3 June 2014 | Politics | By: Kate O'Sullivan

While UKIP has been busy racking up national column inches, the Green Party has been rather quietly blooming in London. In last months local elections, they claimed 6.9% of the London-wide vote an increased vote share of 50% up from 2010s 4.6%.

The four council seats in London that the Green Party won (St Leonards, Lambeth; Brockley, Lewisham; Highgate, Camden; Highbury East, Islington) may be a mere third of UKIPs 12 seats, yet the Islington and Lambeth seats mean it has doubled its numbers and probably calls for some recycled partypopper action. The gains also deserve some serious debate and analysis from Londons political folk.

In the European elections, Green Party MEP Jean Lambert was re-elected for her fourth term in the European parliament, costing UKIP a second seat while the Liberal Democrats lost their sole London MEP. Overall, the Green Party won 9% of the London-wide vote share putting them in fourth place behind UKIP but ahead of the Lib Dems adding some leafy green to a bittersweet Farage-Clegg-sandwich.

Look at the London vote share in further detail and the Green Party came in second place behind Labour in Islington (19%) and Lambeth (16%), making them the sole opposition in both, and in Lewisham (16%) and Hackney (21%). Although the party did not win a seat in Hackney (where it has held a council seat in the past) the Greens came second in the boroughs Mayoral elections (17%).

While we see enough of Farages face to keep fish and chip shops across the capital in environmentally-friendly wrappings until next years general election, Green Party leader Natalie Bennetts face (and voice) has been notably absent from the post-election punditry. Why arent the Greens shouting about their successes?

It is true that the Green Partys London election results do not make for fairytale figures it succeeded in retaining its London MEP and gaining seats, but the partys overall vote share was down by 2% in the European elections. Despite local election successes the Greens four seats still sit a good bit behind UKIPs 12. Although the Greens argue that under a pure Proportional Representation (PR) voting system they would have gained 125 seats across London, that is perhaps a debate for another day.

But perhaps its just that the Green Partys voice isnt being heard. With all the allure of UKIPs scandalous policies and the okekoke-style EU referendum debates (are we in? Out? Should we shake it all about?), Green is far from this seasons must-have colour where the press is concerned. Are we witnessing the real potential threats to democracy from extremist parties that the British media are hopelessly seduced by them?

Should the political press be reigning it in a bit and ensuring that vital pre- and post-election coverage is extended to smaller parties like the Greens and independents, rather than focusing on those who make the most obvious headlines? The organisers of thispetition, which accuses the BBC of a media blackout of the green party, certainly think so, and so do the more than 45,000 people who signed it; not to mention thealmost 1,200 complaints also received by the BBC.

See the original post here:
Is The Green Party Missing From The Post-Election Landscape?

CLEVELAND: Every year, the major-league baseball draft leaves hundreds of young players across the high school and college landscape hoping for a professional future.

Meanwhile, the leagues scouting directors and their array of scouts do their homework, crisscrossing the country before gambling on the players they believe have the talent and makeup to become the next class of major-league players.

Thats been the life of Indians director of amateur scouting Brad Grant for the past seven seasons as the leader of the department that selects and then develops the organizations future athletes.

On Thursday, Grant and his staff have four good shots at landing some of this years upper-echelon talent. They have four picks on the first day at No. 21, 31, 38 and 61.

The 21st selection is the Indians first-round pick based on their record from last season. The 31st pick came as compensation for losing free-agent pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. The 38th is the clubs competitive balance pick and the 61st is their second-round selection.

For a draft that Grant believes is equal in its high school and college talent and heavy in depth overall, having four early selections could be a coup.

There are a lot of similar players who fall into that range between picks No. 21 and No. 61, he said. Its exciting.

Exciting now, sure, but not so much in the past six months when it made for a bunch of added preparation that led to the Indians increasing their scouting staff, including three national cross-checkers.

Last year we had the fifth overall pick and then we didnt pick again until No. 69 on the second day, Grant said. So, we went and saw the best players just once, making the assumption that they wouldnt get back around to us when it was time for our second pick.

But this year, we definitely spent more time on those we consider to be the top 150 players in the draft. Our area scouts saw a player four to five times, then we had our cross-checkers seeing those guys three to five times. So the number of looks were getting is significant.

Go here to read the rest:
Indians looking for a big haul with four picks on the first day of upcoming MLB draft

Cargill crystallizers: this view shows two crystallizer beds during harvest season. The upper bed has been drained and displays the tracks left by the harvesting machinery as it gathered salt. The lower bed awaits harvest with a load of magenta pickle that will soon be drained. Photo by Cris Benton, published in his new book,Saltscapes.

