer. And in the early months of 2020, I did finally have to break up with, and leave Doc behind. There was now a decade of life between that day in Cassadaga with Nellie, and where I had ended up in my early 30s. And in the wake of that violently transformational decade, everything, and everyone–was different.
Between the years of 2010 to 2020, the loss of faith was palpable, both personally, and as a collective. Americans had slowly lost faith in our national security, in our government officials, in our police force, in the content that scrolled across our news feeds, and perhaps most notably in each other. Donald Trump was elected president, the housing market imploded, nightclubs became shooting grounds, Sandra Bland was killed at a traffic stop, George Floyd couldn't breathe, Wiki leaked, and then of course COVID-19 paused the world—and all those losses off faith that had been festering came home to roost in the queer silence that we found ourselves sitting in at home on the couch. I found myself single for the first time in my life, jobless, rudderless, attending weekly black lives matter protests in a paisley bandana tied across my mouth as a makeshift mask—wondering if we’d ever go back to work again. If we’d ever go out to eat again. If we’d ever go see movies in a theater again, If anything I ever believed about myself and the world would ever go back to normal again.
A series of unbelievable things seemed to blast up like dynamite every month or so. My dad got leukemia BAM! My mom had a stroke BAM! They’re selling our childhood home BAM! The friendships I thought were unshakable dissolved under the stress of the pandemic, an unruly mob stormed the capital at Washington D.C., BAM! BAM! BAM! And then, just when the dust began to settle, the most unbelievable thing of all happened—I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of liver cancer at 34. Me—the girl who woke up every morning and ran 6 miles, me the one who my mom called her “healthy daughter”, the girl who did so much hot yoga I had learned sanskrit on the side, me— the vegan gluten free sugar free, ayahuasca drinking, habitual grapefruit eater. I had cancer. And not the “we’re lucky we caught it early” kind of cancer, but the “here are your options” kind of cancer.
And then if you can believe it—I had a liver transplant. One that did not go even a little bit according to plan. I spent 5 straight months in the hospital, had a total of 8 surgeries, and spent Christmas and New Years in a coma. I found myself in pits of suffering I didn’t know were possible. I prayed for God to kill me, every day for a month. My mother moved from Atlanta and lived out of a suitcase by my bedside for the majority of that year. And while my surgeons, nurses, and doctors were all incredibly skilled— I credit my survival of that experience to one person— and one person alone. Nellie.
Because in my darkest of moments—when the core of who I am was eviscerated. When I watched myself violently bleed out into a colostomy bag because my artery had collapsed two days before christmas, when they were wheeling me into emergency surgery, when I woke up with a breathing tube, my hands were tied to the rails of a hospital bed in the intensive care unit—I just kept thinking “But this isn’t how I go”
I know I at least make it to my 40s, because that’s when Nellie said I would get married, to the man with the business card, and the breakfast invite. Everything else she predicted had come true—and that was the last prediction, just waiting to come to fruition. And that little belief, that small, humble, knowing—ridiculous as it was, kept my spirit from sliding off a cliff into the abyss of death. “But this isn’t how I go” I kept repeating to myself each day like a mantra. “I at least make it to my 40s” I’d tell nurses and visitors. And I believed it, whole heartedly.
It’s said that he who has a why, can bear almost any how. And that is because bellief is a powerful thing, for better or worse. If you believe anything sincerely enough, for long enough, it can change everything. The right belief can make someone a millionaire in a year, or convince them to fly a plane into the world trade center.
The beliefs we cling to are the talismans we take through life, the stones that anchor us through the absolute chaos that is everything. They’re the gasoline that makes our engines go. And so it is to our great benefit to choose beliefs that are kind to us, and to each other. Ones that say “yes! Life is good! And Love is endless! You should marry whomever you want, worship whatever you want, dress as a man or a woman or however you want.” rather than “You’re going to hell, you’re angering god, you’re a disgrace!” And this is how we create our worlds, by simply choosing to believe in something. By pilfering around in our imaginations for a tiny spark that we dream up, and holding it tightly in our pocket every day, until that prophecy quietly fulfills itself.
