pred_label stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob float64 0.5 1 | wiki_prob float64 0.25 1 | text stringlengths 182 1.02M | source stringlengths 39 45 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__wiki | 0.924612 | 0.924612 | Marie appears in Norwegian TV show
Written by administrator on November 11, 2000 to Misc.
Yesterday, Marie appeared in a Norwegian TV show called “Åpent Hus” (Opened House). She gave a very short interview where she said that she knew she was going to be an artist already at the age of six.
Afterwards, she did a fantastic live appearance, in which she and her band performed “Efter Stormen”. They also interviewed a female fan in the audience, who said that she had been looking forward to see her perform all week, and that she preferred Marie’s solo material to Roxette. Marie is doing quite well ot the Norwegian top 40 album chart these days, where she has stayed for 9 weeks now. This week she’s at number 18.
Roxette interview from the rehearsals (February 18, 2011)
Ask Per a great question (February 7, 2011)
Dolph Lundgren mentions Per in UK interview (August 22, 2010)
Record "The Look" and win $5,000 shopping spree (August 11, 2010)
roxtexanet said on November 12, 2000 20:32:
Re: Roxette splitting up: When “The World According to Gessle” was released in Canada, an (otherwise good) review began with, “Former Roxette member Per Gessle...”. Yikes! Not good for the band’s image at all! Anyway, the interested can view the archived article at www.canoe.ca ... click on JAM! Music and search for Roxette or Gessle.
roxeteer (moderator) said on November 12, 2000 23:05:
About MTV not wanting Roxette... Per Gessle was actually interviewed yesterday on MTV Europe. They had a documentary on Swedish music (it was again one of those pre-EMA shows) and Per said a couple of words (which I missed). Then they showed a snippet from “The Look” video.
silverblue27 said on November 18, 2000 13:06:
Wow!! Hold your horse! This is for the other Roxette fan: Roxette is defenetly NOT splittling up! Better now? | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line878 |
__label__cc | 0.571858 | 0.428142 | 104.5 The Team Dream Job
Call Rodger's Rant Line
Get 'The Team' App
Honor a Local Athlete
Rodger Wyland
Chris Onorato
Levack
How to Claim a Prize
Big Board Sports
Levack and Goz
Hall of Fame Interviews
Sittin' Sportside Podcast
Spain & FitzSpain & Fitz
Marshawn Lynch Stops By “Conan”
Tom "Goz" Goslowski
Recently retired NFL running back Marshawn Lynch stopped by "Conan" to discuss what he has been working on since he decided to announce his retirement from professional football in February. Lynch, who had made a reputation for being resistant to opening up to members of the NFL media, seemed relaxed and happy to be on with the late night talk show host. Lynch covered a wide variety of topics including his recent appearance on "Man vs Wild", his involvement in the Oakland community and his foundations below.
This is not the first time that Lynch had appeared on Conan O'Brien's show. During the week leading up to the Super Bowl 49 match up between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, Lynch appeared alongside Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in a round of "Clueless Gamer". Both Lynch and Gronkowski battled for video game supremacy during the skit.
Lynch made no indications that he would be returning to the NFL anytime soon. "Conan" can be seen Mondays-Thursdays at 11pm on TBS.
The Knicks Are Better Than You Think
EEO / Jobs
Albany Business Listings
2019 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio, Townsquare Media, Inc. All rights reserved. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line879 |
__label__cc | 0.540053 | 0.459947 | My 40 Days for Life
Last call for early birds!
Applications to lead the March 6-April 14 40 Days for Life campaign are pouring in!
Just a quick note that the special early-bird application fee offer for leading a 40 Days for Life campaign ends at midnight tonight!
Apply to lead!
Worldwide, abortion ends the same number of human lives as all other causes of death…combined!
It’s a genocide unsurpassed throughout history. It takes place where you live–and the appropriate response is prayer.
Click here to apply and help end abortion in your city with a coordinated 40-day campaign of prayer and fasting, community outreach, and peaceful vigil.
Recently on the 40 Days for Life Podcast, we examined abortion in the context of other genocides.
We evaluate claims that it’s “offensive” to label abortion as genocide; analyze why genocide happens; and discuss what abortion and other mass atrocities have in common. Click here to listen to a serious but important conversation.
And then apply to be part of the solution to the abortion crisis in your community.
I’ll be completely honest: leading a 40 Days for Life campaign is hard…but it’s worth it!
When you take the plunge and bring this lifesaving program to your city this March 6 through April 14, you won’t be on your own.
