#Presa Community Center

[yume-x-hanabi]

More Chimeriad hc ideas: if they went to one of those community center kind of events with different arts and crafts (probably in Elympios? but could be in Rieze Maxia too), what do you think each of them would be good at/would they have the most fun with? What music would each of them like best? (and who if any would be the type to get caught up and starting singing along or dancing if by themselves). Lastly, if there was an equivalent to DnD, who would narrate, and what roles would they pick?

Auj Oule has a lot of festival based on spirit worship (or just for the fun of having a festival), often with food, music, dances and games. There isn’t really an official one – each region and tribe have their own traditions.

Gaius always makes it a point to participate in whatever is going on in the places he visits, partly to be seen more favorably by the population, and partly because it’s just fun and he loves community event. Of course the capital has its own festivals and events, and he always attends at least one of them (depending on what his schedule allows).

That’s one thing where Wingul lets loose a little in public. Dances and songs appeal to his artist side, and he knows how effective active participation is in raising population satisfaction with their ruler. So he doesn’t hesitate to be part of the spectacle, and encourages Gaius and the rest of the Chimeriad to be part of it at least for a little bit.

Jiao likes the atmosphere and the food, but is a bit self-conscious about dancing, because he’s afraid to knock into people. He’s a pro at bon-odori though (which I’m imagining as a Kitarl festival that’s spread to other regions). He can’t sing, though, and playing instruments is not his forte either. He’s in charge of wyvern air show, though.

Presa finds festivals a bit tiring, but she wouldn’t miss an opportunity to see Wingul’s participation. And he sometimes ropes her into dancing with him. She prefers holding food stalls, though.

Agria’s more into the games and competitions and anything where she can let out energy (or show off fire artes), especially if she can destroy stuff. She’s inherited her mother’s singing voice, but you’d have to both bribe and blackmail her to get her to sing in public. Give her a drum and she’s happy, though.

Even when they’re not performing, they’re part of the organization council of at least half of Kanbalar’s festivals.

When they go to Elympios, Gaius insists they check out those so-called “community centers” to get a better feel of Elympion culture.

It’s a lot quieter than festivals, which makes Presa more open to the idea. She somehow becomes knitting buddies with the center’s grandmas, who are all trying to bury her in hand-knitted jumpers and scarves because they think she must be cold showing so much skin (when she points out that Gaius is dressed even more lightly for the season (she at least has a coat for outside), they all turn their efforts on him).

Jiao enjoys Elympion cooking classes and taking care of the community garden (sharing precious Rieze Maxian tips on how to best grow vegetables).

Agria gets bored easily (which is dangerous), but fortunately she meets some girls her age who are into new music genres like “rock” and “metal” and she finds it to her taste. They’re kind of waging war against the grandmas, who’re always trying to get them to lower the volume of “that awful noise.”

Wingul ends up teaching Rieze Maxian calligraphy to a few of the older members. He also gains favor with Agria’s friends when he can reproduce their dance moves just by observing them a few times. They end up forming a band (think Babymetal lol) and hire him as their lyrics writer (Gaius is keeping an eye on the kind of lyrics he’s having the girls sing). He’s also coming up with ideas to promote the community center and improve their accounting, because of course he is.

Gaius tries his hand at a bit of everything that doesn’t involve technology and is quickly on first name basis with most of the members. Due to his neutral position, he’s often chosen to arbitrate the music war. He somehow gets some sort of a following from local punks when he wins the center’s martial arts competition (but what sealed the deal was getting them free tickets to Agria’s band’s show).

I’m not familiar enough with DnD to answer the role thing, but the narrator would be Wingul, who’d get very aggravated that no one is following his script properly.

[annieboltonworld]

Juniper Publishers-Open Access Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources

Study of Heavy Metal Pollution in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Due to Mining Activity: Sonora and Bacanuchi Rivers

Authored by GJ León-García

Abstract

A study of the Sonora and Bacanuchi rivers was conducted to assess the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals. These rivers were affected by a spill caused by the mining activity of the region, which is considered the most important ecological disaster in the modern history of Mexico. BCR sequential extraction was performed to determine geochemical phases in which metals are found. The evaluation of heavy metal contamination was performed using Enrichment Factor (EF) and Geoaccumulation index (Igeo). Sediments showed high concentrations (mg/kg) of Cu (8-716), Cr (8-90), Fe (7,300-52,400), Mn (80-938), Ni (6-48), Pb (14-210) and Zn (41-470). Metal concentrations in geochemical phases exhibited the following order: residual>Fe/Mn oxides> exchangeable>organic matter. The order of mobility and/or bioavailability of metals was: Mn>Cu>Ni>Pb>Zn>Fe>Cr. EF showed an anthropogenic enrichment in both rivers for Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, mainly derived from the mining activity. Values of Igeo were classified as non-contaminated to moderately contaminated. The Bacanuchi river showed moderate to strong contamination of Cu and Pb. The quality criteria comparisons (LEL and SEL) indicate both rivers are contaminated by metals and represent a danger to biota, due to the high metal mobility and bioavailability.

Keywords: Metals; Bioavailability; Sediments; Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers

Introduction

Sediments are the result of the deposition of particles that bring along material of rocks and minerals, heavy metals, organic matter, among others. Sediment deposition occurs by entrainment of both organic and inorganic particles [1]. Sediments play an important role in transportation of nutrients, metals and other pollutants through river systems to the oceans and seas of the world [2]. Contamination of sediments by heavy metals can occur naturally or anthropogenically [3]. The most important anthropogenic activities are the agricultural, industrial, manufacturing, and mining activities. Heavy metals are among the most common pollutants and their ecological impact is due to their toxicity, high persistence and non- degradability in the environment [4,5]. Sediments concentrate metals from aquatic systems and represent a suitable and strategic means for conducting pollution monitoring studies [6].

In sediment, metals can be found in different chemical species, and depending on the species in which it is found, bioavailability, mobility and its toxicity can be determined. The determination of the total metal content can be useful for sediment characterization; However, it does not provide enough information on the bioavailability or toxicity of metals [7,8].

Sequential extraction is a technique that is widely used for the determination of chemical speciation and possible associations between metals and sediment components [9]. The sequential extraction method proposed by the Community Bureu of Reference (BCR) classifies metals into three fractions: fraction I exchangeable and acid soluble fractions; fraction II reducible fraction or Fe and Mn oxide-associated fraction; fraction III oxidizable fraction or fraction bound to organic matter [10]. If the metal corresponds to the first geochemical fractions, it will be more bioavailable, that is, it will be more available to participate in metabolic reactions of living beings and, therefore, it will be potentially more toxic or bioaccumulable, depending on the type of metal and its concentration.

In order to estimate the there is an environmental impact due to metals and the level of contamination; there are parameters such as the enrichment factor (EF) and the Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) [5]. EF establishes whether the concentration of a metal comes from a natural or an anthropogenic source. Igeo determines the extent of metal pollution in sediments, considering the concentration of that metal in baseline samples [11]. In Mexico, the mining industry is a productive sector which contributes economically, historically and culturally, and it will continue to be one of the pillars in the development and growth of the country. However, there is a strong environmental impact attributed to the mining activity, especially when accidents occur, or when improper management of the process or damages occur in any stage of the mining cycle.

In Mexico, there are documented accidents, particularly in the Sonora region, where spills of acid solutions containing metals, have been dumped and have caused a negative impact to the environment [12-14]. In August 2014, a 40,000 m3 spill of acid waste, with high concentration of copper sulfate and low pH values, was reported from a mining dam located in the region of Cananea, Sonora affecting the Bacanuchi river stream, which is tributary of the Sonora river. The main metal contaminants contained in the spilled solution were: copper, aluminum, cadmium, chromium, iron, manganese and lead, which levels were above Mexican standards [15]. This spill is considered the most important ecological disaster in modern history of Mexico, and to our knowledge, there is no previously published information regarding the fate of such pollutants in the Sonora river system.

Based on the above, a study was carried out in the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers, which objectives are: a) to estimate the origin and level of contamination by heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in the sediments, based on EF and Igeo; b) to estimate the distribution of heavy metals in the different geochemical fractions of the sediments; c) to study the chemical behavior (re-mobilization) of the heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in the geochemical fractions of sediments that may be available to biota and that may endanger human health, and c) to contribute to the study of aquatic ecosystems contaminated by mining activities in arid and semiarid regions in Mexico.

Methodology

Reagents and Apparatus

All reagents used in this research were analytical grade (Baker, Mexico). Deionized water (DI) was used in all the tests. All the glassware and equipment used to collect samples were prepared by soaking them in a 20 % (v/v) HNO3 solution for 3 days and then rinsed with DI water to reduce contamination risk by heavy metals. Hydrogen potential (pH) was determined using a portable pHmeter Thermo Scientific Orion 3-star benchtop. The measurement of heavy metal concentrations was determined using a Perkin Elmer atomic absorption Analyst 400 equipment. The wavelengths (nm) used for the analyses are: Cd 228.8, Cu 324.8, Cr 357.9, Fe 248.3, Mn 279.5, Ni 232.0, Pb 283.3 and Zn 213.9, respectively.

Study Area

The study area is located within the Cananea municipality, northeast of the state of Sonora, Mexico (Figure 1). In this area, one of the world's largest copper deposit is located, with an estimated production of 1.4x109 kg Cu, and smaller concentrations of Ag, Au, Pb, and Zn [16]. These mineral deposits can be found predominantly as pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite, and, in a lesser extent, as galena. The total area of the mine is about 12 to 16 km2, and the waste dumps and heap leach pads occupy an area of 1,000 hectares, which have been originated throughout the life of the mine. Arroyo Las Tinajas has its origin near Represo Tinajas 1, located inside the mining facilities. The path of the Tinajas stream flows to the south where it joins the Bacanuchi river. Then, the Bacanuchi river joins the Sonora river near the town of Arizpe, Sonora. Subsequently, the Sonora river flows into Presa El Molinito, near the city of Hermosillo, Sonora.

The predominant climate in the region is tempered, semi-arid climate, with a maximum, minimum, and average annual temperature of 25, 10, and 18°C, respectively. Some researchers have reported environmental pollution associated with abnormal concentrations of metals in the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers [17]. The rivers of Bacanuchi and Sonora are a vital source of water for most economical activities of the region, i.e., agricultural and livestock activities, besides being a water supply for nearby localities, such as Hermosillo, capital of the state of Sonora [13,17].

Sample Collection and Analysis

A field sampling campaign was conducted in October 2014, on the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers. Sediment samples were collected from a total of 11 sampling stations (Figure 1). Samples were taken at three different points within the same sampling station, to make up a composite sample. One of the points was taken at the center of the river and the other two were taken at each riverside, at a depth of10 cm, using a polyethylene nucleator. Once collected, samples were put on ice and then transported to the laboratory for their further preparation and analysis. After collection, a reduction in volume was made using the cone and quartet method [18], then, they were grounded to a size smaller than 100 meshes (0.149|im) using a porcelain mortar. Hydrogen potential (pH) was determined using a Thermo Scientific Orion 3-star bench-top pH meter [18]. Sulfates were determined using the BaCl2 precipitation method according to Method 980.02 [19]. Sediment texture was also determined [20]. Sediment samples were divided into four fractions: clay (<0.004 mm), lime (0.063 0. 004 mm), sand (2-0.063 mm), and gravel (> 2 mm).

Analysis of Total Heavy Metals and Sequential Extraction

The sediments were totally digested with an acid mixture (HNO3-HF-HClO4) in a Teflon vessel. Residues were then dissolved with HNO3 and boric acid (2%) and diluted with deionized water to a volume of 100 mL. Total concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. A sequential extraction procedure was performed following recommendations of the Community Bureu of Reference (BCR) [10]. Heavy metals were divided into three fractions according to the sequential extraction method: Fraction I (exchangeable and acid soluble fraction): sediment samples were extracted with acetic acid 0.11 mol L-1 for 16 h. Fraction II (Fe/Mn oxides): The residue from the previous extraction is then extracted by hydroxylamine hydrochloride 0.5 mol L-1 for 16 h. Fraction III (oxidable fraction or bound to organic matter): The residue is then oxidized with H2O2 8.8 mol L-1 and then, it is extracted with ammonium acetate 1.0 mol L-1. Residual fraction. The residual metal concentrations were determined by digestion with aqua regia. After each extraction, samples were centrifuged at 3,000 g during 20 min, at room temperature. Each extract was separated and retained in a stoppered polyethylene container for analysis. The determination of the metal concentrations was carried out using a Perkin Elmer atomic absorption equipment Analyst 400.

Quality Control

Sediment samples were analyzed by duplicate. Certified reference standard NIST 2702 (Inorganic Marine Sediment) were analyzed by triplicate and were treated similarly to sediment samples, to reduce matrix interferences and to validate accuracy and precision. Blanks were analyzed by triplicate. Five standards were used to get the calibration curve for each metal in the atomic absorption analyses, and high correlation coefficients (r > 0.9990) were obtained. Metal concentrations in the reference standard NIST were within 91-105% of the reference concentrations, which is acceptable.

Determination of Enrichment Factor and Geoacumulation Index

The enrichment factor (EF) is used to evaluate whether a sediment is enriched naturally or anthropogenically and, it has been commonly used to infer anthropogenic influences [6]. The EF method normalizes the concentrations of heavy metals with respect to a reference metal, the most common being Al and Fe [21]. Some authors propose that normalization with Fe is more adequate because of its relatively high natural concentration in the Earth's crust, since its distribution is not usually associated with the appearance of other metals [22,23]. For this reason, in the present study, Fe was used as a normalizing element. EF can be calculated using the following formula [5,24].

EF = (MxFeb)/(MbFex)

Where Mx and Fex are the concentrations of the metal and Fe in the sample; while Mb and Feb are the metal and Fe concentrations in a baseline sample. Igeo has been widely used to calculate levels of heavy metal contamination in sediments [25]. In the present study, the Igeo was calculated using the following equation [26].

