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Wikinews interviews biologist Chris Simon about periodical cicadas

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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

In May, periodical cicadas with 17 years life cycle emerged on the East Coast of the USA after underground development as juveniles since 1996. Researchers and scientists worked to map and study the rare wave, and the locals prepared for the noisy event. First recorded in 1666, the Magicicada septendecim species recently emerged in 1979, 1996, this year, with a next wave due in 2030.

This week, Wikinews interviewed Chris Simon, an ecology and evolutionary biologist at University of Connecticut, about the cicadas.

((Wikinews)) What caused your initial interest in periodical cicadas?

Chris Simon: As an undergraduate student, I was interested in the formation of species so when I went to graduate school I looked for a study organism that was likely to be in the process of forming new species. I chose periodical cicadas because they are broken up into reproductively isolated broods (or year classes). Reproductive isolation leads to speciation so I planned to study biochemical differences among the broods.

((WN)) You study the emergence of the periodical cicadas. What do you study? What observations are you making?

CS: We record exactly where each cicada population emerges (using GPS automated mapping and crowd sourcing). We record the presence or absence of each of the three morphologically distinct species groups of periodical cicadas (Decim group, Cassini group, and Decula group). We collect specimens for DNA analysis. We look for cicadas coming up one and four years early and late. We dig up cicada nymphs and monitor their growth rates.

((WN)) What equipment do you use?

CS: Nets, shovels, automated GPS recorders, cameras, laptop computers, automated DNA sequencers.

((WN)) Do you study the periodical cicadas with anyone else? What is their role?

CS: Yes, there are a large number of people studying periodical cicadas in my lab and in other labs. My lab is made up of Research Scientists, Postdoctoral Researchers, a technician, graduate students, and undergraduates. Research Scientist John Cooley is the leader of the GPS mapping project; he invented the automated GPS recorder; he built our crowd-sourcing website, and he is instrumental in public outreach. Postdoctoral research David Marshall also participates in the mapping project and leads the part of the research related to the mapping of stragglers. John and Dave and Technician Kathy Hill all study periodical cicada mating behavior and conduct mating and hybridization experiments. One of my graduate students Beth Wade has participated in the nymph collections and will soon start genetic work involving genome wide association mapping designed to locate genes related to life cycle. My graduate student Russ Meister is studying the genes of the bacterial endosymbionts of cicadas. My current undergraduate honors student Erin Dwyer is also studying the development of Magicicada nymphs and is helping to design a lab exercise for college students around the eastern US to do the same. Many of my past undergraduate students have studied the biochemical genetics and development of periodical cicadas. See the Simon Lab website.
CS: We are collaborating with Teiji Sota at the University Kyoto and Jin Yoshimura at Shizuoka University in Japan. They are studying the phylogeography of Magicicada. We are collaborating with John McCutcheon of the University of Montana who is studying the endosymbiont genomes.
CS: We are also collaborating with ecologists Rick Karban and Louie Yang, both professors at UC Davis who have an interest in cicada population dynamics and nutrient cycling in the ecosystem.

((WN)) You studied the periodical cicadas in 1979 and 1996 too. What changes with time?

CS: I have studied periodical cicadas since I was a student back in 1974. What changes with time is increased human development constantly shrinking the patch size of cicada populations.

((WN)) What are your thoughts on the long life span of the periodical cicadas? Why could it be so? What advantages and what disadvantages does it have?

CS: Most or all cicadas have long life cycles compared to your typical annual insect. Examples have been found of two-year to 9-year cycles in different species. Periodical cicadas evolved an even-longer life cycle and I think that part of this relates to the evolution of their synchronized life cycles and peculiar safety-in-numbers strategy for survival. To become synchronized, periodical cicadas had to evolve an exact length life cycle and all adults would have to appear in the same year. Because the nymphs grow at different rates underground, a longer life cycle and a way of counting years must have evolved so that the individuals that get to the last nymphal (underground juvenile) stage first would wait long enough for all other individuals in the population to become ready to emerge.

((WN)) News reports mention this is ‘Brood II’ of the periodical cicadas. What are the distinctive features of this specific species and what is its full scientific name?