I often find that the most fruitful things of my life do not call much attention to themselves at all—rather they move stealthily through the mundane moments without much encouragement or fanfare. Yet still they grow, sloth and secret, day after day, month after month, until to my surprise and delight, the seed of an effort becomes a blossom, a drop in the ocean becomes a wave, and what was once a small whisper arrives triumphantly in song as if by magic.
And I suppose if magic is real then it must live in the roots of things, rather than the flower. Humbly committing to the belief in something imaginary, until one day it just is.
I used to think magic was something that happens to you. But now I realize, magic is something that you choose, something you conjure and cultivate in yourself. I also used to think I’d live forever—most people in their twenties do. But thankfully, somewhere along the way, life kicked my ass enough that I learned how to believe things on purpose.
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Central Coast residents can greatly benefit from solar power. With ample sunlight throughout the year, solar panels generate significant energy, reducing dependence on traditional energy sources and cutting utility bills. Additionally, installing solar panels increases property value and supports an eco-friendly lifestyle by lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Solar power not only allows you to contribute to a sustainable future but also offers considerable savings on electricity over time.
Comprehensive Solar Panel Installation Services
Energy That Moves goes beyond just providing high-quality solar panels; they offer end-to-end installation services, ensuring that the transition to solar energy is smooth and hassle-free. Their skilled technicians handle everything from assessing your property’s solar potential to installing and configuring the system for optimal performance. They consider factors such as roof structure, panel placement, and electrical setup to ensure the highest efficiency for your unique property. Additionally, their team is committed to safety and adheres to all industry standards, giving you peace of mind as you transition to solar energy.
Financing and Incentives for Solar Panel Installation
Understanding that installing solar panels is a significant investment, Energy That Moves provides flexible financing options to make solar power more accessible. They work with customers to find financing solutions that fit various budgets and offer guidance on available incentives and rebates. The Central Coast has government incentives for solar energy adoption, and Energy That Moves ensures you receive all the applicable benefits, helping you save even more on the overall cost of installation.
Exceptional Customer Support and Maintenance Services
Energy That Moves prioritizes customer satisfaction with responsive support and ongoing maintenance options. Their team is available to answer any questions about your system’s performance, provide troubleshooting assistance, and offer maintenance services that keep your panels operating efficiently. Routine maintenance checks ensure that your solar panels remain in top condition, optimizing energy production for years to come.
Go Solar with Energy That Moves
Switching to solar power is a step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. Energy That Moves on the Central Coast provides the expertise, products, and services needed to make this transition smooth and beneficial. With their commitment to quality, customer service, and sustainable energy, they empower you to enjoy reliable, eco-friendly energy for the long term.
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Need a job? Here’s a list of federal agencies you can apply to for employment:
- Administrative Conference of the United States
- Administrative Office of United States Courts
- Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
- Agency for International Development
- Agriculture Department
- Air Quality National Commission
- Air Transportation Stabilization Board
- American Battle Monuments Commission
- Amtrak Reform Council
- Antitrust Modernization Commission
- Appalachian Regional Commission
- Architect of the Capitol
- Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
- Arctic Research Commission
- Armed Forces Retirement Home
- Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
- Assassination Records Review Board
- Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation
- Broadcasting Board of Governors
- Census Monitoring Board
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
- Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Commission
- Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board
- Civil Rights Commission
- Commerce Department
- Commission of Fine Arts
- Commission on Immigration Reform
- Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy
- Commission on Review of Overseas Military Facility Structure of the United States
- Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals
- Commission on the Advancement of Federal Law Enforcement
- Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry
- Commission on the Social Security Notch Issue
- Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
- Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Competitiveness Policy Council
- Congressional Budget Office
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency
- Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia
- Crime and Security in U.S. Seaports, Interagency Commission
- Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission
- Defense Department
- Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
- Delaware River Basin Commission
- Denali Commission
- Education Department
- Election Assistance Commission
- Electronic Commerce Advisory Commission
- Emergency Oil and Gas Guaranteed Loan Board
- Emergency Steel Guarantee Loan Board
- Energy Department
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency
- Executive Office of the President
- Export-Import Bank
- Farm Credit Administration
- Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation
- Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board
- Federal Acquisition Regulation System
- Federal Communications Commission
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Federal Election Commission
- Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
- Federal Housing Finance Agency
- Federal Housing Finance Board
- Federal Labor Relations Authority
- Federal Maritime Commission
- Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
- Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
- Federal Pay, Advisory Committee
- Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council
- Federal Register, Administrative Committee
- Federal Reserve System
- Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
- Federal Trade Commission
- Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission
- Financial Stability Oversight Council
- General Services Administration
- Government Accountability Office
- Government Ethics Office
- Government Publishing Office
- Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
- Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
- Health and Human Services Department
- Homeland Security Department
- Housing and Urban Development Department
- Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Commission
- Immigration Reform Commission
- Independent Counsel Office
- Indian Arts and Crafts Board
- Indian Claims Commission
- Indian Gaming Commission
- Information Security Oversight Office
- Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
- Institute of Museum and Library Services
- Inter-American Foundation
- Interagency Council on the Homeless
- Interior Department
- Internal Revenue Service
- International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico
- International Broadcasting Board
- International Development Cooperation Agency
- International Joint Commission, United States and Canada
- International Trade Commission
- James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
- Japan-United States Friendship Commission
- John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board
- Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries
- Justice Department
- Labor Department
- Legal Services Corporation
- Library of Congress
- Marine Mammal Commission
- Maritime Administration
- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
- Merit Systems Protection Board
- Millennium Challenge Corporation
- Mississippi River Commission
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Archives and Records Administration
- National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare
- National Capital Planning Commission
- National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
- National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
- National Council on Disability
- National Credit Union Administration
- National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
- National Gambling Impact Study Commission
- National Indian Gaming Commission
- National Institute for Literacy
- National Labor Relations Board
- National Mediation Board
- National Park Service
- National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
- National Science Foundation
- National Security Council
- National Transportation Safety Board
- National Women's Business Council
- Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
- Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
- Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight
- Office of Government Ethics
- Office of Management and Budget
- Office of National Drug Control Policy
- Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation
- Office of Personnel Management
- Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Office of Special Counsel
- Overseas Private Investment Corporation
- Panama Canal Commission
- Peace Corps
- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
- Postal Rate Commission
- Postal Regulatory Commission
- Postal Service
- President's Commission on White House Fellowships
- President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency
- Railroad Retirement Board
- Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board
- Regulatory Information Service Center
- Resolution Trust Corporation
- Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- Selective Service System
- Small Business Administration
- Smithsonian Institution
- Social Security Administration
- State Department
- State Justice Institute
- Surface Transportation Board
- Susquehanna River Basin Commission
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- Thrift Depositor Protection Oversight Board
- Trade and Development Agency
- Transportation Department
- Treasury Department
- Truman Scholarship Foundation
- U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
- U.S. Enrichment Corporation
- U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
- U.S. Information Agency
- U.S. Institute of Peace
- U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
- U.S. International Trade Commission
- U.S. Office of Special Counsel
- U.S. Sentencing Commission
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- United States Court of International Trade
- United States Institute of Peace
- United States International Trade Commission
- United States Postal Service
- United States Trade and Development Agency
- Veterans Affairs Department
- Vietnam Education Foundation
- White House Commission on Presidential Scholars
- White House Office
- Women's Bureau
- Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
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Reliable Plumbing Solutions: ZG Plumbing's Expertise in Emergency Services and Bore Drilling in the Hunter Valley
In today's fast-paced world, plumbing issues can arise unexpectedly, leading to inconveniences and costly damages if not addressed promptly. This is where ZG Plumbing comes into play, offering top-notch Emergency Plumbing Services Central Coast and specialized solutions like bore drilling in the Hunter Valley. With a commitment to customer satisfaction, experienced technicians, and cutting-edge technology, ZG Plumbing is your go-to service provider for all plumbing needs.