In addition to comprehensive training modules and a plethora of tools and templates, you’ll have around-the-clock access to 40 Days for Life headquarters team members to coach, mentor, and encourage you along the way–including former Planned Parenthood manager Sue Thayer, who led a campaign herself before her former workplace closed!
One life saved, heart healed, or worker walking away from the abortion industry makes every sacrifice worth it. I can’t wait to hear what God does for your community when you apply to lead a 40 Days for Life campaign this Lent!
Shawn Carney, President
In addition to co-founding and directing the 40 Days for Life campaign, Shawn is a popular speaker, and co-author of the #1 Top-Rated Amazon Christian book: 40 Days for Life: Discover What God Has Done ... Imagine What He Can Do
Category: 40 Days for Life —
See what's new with 40 Days for Life in your town ... and around the world
Top rated on iTunes!
Headquarters Updates
How artificial reproduction contributes to the abortion crisis–PODCAST Season 4, Episode 29
We’re not making this up
What in the world is going on in Illinois?–PODCAST Season 4, Episode 28
Supporting abortion is unpatriotic
5 reasons supporting abortion is unpatriotic–PODCAST Season 4, Episode 27
© 2019 40 Days for Life. All rights reserved.
4112 East 29th Street, Bryan, TX 77802
888-LIFE-316 (888-543-3316)
info@40daysforlife.com
EU/EEA Privacy Statement
Our website uses cookies only for functionality & user experience. We do not collect personal data through cookies. Click here for Privacy Policy. Accept
Translate 40daysforlife.com | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line880 |
__label__wiki | 0.778033 | 0.778033 | Cellular technology start-up relocates to Kirkland
Pivotal Commware is making 5G networks possible for cellular carriers, and its growing
The now Kirkland-based wireless start-up company, Pivotal Commware, is creating technology that will make 5G cellular networks possible, and it recently relocated its headquarters to a larger office.
Pivotal Commware was developed within Bellevue’s Intellectual Ventures as part of the Invention Science Fund department that incubates start-ups, pairs them with CEOs, and spins them out as their own companies. Commware grew up in IV’s former Bellevue office, and relocated to an 18,000-square-foot space in Kirkland — nearly double the size of their last space.
In the last year, Commware raised $17 million in funds from investors, including Bill Gates, and will be at the forefront of a new method for deploying cellular networks using holographic beam forming. The new technology is essentially a small, lightweight panel on a cell tower — or elsewhere — that transmits a powerful radio signal to any desired location, such as airplanes, drones, ships, or streets during rush hour traffic. Commware’s holographic beam forming will allow cellular carriers to efficiently, and affordably focus data capacity where it’s needed most.
Commware CEO Brian Deutsch said the military currently has similar technology, but it’s bulky and expensive, making it nearly impossible to deploy on a commercial market place. Current technology won’t support the speed needed for 5G networks, or the growing number of products that are becoming electronic.
“Phones are reasonably fast, but they’re not doing augmented reality, cars aren’t doing autonomous driving that requires split-second decision making,” Deutsch said.
A delay in the data networks are usually jammed in the last couple miles its traveling, but with holographic beam forming, the energy is focused on a specific area, and we “can harness and control the energy instead of spitting it out willy-nilly like it’s been done.”
Deutsch predicts some versions of 5G will be released in mid-2019, and more broadly by 2020.
“When they talk about 5G, we’re talking about 10-plus gigabit peak speeds, which is absolutely amazing, and very low latency,” he said. “The time from your phone to the cloud is very short, and if you’re using autonomous driving, that’s important.”
Commware has about 35 employees, and expects to grow to 50 by the end of the year.
24 Hours: Nick Crandall of Redhook Brewery
Edmonds Named State’s First Creative District
The Business of Jewelry
Those Who Can Do — and Choose to Teach | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line881 |
__label__wiki | 0.967198 | 0.967198 | Why in the world does Joel Embiid fall down so much?
By Chris Herring
IT'S MARCH 20, and the Philadelphia 76ers are facing their main Eastern Conference foes, the Boston Celtics, for the fourth and final time in the regular season. They're 0-3 so far.
But this night's true battle -- and the evening's greatest drama -- is the one between Joel Embiid and the forces of gravity. As usual, Embiid is losing.
Less than two minutes into the game, Embiid backs Al Horford down into the paint, falling backward -- and to the floor -- before hoisting a shot that hits the underside of the rim. Seven minutes later, while trying to guard Kyrie Irving, the Sixers' Quicker-Tripper-Upper, fooled by the guard's shot-fake, all but pancakes Irving onto the floor. One minute later, the big man widens his stance while setting a handoff screen for JJ Redick, prompting Boston forward Jaylen Brown to barrel into Embiid, who winds up, yet again, on his butt. About seven minutes into the second quarter, Sir Falls-A-Lot hits the deck for the fourth time this half, catching a pass on the right block before turning into a double-team and drawing a foul, stumbling to the floor.