CS: The same species exist in multiple broods. No species is restricted to Brood II. The three species present in Brood II are: Magicicada septendecim, M. cassini, and M. septendecula. These same three species are found in every 17-year brood (except the farthest north which only has M. septendecim).

((WN)) At what depth do the cicadas juveniles live underground?

CS: Most live within the top foot of soil but some have been found deeper. We do not know if they go deeper in winter. We need to do much more digging to understand the nymphs.

((WN)) How do people prepare for the cicada emergence?

CS: Of course various people prepare in different ways. Ideally, everyone prepares by studying information available on the web (especially on our websites Magicicada Central and Magicicada.org).

((WN)) Do cicadas affect transport in the local area?

CS: No, not really. Occasionally individuals can be seeing flying across highways and sometimes they smash into cars.

((WN)) Do cicadas usually stay outside or do they also invade houses too?

CS: They stay outside. One might accidentally fly in through an open window but that would be rare.

((WN)) What do the cicadas eat?

CS: Cicadas suck xylem fluid (the watery fluid coming up from the roots of plants) in deciduous forest trees and herbs. Essential amino acids in the cicada diet are supplied by their bacterial endosymbionts. There are two species of endosymbionts. One makes 8 essential amino acids and one makes two essential amino acids.

((WN)) Do cicadas damage crops or city vegetation? What damage?

CS: Cicadas do not chew leave so they do not damage crops like other insects. They can inflict some damage by their egg laying. Cicadas lay eggs in pencil-sized tree branches. If there are not enough branches available, too many female cicadas may lay eggs in a single branch weakening it and making it susceptible to breakage by wind. This can sometimes cause damage in fruit orchards. If the branches break, the eggs die so this behavior is selected against by natural selection.

((WN)) Thank you.

CS: You’re welcome. I am happy to have this opportunity to communicate with your readers!
Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Wikinews_interviews_biologist_Chris_Simon_about_periodical_cicadas&oldid=2283939”

Brazilian Vote Buying parliamentary commission present first joint preliminary report

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Wikipedia has more about this subject:

Monday, September 5, 2005

Brazil —The Post Office and Vote Buying parliamentary commissions of investigation unanimously approved on Thursday (1) their first joint preliminary report of activities. The text was prepared by their redactors, Osmar Serraglio (PMDB) and Ibrahim Abi-Ackel (PP), from Post Office and Vote Buying commissions respectively.

The deputies cited in the report are: Carlos Rodrigues (PL–RJ), José Janene (PP-PR), Pedro Correia (PP-PE), Pedro Henry (PP-MS), Sandro Mabel (PL-GO), João Magno (PT–MG), João Paulo Cunha (PT-SP), José Borba (PMDB-PR), Josias Gomes da Silva (PT-BA), Paulo Rocha (PT-BA), Professor Luizinho (PT-SP), Romeu Queiroz (PTB-MG), Vadão Gomes (PP-SP), Vanderval Santos (PL-SP), José Mentor (PT-SP), Roberto Brant (PFL-MG), José Dirceu (PT-SP) and Roberto Jefferson (PTB-RJ).

The report indicts 18 Brazilian deputies and the former deputy Valdemar Costa Neto [who resigned on August 1]. They are accused of illegal campaign finance activities, of placing cronies in strategic positions in government enterprises and getting kickbacks from them, and of receiving cash payments in exchange for voting in line with the government in the Brazilian Congress.

The redactors called the allegation made by some parliamentarians that the resources were used to settle debts with electoral campaigns a “lame excuse”. According to them it is “perfectly plausible” that the loans taken by the businessman Marcos Valerio at the Banco Rural and the BMG for the ruling Workers’ Party (PT) were false and created to make the illegal funds seem legal.

In regards to the denunciations done by deputy Roberto Jefferson (PTB) the report says:

  • Everything which he said that could be investigated showed to be true, including confessions against himself .
  • Everything that must be compared to other testimonies showed a great degree of truth. As a matter of fact, all of who, hurriedly, questioned him, saw their defenses collapse, before the successive discoveries.

According to the report, the businessman Marcos Valério is a not reliable person because of his contraditory testmonies.