Igeo = log2 [(Cn)/(1.5Bn]

Where Cn is the concentration of the element in the sample, and Bn is the concentration of the same element in a baseline sample. The geoaccumulation index comprises seven classes: Igeo ≤ 0 (class 0, uncontaminated); 0 27]. In the present study, baseline concentrations correspond to stream sediments located within the study area; however, they have not been polluted by the mining activity of the region [28]. On the other hand, a correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the studied heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and the physicochemical properties of the sediments.

Results and Discussion

Sediment Characterization

Sediments collected in the Bacanuchi river presented, mainly, a sandy texture (67 to 85 wt%), Represo Tinajas 1, presented a gravel-sandy texture (41 to 51wt%), meanwhile, the fine fractions (limes and clay) where present in a lesser extent. The previous fraction represented less than 5% of the total amount. In the Sonora river, sediments presented the following texture types: sand (34 to 77.5 wt%), gravel (7 to 50.6 wt%), silt and clay (<12%). The textural features in both rivers are similar (except the fine fraction). In both rivers the fractions of sands and gravel are much larger than the finer fractions in the sediments of both rivers. Studies have reported similar results [16]. Previous studies report that variations in the particle size of the sediments are related to the patterns of water flow [29]. The textural analysis shows texture is strongly dependent on the water flow processes affecting the area.

Regarding the distribution of metals in the different granulometric fractions of the sediments, the results indicate that the sand fraction plays a primordial role in the storage of metals. In this fraction, the metal levels fluctuated in the following percentages: Cu (54 - 89 %), Cr (52 - 89 %), Fe (51 - 89 %), Mn (53 - 88 %), Ni (48 - 88 %), Pb (46 - 86 %) and Zn (51 - 84 %). In the gravel fraction, significant amounts of metals were also observed: Cu (7 - 37%), Cr (6 - 39%), Fe (7 - 41%), Mn (10- 40%), Ni (8 - 43%), Pb (11 - 46%) and Zn (12 - 41%). Results indicate most of the metals were found in the coarse fractions (sands) and in the sand and gravel fractions for Represo Tinajas 1. Other studies have reported similar behaviors [16,30]. The results obtained in the Bacanuchi river sediments are different from those reported by other studies in the literature, which shows that the content of metals in sediments is mostly associated with particle size [29].

Physical and Chemical Characterization of Sediments

In Table 1, the results of the physicochemical analysis of sediments of the Sonora and Bacanuchi rivers are presented.Regarding to pH, the stations closer to the source of contamination (Represo Tinajas 1, pH 3.1), such as Arroyo Tinajas and Bordo de Contention were the ones with the lowest pH values (4.14 to 4.4), respectively. These sampling stations received the spill of Fe/Cu acid solutions from Represo Tinajas 1 in August 2014. The rest of the sampling stations showed a pH ranging from 7.46 to 8.56. The acidic conditions favor the mobilization of metals in sediments, increasing their solubility as the pH decreases [31]. An acidic pH value in a sediment may indicate that, under certain conditions, some metals found in the site may be dissolved when pluvial runoff occurs and thus be mobilized to other areas. On the other hand, the concentration of sulfates in both rivers fluctuated in the range of 0.02 to 1.7%. The highest concentration of sulfates occurred in Represo Tinajas 1 (1.7%), which is the source of contamination. The results of sulfates in sediments of the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers (including Represo Tinajas 1) are low compared to other studies. Previous research report high concentrations of sulfates (4.51-5.63%) in sediments of the San Pedro river contaminated by the mining activity of the region [13].

* Source of contamination

BDL Below detection limit

Total Metal Determination in Sediment Samples

Total metals concentrations (mg/kg) in the Bacanuchi river fluctuated in the following ranges: Cd (Table 1). The Mn presented its maximum concentration (938 mg/kg) at Presa El Molinito (discharge), because it is located in a mineralized area. The mineralized areas (mineral deposits) influence the composition of aquatic systems, through the release of large amounts of metal ions [32]. Studies performed in the region where this reservoir is located have reported similar concentrations of Mn [33].

As for the behavior of the total metals concentration in the Bacanuchi river, the following order was observed: Fe>Cu>Mn>Zn>Pb>Cr>Ni. In the Sonora river, the order was as follows: Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Ni. Compared to other rivers in the world, total concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn were much higher in the Bacanuchi river (except Paracatu river), while Cr and Ni were lower (Table 2). The Sonora river also had high concentrations of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn with respect to sediments of the Tiaozi, Kuitum and Wei rivers, but lower than those reported in the Bacanuchi and Paracatu rivers (except Mn) [6,20,32,34].

Geochemical Distribution of Heavy Metals in Sediments

In Figure 2, the distribution of the metals in the different geochemical fractions of the sediment is presented.

Fraction I (Exchangeable and Acid Soluble Fraction): This fraction is generally considered as the bioavailable portion of metals and, if they are present at high enough concentrations, they may be toxic to aquatic organisms [35-37]. In the Bacanuchi river, the minimum and maximum concentrations (mg/kg) were Cu (7 - 149), Fe (27 - 141), Mn (11 - 201), Ni (1 - 2.70) and Zn (3 - 23). In the Sonora river, the concentrations were as follows: Cu (4,37].

Mobility and bioavailability in the Bacanuchi river were as follows: Mn>Cu>Fe>Zn>Ni; and in the Sonora river: Mn>Fe>Cu>Zn>Ni, therefore, metals accumulated in this fraction are more susceptible to be mobilized by changes in environmental conditions. Adsorption-desorption reactions, or a decrease in pH, change the ionic composition and could therefore remobilize metals in this fraction and turn them back to surface water where they may represent a potential hazard to the environment [37]. Cd, Cr and Pb presented values below the detection limit (

Fraction II. Fraction related to Fe/Mn oxides: In this fraction, metals are strongly bound to Fe/Mn oxides; however, they are thermodynamically unstable under anoxic conditions [38] and, therefore, they could be dissolved in the water column and thus mobilized [39]. The minimum and maximum concentrations (mg/kg) in the Bacanuchi river were: Cd and Cr (Figure 2). In the Sonora river had the following concentrations: Cu (1 - 12), Cr (

The highest concentrations of metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb) were detected in the sediments of the Bacanuchi river, while in the Sonora river they were Cr, Ni and Zn. Mobility and bioavailability in the Bacanuchi river were as follows: Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>Pb>Ni; and in the Sonora river: Fe>Mn>Pb>Zn>Cu>Ni. The fraction II presented the highest values with respect to the FI; it can be inferred that metals belonging to this fraction will have higher mobility and bioavailability than FI, and this will depend on changes in the pH and/or redox conditions of the sediment [24,38].

Fraction III. Fraction Associated with Organic Matter and Sulfides: The minimum and maximum concentrations (mg/ kg) of metals in the Bacanuchi river are Cu (3 - 104), Cr (Figure 2). In both rivers Cd and Pb were not detected (

Mobility and bioavailability in the Bacanuchi river were as follows: Fe>Cu>Mn>Zn>Ni>Cr; and in the Sonora river: Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>Ni>Cr. It has been reported that the organic fraction (sulfides) is considered the most important component in the adsorption of metals in sediments. Some studies have reported high concentrations of metals associated with organic matter [2,38,40]. Some metals such as Cu can form complexes with organic matter, so that during their decomposition can cause their release into the environment.

Residual Fraction: Metals in this fraction are less harmful to the environment, because this fraction is chemically stable and biologically inactive [24]. Therefore, they are not likely to negatively impact surface water quality [2]. In the present study, the highest concentrations of most metals, in both rivers, were detected in this fraction. The Bacanuchi River presented the following percentages: Cu (35 - 51), Cr (98 - 100), Fe (84 - 93), Mn (29 - 77), Ni (71 - 95), Pb (83 - 91) and Zn (71 - 84). In the Sonora river, the percentages were Cu (16 - 75), Cr (79 - 99), Fe (90 - 95), Mn (10 - 60), Ni (Figure 2). Other studies have reported results similar to those obtained in the present research [8,13,16,41]. Metal concentrations in this fraction can be used as baseline data for the evaluation of the river system pollution. The stability of this fraction is controlled by the mineralogy and the extent of physicochemical weathering of the sediment [24].

Non-Residual Fraction: Metals in the non-residual fraction indicate the occurrence of anthropogenic contributions due to activities developed on areas nearby the river, such as mining and urban activities (untreated wastewater discharge). The non-residual metal fraction (FI+FII+FIII) was analyzed since this fraction is more bioavailable than the residual one. In the Bacanuchi river, the percentages of heavy metals in the nonresidual fraction fluctuated in the following ranges: Cu (48 - 65), Cr (4,42]. The possible metal mobility in the non-residual fraction, for the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers, is as follows: Mn>Cu>Ni>Zn>Fe>Cr and Ni>Pb>Mn>Cu>Zn>Cr>Fe, respectively. For both rivers, high metal concentrations were observed in the non-residual fraction, hence, a high mobility and bioavailability are possible. Therefore, these metals may have an impact on water quality and a harmful effect on biota.

Enrichment Factor and Geoaccumulation Index

In the present study, the enrichment factor (EF) was calculated using sediment baseline samples that are not affected by the rivers under study or by anthropogenic activities [28]. The results of EF of each metal in both rivers fluctuated in the following ranges: Cu (0.7 - 8.9), Cr (0.4 - 3.8), Mn (0.4 - 3.6), Ni (0.7 - 5.5), Pb (0.4 - 8.9) and Zn (0.7 - 2.8) (Table 3). In most sampling stations, the EF value for Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn was above 1.0, indicating an enrichment that may be attributed to the mining activity of the region, specifically in the Bacanuchi river. Regarding Igeo, in the Bacanuchi river, the Bacanuchi station (before confluence) presented an Igeo of 2.1 for Cu indicating a moderate and strong contamination; the Poblado Bacanuchi and the Bacanuchi (before confluence) stations had Igeo values of 1.4 and 2.1 for Pb, presenting moderate and strong contamination. In the Sonora river, the Sinoquipe station presented a value of 1.0 for Cr, indicating a null to moderate contamination (Table 3).

Spearman Correlation Analysis

To analyze the association between Physical parameters and total metal content, a Spearman correlation analysis was used, since most parameters do not have a normal distribution. Results indicate there was a positive correlation among metals such as Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and the gravel fraction (r = 0.29 to 0.36); while sand fraction had negative correlations with Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn (r = -0.28 to -0.43) (Table 4). The fraction of silt had a positive correlation with Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn (r = 0.30 to 0.70), while the clay fraction was positively related to Fe, Mn and Zn (r = 0.51 to 0.64). Similarly, other studies report a strong correlation between heavy metals and particle size, being silt and clay the fractions most associated to metals due to their large specific surface area in which metals are adsorbed [43]. In general, most metals had a positive correlation between each other (r = 0.46 to 0.91), which may indicate a strong mineralogical association coming from the same origin, that is, the mining activity of the region. This agrees with data reported by other studies [43,44]. On the other hand, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn showed a positive correlation with sulfates (r = 0.33 to 0.59), indicating that they may be associated as sulfates. Regarding pH, all metals (including sulfates) had negative correlations with pH values (r = -0.32 to -0.97). parameters, grain size and total metals of surface sediment.

*Significant at 0.05 level; "significant at 0.1 level

Sediment Quality Criteria

Total metal concentrations were compared to the Low Effect Level (LEL) and the Severe Effect Level (SEL) criteria, [45,46]. If metal concentration is higher than the LEL, that metal may moderately affect biota, and if the metal exceeds the SEL criterion, the metal may severely affect biota. Most of the sampling stations in both rivers exceeded the LEL quality criterion for Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, thus a moderate effect on biota is possible (Table 5). The SEL criterion was only exceeded for Cu in the Bacanuchi river (Arroyo Tinajas, Bordo de Contention and Bacanuchi (before confluence)), and Fe in the Poblado Bacanuchi Station. This suggests that there could be a severe effect caused by Cu and Fe, to the biota. Previous research has reported similar results in San Pedro river sediments contaminated by mining activity in the state of Sonora, Mexico [16].

*Sampling stations that exceeded LEL and SEL levels.

Conclusion

A study was carried out to evaluate the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments of the Sonora and Bacanuchi rivers, affected by the mining activity. The Bacanuchi river presented the highest levels of heavy metals, which concentrations had the following descending order: Fe>Cu>Mn>Zn>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cd. The Sonora river had the following order: Fe>Mn>Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd. Sediments in both rivers presented a sandy texture, with high concentrations of most of the analyzed metals. The sequential extraction study showed that the predominant order of metals was as follows: residual>Fe/Mn oxides>exchangeable>organic matter. However, a significant percentage of metals were associated with the nonresidual fraction, which represents anthropogenic contributions due to the region's mining activity. The potential mobility of metals in the non-residual fraction had the following order: Mn>Cu>Ni>Pb>Zn>Fe>Cr.

EF showed an enrichment of anthropogenic origin in both rivers for Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, indicating an enrichment that may be derived from the mining activity of the region, specifically in the Bacanuchi river. Most Igeo values were within the classification of non-contaminated to moderately contaminated. Bacanuchi station (before confluence), showed moderate to strong contamination of Cu and Pb. In both rivers, the LEL criterion was exceeded for Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, and therefore, a moderate effect on biota is expected. The SEL criterion was only exceeded for Cu and Fe in the Bacanuchi River. This may represent a danger to the biota of both rivers, due to their high mobility and bioavailability.

This study has generated important information on the concentration of metals, their mobility/bioavailability, and their possible effect on biota. However, future studies on water and sediment chemistry (including biota) are required to fully assess the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers. These studies are particularly important due to the spill occurred in August 2014, in the Cananea region of Sonora, Mexico, which consequences have not yet been fully evaluated.