His fifth on-court crumble nearly starts a fight less than a minute into the third quarter, when Celtics guard and resident irritant Marcus Smart shoves Embiid in the back in retaliation for a hard shoulder the Sixers star had just thrown, and the shove in turn sends Embiid flying headfirst toward the baseline, where he braces his fall with his elbows before hopping up and charging back at Smart. The play seemingly enlivens the falling star, who hurtles to the floor a sixth time two minutes later, after driving to his right and finishing through contact initiated by Jayson Tatum for a 3-point play.
In the opening minute of the fourth, Embiid goes full Hakeem, displaying an array of pump-fakes on Horford, turning left, then right, then left again before tripping over the Boston center's foot and drawing a foul call for Spill No. 7. His eighth fall from grace comes a few minutes later, when, while crashing the glass on a Jimmy Butler jumper, he falls hard after leaping onto Irving's back. Finally, in the final minute of a now 113-113 game, one the Sixers will ultimately win, Mr. Slippy catches the ball near the left block, faces up and dribbles once before throwing his right shoulder into Horford, sending both men to the floor and drawing a defensive foul.
Tally up all the falling down, and in this victory over the Celtics, Joel Embiid has tipped over no fewer thannine times.
Sound like a lot? It is a lot. To study it further is to discover that it's less of an anomaly than a matter of course: A possession-by-possession video analysis of Embiid's season reveals that he has fallen 244 times since the start of the 2018-19 campaign, which comes out to 3.3 times per game or roughly one fall for every 10 minutes the Sixers center spends on the court.
How does that falling down stack up? Although no falls-per-36-minutes metric exists on a league-wide scale, we studied five games of video on five other players known for regularly denting the floor: Ersan Ilyasova, who led the NBA this season in drawing charges; Blake Griffin, second in charges; Jusuf Nurkic, who, like Griffin, gets hit constantly; Russell Westbrook, perhaps the sport's most aggressive player; and James Harden, the reigning MVP who drives to the basket -- and, well, flops -- more than anyone.
The takeaway: Embiid indeed belongs on the NBA's Mount Rushmore of Frequent Fallers. He falls more often, on a per-minute basis, than Griffin (every 14 minutes), Nurkic (every 13 minutes) and Westbrook (every 12 minutes) and at roughly the same rate as Ilyasova (every nine minutes) and remains upright a bit more frequently than Harden (every eight minutes). But among true big men -- those with farther to fall and bigger bones to bust -- Embiid stands alone in his inability to remain standing.
IF A TREE falls in a forest, and no one is there to hear it, then one thing is for certain: That tree is not Joel Embiid. Few athletes have been seen falling by more people, more frequently.
Each game is a virtual meteor shower for the Sixers' falling star.
It has gotten to the point that teammates barely register his tumbles. Says Butler, when asked about Embiid's falls, "With Joel, it's kind of like what D-Wade said: 'Fall seven times, stand up eight.'"
The folks working the baselines are equally unfazed. "I remember he stepped on my foot one game earlier this year trying to keep his balance. We've just kind of come to expect [the close calls]; it comes with the territory at this point," says cameraman Charles Bailey, who works home games at the Wells Fargo Center.
It's another thing altogether for Sixers fans, who have their limits on just how much they can take of seeing their star knocked down.
"I've been a season-ticket holder 43 years, and he falls more than anyone I've ever seen," says Duane Sophia, a native of Lititz, Pennsylvania, as he watches Embiid warm up before a game. "He falls hard all the time, and you're always worried that he's going to hurt something."
Consider that Embiid missed all 164 of Philadelphia's games in his first two seasons in the NBA, a span in which he had multiple surgeries on and persistent problems with his right foot. The franchise finally got a taste of his stardom in 2016, but even that was short-lived. After playing in 31 games, he missed the remainder of the season after he was found to have a torn meniscus in his left knee, which required surgery. Since those first two seasons he sat out, Embiid has missed an additional 88 games over the past three seasons.
But it's also abundantly clear to just about everyone that he's the club's most valuable player. Case in point: Since Embiid made his October 2016 debut with Philly, the Sixers have been almost 13 points better per 100 possessions, going from a 4.2-point deficit with him on the bench to a whopping 8.7-point advantage when the big man is on the court, according to NBA Advanced Stats. The difference is just as apparent from a wins-and-losses standpoint. With Embiid in the lineup, the club has won an impressive 61 percent of its contests since the start of 2016-17; without him, the Sixers have prevailed just 39 percent of the time.