The report says that several documents were identified and reviewed proving that large sums of money were withdrawn from agencies of the Rural Bank, in Brasilia and Belo Horizonte, as well as from bank accounts of the enterprises SMPB and DNA Propaganda. According to the documents the beneficiaries were federal deputies who received the money in person or through relatives, advisers, or persons nominated by Marcos Valério.

The report affirms that it is possible that some payments were made on a monthly basis, and others more or less frequently. Nevertheless, according to the report the periodicity of the payments is the less important fact.

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How I Made $6,350 In 4 Days Using A Simple Method Anyone Can Follow

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Here is a simple little method you can useanytime you need money.For example, this week I’ve made $6350.00with it so far. I’ll show you in this articleexactly how I made that money.Last month I made $13,000 in 2 week using it.It’s so simple, it’s almost laughable, as mostof my marketing methods are.Here is my fast cash promotion method. It’s only two steps.Step One: Compile an “opt-in” listStep Two: Email my offer to your opt-in listIf you don’t already have an opt-in list, thenobviously this won’t be a fast cash method for you.First you have to compile your opt-in list. I teachmy students a number of simple, easy methods fordoing this in my ebook at: http://www.amazingformula.comBy the way, if you aren’t familiar with the term,”opt-in” list, it refers to a mailing list thatpeople specifically and deliberately subscribe to.In other words, they give you permission to sendthem emails.Sending unsolicited emails is a gigantic “no-no.”Now, if you do already have a list of peoplewho have specifically given you permission to emailthem, then you need a product to endorse.Here are a few things to look for:1. A 30% to 50% profit margin.2. At least a $30 pay out (and preferably more).3. A proven email sales letter you can use.4. A reputable company that you know will deliver the products you sell.To help my associates make money, I pay out a 60%commission on “The Amazing Formula That Sells ProductsLike Crazy.” That is $40.20 per sale.The key to making sales to your list is the endorsementletter. You must preface the sales letter with reasonswhy you’re endorsing that particular product. The folks on your list trust you, and will listen to your opinion about the product.You don’t have to write anything fancy. Just include a note that explains why the product you’re endorsing deserves their attention and how it will benefit them.For example:Here is the email that has made me over 6 grand thisweek. I sent it to my customer list. I prefer shorteremails but this one needed more explanation.”Dear I’d like to introduce you to a friendof mine who has helped me make a smallfortune.His name is Jonathan Mizel. And hehas a legitimate genius IQ.He works with companies such as theseon Internet marketing projects.* Intel* MyPoints* OnHealth* Microsoft* MotherNature.comThese companies are raking in huge bucks (and I do mean huge)using a method called “per transaction” marketing.And Jonathan is smack dab in the middleof this ultra-hot method.He can show you how companies are growingfrom scratch to zillions in sales in remarkably short periods of time using “per transaction” marketing.It’s the only method I know that allows you to ramp up from small volume to large volume almost overnight — without spending one freakin’ dime on advertising!That means your potential profits have almostno limit and the money you risk to get thatpayoff is quite small if you already haveproducts and a web site.You don’t have to be Microsoft to use hismethods. They work for small, medium andlarge companies alike.Not that you’ll become the next Microsoftor an overnight millionaire. But Jonathandoes use his methods with people and companiesin those categories.To my knowledge, Jonathan is the only personexplaining the magic of “per transaction”marketing in a format where you can actuallyapply it to your business tomorrow morning.It’s something that Jonathan found out by working “hands on” with the big corporations.This IS what the serious Internet marketingcompanies are doing because you can scaleup from small to giant volume in a flash.Ezine ads and other methods are great forgetting started. But how are you ever goingto get the VOLUME that hauls in big bucks– without spending a fortune on advertising?That’s what Jonathan shows you…One last thing: You may not be able to tellit from the sound of his sales letter, but hisproduct is NOTHING like mine.He covers totally different types of informationthan yours truly. While per transaction marketingis not new, Jonathan’s insights and insider infoon how companies are exploding with this methodis hot and new.That’s why I felt a duty and an obligation to introduce you to my good friend and one of the most astonishing marketers I know who has been publishing his newsletter since before the World Wide Web even existed.With great pleasure, I introduce you to theunmatched genius of Jonathan Mizel.Please go to:http://www.cyberwave.com/products/AP1328/index.htmlAOL users click hereBest wishes,Marlon Sandershigherresponse.comyourownproducts.com”How do you send out an email like that? I like twoproducts:One: http://www.email-solutions.com/higher-responseA great product for beginners that comes with an Ato Z how to manual.Two: http://www.mailking.comI use Mail King because it allows me to put a namein the subject field of the email. But it did takeawhile for me to figure out how to use it.Format your email letter in a text editor such astext pad and place a hard return at or before 65characters on a line. This prevents your emailfrom wrapping and looking like garbage when it arrives in your customer’s email box.When you do your mailing, expect .5% of the list tobuy. However, the true answer is that you’ll knowyour response rate a week after you email your salesletter. The bulk of your responses will come in within 72 hours.Follow this simple two-step formula and you can createmoney out of thin air anytime you need it.