Understanding the Importance of Emergency Plumbing Services
Plumbing emergencies can happen at any time, often catching homeowners off guard. From burst pipes and overflowing toilets to gas leaks and water heater failures, these issues require immediate attention. Ignoring plumbing emergencies can lead to severe damage, including structural issues, mold growth, and increased utility bills.
Common Plumbing Emergencies
Burst Pipes: A burst pipe can release gallons of water into your home, leading to extensive damage. This is often caused by freezing temperatures, corrosion, or excessive pressure.
Blocked Drains: Clogged drains can disrupt your daily routine and lead to foul odors and health risks.
Overflowing Toilets: An overflowing toilet is not only messy but can also lead to water damage and contamination.
Water Heater Failures: If your water heater stops working, it can affect your hot water supply, leading to discomfort and inconvenience.
Gas Leaks: Gas leaks are extremely dangerous and require immediate attention from qualified professionals.
Why Choose ZG Plumbing for Emergency Services?
ZG Plumbing understands the urgency of these situations. Their emergency plumbing services in the Central Coast are available 24/7, ensuring that you can get help whenever you need it. Here are some reasons why ZG Plumbing stands out:
Experienced Technicians: ZG Plumbing employs a team of licensed and insured plumbers who are experienced in handling a wide range of plumbing emergencies.
Quick Response Times: With a focus on customer satisfaction, ZG Plumbing ensures that they respond quickly to your calls, minimizing the potential damage to your property.
Advanced Tools and Techniques: Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, ZG Plumbing is able to diagnose and resolve plumbing issues efficiently and effectively.
Transparent Pricing: ZG Plumbing believes in providing upfront pricing, so you know what to expect before any work begins.
Customer Education: The team at ZG Plumbing takes the time to educate customers on proper plumbing maintenance and preventive measures to avoid future emergencies.
Bore Drilling Services in the Hunter Valley
In addition to emergency plumbing services, ZG Plumbing offers specialized services such as bore drilling in the Hunter Valley. Bore drilling is the process of creating a hole in the ground to access underground water sources, making it an invaluable service for homeowners and businesses looking for sustainable water solutions.
The Benefits of Bore Drilling
Access to Natural Water Resources: Bore drilling provides a reliable source of water for irrigation, livestock, and domestic use, especially in regions prone to water shortages.
Cost Savings: By accessing groundwater, you can reduce your reliance on municipal water supplies, potentially leading to significant cost savings on your water bill.
Environmental Benefits: Utilizing groundwater reduces the demand on surface water resources, promoting a more sustainable approach to water usage.
Improved Water Quality: Groundwater is often of higher quality than surface water, making it a safer option for various applications.
The Bore Drilling Process
The bore drilling process involves several key steps:
Site Assessment: ZG Plumbing conducts a thorough assessment of the site to determine the best location for the borehole. This involves considering factors such as soil conditions, water table levels, and proximity to existing structures.
Drilling: Using specialized drilling equipment, ZG Plumbing creates a borehole to reach the groundwater. The depth and diameter of the borehole depend on the specific requirements and site conditions.
Installation of Casing: Once the borehole is drilled, a casing is installed to prevent the sides from collapsing and to protect the water source from contamination.
Pump Installation: ZG Plumbing installs a suitable pump to extract water from the borehole, ensuring a consistent and reliable water supply.
Testing and Maintenance: After installation, ZG Plumbing conducts tests to ensure water quality and provides ongoing maintenance services to keep the system operating efficiently.
Why Choose ZG Plumbing for Bore Drilling?
When it comes to bore drilling in the Hunter Valley, ZG Plumbing is a trusted name in the industry. Their experienced team understands the unique geological characteristics of the area, ensuring that each borehole is drilled to the highest standards. Here’s what sets them apart:
Expert Knowledge: With years of experience in bore drilling, ZG Plumbing has the expertise to navigate the complexities of groundwater access.
Quality Equipment: ZG Plumbing uses modern drilling equipment and techniques, ensuring that the job is done efficiently and safely.
Customer-Centric Approach: ZG Plumbing takes the time to understand the needs of each customer, offering tailored solutions to meet specific requirements.