There's more: The Sixers' midseason trades for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris delivered them the East's best starting five but took a drastic toll on their bench depth. When Philly fails to get out in transition, it reveals the limitations of point-forward Ben Simmons, whose lack of a jumper generally leaves top-end defenses daring him to shoot in the half-court scenarios that are more common in the playoffs.
It is arguable that no franchise is as wholly reliant upon a single set of limbs as the 76ers are upon those of Embiid. For a team that so famously invested in a years-long process to bring the likes of exactly him to the team, there could be no more tragic possibility than a once-in-a-generation basketball unicorn felled by something so pedestrian as the force of gravity.
So it is that every one of Embiid's falls feels fraught, perilous and possibly catastrophic -- and 76ers Nation teeters each time its frequent faller suffers another bumpy landing.
But it still begs the question: Why in the world does Joel Embiid fall down so damn much?
THEORY ONE: JOEL EMBIID FALLS BECAUSE HE'S A CLUTZ
On Dec. 17, during the second quarter of a game against the Spurs, Embiid delivers a handoff to Redick, takes literally one step and promptly ends up on the floor after somehow -- Chris Farley-like -- getting his left foot tangled with San Antonio's Patty Mills, who manages to stay upright as play continues.
A few months later, during the third quarter of a Feb. 8 win over Denver, a skyward Embiid seeks to block a Trey Lyles shot attempt, a play that results in an NBA-style version of "Ring Around the Rosie." To the surprise of no one, Embiid falls to the hardwood. But with his aggressive block attempt, he brings Lyles and new Sixers teammate Mike Scott down with him.
"Sometimes," Redick says, "I don't think Joel really quite has a grasp on his body."
Then, a mere two days later, after Butler misses a second-quarter shot on Feb. 10 against the Lakers, Embiid cartoonishly trips and falls over his teammate's foot near the baseline, while Butler -- totally unscathed -- gets back on defense for the following possession.
One month after that, during the final minute of a March 12 game against Cleveland, Embiid, after tossing up a floater in the lane, thunderously slams home his own miss with a dunk so vicious that it sends him stumbling to the floor. The very next play, on the other end of the floor, Embiid patrols the paint and tries to swat Jordan Clarkson at the rim but ends up flat on his back after the Cavs guard misses and undercuts the airborne center's legs in the scrum of bodies. (This is one of eight times during the season that Embiid fell down on consecutive plays.)
Five days later, on March 17 against the Bucks, with just more than a minute left in the third quarter, Redick takes a transition foul on Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo a full second before a leaping Embiid comes flying in, full-throttle, knocking Redick headfirst into the stanchion.
Says Redick, with more forgiveness than most humans would show after suffering the effect of a 7-foot-2, 280-pound man's gracelessness: "He nearly decapitated me with that Milwaukee fall."
THEORY TWO: JOEL EMBIID FALLS A LOT BECAUSE HE'S A FLOPPER
Take a first-quarter play from an Oct. 27 game against Charlotte: Embiid gets the ball on the left wing, dribbles and gets stripped cleanly by Kemba Walker. There appears to be no sort of collision, and even if there has been, Walker has swatted the ball toward the right baseline, yet somehow the far heavier Embiid has inexplicably tumbled the opposite way. No whistle ensues, but you can see the wheels turning in the big man's head as he mentally computes whether a fall, completely unnatural, would be worth it anymore. Still, he falls anyway, with a farcical dive befitting a man who once played youth soccer.
A month later, less than a minute into the Sixers' Nov. 30 contest with the Wizards, Embiid collects the ball after a Thomas Bryant dunk and inadvertently bumps into the Wizards forward. Embiid, in response, acts as if he has been hit by a sniper, lurching forward and tucking his arms in hopes of selling Tyler Ford, the nearest referee. (Ford, unmoved, calls a delay of game.)
That isn't to suggest that this salesmanship never works. To return to the Milwaukee game (you know, the one in which Embiid nearly kills Redick) is to encounter a play early in the second quarter on which Embiid and Simmons simultaneously appear to slip on banana peels, both of their heels completely in the air, as they go for an offensive board. The whistle blows; Embiid has drawn a loose-ball foul on Bucks forward D.J. Wilson, who, truth be told, barely touched the Sixers franchise player. Success!
THEORY THREE: JOEL EMBIID FALLS A LOT BECAUSE HE'S A TROLL
You know the aphorism: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
Joel Embiid famously does not prescribe to this notion.