Viktor Schreckengost dies at 101

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Viktor Schreckengost, the father of industrial design and creator of the Jazz Bowl, an iconic piece of Jazz Age art designed for Eleanor Roosevelt during his association with Cowan Pottery died yesterday. He was 101.

Schreckengost was born on June 26, 1906 in Sebring, Ohio, United States.

Schreckengost’s peers included the far more famous designers Raymond Loewy and Norman Bel Geddes.

In 2000, the Cleveland Museum of Art curated the first ever retrospective of Schreckengost’s work. Stunning in scope, the exhibition included sculpture, pottery, dinnerware, drawings, and paintings.

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Neurological Treatment In Chennai, India | Neurospinal}

Admin Fitness Equipment

Neurological Treatment in Chennai, India | Neurospinal

by

ajay

Varma is traditionally related to “neurons”

VarmaTherapy

Learns about each varmam’s (weight focuses) attributes like area of the varmam, profundity and width of varmam, the weight with which the varmam must be tuned to cure maladies constitutes the standard study in varma treatment.

We could create varmam related wounds because of the accompanying reasons:

Lifting overwhelming burdens

Excessive joy

Excessive distress

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdyy6Hy5XRg[/youtube]

Excessive rest

Accidents

Engaging in battles

Giving birth to a tyke

Etc.

The different systems that can be connected to cure varmam related wounds are:

1. Marukaalam

2. Thirumal Murai

3. Adangal Murai

4. Thiravukol Murai

5. Thadaval Murai [Applying knead techniques]

6. Marunthu Murai [Applying medicines]

7. Vayu Nilai Amarthal

8. Kattu Murai

Methods like Marukaalam and Thiravukol Murai are utilized for moment alleviation. Strategies like Thadaval Murai and Thirumal Murai ought to be done at any rate for three successive days to give alleviation from varmam related wounds.

Restoring of a Fainted Individual

In the event that an individual has swooned because of varmam assault, he or she first ought to be analyzed by a Varmaani (Varmam Doctor/Varmam Master/Varmam Asan). Varmaani ought to begin the diagnostics by watching the shade of cornea and the shade of the teeth of the patient. At that point varmaani checks the stream in Vata, Pita, and Kapha nadis. On the off chance that he is fulfilled by the streams in these nadis, varmaani ought to continue to the following stride in the treatment. Presently, varmaani ought to apply the Kavzhi Adangal ( Adangal – strategy in which weight focuses are tuned in particular example) to control blood stream, temperature and pranic stream in the patient’s body. At that point varmaani ought to apply Puzhimuthu Adangal to animate the Kalai Nerves (real nerves through which pranic vitality stream in the body). Right now, varmaani can see the patient beginning to recapture the awareness and tiredness being decreased. At that point on applying Nasiyam in patient’s nose or utilizing blowing methods as a part of patient’s nose or ears, the patient will totally recapture cognizance. At that point Thiravukozh (technique to open varmam) ought to be connected to discharge the influenced varmams.

Once the patient has attainted stable condition, varmaani ought to either enquire the patient about the mishap to know the zone in which patient was hit or ought to break down the stream of nadis to find the influenced district. At that point, varmaani ought to apply the correct Thadavazh Murai (rubbing procedures).