Comprehensive Services: In addition to bore drilling, ZG Plumbing provides a range of related services, including water quality testing and system maintenance.
Preventive Measures for Plumbing Issues
While ZG Plumbing is always ready to tackle emergencies, it’s essential for homeowners to take preventive measures to minimize the risk of plumbing issues. Here are some tips to help you maintain a healthy plumbing system:
Regular Inspections
Schedule regular plumbing inspections with ZG Plumbing to identify potential issues before they become significant problems. A professional plumber can check for leaks, corrosion, and signs of wear and tear.
Proper Drain Maintenance
Avoid pouring grease, oils, or non-biodegradable items down the drain. Use drain covers to catch debris and clean your drains regularly to prevent clogs.
Know Your Plumbing System
Understanding your plumbing system can help you identify issues early. Familiarize yourself with the location of your main shut-off valve, water heater, and any accessible pipes.
Insulate Pipes
Insulating your pipes can prevent them from freezing during colder months, reducing the risk of burst pipes.
Be Cautious with Chemicals
Avoid using harsh chemical drain cleaners, as they can damage your pipes over time. Instead, opt for natural alternatives or consult ZG Plumbing for professional help with clogs.
Customer Testimonials
ZG Plumbing has built a solid reputation in the Central Coast and Hunter Valley areas. Here’s what some of their satisfied customers have to say:
John D.: "I had a burst pipe in the middle of the night, and ZG Plumbing was there within minutes. Their team was professional and fixed the issue quickly. Highly recommend their emergency services!"
Sarah K.: "We recently had a bore drilled for our property, and ZG Plumbing made the entire process seamless. They were knowledgeable and explained everything clearly. We're thrilled with our new water supply!"
Mark T.: "ZG Plumbing has been our go-to for all plumbing needs. Their attention to detail and commitment to quality is unmatched."
Conclusion
Whether you’re facing a plumbing emergency or considering bore drilling in the Hunter Valley, ZG Plumbing is the reliable choice for all your plumbing needs. Their commitment to quality service, customer satisfaction, and innovative solutions sets them apart in the industry. With ZG Plumbing on your side, you can rest assured that your plumbing issues will be resolved efficiently and effectively. Don't hesitate to reach out to ZG Plumbing for your emergency plumbing needs or bore drilling services, and experience the peace of mind that comes with professional plumbing support.
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Heroes Daring Restoration of Power to Withlacoochee Electric Cooperative Member after Hurricane Milton
In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which brought devastating winds, torrential rain, flooding, and significant storm surges to Florida, the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) worked tirelessly to restore power to the over 170,000 of its 260,000 members that were out of power. Among the many heroes in this monumental effort were the dedicated crews from DEMCO (Dixie Electric Membership Corporation) in Louisiana, who came to assist WREC in those challenging times. In an extraordinary demonstration of dedication, DEMCO crews were filmed working in chest-deep water and even diving underwater to locate the end of a wire—a video that garnered national attention. Their efforts were aimed at reconnecting power for just two of our members. The area, notorious for its alligators and snakes, added to the perilous conditions. The bravery and commitment of these crews were truly commendable. Members of the community also expressed their appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the crews. "Seeing these men working tirelessly in such difficult conditions was truly inspiring. We are grateful for their efforts and support from DEMCO," said one WREC Member. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-9rrT8hXZ0 Inspiring "above and beyond" work by electric cooperative DEMCO linemen in restoring power to a Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative member after Hurricane Milton. Video courtesy of WREC This act of solidarity came just a month after WREC sent its own crews to assist DEMCO with their restoration efforts following Hurricane Francine. The mutual aid between these two cooperatives underscored the strength and resilience of the cooperative network. When one community was in need, others stepped up to provide support, demonstrating the true spirit of cooperation and unity. Visiting Electric Cooperative Linemen and Contractors Come to the Nature Coast to Help Restore Power after Hurricane Milton The restoration efforts were a massive undertaking, with crews working around the clock to repair damaged infrastructure and restore power. David Lambert, General Manager of WREC, expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by the nearly 1,500 linemen (co-op and contractor crews) and tree trimming crews that came to assist in the restoration efforts. Lambert added, “This was a historic storm and an even more historic restoration effort. Thanks to all the hard work from WREC crews, our partner cooperatives, and contractors, we were able to reach the “fully restored” mark within the first 72 hours!