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[lakeythe-blog]

You can practice social distancing while creating with sidewalk chalk. You can either be artistic, educational, political, whatever. A mask and gloves are a good safe choice if you're doing it in dirty city streets but if you're in the country in a park the fresh air might be nice. In your own drive way you make the call. No need to get close to anyone or interact with them so that you can keep true to your social distancing safety precautions...just leave something inspiring behind... Consider doing it by tall buildings of old people, young people, and sick people. The joy your beauty provides might strengthen someone's smile and, maybe it is just wishful thinking, but maybe it will even be enough to strengthen someone's immune system even the slightest little bit. Check different hashtags and see what other people are doing already #sidewalkchalkart #sidewalkchalk #crayolasidewalkchalk ...like...it isn't a viral idea or anything...but it could spread... I only posted my own artwork in this post but I suggest checking out @accidentalchalkartist on Instagram as her work is really inspiring, especially once schools started closing and she started making art mindful of that. #GuerrillaBeautification #FlowersofLifeTour (at Presa Community Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/B95HKW7lgY-/?igshid=6p3eapct8zih

[gazemoil]

RECENSIONI 4IN1: Kehlani, Flume, Deerhunter, Better Oblivion Community Center

In questa istallazione di Recensioni 4in1 parliamo in breve di quattro dischi, tra album e mixtape, usciti durante il primo quadrimestre dell’anno. E’ una buona occasione per recensire musica che, per questioni di tempo, non ha trovato spazio in un articolo prima di ora, ma anche si merita almeno qualche parola. E’ il turno di due dei mixtape più in evidenza dell’inverno: l’atmosferico While We Wait della cantante rnb Kehlani ed il bizzarro Hi This Is Flume del noto producer australiano Flume. Poi è la volta di due piccoli album che non devono essere passati inosservati a chi piace controllare cosa transita appena sotto il radar del mainstream: Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? dei Deerhunter e l’inaspettata collaborazione tra Conor Oberst e Phoebe Bridgers con Better Oblivion Community Center.

Kehlani - While We Wait (TSNMI / Atlantic, 2019)

La cantante californiana Kehlani Ashley Parrish, nota solo come Kehlani, ritorna a distanza di due anni dal fortunato disco d’esordio SweetSexySavage con il mixtape While We Wait. Nell’attesa, come suggerisce il titolo, di portare a termine la sua prima gravidanza, il nuovo progetto - formato da nove tracce per una durata di trenta minuti - sembra il copione di un romanzo su quanto possa essere complessa la coesistenza funzionale tra amore e comunicazione in un presente iper-mediatico come il nostro. La sua storia, quindi, non presenta colpi di scena eclatanti e non segue traiettorie affatto imprevedibili, in realtà, non attribuisce poi così tanto peso alla narrazione che diventa, come ormai è comune nell’rnb, un pretesto per creare l’atmosfera romantica, flirtante e nostalgica che va di pari passo col genere. Kehlani incontra stilisticamente SZA, H.E.R. e Drake per illustrare queste realtà confuse, talvolta ripercorrendo traumi del passato, sentimenti repressi, incomunicabilità delle parole e costrizioni della mascolinità per come viene comunemente intesa. I suoi personaggi sono, dunque, persone emotivamente provate che cercano di capirsi a vicenda. Comunque sia, i brani rimangono in linea generale molto gradevoli e pop. La produzione è pulita e di qualità, sebbene non sia nulla di speciale, così come le strumentali sono sempre molto colorate e moderne, ma raramente sopra la media, a metà strada tra trap ed alternative hip-hop, urban ed rnb con ammicchi vagamente funk e soul - come in Morning Glory che potrebbe benissimo trovarsi nel prossimo album di Ariana Grande. Il vero punto di forza è perciò la voce della cantante, lucida e balsamica, seducente ma non forzatamente zuccherata. 

Si inizia benissimo con Footsteps che rimane probabilmente imbattuta dagli altri brani in quanto ad intensità, scorrendo fluidissima grazie ad una composizione molto tranquilla ma intrigante che sovrappone cori, un giro di chitarra nello sfondo immerso nel riverbero, bassi e hi-hats sintetici di matrice trap ed una collaborazione azzeccatissima con Musiq Soulchild. Molto più elettronica è la successiva Too Deep, uno degli improbabili momenti più divertenti, in cui i synth sono bollicine caramellate ovattate da una patina che li rende in qualche modo più sinistri; ancora grandissimo uso delle sovrapposizioni vocali che qui diventano fondamentali per costruire la spirale dentro cui viene incanalato il testo, animato dal momento in cui si ci rende conto del risvolto soffocante del sentirsi improvvisamente e pericolosamente con la testa tra le nuvole. “We was candy crushin’ / But this shit gettin’ to deep”. Il vocabolario di Kehlani non è per nulla ricercato e per questo l’intera problematica da lei presentata rimane irrisolta, analizzata soltanto in superficie. Gli altri highlight sono le trap-peggianti Night Like This con Ty Dolla $ign e la più notturna RPG con 6lack. Per la scelta piuttosto ristretta delle tematiche - ed il modo in cui sono state sviluppate - il sound ed il ritmo, While We Wait risulta leggermente tirato per le lunghe. E’ il classico esempio della musica bella finché dura, ma che una volta finita passa velocemente nel dimenticatoio. 

TRACCE MIGLIORI: Footsteps; Nights Like This; RPG

TRACCE PEGGIORI: Morning Glory; Butterfly

VOTO: 65/100

di Viviana Bonura

Flume - Hi This Is Flume (Future Classic, 2019)

Tre anni sono passati da Skin, il secondo disco del producer australiano Flume che lo ha annoverato tra i nomi più noti del filone EDM della musica elettronica, pur conservando un’integrità artistica dati alcuni aspetti peculiari del suo stile, quali le influenze glitch pop, future bass ed hip-hop incorporate in maniera eccentrica, sbilenca e sempre bizzarra. A fargli da controparte ci sono stati i due EP della serie Skin Companion che hanno ampliato il contesto in cui l’artista voleva collocarsi, ovvero, mostrandosi intenzionato a presentare un sound lucido ed espansivo per far presa sulla situazione attuale della musica elettronica, ma ancora personale ed aggiornato sulle sperimentazioni. La mossa successiva di Flume conferma questa voglia di essere appetibile senza rinunciare a fare di testa sua, pubblicando il mixtape Hi This Is Flume, in cui ha potuto dare sfogo ai suoi estri più creativi ed anticonvenzionali. 

Il mixtape dura ben quaranta minuti, ma la durata media delle tracce è di circa due minuti, ciascuna perfettamente incasellata davanti e dietro l’altra tramite transizioni disinvolte, permettendo così al progetto di essere un’opera intera e fluida, un’esperienza olistica e connessa. Per esempio, la tastiera intrepidamente acuta e caramellata ed il beat industriale pesante, insieme alla collaborazione del rapper grime slowthai nella traccia High Beams creano un sound vibrante, rovente e ghiacciato allo stesso tempo, da cui si genera la successiva Jewel, una traccia altrettanto bella dalla melodia glitchy che ci traspone nel tipico mondo etereo e robotico di Flume, una pulsante e vaporosa visione ultra-futuristica nel bel mezzo di una flora rigogliosa. Lo stesso discorso vale per i droni distopici di Dreamtime, in cui i synth sembrano i battiti cardiaci di una strana creatura sottomarina ed il campionamento di una voce femminile distorta serve come tavolozza per creare la successiva Is It Cold In The Water?, remix di un brano di SOPHIE in cui Flume fa squadra col producer Eprom per rivisitare la traccia con più variazione e struttura ritmica rispetto all’originale, malgrado a tratti possa essere troppo rigida, rimane apprezzabile la sua nuova abrasione noise. Verso la fine il minutaggio per brano si restringe ed il mixtape diventa una vera e propria traccia unica, schizzi di beat e sovrapposizioni sintetiche elaborate in cui si susseguono altre strane manipolazioni e distorsioni, ancora accenni magnetici allo stile industrial, ma anche alle virtualità vaporwave coi tagli laser di Vitality, campionamenti di voci tra cui ritorna l’apprezzata Kučka in Voices. Saltano all’orecchio la frizzantissma MUD e la vertiginosa Upgrade che creano muri di suoni da club per nulla prevedibili che non hanno paura a diventare rumorosi e scatenati. Ma la vera perla del progetto è l’affamatissima collaborazione con JPEGMAFIA in How To Build A Relationship, una traccia fantastica, eccitante ed esplosiva sotto tutti i punti di vista in cui si palesa la brillantezza di entrambi. 

Sì, ci sono dei momenti che appaiono fini a se stessi, quei brani di qualche secondo che sembrano non aggiungere nulla, ma alla fine Hi This Is Flume è fatto proprio di quei piccoli pezzi che insieme si danno spinta e senso. Probabilmente è proprio questo che rende il mixtape del produttore australiano una boccata d’aria fresca sia nel più generale panorama musicale della musica elettronica - in cui si vedono troppo spesso personaggi stampati in serie capaci solo di appostarsi dietro la consolle per premere play -  sia nella sua stessa discografia che per quanto differente può anche risultare troppo confezionata ed addolcita. Hi This Is Flume è effettivamente qualcosa di sperimentale e ci porge un lato promettente dell’artista, non può fare di certo compagnia alle cose più inaudite e rivoluzionarie della musica elettronica, ma può stare sicuramente ai livelli di Bonobo, Jamie xx o Sbtrkt. Se veramente questo è Flume a noi piace parecchio.

TRACCE MIGLIORI: High Beams; Jewel; How To Build A Relationship

TRACCE PEGGIORI: Hi This Is Flume;  ╜φ°⌂▌╫§╜φ°⌂▌╫§╜φ°⌂▌╫§╜φ°⌂▌╫§╜φ°⌂▌╫§╜φ°⌂▌╫§╜φ°⌂▌╫§╜φ°⌂▌╫§°⌂ ▌

VOTO: 70/100

di Viviana Bonura

Deerhunter - Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? (4AD, 2019)

Per oltre un decennio i Deerhunter, band capitanata da Bradford Cox, si sono fatti conoscere per il loro approccio neo-psichedelico, punk e surreale all’indie rock e pop. Come in un quadro metafisico la loro musica è stata generalmente caratterizzata da una tensione latente contenuta un involucro placido, pulito e definito, dentro cui si celano tracce o espressioni dirette di orrore ed oscurità. L’impressione è che esistano, inchiodati sotto la superficie delle dinamiche socio-politiche quotidiane, una miriade di sentimenti ed esperienze negative che influenzano la nostra prospettiva sul mondo. Solitamente, la superficie placida è quella sonora, mentre l’oscurità è celata nei testi. Il loro ottavo disco, Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? lotta contro gli impulsi escapisti e conflittuali del caso, continuando l’esplorazione delle diverse sfaccettature sonore della band, purtroppo senza riuscire ad evitare alcuni importanti errori, come il finire per incarnare quello stesso limbo anestetizzante che tanto compiangono nel mondo esterno.

Già nel 2015 Cox si era dichiarato stanco della nostalgia soffusa dei primi dischi dei Deerhunter, quella nebbia affascinante della giovinezza, volendo avvicinarsi al mondo degli adulti. Nel loro ottavo album questa sensazione si è percettibilmente intensificata e l’impressione è di una band che inizia ad essere insofferente. La nostalgia, dopotutto, alimenta alcune delle più pericolose correnti di pensiero reazionarie degli Stati Uniti, richiamando un'immagine nazionale perfettamente omogenea che mai è veramente esistita. Le canzoni di Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared? considerano visceralmente le ricadute postume del capitalismo, facendo i conti con le conseguenze della vita in un paese che si sta reiterando fino alla morte. L’apertura Death in Midsummer racconta di memorie di amici defunti tra rintocchi di clavicembalo e batteria che sembrano registrati dentro un frigorifero; entrambi colpiscono bruschi, tirando il brano verso l’interno. Al di sotto di essi, tuttavia, un pianoforte squilla come se si disperdesse all’infinito in uno spazio aperto. Un assolo di chitarra dai sapori psichedelici rinforza l’illusione che la canzone stia avendo luogo contemporaneamente sia un’arena che in una bara. La combinazione vertiginosa di queste due atmosfere la rende perfetta per il testo: “They were in hills / They were in factories / They are in graves now”. 

Ci sono preoccupazioni che rimango implicite, scelta che suggerisce che l’intera tematica sia una questione artistica piuttosto che una dichiarazione di una certa posizione politica, più un’esplorazione del posto in cui potremmo finire se scegliamo la strada della distruzione. E’ come se gran parte del disco suonasse come una pellicola sottoesposta, sviluppata con sonorità analogiche e granulose. Dall’inizio alla fine Cox avvista una distante apocalisse osservandola attraverso un vetro scuro, offuscato, e mentre progredisce si lascia andare ad affermazioni nichiliste per ricordarci della sua presenza. “In the country / there's much duress / violence has taken hold / follow me / the golden void” canta fermamente in No One’s Sleeping, brano che sembra una canzone indie rock suonata col clavicembalo. I cambiamenti di temperamento del disco gli attribuiscono un effetto freddo e distanziante - forse è proprio questo il suo più grande difetto - poiché incorpora sonorità davvero insolite. A volte però, si apre uno spiraglio, quell’incisività che li incornicia nel pop, ad esempio nella strumentale Greenpoint Gothic. Esistono anche altri punti salienti, come What Happens to People che dimostra la prodezza della band nel generare consonanze, la loro abilità nel mettere insieme una trama sonora vivida fatta di chitarre splendenti e sintetizzatori spessi. Eppure, persino questa traccia ha la sfortuna di essere seguita da Detournement, un brano dalle strane modulazioni vocali da sorpassare immediatamente in quanto indugia nelle peggiori inclinazioni della personalità appuntita di Cox.

TRACCE MIGLIORI: Death In Midsummer; Greenpoint Gothic; What Happens To People?