And so, in turn, Embiid sometimes gets shoved -- shoved for playing the role of an agitator, shoved for frustrating opponents with his elite skill set as a post player, shoved for his antics and voluminous trash-talking, as infamous on social media as on the court itself.
Consider one week into the season, when Embiid succeeds in burrowing under the skin of Detroit's Andre Drummond, dominating the Pistons' big man throughout the game before getting him ejected in the final minute of regulation in a one-possession game. Embiid scores a basket, then, as he begins to retreat, takes an exaggerated fall to the floor after Drummond extends an elbow -- but makes no meaningful contact with Embiid. Because Drummond already has one technical, and officials deem this a second, Drummond's night is over.
"I got him out of here!" a smiling Embiid shouts.
The following day, Embiid receives a warning from the league office for flopping, and Drummond has his second technical rescinded. Still, Drummond acknowledges that Embiid's needling had the Pistons center playing outside of himself for stretches of the game. (Also, the game is in the books.) For the simple cost of a tumble -- something he does all the time anyway -- Joel Embiid is more than happy to oblige.
THEORY FOUR: JOEL EMBIID FALLS A LOT BECAUSE HE TAKES UNNECESSARY FLIGHTS
The irony is rich: The Cameroon native didn't pick up the sport until the age of 15, both because basketball isn't widely celebrated there and because his father, Thomas, feared the game was dangerous. Nonetheless, Joel Embiid plays the game with a recklessness that would put Johnny Knoxville to shame.
In late January against the Lakers, when Embiid tries to throw down a one-handed alley-oop offering from Simmons, he lands awkwardly, his legs buckling underneath him, and even the Los Angeles crowd grasps how problematic the play looks. The collective faithful release an audible groan as Embiid grimaces, holding his back.
During a Feb. 13 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Embiid gives chase for a loose ball headed for the sideline, forcing him to hurdle actress Regina King, who was sitting courtside. In a minor miracle, Embiid lands safely in the lap of an MSG Network statistician, managing to knock over only a monitor in the free fall.
Neither fans nor players are harmed in the making of that SportsCenter highlight, but as with every other of the 243 falls Embiid has taken this season, it scares the hell out of Sixers coach Brett Brown. "Remember when you'd take your kid to the playground, and they'd fall from a swing? And it's always like, 'Oh!'" Brown says, gasping in shock, after being asked if he has any worry about Embiid's falls. "It's the same way with me for him. Every single time."
Take, for instance, the time in the third quarter of an April 4 home game against the Bucks when Embiid goes up for a one-handed dunk. Antetokounmpo pins the attempt against the backboard. Embiid falls on his tailbone. Even on television, the Philly crowd's reaction sounds like the audience at a horror film, and the Sixers race to commit a take foul so Embiid can be checked on by team physicians.
"It's actually worse watching him fall in person. When it's on TV, the camera keeps moving along with the play, so you may not see him lying there on the ground," says 16-year-old Mark Colligan, a native of Washington Township, New Jersey, wearing an Embiid jersey at a recent playoff game in Philadelphia. "But when you're here, [Embiid on the floor] is the only thing everyone is focused on. Everyone's just thinking, 'Please get up. Please get up.' There's a huge gasp in the room."
AND SO WE are left with myriad theories -- and one tantalizing clue: To review all 28 of Embiid's collegiate games is to find that he fell to the floor a total of 38 times in 647 minutes, or about once every 17 minutes of playing time. That means NBA Embiid falls nearly twice as frequently as NCAA Embiid.
Why is that, given all the additional muscle he has put on, all the extraordinary value he carries as a franchise player and all the injury concerns that surround him?
We did what any reasonable person would do -- indeed, what any reasonable person could have done from the very start -- and asked The Fall Guy himself: Why do you play like a gigantic, wobbly toddler?
At the team's practice facility in Camden, New Jersey, just seconds before he vanishes from sight to take a post-workout shower, Embiid smiles when asked about his frequent falls. "It was something I learned during my rehab when I was going through the foot injury, when I was trying to find ways to limit the impact on my body in 2014," he says. "I was told that every time I feel like I'm in a situation where it's going to be some type of extreme [weight] on my leg, I've got to dive or just roll onto the floor. So that's why I do it."
Embiid appears to have taken at least one other step to that end: When he dunks, he generally appears to hang on the rim for a split-second longer than he once did, perhaps to avoid putting too much strain on one leg or foot.