Cris Benton, a retired professor of architecture and former department chairat UC Berkeley, recentlypublishedSaltscapes: The Kite Aerial Photography of Cris Benton(Heyday Books, 2013), whichprovides a fascinating, and beautiful insight into the salt evaporation ponds of the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay. The photographs are taken using a kite and radio-controlled camera, a technique Benton pioneered in the early 1980s. Berkeleyside talked toBenton whose work has been shown at the Oakland Museum of California, the Exploratorium, and the Cooper Hewitt Museum among others about the story behind the images, as well as some of the joys and hazards of kite aerial photography.

Can you tell us how and when you started this type of photography?

I started my kite aerial photography (KAP) in 1984. The idea sprang from a confluence of photography and radio-controlled sailplanes, two of my favorite pastimes. I often flew my sailplanes down at Cesar Chavez Park where there is a fine community of kite fliers. While flying my planes one afternoon I bumped into Anne Rock, a Berkeley resident who talked about using kites to raise cameras. Having previously considered mounting a camera on one of my planes the kite idea struck me as brilliant since kites tend to be a stable, self-tending platform.

I spent a few years sorting out how to fly kites, mount the camera, compose the photographs, and keep my lofted gear from crashing. There was a middle period during which I travelled broadly with my KAP gear in a continual quest for aerial images compositionally worthy of display. I am now well settled into my third period, use of the technique in sustained studies of specific landscapes.

This bleached white skeleton is a former bush that died when a small salt pond at the north end of the Coyote Hills was connected to tidal flow via a culvert. The crackled ground texture surrounding the skeleton is a harbinger of greater change associated with the new tidal regime. Photo, by Cris Benton, published in his new book,Saltscapes.

What do you like about the images that you create with kitephotography?

I was pretty much seduced by my earliest results. Here were intimate, low-altitude aerial views of the very landscape I had just occupied as a photographer. As architects we are trained to think about relationships and juxtapositions in the built environment think birds eye perspectives. The kite provided a graceful, economical means to achieve these novel views. And the views could be quite surprising.

My radio can pan and tilt the camera, switch between portrait and landscape formats, and fire the shutter. I compose the images by watching the camera as it floats above and forming a mental picture of what it would see. Comparing this imagined view to the actual photographs is always a learning experience. Interesting details otherwise unseen the tracks of animals across Bolinas Ridge or the Spengers Restaurant roofscape emerge as discoveries that contribute to a sense of place.

Homage to Rothko. This shallow mud levee separates a distribution channel containing Bay water from a former salt pond loaded with a substantial amount of residual salt. As the summer season progresses, the rains of winter evaporate from inactive ponds, salinity increases, and different halophiles prosperPhoto by Cris Benton, published in his new book,Saltscapes.

Read the rest here:
Cris Benton: Seductive images of a landscape in transition

DALLAS The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas will present the 115 Landscape Design Be Your Own Landscape Designer program on consecutive Tuesday evenings from June 3-24, said program coordinators.

The Be Your Own Landscape Designer program in June at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas will emphasize water-efficient landscapes. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Keith Hansen)

If you are on a budget but your landscape needs a facelift, then you can learn how to be your own landscape designer by learning hands-on, do-it-yourself approaches to landscape design during this program, said Karen Sanders, Texas A&M AgriLife Research urban water program assistant, Dallas. During the four program classes, attendees will learn about proper plant placement, fundamentals of landscape design and how to develop a more water-efficient landscape.

Sanders said classes will meet from 6-9 p.m. June 3, 10, 14 and 24 in Building C of the center, located at 17360 Coit Road.

She noted the program will emphasize low-water-use plants, plus drip and other efficient means of irrigation to help conserve urban water resources and save money. After the program concludes, attendees will receive a free 30-minute consultation by Patrick Dickinson, AgriLife Research urban water program coordinator at the Dallas Center, to finalize their plans.

Dickinson, who has a bachelors degree in horticulture from Tarleton State University, is an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist and has extensive experience in landscape design. He said, depending on the size of the project, the cost of a landscape design drawn up by a professional company could be more than triple the cost of the program.

We want attendees to come to the first weeks class with a general idea of where they would like to do the landscaping front yard, backyard, around a pool area, etc. and bring general measurements, pictures and specifications, Dickinson said. It is the goal of the program that by the end of the fourth week they will be able to develop their own final plan for a landscape design, after which I will be available to provide additional suggestions and guidance.

Program cost is $395. To register, go to: http://dallas.tamu.edu/courses/2014/june-2014-landscape-design-school/. The program is limited to 25 participants and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact Sanders at 972-952-9671 or karen.sanders@tamu.edu.