TRACCE PEGGIORI: Détournement; Tarnung

VOTO: 60/100

di Viviana Bonura

Better Oblivion Community Center - Better Oblivion Community Center (Dead Oceans, 2019)

In una fredda giornata di gennaio, il cantautore Conor Oberst - meglio conosciuto come il leader dei Bright Eyes - e la cantautrice Phoebe Bridgers decidono di formalizzare la loro ammirazione reciproca e di dare un seguito ad una collaborazione iniziata nell’album d’esordio di lei con Better Oblivion Community Center, un inaspettato nuovo progetto musicale che si propone di unire il sensibile e malinconico indie folk di entrambi. Bridgers è da poco reduce dall’esperienza con un altro nuovo super-gruppo, quello delle boygenius, ma è proprio con Oberst che ha dimostrato di avere una naturale armonia, una simbiosi priva di qualsiasi egocentrismo che faceva sperare benissimo per una collaborazione a lungo termine. Il loro omonimo Better Oblivion Community Center è un disco molto semplice che non si discosta assolutamente dalle sonorità, già molto simili tra di loro, di ciascun solista -  e probabilmente, questo si rivela il problema di fondo. Per quasi l’ottanta percento dei trentasette minuti complessivi i due cantano insieme, narrando secondo il loro stile canonico dei malfunzionamenti quotidiani dell’essere umano e tirando fuori, qualche volta, riminiscenze del passato e quella strana sensazione di aver sempre sentito un’ambivalenza tra felicità e tristezza anche nei momenti più belli della vita.

Nei primi lavori coi Bright Eyes, la scrittura di Oberst era particolarmente vivida perché tutto ciò di cui parlava sembrava una questione di vita o di morte. Col tempo il suo istrionismo è andato perdendosi, ma stavolta, a fianco della penna empatica e cristallina di Bridgers anche Oberst sembra ringiovanito. Il punto di forza del disco è proprio nei testi, ma il suo più grande punto debole è il non essere voluto uscire dalla zona di comfort. La produzione, quindi, risulta molto elementare, pulita e senza nulla di originale, per la maggior parte acustica e sobria, tranne per la più briosa Dylan Thomas che fa da sorta di cavallo di battaglia coi suoi ritmi rock più vivi ed una band di supporto. Exeption To The Rule è proprio come dice il titolo, una traccia che improvvisamente sembra darci proprio quello che vogliamo, ovvero, una formula con altri ingredienti, delle sonorità più speziate, ma piuttosto, coi suoi synth retrò che quasi sovrastano le voci, risulta più una sbandata rigida, sterile ed insapore. 

Le altre tracce sono decisamente mediocri, ma possiamo essere d’accordo sul fatto che Service Road e Chesapeake riescono a distinguersi positivamente all’interno di una tracklist fin troppo piatta. La prima rivela Oberst in un momento particolarmente delicato ed onesto, ricordando un giovane fratello che non c’è più, mentre la voce calda e crepuscolare di Bridgers è come una mano di conforto sulla sua spalla. La seconda è la pura e nostalgica poesia di un artista acclamato su un palco, osservato dal punto di vista di Bridgers che nel pubblico si trova schiacciata tra la folla, desiderando che finisca presto di suonare, parallelamente, ricorda una persona a lei cara abituata a suonare per nessuno e questo scatena in lei un senso di colpa che, sistematicamente, la distrae dal presente per rimuginare sul passato. Quella tridimensionalità in più la si intravede proprio negli ultimi sessanta secondi della conclusiva Dominos, cover di Taylor Hollingsworth, includendo un assolo di chitarra elettrica distorta che prosegue rumorosa su un basso pieno. Soddisfazione troppo breve, ma se non altro chiude il disco su una nota positiva. Oberst e Bridgers sono indubbiamente fatti l’uno per l’altra, tuttavia, il loro primo album condiviso non è nulla di speciale. Sicuramente è bello da ascoltare finché dura, ma non vanta nessun momento riconoscibile o memorabile una volta finito.

TRACCE MIGLIORI: Dylan Thomas; Service Road; Chesapeake

TRACCE PEGGIORI: Sleepwalkin’; Exeption To The Rule; Big Black Heart

VOTO: 55/100

di Viviana Bonura

[phgq]

Baguio eyes Sto. Tomas strawberry plantation as agri-eco site

#PHnews: Baguio eyes Sto. Tomas strawberry plantation as agri-eco site

BAGUIO CITY – A Baguio councilor wants a strawberry plantation atop one of the highest peaks in southern Cordillera as an agricultural eco-tourism center.

Councilor Philian Weygan-Allan has filed a proposed ordinance that seeks to establish Sitio Bilis in Barangay Santo Tomas Central as an agricultural eco-tourism center that is “an agriculture-based operation that brings visitors to a farm or ranch for the purpose of leisure, education, or active involvement in the activities therein.”

"Santo Tomas Central is an agricultural barangay in the City of Baguio producing high-value crops such as strawberry and leafy vegetables," the proposed measure said.

It added: "The barangay has its natural mountain terrain and vegetable location for bikers and sightseers and a natural cave for spelunkers."

The proposed measure said a masterplan will be designed for the development of agricultural eco-tourism in the said barangay.

The masterplan will be crafted by the Bilis community in partnership with the City Government of Baguio and other government and non-government agencies, it added.

It also said the proposed agricultural design for the project will include walk paths, stopping areas for refreshment and souvenirs, photo areas, a car park, and other features that the community may want to include.

If approved, a technical working group will be created consisting of the City Mayor or his representative; the chairperson of the Committee on Market, Trade and Commerce, and Agriculture of the Baguio City Council; the City Veterinary and Agriculture Officer; the City Planning and Development Officer; the Punong Barangay and/ or other barangay officials; a local cooperative member; a representative of the Local Farmers Organization; the Baguio Tourism Officer; and a local community representative.

The proposal said the city government will designate the specific location of the agricultural eco-tourism site in the barangay after the completion of the masterplan.

According to the proposal, tourism activities will be done in the agri-tourist attraction during the summer months while its operation will be closed during the rainy months.

It proposes the collection of fees from persons who will enter the agricultural eco-tourism area including parking, environmental and entrance, strawberry and vegetable picking fees, and other fees to be determined as needed.

Barangay Santo Tomas is one of the barangays that border Poblacion, Tuba and found in the middle of the mountain which was home to La Presa, a made-up village for a television series of the same title that made this mountain a must-visit for lowlanders.

It is an agricultural village where leeks, cabbages, lettuce, and other highland vegetables are also planted. Farms, however, were devastated by strong rains last year. (PNA)

  ***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. " Baguio eyes Sto. Tomas strawberry plantation as agri-eco site." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097761 (accessed March 26, 2020 at 12:49AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. " Baguio eyes Sto. Tomas strawberry plantation as agri-eco site." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097761 (archived).

[yeschanneltech]

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/8mLhZj

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Cambiano le esigenze It delle aziende e i modi per fruire di tecnologia. Se da un lato i rivenditori It devono anticipare la domanda e procurarsi le adeguate soluzioni per i loro clienti, dall’altro i distributori come stanno rispondendo?

Questi ultimi sono stati spesso attaccati per essere ancora troppo ‘box mover’, restii al cambiamento voluto e dovuto all’arrivo del cloud, per esempio. Quindi, è possibile pensare a un nuovo modello di distributore It?

BB Tech Group ha provato a dare una risposta: ha convocato al Centro Congressi di Bergamo rivenditori, clienti, prospect, in una sorta di Business day, annunciando il modello As a Service.

Giampaolo Bombo e alcuni ospiti

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

“Le soluzioni di cui necessitano i rivenditori devono garantire qualità, sicurezza, flessibilità, velocità ed economicità. Per questo – afferma Giampaolo Bombo, amministratore delegato di BB Tech Group – il modello di business del distributore deve essere coerente con questa richiesta e orientarsi verso l’obiettivo di ‘ti fornisco solo quello che ti serve oggi con un occhio al futuro, ossia con soluzioni che in un futuro potranno essere implementate’. In pratica il concetto dell’as a service”.

Le tendenze che sono fornite dalle principali società di analisi del mercato parlano appunto di una tendenza verso l’as a service: dai device ai servizi, dal software alle infrastrutture segno che il canale sta puntando verso quella rivoluzione digitale tanto osannata e chiede nuove competenze e offerte innovative.

Francesco Amorosa

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Il cloud, già, sebbene in generale la percezione è positiva, ci sono differenze a seconda che si parli di grandi aziende, più sciolte nel trattare questi temi, di contro le piccole sono ancora scettiche. Quindi, si chiede Francesco Amorosa, amministratore delegato di AFA Systems, come cogliere la prossima evoluzione della tecnologia, quando l’informatica è ancora considerata un costo? Come far fronte all’avanzata dell’innovazione? “Innovazione porta complessità – dice Amorosa- va presa a piccole dosi. Ma cosa spinge a questa riluttanza? Mancanza di visibilità, difficoltà nell’offerta, user experience…”.

Per questo, Amorosa, porta in campo le piattaforme MajorNet che permettono di realizzare i tipici servizi del cloud, accompagnati da una user experience e non richiedono al cliente un team It interno. E il canale? Amorosa sostiene che per mettere d’accordo Pmi e cloud ci voglia “spazio per soluzioni innovative, fornitori che devono lavorare in semplicità e adottino soluzioni as a service, solo a canone”.

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Paolo Parabelli

Un concetto quasi ‘sartoriale’ che non passa inosservato anche in casa Rosenberger OSI. Come ha sottolineato Paolo Parabelli, sales manager Italia, che si chiede come sarà il Data center del futuro? “In Italia il numero di data center di grandi dimensioni è limitato, dato il contesto economico fatto da Pmi le quali hanno un proprio mini data center”.

Parabelli si sofferma sul concetto di pulizia del data center come fattore di risparmio. “Sembra strano ma la procedura di pulizia di un impianto in fibra spesso non viene eseguita al fine di ridurre i tempi di installazione e quindi riduzione dei costi. In realtà – spiega – l’80% dei problemi su impianti a fibre ottiche è causato proprio dalla mancanza di pulizia”.

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Romano Zanforlin

Cosa può spingere al cambiamento? La community, l’aggregazione, la condivisione di idee, lo studio e il senso del dovere. Una testimonianza che in apparenza sembra essere lontana dal contesto di distribuzione as a service, ma la testimonianza di Romano Zanforlin, direttore marketing e commerciale di Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, ha dato alcuni spunti di riflessione.

Il nuovo stadio, in primis, rifatto secondo i dettami appena citati, un luogo di responsabilizzazione: “Sono state tolte le reti che non permettevano al pubblico di lanciare oggetti in campo, per i quali una squadra viene multata e sono diminuite le multe”, spiega Zanforlin.

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Maura Frusone

Un legame forte con il territorio ha fatto si che la squadra ‘piccolo Club’ potesse competere ai massimi livelli con realtà più importanti e ricche. Insomma, un gioco di squadra che deve servire anche alle aziende It che spesso si sentono escluse d grandi colossi. Infine non può mancare la sicurezza laddove ci parli di cloud.

Maura Frusone, Head of Smb di Kaspersky, ha dato alcuni utili consigli. “Se consideriamo che nelle Pmi, il 50% delle volte gli incidenti capitano per errore umano, involontario, vi dico: investite di più sulle persone, aumentate i budget dedicati e investire per ripensare i processi di sicurezza It”.

[pmclorn11]