Although the specialists who have worked with Embiid declined to comment for this story, the craft of falling is one commonly taught in martial arts, from judo to jiu-jitsu. By artfully tumbling to the floor, rather than landing awkwardly on a foot, martial artists "distribute the force of impact over the widest area possible to disperse the force of the fall," says Paul Schreiner, head instructor at Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu in New York City.
Put another way: By falling, rather than bracing for impact by placing his weight on a planted foot or hand, an athlete decreases the likelihood of sustaining a joint injury.
So there you have it. An entire city freaks out each time its best player falls because fans think that by falling he might get hurt. Meanwhile, that player is intentionally falling so he doesn't get hurt.
"I know there are fans that are always thinking, 'No!' each time I fall, but that's why I do it," Embiid says with a brief grin before heading for the showers. "The specialists for my foot told me to do it."
Some might say that in Joel Embiid's mind, falling is a process -- and he's inclined to trust it.
Joel Embiid keeps falling for a reason
The Sixers' franchise cornerstone tumbles to the floor as much as any big man in the league. The question is: Is it clumsiness -- or practice?
sportsespnjoel embiidphiladelphia 76ersnba | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line883 |
__label__wiki | 0.582252 | 0.582252 | SAT IOC Chair visits the Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics
Nominations for AIAA Directors Being Accepted Through 12 July
Making an Impact: AIAA Educator Achievement Awards
AIAA “Look Up!” Award
2019 Team America Rocketry Challenge
AIAA Western Michigan University Student Branch
AIAA Athens State University Student Branch
AIAA Committees SAT IOC Chair visits the Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics
VKI Professor, Dr. Christophe Schram, and Dr. Gohardani at the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. Credit: A. Gohardani
By Dr. Amir S. Gohardani, SAT IOC Chair
The aviation sector faces many significant challenges ranging from improved transportation mobility and environmental protection. With notable objectives to reach specific air transportation goals in response to societal needs, the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE) recently unveiled Europe’s vision for aviation as ACARE 2050. Exploration of radically new ideas is indeed a common measure for identifying potential solutions for visions such as ACARE 2050. One of these ideas specifically refers to aircraft electric propulsion, the theme for a recent lecture series offered by the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI) in Brussels, Belgium. As the opening session lecturer for this lecture series with prominent speakers from academia, government entities, and industry, it was rather interesting to observe that the technological aspects of electric propulsion were not the only drivers for electric aviation. VKI, a nonprofit international educational and scientific organization, hosting three departments in aeronautics and aerospace, environmental and applied fluid dynamics, and turbomachinery and propulsion recently opened a new window into the societal impacts of electric aviation, which highlighted a myriad of underlying factors including technology, business, and sustainability that guided the environmentally friendly and efficient mobility solutions. Through this visit, the intersection between aerospace technology and society, a core function of SAT IOC was evident. Currently, 15 NATO countries among 28 contribute to the financing of VKI, a world-class institution established in 1956. SAT IOC continuously aims to enable links between the general public and their understanding of aerospace technology and the committee constantly adapts its methods to reach a larger portion of society. Visiting the VKI indeed casted additional light on the impact of experimental, computational, and theoretical research on society.
AIAA Leadership Nominations for AIAA Directors Being Accepted Through 12 July
The AIAA Council of Directors Nominating Committee (CNC) will compile a list of potential nominees for the open Director positions on the AIAA Council of Directors. This list will include nominees who will be selected to go to the next step of competency review and interview held by the CNC. The CNC will select specific candidates for the open Director positions who will be voted on by the AIAA membership. The final slate of candidates will be publicized by December 2019 for the election that will be held January/February 2020.
Nominations are being accepted for Regional, Integration and Outreach, and Technical Group Directors for the term beginning May 2020–2023. AIAA members may nominate members qualified for the open position by submitting a nomination no later than 1800 hrs EDT, 12 July 2019.