�� Look at the van behind the power pole! Image courtesy of Withlacoochee River Electric. Cooperative mutual aid crews included DEMCO (LA), SLEMCO (LA), Talquin EC (FL), Central Florida EC (FL), Washington-St. Tammy Elec. (MS), Claiborne EC (LA), Holmes-Wayne EC (OH), Forked Deer EC (TN), Steele-Waseca Co-op (MN), Dakota Electric Assoc. (MN), Great Lakes Energy EC (MI), Presque Isle Elec. & Gas (MI), HomeWorks Tri-County EC (MI), Wolverine Power Co-op (MI), Michigan Electric (MI), Beauregard, and Tri-County(TX). Contract crews included Tec, Premium, Integrity, Pike, One Source, ULCS, and Davey. In addition to the line crews and tree trimming crews, Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative office and support personnel worked 16-hour days and canceled planned time off to assist in the restoration of power to their members. For more updates on the restoration efforts and to learn more about the cooperative principles, please follow WREC on our social media platforms or visit our website at wrec.net. About Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WREC) Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 260,000 homes and businesses in Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Polk, and Sumter counties since 1947. WREC is dedicated to providing reliable and affordable electric services to its members while actively contributing to the communities it serves. Read the full article
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[ad_1] GG News Bureau New Delhi, 21st Oct. The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), chaired by Cabinet Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan, convened today to assess the preparedness for a potential cyclone developing over the Bay of Bengal. The meeting aimed to coordinate efforts between central agencies and the state governments of Odisha and West Bengal as the cyclonic system is expected to intensify in the coming days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) provided a detailed briefing on the current situation, indicating that the well-marked low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal is likely to evolve into a depression by October 22, followed by a cyclonic storm by October 23. The storm is predicted to move northwest, potentially making landfall along the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal, between Puri and Sagar Island, as a severe cyclonic storm on the night of October 24 or early morning October 25, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph. State-Level Preparedness The Chief Secretaries of Odisha and West Bengal informed the NCMC about the precautionary measures being taken, including the advisories issued to fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea. Fishermen already at sea have been directed to return to safe harbors. Control rooms have been activated, and shelters, emergency services, and essential supplies are being readied. Evacuation plans are in place for people living in vulnerable coastal areas. Deployment of Emergency Teams The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has pre-positioned 14 teams in West Bengal and 11 in Odisha, prepared for immediate deployment. Additionally, the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard have stationed rescue and relief teams, alongside ships and aircraft, to aid in operations. Central ministries, including the Ministries of Power and Telecommunications, have deployed emergency teams for the rapid restoration of essential services post-cyclone. Central Coordination and Instructions Dr. Somanathan emphasized the importance of minimizing the loss of life and property, urging state governments to ensure timely evacuation of people from high-risk areas. He stressed that fishermen should be recalled from the sea without delay and that all safety measures should be in place ahead of the cyclone’s landfall. He assured the state administrations of the full support of central agencies, which remain on high alert. The Cabinet Secretary also advised the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand to be prepared for potential heavy rainfall and its effects. He underscored the need for careful water management from dam sites in affected regions to prevent flooding. Participants and Agencies Involved The meeting saw the participation of senior officials, including the Union Home Secretary, representatives from the Ministries of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Fisheries, Power, Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and Defence. Officials from Andhra Pradesh, along with the Director Generals of the IMD, NDRF, and Indian Coast Guard, also joined the discussions to ensure a unified approach to tackle the cyclone threat. With the cyclonic storm approaching, the central and state agencies are on high alert, working to ensure preparedness and minimize the impact on the coastal regions of eastern India. The post NCMC Reviews Preparedness for Impending Cyclone in Bay of Bengal appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates. [ad_2] Source link
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