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Paloma, Alice, Alice Acres, Allen, Alma, Alpine, Alto, Alto Bonito, Alton, Alton North, Alvarado, Alvin, Alvord, Amarillo, Ames, Amherst, Anahuac, Anderson, Anderson Mill, Andrews, Angleton, Angus, Anna, Annetta, Annetta North, Annetta South, Annona, Anson, Anthony, Anton, Appleby, Aquilla, Aransas Pass, Archer City, Arcola, Argyle, Arlington, Arp, Arroyo Alto, Arroyo Colorado Estates, Arroyo Gardens-La Tina Ranch, Asherton, Aspermont, Atascocita, Athens, Atlanta, Aubrey, Aurora, Austin, Austwell, Avery, Avinger, Azle, Bacliff, Bailey, Bailey’s Prairie village, Baird, Balch Springs, Balcones Heights, Ballinger, Balmorhea, Bandera, Bangs, Bardwell, Barrett, Barry, Barstow, Bartlett, Barton Creek, Bartonville, Bastrop, Batesville, Bausell and Ellis, Bay City, Bayou Vista, Bayside, Baytown, Bayview, Beach City, Bear Creek village, Beasley, Beaumont, Beckville, Bedford, Bee Cave village, Beeville, Bellaire, Bellevue, Bellmead, Bells, Bellville, Belton, Benavides, Benbrook, Benjamin, Berryville, Bertram, Beverly Hills, Bevil Oaks, Bigfoot, Big Lake, Big Sandy, Big Spring, Big Wells, Bishop, Bishop Hills, Bixby, Blackwell, Blanco, Blanket, Blessing, Bloomburg, Blooming Grove, Bloomington, Blossom, Blue Berry Hill, Blue Mound, Blue Ridge, Bluetown-Iglesia Antigua, Blum, Boerne, Bogata, Boling-Iago, Bolivar Peninsula, Bonham, Bonney village, Booker, Borger, Botines, Bovina, Bowie, Box Canyon-Amistad, Boyd, Brackettville, Brady, Brazoria, Breckenridge, Bremond, Brenham, Briar, Briarcliff village, Briaroaks, Bridge City, Bridgeport, Broaddus, Bronte, Brookshire, Brookside Village, Browndell, Brownfield, Brownsboro, Brownsville, Brownwood, Bruceville-Eddy, Brundage, Bruni, Brushy Creek, Bryan, Bryson, Buchanan Dam, Buckholts, Buda, Buffalo, Buffalo Gap, Buffalo Springs village, Bullard, Bulverde, Buna, Bunker Hill Village, Burkburnett, Burke, Burleson, Burnet, Burton, Butterfield, Byers, Bynum, Cactus, Caddo Mills, Caldwell, Callisburg, Calvert, Cameron, Cameron Park, Campbell, Camp Swift, Camp Wood, Canadian, Caney City, Canton, Cantu Addition, Canutillo, Canyon, Canyon Lake, Carbon, Carl’s Corner, Carmine, Carrizo Hill, Carrizo Springs, Carrollton, Carthage, Castle Hills, Castroville, Catarina, Cedar Hill, Cedar Park, Celeste, Celina, Center, Centerville, Central Gardens, Cesar Chavez, Chandler, Channelview, Channing, Charlotte, Chester, Chico, Childress, Chillicothe, China, China Grove, Chireno, Christine, Christoval, Chula Vista-Orason, Chula Vista-River Spur, Cibolo, Cienegas Terrace, Cinco Ranch, Circle D-KC Estates, Cisco, Citrus City, Clarendon, Clarksville, Clarksville City, Claude, Clear Lake Shores, Cleburne, Cleveland, Clifton, Clint, Cloverleaf, Clute, Clyde, Coahoma, Cockrell Hill, Coffee City, Coldspring, Coleman, College Station, Colleyville, Collinsville, Colmesneil, Colorado City, Columbus, Comanche, Combes, Combine, Comfort, Commerce, Como, Concepcion, Conroe, Converse, Cool, Coolidge, Cooper, Coppell, Copperas Cove, Copper Canyon, Corinth, Corpus Christi, Corral City, Corrigan, Corsicana, Cottonwood, Cottonwood Shores, Cotulla, Cove, Covington, Coyanosa, Coyote Acres, Crandall, Crane, Cranfills Gap, Crawford, Creedmoor, Crockett, Crosby, Crosbyton, Cross Mountain, Cross Plains, Cross Roads, Cross Timber, Crowell, Crowley, Crystal City, Cuero, Cuevitas, Cumby, Cumings, Cuney, Cushing, Cut and Shoot, Daingerfield, Daisetta, Dalhart, Dallas, Dalworthington Gardens, Damon, Danbury, Darrouzett, Dawson, Dayton, Dayton Lakes, Dean, Decatur, Deer Park, De Kalb, De Leon, Dell City, Del Mar Heights, Del Rio, Del Sol-Loma Linda, Denison, Denton, Denver City, Deport, DeSoto, Detroit, Devers, Devine, Deweyville, Diboll, Dickens, Dickinson, Dilley, Dimmitt, Dodd City, Dodson, Doffing, Domino, Donna, Doolittle, Dorchester, Double Oak, Douglassville, Doyle, Dripping Springs, Driscoll, Dublin, Dumas, Duncanville, Eagle Lake, Eagle Mountain, Eagle Pass, Early, Earth, East Bernard, Eastland, East Mountain, Easton, East Tawakoni, Ector, Edcouch, Eden, Edgecliff Village, Edgewater-Paisano, Edgewood, Edinburg, Edmonson, Edna, Edom, Edroy, Eidson Road, Elbert, El Camino Angosto, El Campo, El Cenizo, Eldorado, Electra, Elgin, El Indio, Elkhart, El Lago, Elm Creek, Elmendorf, El Paso, El Refugio, Elsa, Emhouse, Emory, Encantada-Ranchito El Calaboz, Enchanted Oaks, Encinal, Encino, Ennis, Escobares, Estelline, Euless, Eureka, Eustace, Evadale, Evant, Everman, Fabens, Fairchilds village, Fairfield, Fair Oaks Ranch, Fairview, Falcon Heights, Falcon Lake Estates, Falcon Mesa, Falcon Village, Falfurrias, Falls City, Falman-County Acres, Farmers Branch, Farmersville, Farwell, Fate, Fayetteville, Faysville, Ferris, Fifth Street, Flatonia, Florence, Floresville, Flowella, Flower Mound, Floydada, Follett, Forest Hill, Forney, Forsan, Fort Bliss, Fort Davis, Fort Hancock, Fort Hood, Fort Stockton, Fort Worth, Four Corners, Fowlerton, Franklin, Frankston, Fredericksburg, Freeport, Freer, Fresno, Friendswood, Friona, Frisco, Fritch, Fronton, Frost, Fruitvale, Fulshear, Fulton, Gainesville, Galena Park, Gallatin, Galveston, Ganado, Garceno, Gardendale, Garden Ridge, Garfield, Garland, Garrett, Garrison, Gary City, Gatesville, Georgetown, George West, Geronimo, Gholson, Giddings, Gilmer, Girard, Gladewater, Glenn Heights, Glen Rose, Godley, Goldsmith, Goldthwaite, Goliad, Golinda, Gonzales, Goodlow, Goodrich, Gordon, Goree, Gorman, Graford, Graham, Granbury, Grand Acres, Grandfalls, Grand Prairie, Grand Saline, Grandview, Granger, Granite Shoals, Granjeno, Grape Creek, Grapeland, Grapevine, Grays Prairie village, Greatwood, Green Valley Farms, Greenville, Gregory, Grey Forest, Groesbeck, Groom, Groves, Groveton, Gruver, Guerra, Gun Barrel City, Gunter, Gustine, Hackberry, Hale Center, Hallettsville, Hallsburg, Hallsville, Haltom City, Hamilton, Hamlin, Happy, Hardin, Harker Heights, Harlingen, Harper, Hart, Hartley, Haskell, Haslet, Havana, Hawk Cove, Hawkins, Hawley, Hays, Hearne, Heath, Hebbronville, Hebron, Hedley, Hedwig Village, Heidelberg, Helotes, Hemphill, Hempstead, Henderson, Henrietta, Hereford, Hermleigh, Hewitt, Hickory Creek, Hico, Hidalgo, Higgins, Highland Haven, Highland Park, Highlands, Highland Village, Hill Country Village, Hillcrest village, Hillsboro, Hilltop, Hilshire Village, Hitchcock, Holiday Lakes, Holland, Holliday, Hollywood Park, Homestead Meadows North, Homestead Meadows South, Hondo, Honey Grove, Hooks, Horizon City, Horseshoe Bay, Houston, Howardwick, Howe, Hubbard, Hudson, Hudson Bend, Hudson Oaks, Hughes Springs, Humble, Hungerford, Hunters Creek Village, Huntington, Huntsville, Hurst, Hutchins, Hutto, Huxley, Idalou, Impact, Imperial, Indian Hills, Indian Lake, Industry, Inez, Ingleside, Ingleside on the Bay, Ingram, Iowa Colony village, Iowa Park, Iraan, Iredell, Irving, Italy, Itasca, Jacinto City, Jacksboro, Jacksonville, Jamaica Beach, Jasper, Jayton, Jefferson, Jersey Village, Jewett, Joaquin, Johnson City, Jolly, Jollyville, Jones Creek village, Jonestown, Josephine, Joshua, Jourdanton, Junction, Justin, Karnes City, Katy, Kaufman, K-Bar Ranch, Keene, Keller, Kemah, Kemp, Kempner, Kendleton, Kenedy, Kenefick, Kennard, Kennedale, Kerens, Kermit, Kerrville, Kilgore, Killeen, Kingsbury, Kingsland, Kingsville, Kirby, Kirbyville, Kirvin, Knippa, Knollwood village, Knox City, Kosse, Kountze, Kress, Krugerville, Krum, Kyle, La Blanca, La Casita-Garciasville, Lackland AFB, LaCoste, Lacy-Lakeview, Ladonia, La Feria, La Feria North, Lago, Lago Vista, La Grange, La Grulla, Laguna Heights, Laguna Seca, Laguna Vista, La Homa, La Joya, Lake Bridgeport, Lake Brownwood, Lake City, Lake Dallas, Lakehills, Lake Jackson, Lake Kiowa, Lakeport, Lakeshore Gardens-Hidden Acres, Lakeside town (San Patricio County), Lakeside town (Tarrant County), Lakeside City, Lake Tanglewood village, Lakeview, Lake View, Lakeway, Lakewood Village, Lake Worth, La Marque, Lamesa, Lampasas, Lancaster, La Paloma, La Paloma-Lost Creek, La Porte, La Presa, La Pryor, La Puerta, Laredo, Laredo Ranchettes, Larga Vista, La Rosita, Lasana, Lasara, Las Colonias, Las Lomas, Las Lomitas, Las Palmas-Juarez, Las Quintas Fronterizas, Latexo, Laughlin AFB, Laureles, La Vernia, La Victoria, La Villa, Lavon, La Ward, Lawn, League City, Leakey, Leander, Leary, Lefors, Leona, Leonard, Leon Valley, Leroy, Levelland, Lewisville, Lexington, Liberty, Liberty City, Liberty Hill, Lincoln Park, Lindale, Linden, Lindsay, Lindsay, Lipan, Lipscomb, Little Elm, Littlefield, Little River-Academy, Live Oak, Liverpool, Livingston, Llano, Llano Grande, Lockhart, Lockney, Log Cabin, Lolita, Loma Linda East, Lometa, Lone Oak, Lone Star, Longview, Lopeno, Lopezville, Loraine, Lorena, Lorenzo, Los Alvarez, Los Angeles Subdivision, Los Ebanos, Los Fresnos, Los Indios, Lost Creek, Los Villareales, Los Ybanez, Lott, Louise, Lovelady, Lowry Crossing, Lozano, Lubbock, Lucas, Lueders, Lufkin, Luling, Lumberton, Lyford, Lyford South, Lytle, Mabank, McAllen, McCamey, McGregor, McKinney, McLean, McLendon-Chisholm, McQueeney, Madisonville, Magnolia, Malakoff, Malone, Manor, Mansfield, Manvel, Marathon, Marble Falls, Marfa, Marietta, Marion, Markham, Marlin, Marquez, Marshall, Marshall Creek, Mart, Martindale, Mason, Matador, Mathis, Maud, Mauriceville, Maypearl, Meadow, Meadowlakes, Meadows Place, Medina, Megargel, Melissa, Melvin, Memphis, Menard, Mercedes, Meridian, Merkel, Mertens, Mertzon, Mesquite, Mexia, Miami, Midland, Midlothian, Midway, Midway North, Midway South, Mila Doce, Milam, Milano, Mildred, Miles, Milford, Miller’s Cove, Millican, Millsap, Mineola, Mineral Wells, Mingus, Mirando City, Mission, Mission Bend, Missouri City, Mobeetie, Mobile City, Monahans, Mont Belvieu, Monte Alto, Montgomery, Moody, Moore, Moore Station, Morales-Sanchez, Moran, Morgan, Morgan Farm Area, Morgan’s Point, Morgan’s Point Resort, Morning Glory, Morse, Morton, Moulton, Mountain City, Mount Calm, Mount Enterprise, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, Muenster, Muleshoe, Mullin, Munday, Muniz, Murchison, Murphy, Mustang, Mustang Ridge, Nacogdoches, Naples, Nash, Nassau Bay, Natalia, Navarro, Navasota, Nazareth, Nederland, Needville, Nesbitt, Nevada, Newark, New Berlin, New Boston, New Braunfels, Newcastle, New Chapel Hill, New Deal, New Fairview, New Falcon, New Home, New Hope, New London, New Summerfield, New Territory, Newton, New Waverly, Neylandville, Niederwald, Nixon, Nocona, Nolanville, Nome, Noonday, Nordheim, Normangee, Normanna, North Alamo, North Cleveland, Northcliff, North Escobares, Northlake, North Pearsall, North Richland Hills, North San Pedro, Novice, Nurillo, Oak Grove, Oakhurst, Oak Leaf, Oak Point, Oak Ridge town (Cooke County), Oak Ridge town (Kaufman County), Oak Ridge North, Oak Trail Shores, Oak Valley, Oakwood, O’Brien, Odem, Odessa, O’Donnell, Oglesby, Oilton, Old River-Winfree, Olivarez, Olmito, Olmos Park, Olney, Olton, Omaha, Onalaska, Onion Creek, Opdyke West, Orange, Orange Grove, Orchard, Ore City, Overton, Ovilla, Owl Ranch-Amargosa, Oyster Creek, Ozona, Paducah, Paint Rock, Palacios, Palestine, Palisades village, Palmer, Palmhurst, Palm Valley, Palmview, Palmview South, Pampa, Panhandle, Panorama Village, Pantego, Paradise, Paris, Parker, Pasadena, Pattison, Patton Village, Pawnee, Payne Springs, Pearland, Pearsall, Pecan Acres, Pecan Gap, Pecan Grove, Pecan Hill, Pecan Plantation, Pecos, Pelican Bay, Penelope, Penitas, Pernitas Point village, Perryton, Petersburg, Petrolia, Petronila, Pettus, Pflugerville, Pharr, Pilot Point, Pine Forest, Pinehurst, Pinehurst, Pine Island, Pineland, Pinewood Estates, Piney Point Village, Pittsburg, Plains, Plainview, Plano, Pleak village, Pleasanton, Pleasant Valley, Plum Grove, Point, Point Blank, Point Comfort, Ponder, Port Aransas, Port Arthur, Porter Heights, Port Isabel, Portland, Port Lavaca, Port Mansfield, Port Neches, Post, Post Oak Bend City, Poteet, Poth, Potosi, Pottsboro, Powell, Poynor, Prado Verde, Prairie View, Premont, Presidio, Primera, Princeton, Progreso, Progreso Lakes, Prosper, Putnam, Pyote, Quail, Quanah, Queen City, Quemado, Quinlan, Quintana, Quitaque, Quitman, Radar Base, Ralls, Ranchette Estates, Ranchitos Las Lomas, Rancho Alegre, Rancho Banquete, Rancho Chico, Ranchos Penitas West, Rancho Viejo, Ranger, Rangerville village, Rankin, Ransom Canyon, Ratamosa, Ravenna, Raymondville, Realitos, Redford, Red Lick, Red Oak, Redwater, Redwood, Reese Center, Refugio, Reid Hope King, Reklaw, Relampago, Rendon, Reno city (Lamar County), Reno city (Parker County), Retreat, Rhome, Rice, Richardson, Richland, Richland Hills, Richland Springs, Richmond, Richwood, Riesel, Rio Bravo, Rio Grande City, Rio Hondo, Rio Vista, Rising Star, River Oaks, Riverside, Roanoke, Roaring Springs, Robert Lee, Robinson, Robstown, Roby, Rochester, Rockdale, Rockport, Rocksprings, Rockwall, Rocky Mound, Rogers, Rollingwood, Roma, Roma Creek, Roman Forest, Ropesville, Roscoe, Rosebud, Rose City, Rose Hill Acres, Rosenberg, Rosita North, Rosita South, Ross, Rosser village, Rotan, Round Mountain, Round Rock, Round Top, Rowlett, Roxton, Royse City, Rule, Runaway Bay, Runge, Rusk, Sabinal, Sachse, Sadler, Saginaw, St. Hedwig, St. Jo, St. Paul, St. Paul, Salado, Salineno, Samnorwood, San Angelo, San Antonio, San Augustine, San Benito, San Carlos, Sanctuary, Sanderson, Sandia, San Diego, Sandy Hollow-Escondidas, San Elizario, San Felipe, Sanford, Sanger, San Ignacio, San Isidro, San Juan, San Leanna village, San Leon, San Manuel-Linn, San Marcos, San Patricio, San Pedro, San Perlita, San Saba, Sansom Park, Santa Anna, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Maria, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Savoy, Scenic Oaks, Schertz, Schulenburg, Scissors, Scotland, Scottsville, Seabrook, Seadrift, Seagoville, Seagraves, Sealy, Sebastian, Seguin, Selma, Seminole, Serenada, Seth Ward, Seven Oaks, Seven Points, Seymour, Shady Hollow, Shady Shores, Shallowater, Shamrock, Shavano Park, Sheldon, Shenandoah, Shepherd, Sherman, Shiner, Shoreacres, Sienna Plantation, Sierra Blanca, Siesta Shores, Silsbee, Silverton, Simonton, Sinton, Skellytown, Skidmore, Slaton, Smiley, Smithville, Smyer, Snook, Snyder, Socorro, Solis, Somerset, Somerville, Sonora, Sour Lake, South Alamo, South Fork Estates, South Houston, Southlake, Southmayd, South Mountain, South Padre Island, South Point, Southside Place, South Toledo Bend, Spade, Sparks, Spearman, Splendora, Spofford, Spring, Spring Garden-Terra Verde, Springlake, Springtown, Spring Valley, Spur, Stafford, Stagecoach, Stamford, Stanton, Star Harbor, Stephenville, Sterling City, Stinnett, Stockdale, Stonewall, Stowell, Stratford, Strawn, Streetman, Study Butte-Terlingua, Sudan, Sugar Land, Sullivan City, Sulphur Springs, Sundown, Sunnyvale, Sunray, Sunrise Beach Village, Sunset, Sunset Valley, Sun Valley, Surfside Beach, Sweeny, Sweetwater, Taft, Taft Southwest, Tahoka, Talco, Talty, Tatum, Taylor, Taylor Lake Village, Teague, Tehuacana, Temple, Tenaha, Terrell, Terrell Hills, Texarkana, Texas City, Texhoma, Texline, The Colony, The Hills village, The Woodlands, Thompsons, Thorndale, Thornton, Thorntonville, Thrall, Three Rivers, Throckmorton, Tierra Bonita, Tierra Grande, Tiki Island village, Timbercreek Canyon village, Timberwood Park, Timpson, Tioga, Tira, Toco, Todd Mission, Tolar, Tomball, Tom Bean, Tool, Tornillo, Toyah, Tradewinds, Trent, Trenton, Trinidad, Trinity, Trophy Club, Troup, Troy, Tuleta, Tulia, Tulsita, Turkey, Tuscola, Tye, Tyler, Tynan, Uhland, Uncertain, Union Grove, Universal City, University Park, Utopia, Uvalde, Uvalde Estates, Valentine, Valley Mills, Valley View, Val Verde Park, Van, Van Alstyne, Vanderbilt, Van Horn, Van Vleck, Vega, Venus, Vernon, Victoria, Vidor, Villa del Sol, Villa Pancho, Villa Verde, Vinton village, Waco, Waelder, Wake Village, Waller, Wallis, Walnut Springs, Warren City, Waskom, Watauga, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Webster, Weimar, Weinert, Weir, Wellington, Wellman, Wells, Wells Branch, Weslaco, West, Westbrook, West Columbia, Westdale, Westlake, West Lake Hills, West Livingston, Westminster, West Odessa, Weston, West Orange, Westover Hills, West Pearsall, West Sharyland, West Tawakoni, West University Place, Westway, Westworth Village, Wharton, Wheeler, White Deer, Whiteface, Whitehouse, White Oak, Whitesboro, White Settlement, Whitewright, Whitney, Wichita Falls, Wickett, Wild Peach Village, Willamar, Willis, Willow Park, Wills Point, Wilmer, Wilson, Wimberley, Windcrest, Windemere, Windom, Windthorst, Winfield, Wink, Winnie, Winnsboro, Winona, Winters, Wixon Valley, Wolfe City, Wolfforth, Woodbranch, Woodcreek, Woodloch, Woodsboro, Woodson, Woodville, Woodway, Wortham, Wyldwood, Wylie, Yantis, Yoakum, Yorktown, Yznaga, Zapata, Zapata Ranch, Zavalla, Zuehl.