Regions coordinate the activities of geographically related sections to facilitate cooperative efforts between the various geographical areas. A Regional Director shall lead each region. The voting members who belong to that region shall elect the Regional Director for that region. The Regional Director for each group shall be a member of the Regional Engagement Activities Division (READ) as well as a delegate to the Council of Directors. The term for Regional Directors shall be three years and there shall be a limit of the Regional Director serving two consecutive terms. Nominations are being accepted for:
Region I – North East, Director
Region II – South East, Director
Region VII – International, Director
Integration and Outreach Groups coordinate the activities of related Integration and Outreach Committees to facilitate cooperative efforts between the various professional areas. An Integration and Outreach Group Director shall lead each Integration and Outreach Group. All voting members shall elect the Integration and Outreach Directors. The Integration and Outreach Director for each group shall be a member of the Integration and Outreach Activities Division (IOD) as well as a delegate to the Council of Directors. The term for Integration and Outreach Group Directors shall be three years and there shall be a limit of the Integration and Outreach Group Director serving two consecutive terms. Nominations are being accepted for:
Business and Management Group, Director
Young Professionals Group, Director-Elect
Technical Groups coordinate the activities of related technical committees to facilitate cooperative efforts between the various technical disciplines. A Technical Director shall lead each Technical Group. The voting members who belong to that group shall elect the Technical Director for that group. The Technical Director for each group shall be a member of the Technical Activities Division (TAD) as well as a delegate to the Council of Directors. The term for Technical Directors shall be three years and there shall be a limit of the Technical Director serving two consecutive terms. Nominations are being accepted for:
Aviation Technology, Integration and Operations Group, Director
Space and Missiles Group, Director
To nominate an AIAA member in good standing for the open positions on the AIAA Council of Directors, please submit the nominee’s bio and/or CV, history of AIAA activities and/or engagement with other professional societies, and a statement from the nominee of willingness and ability to serve if elected.
Please submit nominations directly to Christopher Horton, AIAA Governance Secretary, chrish@aiaa.org, no later than 1800 hrs EDT, 12 July 2019.
AIAA Foundation Making an Impact: AIAA Educator Achievement Awards
Students in today’s classrooms could be the next inventors, entrepreneurs and leaders who help us travel faster, father and safer both on Earth and through space. But first, they need a good teacher.
That’s why AIAA created the Educator Achievement Awards in 1997. This year’s honorees each received $5,000 for themselves as well as a matching $5,000 for their respective schools, a first for the Foundation, said Jim Maser, AIAA Foundation chair.
“These (teachers) are at the tip of the spear,” Maser said while introducing the winners at the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala in May.
• Charlotte Cook, Young Astronaut Specialist at Carver Magnet School in Little Rock, Arkansas, for “bringing STEM practices to our school, district, and community by utilizing AIAA and other resources that open students’ eyes to endless possibilities.”
• Patricia Palazzolo , Gifted Education Coordinator at Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, for “encouraging students to pursue space- and STEM-related careers through hands-on projects and mentorship.”
• Megan L. Tucker, STEAM Specialist at Hillsboro Charter Academy in Hillsboro, Virginia, for “inspiring a love of STEAM nationally for scholars and colleagues alike using aerospace education, Megan has a passionate mission for creating an ‘Aviation Fascination’!”
These premier educators talked about their students, mentors and inspiration at the awards ceremony.
“Just like Haley’s comet I strive to leave behind a beautiful legacy,” Cook said. “The AIAA Foundation has given me the resources to open students’ minds to endless possibilities. Therefore, helping me leave a little bit of myself behind to make a difference in students’ lives.”
Palazzolo drew upon Shakespeare to thank the audience “for being the stuff dreams are made of, all of you, with all you do—astronautics and aeronautics—have given this teacher a supply of stuff that I’ve been able to use to encourage my students to pursue their dreams.”
For Palazzolo, who has been teaching for 44 years, some of her students have become rocket scientists. She is now “seeing the dreams of yesterday… become the reality of today.”
And it all begins in an elementary school classroom, Tucker said.
“They’re going to dream of things we can’t even imagine and design things we can’t even dream. But it needs to start being encouraged today. I truly believe that if the student is motivated, he or she can achieve anything, and aerospace is the perfect motivation. Your attitude truly does determine your altitude.”
Tucker added, “teaching is ultimately about lighting the fire of lifelong learning and aerospace education is the spark.”
For more information about AIAA’s educational activities or to make a donation, please contact Foundation Director Merrie Scott, merries@aiaa.org or visit aiaa.org/foundation.
Award Announcements AIAA “Look Up!” Award
The AIAA “Look Up!” Award, presented at the 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), held 12–17 May, celebrates exceptional high school-level research to courage further study in aerospace. Winners of the AIAA “Look Up!” Award receive a cash award and one year of AIAA student membership with access to all student programs. We congratulate the 2019 winners and encourage students to Look Up! and see their future in aerospace.