In view of the range in the body that was influenced, the varmaani ought to know the sicknesses that may emerge later on. Agreeing both inside prescription and outside solution ought to be endorsed. Such treatment ought to consider the varmams situated in nerves, muscles and bones.

Managing Fractures

Varmaani ought to know about bone structure and joints. At the point when a patient with bone crack methodologies him, first he ought to stop the wastage of blood by hindering the required nerves. He ought to then utilize the important cushions to alter veins and corridors and ought to put a legitimate dressing utilizing materials. The system in which the dressing is done shifts depending up on the area on the crack. To recuperate the crack, the dressing ought to permit way for legitimate air dissemination furthermore ought to have procurement to manage home grown oils to cure the injuries. The dressing ought to be uprooted and revamped for seven times and every time the dressing ought to be done in view of the present state of the bones. Furthermore, inside med ought to likewise be recommended to the patient.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}

How the Army Corps of Engineers closed one New Orleans breach

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Friday, September 9, 2005

New Orleans, Louisiana —After Category 4 storm Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, on the night before August 29, 2005, several flood control constructions failed. Much of the city flooded through the openings. One of these was the flood wall forming one side of the 17th Street Canal, near Lake Pontchartrain. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the primary agency for engineering support during such emergencies. A USACE team was assessing the situation in New Orleans on the 29th, water flow was stopped September 2nd, and the breach was closed on September 5th.

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Putin calls US troops in Poland ‘a threat’

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Friday, January 13, 2017

Reports yesterday indicated Russian President Vladimir Putin views the arrival of US troops in Poland as “a threat”.

Earlier this week around a quarter of 4,000 troops earmarked for Poland crossed into Poland from Germany. Also included were trucks, tanks, and Humvees. Many are set to be based in ?aga?, where Polish Prime Minister Beata Szyd?o and Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz are scheduled to ceremonially welcome them tomorrow.

Part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the deployment is set to include Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and Paladin artillery. It is the largest deployment of US troops to Europe since the Cold War ended. The presence of US assets “threatens our interests and our security,” according to Putin. “It’s a third country that is building up its military presence on our borders in Europe,” he told the BBC. “It isn’t even a European country.”

Outgoing US President Barack Obama authorised the move in response to Russian intervention in Ukraine in 2014, in which Crimea was annexed. It was agreed at a NATO summit in Warsaw last year. Tomasz Szatkowski, Polish Undersecretary of State for Defence, noted “large exercises” by Russia near the Polish border as another reason the troops were needed.

Szatkowski also mentioned Russian action in Ukraine, which he called “aggressive actions in our vicinity”. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Mechkov, however, said the incoming troops and vehicles were a “factor destabilising European security”. Russian Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed Putin, saying the troops are “a threat. These actions threaten our interests, our security. Especially as it concerns a third party building up its military presence near our borders. It’s [the US], not even a European state.”

Ties between Russia and the US are strained. Last month the US expelled 35 Russian diplomats accused of espionage, and sanctioned Russian intelligence agencies. This was in response to a CIA report issued two weeks earlier that concluded the Russian government hacked servers belonging to the U.S. Republican and Democratic parties. The CIA report said this was to turn the 2016 presidential election toward president-elect Donald Trump.

Since Szyd?o took office in 2015, Poland has also suffered a decline in relations with Russia. Within a week of the Law and Justice Party coming to power in Poland, it removed web pages featuring the results of an investigation into the Smolensk air disaster in Russia in 2010. The cause of the crash, which killed dignitaries including Polish President Lech Kaczynski, is disputed.

A Polish probe concluded the Polish pilots put safety second in their determination to get their passengers through dense fog. It also placed blame on Russian controllers for failing to divert the aircraft. Russian investigators blamed the pilots alone. The flight was carrying high-profile political figures to attend a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre, when thousands of Polish prisoners of war and civilians were killed by the Soviets.

Russia has refused to return wreckage, encouraging conspiracy theories about the crash. In 2015 Szyd?o said in response to the vanishing investigatory findings “the website has been closed and will simply remain closed.”

In recent months tension has mounted further as Russia deployed missiles to Kalingrad. The enclave, Russian territory lying between Poland and Lithuania, now has nuclear-capable Iskanders and anti-ship Bastion equipment. NATO considered these deployments a response to its own.