[yume-x-hanabi]

Fanfic scenarios

So here’s my list of things I would like to read and/or write aka has someone invented a machine that magically transforms my thoughts into good paragraphs yet?

Gaius and Wingul

Gaius’ childhood: just Gaius being a kid with his sister and their relationship with their father. Mostly family fluff but also some angst regarding their tribe’s position and the aftermath of the Fezebel War. Might write one-shots at some point if I get more concrete ideas.

Wingul’s life story: his official backstory short story has left me wanting more--more detailed and truly centered on him (I like Nils all right, but I’m still salty we only get his PoV and not Wingul’s own). Maaaaybe the next multi-chap project if I can finish Fractured Lives? If not then some one-shots of key events...

Karla in Taurus: it’s been a headcanon of mine that Karla sneaked her way into Taurus as a cook or maid or some other easily overlooked position so she could stay close to her brother. I’d like to see a bit more of that, and of her relationship with Wingul especially. Would be part of the above if I ever get to it.

Questioned loyalty: Taurus time (or could also work post-Dawn with slightly different circumstances), established relationship, Gaius PoV (or double PoV for extra angst lol). A scenario where Wingul appears to betray Gaius (misunderstanding/it’s actually part of a larger strategy/he was framed/other reason idk) and Gaius has to question everything he’s ever believed about him and their relationship (”What if he was only pretending so I’d let my guard down?”) and it’s painful but they sort it out at the end. That’s one I’d really like to see but I have no idea where to start... Workin’ on it!

GaiWin fun stuff: self-explanatory. The potential for silly adventures is high with these two. Also some fluff. and smut but there’s no way i can write that

Chimeriad

Fairy tale: The Chimeriad volunteer to put on a play for the children at Labari institute. What could go wrong? Started this one a while back, but never finished it.

Confidences: Wingul and Presa have a talk about each other and Wingul’s relationship with Gaius. This is a one-shot I started a long time ago but never got around to finishing and I have half a mind to just scratch it but idk.

Everybody lives!: I’ve talked about my headcanon of how they could survive before. I’d like to write it one day. Will probably be a series of one-shots.

Presa’s parents: What if they’re still alive? And she meets them again?

Trigleph community center: based on this headcanon. I’ve gotten invested in those NPC...

Fractured Dimensions

Ideal world: A dimension where the Febreeze War didn’t happen. Gaius and Wingul grew up normally as Arst and Lin and still have their whole families alive. Lin also has a daughter from an arranged marriage. It seems like a perfect world, but their Ajur is not such a nice place to live when Merad is still king.

Agria’s family: The Chimeriad go to a fractured dimension where Agria’s family is still alive and they crash one of their parties looking for the catalyst. They’re still as horrible as ever, but Agria learns that there are other ways to take revenge than burning them to death. Finished!

Elise’s parents: Elise and Jiao stumble upon a dimension where her parents are still alive. Currently writing.

Bitter enemies: Gaius and Wingul visit a dimension where Lin never joined Gaius and they are still at odds. Currently writing.

--

That’s the main ones. If anyone’s particularly interested in one of those, I might bump it up the priority list. Depends. And if anyone wants to write one of those, I’m not saying I’d build an altar in your name, but... I might come close x3

[allthatweb]

Sixeleven @DrupalCon Nashville, a music experience

Mentre attraversiamo la città di mattina abbiamo ancora nelle orecchie i suoni delle decine di band che affollano e a volte intasano Broadway, la street music di Nashville, in ogni ora del giorno e della notte. Siamo qui per partecipare all’edizione americana del DrupalCon: per il secondo anno consecutivo Sixeleven è volata in missione negli Stati Uniti per la convention mondiale della community del CMS open source Drupal.

Arrivati di fronte all’ingresso del Music City Center siamo accolti dall’immagine di una gigantesca chitarra esplosa in tanti cristalli colorati (foto di Michael Warf). Ancora la musica protagonista, ma questa volta la “colpa” è nostra. Dobbiamo confessare, infatti, che l’aspettativa era molto alta. Già a settembre 2017, in occasione dell’edizione viennese, abbiamo avuto il piacere di vedere declinato il nostro progetto grafico su tutti i materiali di comunicazione e signage dell’evento, ma per Nashville è stato qualcosa di inevitabilmente diverso.

Lo scorso anno la Drupal Association, l’ente no-profit che si occupa della promozione del progetto open source anche tramite l’organizzazione dell’evento annuale, ci ha commissionato un lavoro stimolante e ambizioso: l’elaborazione di una brand identity dell'evento in grado di rappresentare i valori del DrupalCon e di renderlo riconoscibile, edizione dopo edizione, capace anche di raccontare il luogo. L’obiettivo era superare la frammentazione dell’immagine dell’evento e avere finalmente un logo unico e distintivo, da cui poi sarebbe derivata di volta in volta un’icona rappresentativa della città ospite, come la chitarra.

L’impatto, anche per noi che sapevamo che cosa aspettarci, è stato notevole: all’arrivo al conference center ci ha accolti la visione della vetrofania gigante che si estendeva su una vetrata mastodontica, alta più di 12 metri. L’enorme e sfavillante strumento musicale, simbolo assoluto della città della musica, che abbiamo realizzato a partire dai prismi colorati rappresentativi del nuovo branding, è diventata l’icona dell’evento proprio come avevamo sperato e immaginato quando ci lavoravamo. Il progetto di re-branding del DrupalCon è iniziato mesi fa, ma ha preso forma al 100% nella prima edizione che lo ha adottato, per l’appunto Nashville 2018.

Per chi seguiva l’hashtag #DrupalCon su Twitter in quei giorni, la foto della chitarra che si stagliava sulla grande vetrata è diventata virale. Tutti si sono voluti portare a casa l’immagine della DrupalCon Guitar.

L’appuntamento americano è molto più grande e immersivo rispetto a quello europeo, motivo per cui eravamo davvero curiosi di vedere il nostro lavoro inserito in quello scenario. Per non mollare la presa abbiamo voluto ribadire la scelta decisamente coerente anche nella nostra presenza nello stand della exhibit hall per offrire un'opportunità unica: portarsi a casa la vera DrupalCon Guitar!

L’idea è stata semplice: dopo avere concepito l’icona simbolo dell’edizione di Nashville, abbiamo pensato di brandizzare una chitarra acustica vera e propria e portarla con noi a Nashville per metterla a disposizione di chi, passando a trovarci al nostro booth, avesse avuto voglia di suonare: a Nashville non poteva mancare un po’ di musica live.

Per arricchire ulteriormente l’idea, abbiamo lanciato un contest, il #611opensounds: la chitarra sarebbe stata messa in palio tra tutti quelli che si fossero cimentati live, postando su Twitter una foto o video della propria performance con la nostra chitarra.

La partecipazione è stata eccezionale: abbiamo visto persone improvvisare ballad di Johnny Cash ed Eddie Vedder, habitué che ogni giorno facevano capolino per dedicarci una suonata, entusiasti dell’idea anche se non particolarmente dotati di talento. Al momento dell’estrazione è stato quasi commovente vedere il viso di Mauro, il vincitore, riempirsi di gioia per essere riuscito a conquistare nel giorno del suo compleanno la chitarra che aveva già puntato da giorni. Mauro è un drupalista di Buenos Aires che lavora da remoto per un’agenzia di Washington: sapere che la nostra chitarra è partita da Torino, passata da Nashville per poi finire in Argentina ci entusiasma parecchio e riflette perfettamente lo spirito con cui abbiamo immaginato l’iniziativa.

Oltre a questo lato musicale, il DrupalCon ci ha regalato diverse soddisfazioni professionali. I complimenti per il nostro lavoro di re-branding, visibile sui materiali esistenti (segnaletica, led screen, badges, program guides, stickers, t-shirts) sono arrivati da tutte le persone con cui siamo entrati in contatto. Un altro momento di orgoglio è stato senza dubbio quando durante il keynote di apertura della conferenza, il founder di Drupal Dries Buytaert ha citato Sixeleven, ringraziandoci per il lavoro che insieme alla Drupal Association abbiamo svolto per il restyle della front page di drupal.org, andato live a pochi giorni dall’inizio della conferenza.

Ora non resta che rimetterci al lavoro per la prossima edizione del DrupalCon, ma già qualcosa ha visto la luce, perché l’ultimo giorno dell’evento sono state annunciate le città, con le relative icone da noi disegnate, che ospiteranno le  prossime due edizioni: Seattle 2019 e Minneapolis 2020. No, nel caso ve lo steste chiedendo: non organizzeremo una gara di pesca al walleye per quell’occasione. Anche se, a pensarci bene…

[newstfionline]

In South Texas, tens of thousands live in border enclaves without water or power

By Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post, January 30, 2018

LA PRESA, Texas --A ragged American flag flutters outside Rosa Castro’s trailer near the U.S.-Mexico border. She has no electricity, no running water, and little hope that she ever will.