-30-

Here is the original post:
Dallas AgriLife center to present Be Your Own Landscape Designer program in June

By Steve Jacobs

San Diego experienced quite a heat wave in the month of May. Many of you probably found some relief by diving into your swimming pools. Living in San Diego, we dont have to wait for a heat waveor even summer to enjoy our pools. Our world famous weather allows us to dive in all year long. With advancements in pool sustainability, we can enjoy our pools while reducing the impact on the environment, our pocket books, and our bathing suits.

Solar heating: A solar heating system can raise your pool temperature 5 to 15 degrees over a few days of good weather, which in San Diego is almost every day. Although there is the initial installation price, an investment in a solar heating system pays for itself in 2 to 3 years and can be expected to last 20-25 years.

Energy efficient pool pumps: Energy efficient (variable speed) pumps use lower speeds to increase efficiency. They also move the water more efficiently, which can reduce chemical treatments and pool cleaning. Variable speed pumps are also much quieter which can enhance your pool relaxation experience.

Salt systems: Salt water systems create chlorine by splitting the salt molecule into sodium and chloride. This sterilizes the pool water which helps prevent the growth of algae. Salt water pools are less harsh on the skin than traditional chlorine pools, easier on your eyes, and easier on your bathing suits. Converting your pool to a salt system costs $1,500-$2,000 and uses approximately $15 worth of high quality salt a year. Other eco-friendly pool systems are UV and ionic.

Pool Cover: Pool covers can dramatically reduce water evaporation so you wont have to refill your pool as often. Pool covers also reduce the amount of chemicals needed to keep the water clear. A solar pool cover will contribute to the heating your pool during the day and reduce the loss of heat during the night, which helps save both the environment and money.

LED pool lights: LED (light emitting diode) light fixtures use over 80 percent less energy than conventional incandescent light fixtures. They also have a much longer life so you probably will not need to replace them until your pool is remodeled. Today there are so many color options that allow you to create the perfect pool ambiance.

Surrounding landscape: Remove or prune any plant material that may drop leaves into the pool in order to reduce the amount of chemicals needed to maintain balanced water chemistry. This will also decrease the need for cleaning the skimmer basket and pool filter.

Size: If you are building a new pool, one way to make it eco-friendly is to make it as small and shallow as possible to decrease water, chemical and energy consumption.

Go here to see the original:
Sustainable Swimming Pools for Summer

Barry Trotz was hired as the 17th coach in Washington Capitals history on Monday a big move not just for D.C., but the leagues entire coaching landscape as well.

With the move, the list of available coaching jobs shrunk to three it was as high as five, prior to Peter Laviolette taking Trotzs old job in Nashville and two of the most experienced candidates are off the market.

So, whats left? Openings remain in Vancouver, Florida and Carolina and Dan Byslmas fate remains up in the air in Pittsburgh. As for the candidates? John Stevens, Kevin Dineen, Jeff Blashill, Guy Boucher, Willie Desjardins and Brad Shaw are still available, as are recently dismissed bench bosses John Tortorella, Peter Horachek and Adam Oates.

(Kirk Muller and Mike Haviland, originally thought to be in the candidate pool, are out of the running; Muller took an assistants gig in St. Louis, and Haviland went the NCAA route with Colorado College.)

Heres a look at the three available gigs, and the latest from each search.

Vancouver

The Canucks finally have their new GM in place, as the club introduced ex-Bruins assistant Jim Benning on Friday. During his introduction, Benning and president of hockey ops Trevor Linden said the search for a new coach would begin quickly, and a few names have already been thrown out: Stevens, who was one of the four finalists for the job last year before it went to John Tortorella, and Desjardins, who Brough wrote about earlier today.

Florida

GM Dale Tallons on record saying he wants an experienced NHL coach after hiring back-to-back first-timers in Dineen and Horachek. Marc Crawford, he of the 549 career wins, is reportedly in the mix for the job; according to CBCs Elliotte Friedman, Tom Renney (he of the 260 wins) and Ron Wilson (648 wins) are also candidates. Itll be curious to see if the Panthers would be willing to wait and see how the Bylsma situation shakes out in Pittsburgh, as hed certainly have the requisite resume Tallon wants in a head coach.

Carolina

Continue reading here:
With Trotz gone, heres the NHLs coaching vacancy landscape

Ticonderoga

The King's Garden at Fort Ticonderoga opens Saturday for the season.

The walled colonial revival garden was originally designed in 1921 by leading landscape architect Marian Coffin. The formal elements a reflecting pool, manicured lawn and hedges, and brick walls and walkways are balanced by annuals and perennials. It features heirloom flowers and modern cultivars to recreate a historic planting scheme.

Outside the nine-foot brick walls of King's Garden, the grounds also feature the Discovery Gardens, including a children's garden, an interactive 18th-century American Garrison Garden, and Three Sisters Garden.

The garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 13. The King's Garden is included with the general admission ticket to the historic fort on Lake Champlain.

There are guided tours through the garden offered daily as well other activities for both children and adult visitors.

Fort Ticonderoga is also commemorating Memorial Day by honoring the soldiers of the Revolutionary War. The fort will offer a "Salute to the Soldiers," which will include patriotic and 18th-century music and musket salutes to fallen soldiers, at 11 a.m. Monday. There will also be a musket firing demonstration where visitors can see the challenges of loading and firing the American Revolution-era weapon.

Tickets to the fort are $17.50 for adults, $15 for seniors age 65 and up. Admission for children 5-12 is $8 and children under 4-years-old are free.

Fort Ticonderoga is located at 30 Fort Ti Road, Ticonderoga; for more information, call (518) 585-2821.

Nick Niedzwiadek

More here:
Fort Ticonderoga garden opens Saturday

Fallen branches: When a storm is forecast, stop putting branches and limbs out for pick-up. Smaller vegetative debris can be placed in containers for regular trash pickup.

Before a storm hits, there will usually be several days of rain bands that also bring wind that could dislodge branches and other vegetative debris. The day before a storm, pick up all of the limbs, branches and palm fronds in your yard so they dont become missiles, said Christine Kelly-Begazo, director of the Indian River County Extension Office. Because there is no trash pick-up at this time, stow the debris in a secure outbuilding.

Food crops: Coconuts can detach from trees and damage property; remove them. This is also the time to harvest any food crops that are ready or almost ready to be used.

Plants and ornaments: Bring in potted plants. Stow landscape ornaments, lawn furniture, grills, pool toys and anything that cannot be secured. Remember to never use a grill or generator indoors or in an attached garage; they produce deadly carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.

Pools: Some people will remove some water from an in-ground pool to prevent it from topping over and flooding the house. Be aware that an under-filled pool can pop like a boat from saturated ground. The Florida Swimming Pool Association recommends draining only one or two feet of water and only if the pool surround lacks adequate drainage and a structure is threatened if the pool floods. After removing some water, clean out debris and traps and shock the pool. After the chlorine has had a chance to circulate, turn off circuit breakers to the pool pump and filters before the storm hits.

Mow the lawn: This may be your last chance to mow for a while.

Check yard, pool and storm drains: Unclog drains to help stormwater flow off the property as quickly as possible.

Bring exotic fish, reptiles and birds into a secure place: Exotics including pythons that escaped into the wild after Hurricane Andrew are costing Floridians, Florida businesses and state coffers untold money and effort in an effort to control their spreading offspring. Dont let exotics escape if your home is damaged or ponds overflow.

Go here to read the rest:
Pre-storm clean-up can prevent damage

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 04:54 EST, 23 May 2014 | Updated: 07:49 EST, 23 May 2014

223 shares

43

View comments

A collection of pictures has offered a glimpse inside the heavenly 4.5 million mansion which, according to legend, was lost by Lawrence of Arabia star Omar Sharif in a high-stakes card game just days after he bought it in the decedent heyday of the 1970s.

Nestled in a 7,000 metre sq complex built out of a volcanic quarry on the Spanish island of Lanzarote, the mansion, named Casa Omar Sharif because of its apparent connection to the Hollywood star, offers sweeping views, a private pool, lavish furnishings and private tunnels through the unique surrounding landscape.

Omar Sharif, then one of the world's most desirable actors, is said to have fallen in love with the property while he was on the island filming The Mysterious Island in 1973 and bought it on the spot.

A collection of photographs has offered a glimpse inside the heavenly 4.5 million mansion, pictured, which, according to legend, was lost by Laurence of Arabia star Omar Sharif in a high-stakes card game

Nestled in a 7,000 metre sq complex built out of a volcanic quarry on the Spanish island of Lanzarote, the mansion is named Casa Omar Sharif because of its apparent connection to the Hollywood star

More here:
The 4.4m mansion lost by Omar Sharif in a high-stakes game of BRIDGE

In Tuesday's episode, character Catherine Cawood was savagely beaten As the show ended, she collapsed in the road with face covered in blood It followed the murder of a policewoman last week on lonely country road Average of 5.8million viewers tuned in to Happy Valley's first instalments

By Alasdair Glennie Tv Correspondent

Published: 15:30 EST, 21 May 2014 | Updated: 02:45 EST, 22 May 2014

408 shares

540

View comments

It is called Happy Valley, but the landscape of the BBCs new crime drama is unrelentingly bleak.

The programme has drawn criticism for showing gratuitous violence in a string of graphic scenes.

In Tuesdays episode, the lead character - police sergeant Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire - was savagely beaten in a basement.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Continue reading here:
Did the BBC's brutal Happy Valley go too far?