The US troops are set to rotate around the Balkans every nine months. Other planned host nations are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary. The rotation is due to a treaty with Russia preventing permanent deployment to any particular territory.

Russia-US relations face a potential thaw, as President-Elect Donald Trump moves towards office on January 20. Trump has made clear he intends to seek a closer relationship with Russia. Rex Tillerson, proposed Secretary of State for the Trump administration, implied the troops would be staying put. He said Russia had claimed Crimea “as an act of force” requiring the US to offer “a proportional show of force”.

Trump’s proposed Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, backed NATO before the US Senate yesterday. He said Putin aimed to weaken the NATO alliance. Witold Waszczykowski, Polish foreign minister, earlier this week remarked any improvement in US-Russia relations should avoid harming Polish interests.

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Toyota fined $16 million by US government over recalls

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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

US regulators intend to fine Toyota Motor Company $16.4 million over allegations that the company failed to notify government officials in “a timely way” about flaws in its vehicles that led to a major recall earlier this year.

The fine is the maximum penalty allowed under current US law, and would be the largest ever against an automaker, dwarfing a $1 million fine against General Motors in 2004. The U.S. Transportation Department is also considering the possibility of further fines if it was determined that the company had committed other violations of US law. The fine is the result of an investigation opened on February 16 into Toyota’s actions during the recall of 2.3 million vehicles in the US. Toyota now has a period of two weeks in which it can appeal the fine.

They knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families.

Current law requires an automaker to notify the US government within five days if it has determined that a safety issue exists in one of its vehicles. Internal Toyota documents obtained by the government showed that the company was aware of the issues in its cars as early as September 2009, well before it reported the problems to the US government in January.

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that the government has “proof that Toyota failed to live up to its legal obligations,” and that “they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families.”

Toyota, in a statement posted on their website, said that “We have already taken a number of important steps to improve our communications with regulators and customers on safety-related matters as part of our strengthened overall commitment to quality assurance.” The statement added, “These include the appointment of a new Chief Quality Officer for North America and a greater role for the region in making safety-related decisions.”

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A Carrier Heat Pump Offers Several Benefits For Your Home

Admin Property Improvement And Development Projects

byAlma Abell

An increasing number of people are switching to electric vehicles because they aren’t as fossil fuel-dependent as traditional cars are. The same trend is happening in the HVAC industry, with more homeowners and business owners opting for heat pumps. A Carrier Heat Pump is particularly known for its high quality and ability to save you on your utility bill each month.

Benefits

The Carrier Heat Pump provides cost savings because the more you use the pump, which runs on electricity, the less you have to use your home’s gas furnace. You can choose from a wide variety of pumps. For instance, a packaged heat pump essentially packs all of the advantages of an efficient cooling unit, heating unit and strong fan coil into one unit. A ductless one is ideal for those whose homes don’t have existing ductwork or those who need to cool and seasonally heat a room added to the home.

Other Options

You percent government tax credit; the tax credit helps you to recoup a portion of your pump installment costs.

How It Works

Heat pumps produce cool air in the summer or even year-round in warmer climates, and they effectively reverse their operation during cooler seasons to provide warm air for your house. A Carrier Heat Pump not only heats and cools your home but also dehumidifies—yet another perk of this highly rated product. The right company will show you how your system works and answer any questions you may have. With a quality heating and cooling system, you can be confident that your entire family will remain comfortable in every season in the years ahead.

Contact R.A. Heating & Air Conditioning for outstanding products and services in Wisconsin. To learn more about how the company can make your home more comfortable, visit raheating.com.

R.A.Heating-&-Air-Conditioning

Residents fear environmental hazard on site of partially collapsed building in Buffalo, New York

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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Buffalo, New York —Residents in Buffalo, New York fear that demolishing a nearly 200-year-old livery and stable which partially collapsed on Wednesday June 11, could cause an environmental hazard.