Castro is one of about 500,000 people residing in hundreds of unincorporated towns in south Texas, places with quirky names such as Little Mexico, Radar Base, Betty Acres and Mike’s that were created when developers carved up ranchland that was unprepared for human habitation and sold the parcels at bargain prices, mostly to low-income immigrants and Mexican Americans.

Buyers plunked down double-wide trailers or wood-and-cinder-block houses and waited for the paved roads, electricity, and water and sewer systems to arrive.

For thousands of people, they never did.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas says the enclaves, known in Spanish as colonias, represent one of the largest concentrations of poverty in the United States. Texas outlawed their creation and expansion in 1989. The state and federal government have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to improve some of the outposts, but have done little in others, for reasons that include the high costs and questions about who owns which land.

Critics of colonias say people frustrated by the lack of services should move to established cities and towns, but residents refuse to abandon their land after years of trying to make it work. They are irked that the state government recently cut funding for health care, water and other services for colonias, and that President Trump is pushing a $25 billion border wall and security upgrades at a time when illegal border crossings are low and colonias could use a federal boost.

“We can’t move away from here. We want Washington to do something,” said Castro, a 70-year-old grandmother. “We’re in the United States after all.”

Jesse Gonzalez, an elected commissioner in Webb County, says he has made it his priority to bring a park and a water pump to La Presa. The county has applied for state grants to finance both projects.

“We don’t live in a Third World country,” Gonzalez said.

About 330 colonias--and nearly 38,000 people--are stuck in the most extreme conditions, without clean running water, sewers, or even clear boundaries needed to develop the land, according to the state. Another 115,000 people live in enclaves without paved roads, drainage or solid-waste disposal.

Residents of La Presa, a community of 300 surrounding a bluish lake at the center of town that is hidden by mesquite and sweet acacia trees, buy bottled water for drinking. Two or three times a week, they hitch empty water tanks to pickup trucks and drive about a dozen miles to Laredo to pump water for their washing machines, sinks, toilets and tubs.

The cost is nominal, about $1.25 each filling, but the supply dwindles fast.

Sylvia Zuazua, a flea market cashier, has lived without running water for decades. She and her husband paid $5,200 for an acre of land in the 1970s, dreaming of raising their family on a small farm. They bought chickens, cows and a pony, but they eventually sold them all because they had no water.

“Supposedly the United States is the richest country,” she said with a shake of her head. “I tell my husband, he’s going to be buried and we won’t see water.”

The improvements that have trickled into La Presa over the years have made a big difference, residents say. Electrical hookups arrived over a decade ago for residents who could prove they owned the land. Around the same time, the government built an adobe-tinted community center where elderly residents play loteria, the Mexican version of bingo, pick up bags of donated sweet bread and ham sandwiches, and gather for meetings.

But for those, like Castro, who cannot prove they own their land, electricity was not an option. And for county officials, some improvements are simply too expensive--extending water and sewer service to La Presa, for example, would cost more than $120,000 per family, which is more expensive than housing in Laredo.

The rightful homeowners in colonias are often unclear because many paid for their land in cash and did not have the land formally mapped out and deeded with the county government. Others illegally carved up existing plots and sold them. And in other cases, the owners died without having a will that would indicate who owns the property.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) this summer eliminated an $860,000 state ombudsman program for colonias, which allowed them to seek help from an array of state agencies through a single point of entry.

The Associated Press reported that some of those agencies lost funding they had used to provide water and other services to colonias.

State officials say the settlements will continue to receive funding and can seek help directly at each government agency.

But some Texas politicians say the state and federal governments should find a way to bring colonias up to basic standards. Most residents of colonias are U.S. citizens, they note. Many served in the U.S. military.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo), a former secretary of state in Texas who represents La Presa and the surrounding area, has suggested diverting border-wall funding to improve the colonias.

Carlos Cascos, a Republican and another former secretary of state, under Abbott, said the state and federal governments should invest $100 million a year for the next 15 years to modernize colonias.

“These are basic necessities,” said Cascos, who lives in the border city of Brownsville and is running for a judgeship in Cameron County. “They’re not asking for curbs and gutters and sidewalks. They’re asking for water.”

Castro said she moved to La Presa more than a dozen years ago, after she lost her house in Laredo to foreclosure. County officials say they can do little to provide Castro access to utilities for her trailer, because it’s unclear who owns the property where she lives, and only a court can resolve the issue.

Officials tried to help her apply for public housing in Laredo, but Castro says she wants to pay her own way.

She says she also did not want to burden her relatives. But as temperatures sank this winter, she sought refuge with a brother who has heat and hot water.

“They’re going to build a park,” Castro said. “We don’t need a park. We need water.”

[thestickchick]

2017 was a banner year for the Stick Chick in the martial arts.  Here's an overview of what I did, month by month.  I'll just cover the "big" stuff, not the daily ins-and-outs of acquiring bruises for funsies.

JANUARY

January started off right as we knuckled down to prepare our black belt candidates for their test later in the year. I attended the monthly Kobudo program class, and  I attended a Texas Modern Arnis Coalition (TMAC) gathering in Houston. We also got to go to the Johnson Space Center while we were there, which was really fun.

New blog posts made in this month can be found HERE. 

Me at TMAC in Houston, with Sal Todaro teaching.

FEBRUARY

Outside of all the normal stuff - teaching at Mid-Cities Arnis, attending Presas Arnis classes at Hidden Sword, and Kobudo - it was a light month. We had a women's self defense session at Mid-Cities Arnis, but this was one of the few months I wasn't running around like a chicken with my head cut off!

New blog posts made in this month can be found HERE. 

Teaching sinawali is SERIOUS BIZNASS.

MARCH

Started the month off right by attending the World Modern Arnis Alliance first-ever Texas camp here in town, with Datu Tim Hartman, which was awesome.   Hidden Sword was a participant at our AKATO seminar and we put on a demo, which is a first for us.

New blog posts made in the month can be found HERE.

Me beating on children, as is my wont.

APRIL

We started the month with MAPA11!  Later that month, we held our school's first ever FORMAL Presas Arnis Black Belt Test (remember, Mr. Chick and I were secretly tested and promoted).  We promoted two people to Lakan Isa (one adult, one junior) and Mr. Chick and I were promoted to our 2nd degree black belt ranks (Lakan Dalawa and Dayang Dalawa). 

New blog posts in this month can be found HERE.

Hidden Sword's Black Belts (center is our instructor, Mark Lynn)

MAY

Super busy, as we hosted the Stick & Steel Seminar with GM Art Miraflor and Professor Dan Anderson (which ROCKED). Then I attended a Paiho form (White Crane Kung Fu) and Eku seminar by Shihan Dean Chapman down in Waco. We taught another women's self defense session, and I helped out with my teacher's Arnis Instructor's program.  I remember this month as being CRAZY!

New blog posts for this month can be found HERE.

Dan Anderson using me as uke, which was a real honor, by the way.  I love it when I get picked!

JUNE

HUGE month.  The beginning of summer is always busy when you have kids and family in, right? We competed at the Monica Lopez tournament (yours truly took 3rd).  We taught women's self defense, but the big event was my teacher and I attending the Ernesto Presas Legacy Camp in Colorado.  I got to meet TONS of amazing people, learned so very much, and the ramifications of the friendships made there are still being played out.  Great camp!

New posts on the blog can be found HERE.

Attendees and Instructors at the Ernesto Presas Legacy Camp. I think I'm the only female in this picture (really).

JULY

Went to Lawton, OK with my friends at Shotokan Karate of Lawton to teach them Anyos (and for them to intro me to sparring) to start off the month.  Then, I got to attend a fantaboulous two-day seminar by Rich Parsons in Balintawak, which ROCKED!

New blog posts from this month can be found HERE.

Rich explains that I can't just punch people in the face all willy-nilly like.  Spoilsport.

AUGUST

My student competed at a tournament (I volunteered as a ring judge this time around) and did really well.  We taught another women's self defense session.  And I did get to see some of that neat-o eclipse.  A good month, a little less hectic than normal, but I do recall that it was in August that I knuckled down and started nearly-daily kobudo practice, which really paid off in the end.  And oh, I turned - gulp - 49 years old. Gaaah.

New blog posts from the month can be found HERE.

Me & other ring judges from the tournament.

SEPTEMBER

Not as hectic as summer was!  As y'all may remember, Texas was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. Although I was far from any problems up here in Fort Worth, lots of my martial arts friends were affected by the storm. Thus, we dedicated funds from MAPA 12 to Harvey Relief, and we ended up donating $605.00 to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.  A great seminar!

New blog posts from this month can be found HERE.

The badasses of MAPA 12.

OCTOBER

Relatively normal month, except we got to go down to Bryant, Texas (and dang, it was hot!) for our second TMAC (Texas Modern Arnis Coalition) gathering.  So fun!  I love TMAC!  Practiced my rear off in kobudo, though!

New posts from this month can be found HERE.

I can hit with a big stick, too!

NOVEMBER

My original Arnis/Ryukyu Kempo teacher from Memphis (David Jones) came in to town and we got to train with him for a night and it was great.  I miss him so much! Oh, and I might have finally earned my shodan rank in Kobudo after three years.  I also got to go on a trip to my home town and see lots of friends from days gone by.  A pretty awesome month overall.

Posts from this month can be found HERE.

I'm in the front row, third from the right. And I haven't worn my white gi since.

DECEMBER

Like most years, December was a relatively light month training-wise, but it was still busy.  I got my new nunchaku I bought myself for my black belt present. We promoted our green belts to blue belts at Mid-Cities Arnis. I helped my teacher examine and promote participants in his Presas Arnis Instructor's course (and saw some really sharp people in the bargain).  Taught the last women's self defense course of the year.  Went to Trinity Treetops Adventure Park (which was a blast). 

New posts from this month can be found HERE.

Our new Blue Belts at Mid-Cities Arnis.

2017 wasn't as busy as 2016 was, but it was still a year of some pretty important milestones for me, personally.  When you write a post like this, and you look at the calendar, and at all the pictures and Facebook events and social media posts, you realize just how much this little weird hobby of ours can take up so much of your time and your life.  2017 marked my 9th anniversary in the martial arts, and I had no idea, back then, how important this would be to me in the future.  No idea at all!

I recommend that you take the time to review YOUR year in the martial arts, note all that you did, what you didn't, celebrate your accomplishments, and make some new and cool goals to achieve next year.

I'm very happy and excited about the people I met and trained with and the new connections and relationships I made. That's one of the biggest gifts we in the martial arts community get, and I don't think we celebrate it enough.

To all of you who taught me, trained with me, learned from me, communicated with me, shared my blog content or interacted with me online... thank you.

2018 is going to be a big year of changes for yours truly (and my family, as my oldest daughter is graduating from high school). Some of the coming changes I can't share yet, but when I can, I will.  I'll still be doing Presas Arnis, and Kobudo (I start the kama class in January), and I've already got a schedule of seminars I'll be attending up up through the first half of the year that I know of (and I'm sure I'll get booked for lots more, as that's just how I roll, y'all).

I hope your 2017 was fantastic, and your 2018 is even better.

[emulatingrizal-blog]

Stay Away From Our Turf: A Reply Of The Oppressed

Urbanization is the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in that area. Industrialization is a factor that leads to this; the large-scale introduction and development of manufacturing, advanced technical enterprises, and other productive economic activities into an area, society, or country. The Cordillera Administrative Region is a land locked region composed of mountain ranges bordered by the Ilocos region and Cagayan Valley. It is deemed as the highlands by common folk and its indigenous settlers are collectively called highlanders or Igorot.

Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of experience, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, notions of time, roles, and material objects acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving. In Cordillera terms, their culture is composed of knowledge, traditions, beliefs, values, and practices that they have preserved, protected, and strengthened throughout the years. Some unique aspects of Cordillera culture are their high regard to land, rice culture, clothing, pottery, loom weaving and their tribal and isolated society. Known for their practices and rituals, mostly associated with dance, a certain ritual is performed for a specific event accompanied with specific instruments. (Mendoza, 2009)

The Igorot claims that urbanization and industrialization has brought detrimental effects in their home; claiming their land, destroying and misinterpreting their culture, and disregarding their rights. Their stand is that it’s best if they are left at peace and at their own. On the other hand; businesses, media, people, and society in general eye the region in belief that it is beneficial to our society in terms of industrial advancement, influence expansion, and aesthetic value. This article aims to identify the detrimental effects that urbanization brings, raise awareness of the current situation in the region, and lay out the perspectives of both parties and make it as clear and concise as possible.

Out of the 1.8 million hectares of the Cordillera Administrative Region; 1, 021, 152 or 66% of the whole region are covered by mining activites. In Benguet alone, fifteen big mining companies are present including Benguet Corporation, Lepanto Mining, and Philex. The Philippines Mining Act of 1995 serves as the origin of this movement as it grants mining companied one hundred percent foreign ownership including total control of the mineral-rich lands, full water and timber rights and even the right to evict communities. The 1970 Chico dam and Cellophil projects as well as the open-pit mining in Itogon, Benguet somewhere during 1989-1993 were just some of the results of this state policy. (Carino, 1998)

Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 270 aiming to revitalize the mining industry with a goal of the Philippines being declared as a mining company by 2010. It is a golden opportunity for the corporations but it is an outrage for the seven ethnolinguistic groups, namely: Bontoc, Ibaloi, Kalanguya, Kankana-ey, Ifugao, Isneg, and Kalinga. They have to sacrifice their interests and be carried out without any form of consultation or caution.  Their sacred and ancestral land that they consider as their heritage, would be uprooted for the sake of these so-called development projects.

The rapid movement and increase of corporations are most prominent in the only two cities within the region: Baguio City in Benguet and Tabuk City in Kalinga. Increase in profit and economic state may be a result but so are overcrowding, slum creation, poor hygiene and sanitation, and degradation of resources. Its prevalence is due to neoliberal policies that ensure large profits to capitalists and big savings to governments at the expense of workers’ right to secure jobs. “There is too much development” Baguio-based artist Leonardo Aguinaldo said in a magazine interview “It is destroying our environment and our heritage” Aguinaldo further explained how his hometown has changed over the years. Casual strolling on the town streets inhaling the pine scented air would be replaced with suffocating diesel air and bumping into a crowding mass of people. Lowlanders heavily outweigh the Igorot in terms of population within the city. What should’ve have been progress only led to destroying their culture, “I want to wake everybody up” he added.

The construction alone of SM City Baguio massacred almost 182 pine trees along Luneta Hill. The said canopy of trees intercepted rainfall and prevented run offs that cause erosion and structural damage. With almost all of Baguio’s mountains now dotted with houses and commercial buildings, erosions and flooding within the city had become more frequent and disastrous in the later years. Recently during January 17, 2015; Baguio citizens woke up to a shocking sight where the 60 remaining pine trees surrounding SM Baguio were chopped off overnight. When asked about this, Aguinaldo’s responded “Like a thief in the night, we woke up one day and there were no more trees”

Traditional Igorot rituals are often misunderstood and become a source of amusement. Cultural dances are still being performed in ceremonies nowadays but it will, at some point, be met with laughter or snickers upon seeing the attire of the dancers. While on the topic of clothing, the traditional bahag is now being used as a fashion accessory without even being aware of the meaning of its patterns and colors. The Igorot carry the connotation as vicious head hunters. Due to the isolation of the region from the lowlanders, clarification of this misunderstanding is still to take place. Head hunting for them is a cultural tradition and not something that they do casually, they don’t just go out and start decapitating people. It would seem that the natives are more isolated and misunderstood in their own region.

Lately, certain areas in the region has been garnering a romantic and whimsical image through the imposition of trends and media. In Tuba, Benguet lies Sitio Pungayan, previously famous for being the highest point near Baguio and occasional biking spot. Nowadays, it is more famous as La Presa from the 2014 romantic comedy drama television series Forevermore. Since then it was transformed into an overnight tourist sensation with uncontrolled commercialization threatening its natural beauty. The municipality started charging fees just for a visit and you’re greeted with a whole La Presa branding spree; from strawberry jams to vegetables. Sagada, Mountain Province has always been famous for its down to earth people, delectable coffee, and hanging coffins but most especially for its Kiltepan Viewpoint making it popular with nature lovers and hikers. According to romantic comedy independent film That Thing Called Tadhana and to popular culture, both are perfect places if they want to go contemplating or soul searching. Since then, both have been getting additional influx in tourists and irresponsible garbage disposals. Although not shown in the film, Sagada’s Samaguing Cave was seen infested with plastic bags and food packets.

The famous Panagbenga Festival that Baguio is known for is a celebration of Baguio’s response and revival form the devastating 1990 Luzon earthquake that took many lives. Nowadays, it is more of a hub of large companies with almost two million lowlanders coming to overpopulate the mountain city only to leave it filled with garbage afterwards. It is because of this that Baguio natives choose to stay inside their homes instead of joining in the festivities. Not only is it destroying the picturesque of the region, a place of rich culture and heritage and of simple and humble people, but it’s altering and even adding a new definition and way how one should or would see it.

REFERENCE

Bandoy, G. (2012). Baguio city: Ruined by ‘pinoy’ mentality. Get Real Post. Retrieved March 22, 2017 from http://www.getrealphilippines.com/blog/2012/01/baguio-city-ruined-by-pinoy-mentality/

Carino, J. (1998, October). The mass-movement against open-pit mining in the cordillera. Issue paper published as a part of a research-extension program entitled “Citizens, Local Officials, Non-Government Organizations and their Impact on Development Policies in Ifugao and Benguet”. University of the Philippines Baguio Cordillera Studies Center.

Cruz, J.A. (2015). Baguio’s degradation and chaos as prints and patterns. Business word (online). Retrieved March 16, 2017 from http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Arts&Leisure&title=baguio&8217s-degradation-and-chaos-as-prints-and-patterns&id=114083

Florendo, M.N. (2015). Ethnic history: Cordillera. Retrieved March 14, 2017 from http://ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-heritagesch/historical-research/ethnic-history-cordillera/

Finin, G. (2010). The making of the Igorot. Contours of the cordillera consciousness. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila Press

How does industrialization lead to urbanization. Investopedia. Retrieved March 14, 2017 from http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/041515/how-does-industrialization-lead-urbanization.asp

Opina, R. (2007). When development becomes a bane. Baguio Midland Courier (online). Retrieved March 22, 2017 from http://www.baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/baguio14_article.asp?mode=baguio_day2014/supplements/opina.txt

Palangchao, H. (2007). Urban migration: A threat to the summer capital. Baguio Midland Courier (online). Retrieved March 22, 2017 from http://baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/baguio14_article.asp?mode=baguio_day2014/supplements/palangchao.txt

Tan, G. (2001). Cordillera, diversity in culture change; social anthropology of hill people in northern Luzon. Quezon City: New Day Publishers

The Cordillera people’s alliance: mining and indigenous rights in the Luzon highlands. (2001). Cultural Survival (online). Retrieved March 16, 2017 from https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/cordillera-peoples-alliance-mining-and-indigenous-rights

 DELA CRUZ, H.B.

2015-02025

[saexcelsbeyond-blog]

Presa Community Center

I visited the Presa Community Center (PCC) during their last week of their eight-week summer program. Here I was able to talk with Ashley Nicholas, the director of Youth Services. Ashley has an extensive background in working with youth programs and has dedicated her life to helping others. Previously, Ashley worked at a nonprofit camp in Waco, TX. Because of her work with this organization, she received a lot of great training that she still puts to use today. One of the teaching or mentoring styles she talked about was the strength-based approach. She explained that it is difficult but extremely important to find good staff. As she put it, someone who works with kids must have contradictory characteristics-- serious but fun, professional but relaxed, stern but gentle. Ashley trains the staff herself and makes sure they understand to treat the youth well and are willing to put in the work to adjust their interactions based on the personality of each child. One of my favorite things that Ashley said was that every kid deserves an irrational advocate. She truly believes in the students and wants them to succeed!

At PCC, 120 students ages 5-13 may participate in both the after school and summer programs. Students mainly come from two partner schools: New Frontiers Charter School and Riverside Park Elementary School. These schools are supportive to their students; Teachers walk students over to the center to make sure they stay safe. I was amazed to learn that up until only two years ago, all programs at PCC were free. However, the number of students who wanted to attend became too high so a lottery system was put in place and families are now charged a small fee for enrollment. During the school year, the program fee is $50 for the first student, just $25 more for a second child and, for three or more children, the price is fixed at $100, total. The summer program costs just $10/week! The community center also provides meals through a partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank. During the school year, students coming to PCC after school get dinner right when they arrive, around 4:30pm. This way, kids who get picked up earlier than others but who still do not have much food at home will have a meal ensured each day. During the summer program, kids are fed breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack.

The OST programs at PCC combine education with physical and fun activities. The community center has computers and the center partners with nearby middle and high schools to bring in students who may serve as reading buddies for the campers. During the after school program, the youth do homework and receive tutoring in addition to engaging in games and activities.

During the summer, students only stay out in the heat 20 minutes at a time and get plenty of popsicles to stay cool. Indoors, they do crafts and play games. At PCC, they believe that it’s important to get kids to play classic, outdoors games such as hopscotch, foursquare, and horseshoes; Technology is not allowed at camp. Also, the kids have reading challenges each week where they’ll be entered in a raffle. At PCC programs, staff members facilitate diverse clubs to meet the interests of the students. One of the most popular clubs centers around dance. These clubs are not for everyone, just for those who are genuinely interested in that particular topic. This way, the kids find both a passion and a way to enjoy learning.

Finally, kids participate in service learning. It would be too difficult to have all 120 kids go out and help the elderly or work at a soup kitchen so instead, students raise money for different charities. One way they do so is by participating in a reading challenge where kids get a certain amount of money for each book they read. The children are then allowed to donate the money they raise to the charity of their choice. Also, the older students are assisted with creating their own business from which proceeds are donated to charities. This activity simultaneously teaches independence and entrepreneurial skills.

I was truly impressed with the Presa Community Center. The community center is in a typically underserved location. Although they don’t have extensive resources, the camps they provide and the staff they hire are excellent! The students are the first priority and their welfare is on the top of everyone’s list. I could see that everyone had their heart in the right place at PCC. It’s clear to see that the work at this OST organization is invaluable for participating youth.

[yeschanneltech]

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/7ebJ6w

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Cambiano le esigenze It delle aziende e i modi per fruire di tecnologia. Se da un lato i rivenditori It devono anticipare la domanda e procurarsi le adeguate soluzioni per i loro clienti, dall’altro i distributori come stanno rispondendo?

Questi ultimi sono stati spesso attaccati per essere ancora troppo ‘box mover’, restii al cambiamento voluto e dovuto all’arrivo del cloud, per esempio. Quindi, è possibile pensare a un nuovo modello di distributore It?

BB Tech Group ha provato a dare una risposta: ha convocato al Centro Congressi di Bergamo rivenditori, clienti, prospect, in una sorta di Business day, annunciando il modello As a Service.

Giampaolo Bombo e alcuni ospiti

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

“Le soluzioni di cui necessitano i rivenditori devono garantire qualità, sicurezza, flessibilità, velocità ed economicità. Per questo – afferma Giampaolo Bombo, amministratore delegato di BB Tech Group – il modello di business del distributore deve essere coerente con questa richiesta e orientarsi verso l’obiettivo di ‘ti fornisco solo quello che ti serve oggi con un occhio al futuro, ossia con soluzioni che in un futuro potranno essere implementate’. In pratica il concetto dell’as a service”.

Le tendenze che sono fornite dalle principali società di analisi del mercato parlano appunto di una tendenza verso l’as a service: dai device ai servizi, dal software alle infrastrutture segno che il canale sta puntando verso quella rivoluzione digitale tanto osannata e chiede nuove competenze e offerte innovative.

Francesco Amorosa

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Il cloud, già, sebbene in generale la percezione è positiva, ci sono differenze a seconda che si parli di grandi aziende, più sciolte nel trattare questi temi, di contro le piccole sono ancora scettiche. Quindi, si chiede Francesco Amorosa, amministratore delegato di AFA Systems, come cogliere la prossima evoluzione della tecnologia, quando l’informatica è ancora considerata un costo? Come far fronte all’avanzata dell’innovazione? “Innovazione porta complessità – dice Amorosa- va presa a piccole dosi. Ma cosa spinge a questa riluttanza? Mancanza di visibilità, difficoltà nell’offerta, user experience…”.

Per questo, Amorosa, porta in campo le piattaforme MajorNet che permettono di realizzare i tipici servizi del cloud, accompagnati da una user experience e non richiedono al cliente un team It interno. E il canale? Amorosa sostiene che per mettere d’accordo Pmi e cloud ci voglia “spazio per soluzioni innovative, fornitori che devono lavorare in semplicità e adottino soluzioni as a service, solo a canone”.

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Paolo Parabelli

Un concetto quasi ‘sartoriale’ che non passa inosservato anche in casa Rosenberger OSI. Come ha sottolineato Paolo Parabelli, sales manager Italia, che si chiede come sarà il Data center del futuro? “In Italia il numero di data center di grandi dimensioni è limitato, dato il contesto economico fatto da Pmi le quali hanno un proprio mini data center”.

Parabelli si sofferma sul concetto di pulizia del data center come fattore di risparmio. “Sembra strano ma la procedura di pulizia di un impianto in fibra spesso non viene eseguita al fine di ridurre i tempi di installazione e quindi riduzione dei costi. In realtà – spiega – l’80% dei problemi su impianti a fibre ottiche è causato proprio dalla mancanza di pulizia”.

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Romano Zanforlin

Cosa può spingere al cambiamento? La community, l’aggregazione, la condivisione di idee, lo studio e il senso del dovere. Una testimonianza che in apparenza sembra essere lontana dal contesto di distribuzione as a service, ma la testimonianza di Romano Zanforlin, direttore marketing e commerciale di Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, ha dato alcuni spunti di riflessione.

Il nuovo stadio, in primis, rifatto secondo i dettami appena citati, un luogo di responsabilizzazione: “Sono state tolte le reti che non permettevano al pubblico di lanciare oggetti in campo, per i quali una squadra viene multata e sono diminuite le multe”, spiega Zanforlin.

Cambiano le esigenze e i modelli distributivi. La ricetta BB Tech Group

Maura Frusone

Un legame forte con il territorio ha fatto si che la squadra ‘piccolo Club’ potesse competere ai massimi livelli con realtà più importanti e ricche. Insomma, un gioco di squadra che deve servire anche alle aziende It che spesso si sentono escluse d grandi colossi. Infine non può mancare la sicurezza laddove ci parli di cloud.

Maura Frusone, Head of Smb di Kaspersky, ha dato alcuni utili consigli. “Se consideriamo che nelle Pmi, il 50% delle volte gli incidenti capitano per errore umano, involontario, vi dico: investite di più sulle persone, aumentate i budget dedicati e investire per ripensare i processi di sicurezza It”.

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1. and 2. The awesome staff members at the Presa Community Center: Joseph, Nathan, and Monaija

3.Students have the opportunity to start their own business.

4. The walls are decorated with artwork to foster creativity.

5. Presa Community Center staff celebrates each camper’s birthday. I was told that, for some, it’s the only party they have on their special day.

6. Presa Community Center staff offer incentives for summer reading!

7. 8. and 9. The facilities at Presa Community Center.