Wikinews has learned that according property records with the city, the stable was converted into a gasoline station and auto repair shop in 1950, and is designated as a body shop. During that time at least four fuel storage tanks were installed on the property. Two are listed as 550 square feet while the other two are 2,000 square feet. All of the tanks are designated as a TK4, which New York State says is used for “below ground horizontal bulk fuel storage.” The cost of installing a tank of that nature according to the state, at that time, included the tank itself, “excavation and backfill,” but did not include “the piping, ballast, or hold-down slab orring.”

Property reports give the tanks a ‘construction code’ of a “C – Average”, meaning the tanks were not designed to last for a significant period of time. That rating has residents concerned that the tanks could pose an environmental hazard if they are not properly taken care of.

Wikinews has not been able to determine if the tanks have been removed or if they were emptied when the gas station closed sometime in the 1980’s. Wikinews has also contacted the city of Buffalo for a comment regarding the tanks, but has yet to receive a response.

The building was scheduled for emergency demolition on Thursday June 12, but was stopped by police after residents raised concerns for the safety of those living around the building. According to New York law, since the city ordered the demolition, they are required to perform an ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ or SEQR when a project or demolition has the possibility of posing an environmental hazard.

According to New York law, a SEQR should be performed “to incorporate the consideration of environmental factors into the existing planning, review and decision-making processes of state, regional and local government agencies at the earliest possible time. To accomplish this goal, SEQR requires that all agencies determine whether the actions they directly undertake, fund or approve may have a significant impact on the environment, and, if it is determined that the action may have a significant adverse impact, prepare or request an environmental impact statement.”

The law states, “SEQR requires the sponsoring or approving governmental body to identify and mitigate the significant environmental impacts of the activity it is proposing or permitting.” It also states that it is the duty of the governmental body in charge of a project to enforce the laws of the SEQR. It also states that agencies must give “appropriate weight with social and economic considerations” when undergoing major projects.

The law also allows citizens to enforce the regulation stating, “citizens or groups who can demonstrate that they may be harmed by this failure [SEQR], may take legal action against the agency” or governmental body behind such a project. The court system in New York has been known to “consistently” rule in favor of plaintiffs who file lawsuits against agencies who do not perform a SEQR.

Residents won a restraining order to stop demolition after State Supreme Court Justice Judge John. F. O’Donnell signed a temporary injunction. Residents are concerned demolition crews moved too fast, and are not doing enough to protect them and their surrounding properties. They are also concerned that the city did not consider all the options or risks before ordering the building to be demolished.

On June 15, Judge Jerome C. Gorski ruled that the city can resume demolition, but “on a limited basis” only to remove fallen rubble that landed on properties, and to remove any loose bricks or material from the building, but not below its truss line. Because of the risk of further collapse, the workers are ordered “to use only hand tools.” to remove the loose material and debris. Residents are attempting to save portions of the building’s side walls and its facade. The demolition crew began to remove some materials, as ordered by the court on Tuesday, June 17.

Judge Gorski also ordered that the plaintiffs present their case in front the State’s Supreme Court in Rochester. The hearing took place on Monday morning on June 16 at 10:00 a.m. (eastern time), and the case is currently “being discussed,” said an anonymous source close to the lawsuit to Wikinews.

Bob Freudenheim is the building’s owner who has housing violations against him for neglecting the building. Residents state that Freudenheim should be “100% responsible” for his actions, and many are afraid that once the building is demolished, Freudenheim’s charges of neglect will be abolished. According to WGRZ Channel 2 News, in the past three months, Freudenheim has received at least five housing code violations from the city. WGRZ states that the orders, which they obtained, were to fix the building “to a safe condition.”

Freudenheim gave the city permission to demolish the building on Thursday June 12 during an emergency Preservation Board meeting, because he would not be “rehabilitating the building anytime soon.” Freudenheim, along with his wife Nina, were part-owners of the Hotel Lenox at 140 North Street in Buffalo and were advocates to stop the Elmwood Village Hotel from being built on the corners of Forest and Elmwood Avenues in 2006 and 2007, which Wikinews extensively covered. They also financially supported a lawsuit in an attempt to stop the hotel from being built. Though it is not known exactly how long Freudenheim has owned the stable, Wikinews has learned that he was the owner while fighting to stop the hotel from being built.

Freudenheim has not released a statement, and Wikinews has not been able to contact him regarding the issue.

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