First-Place Award ($2000 award)
Using a Computer Program Applied to an Electromagnetic Walking Apparatus to Simulate Earth’s Gravity in Space, MaryAlice Young, Bishop Kenny High School, Jacksonville, FL
Second-Place Award ($1500)
Implications for Biogas Energy Use via Methanogenesis in Mars Conditions, Alexandria Montgomery, West Salem High School, Salem, OR
Third-Place Award ($1000)
Development of Predictive Software for the Engineering & Optimization of Reliable Rocket Components, Chad Brown and Ryan Pearson, Woods Cross High School, Bountiful, UT
Fourth-Place Award ($500)
Design and Numerical Analysis of a Novel Co-Flow Jet System to Improve the Lift, Range, and Fuel Efficiency of a Commercial Airline Wing, Hans Ehrnrooth, Pine Crest School, Ocean Ridge, FL
Award Announcements 2019 Team America Rocketry Challenge
Team America Rocketry Challenge. Credit: Aurora Flight Sciences
AIAA is proud to be an education partner of the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC), which had its National Finals Fly Off on 18 May. The winners were the team from Madison West High School of Madison, WI, and took home the top prize at the nation’s largest student rocketry competition. The students from Madison West will represent the United States at the International Rocketry Challenge at the Paris International Air Show in June, facing off against teams from France, the UK, and Japan. Competitions such at TARC are a great opportunity to expose students to the challenges, fun, and comradery that underpins aerospace.
Student Branch AIAA Western Michigan University Student Branch
Student Activities Chair Jacob Russell thanking Mr. Vono. Credit: AIAA Western Michigan University Student Branch
In April, Distinguished Lecturer Charlie Vono visited the Western Michigan University Student Branch. The students enjoyed hearing Mr. Vono’s stories and were appreciative of his knowledge of the history of the SR-71 and the KC-135Q. “…I thought it was great how Mr. Vono was able to answer most questions with a detailed story. His knowledge … ranged from general engineering principles to simple life experience. … I sincerely hope that I remember some of what he said years from now because I really thought he gave us some great advice for life and education.”—Aidan Wales, Western Michigan University class of 2021.
Student Branch AIAA Athens State University Student Branch
Student members Danny Porter, Kathy Williams, Bethany Hammond, and Faculty Advisor Dr. Wayne McCain. Credit: AIAA Athens State University Student Branch
The AIAA Athens State University Student Branch hosted a table at the university’s Spring Term Transfer Day. Student members Danny Porter, Kathy Williams, Bethany Hammond, and Faculty Advisor Dr. Wayne McCain spoke to other students about upcoming summer classes, Dr. Robert Zubrin’s new book The Case For Space, and the Management of Technology curriculum.
To submit articles about section events, member awards, and other special interest items in the AIAA Bulletin, please contact:
Christine Williams, Editor, AIAA Bulletin
christinew@aiaa.org | 703.264.7575
July/August 2019 AIAA Bulletin | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line901 |
__label__wiki | 0.780599 | 0.780599 | The OneWeb global internet-delivery constellation will include 720 150-kilogram satellites — 40 in each of 18 low-Earth-orbit planes. Credit: OneWeb
An intriguing year for communications satellites
By Tom Butash|December 2016
The Communications Systems Technical Committee is working to advance communications systems research and applications.
This year may be remembered as one of the most challenging, if not paradoxical years for the communications satellite industry. Despite several satellite communications service operators facing overcapacity, pricing pressures and flat to declining revenues, record amounts of additional capacity will be launched before the second quarter of 2017, and even greater capacity is under development for deployment by the end of the decade. Moreover, an incredible venture capital infusion of $1.8 billion into the industry in 2015 — far more than invested over the prior decade — has enabled “New Space” ventures, including low Earth orbiting, or LEO, and other planned nongeosynchronous orbit broadband constellations, to add even more capacity.
In geosynchronous orbit, Intelsat and NBN Co. each launched additional high throughput satellites, while Hughes Network Systems and ViaSat plan to launch their second-generation high throughput satellites, EchoStar 19 — also known as Jupiter-2 — and ViaSat-2, late this year and early next year, respectively.
Through mid-September, 11 contracts were awarded for geostationary communications satellites: Four to Space Systems Loral, three each to Boeing and Thales Alenia Space, and one to Lockheed Martin. This award pace suggests 16 satellite awards by the end of 2016, a 33 percent decline from the average of slightly over 24 awards during each of the past four years. The dramatic decline might be attributable to operator sensitivity to near- and intermediate-term challenges, including over-capacity, pricing pressures and flat to declining revenues.
Despite these challenges, many geostationary and large LEO (known as Mega Big LEO) high throughput satellite constellations have been proposed and are under development. ViaSat began development of two of three 1-terabit-per-second-capacity geostationary ViaSat-3 satellites for launch by 2020. The capacity of each will be greater than the total capacity of all communications satellites currently on-orbit. Hughes also is planning its third-generation high throughput satellite, Jupiter-3. Motivated perhaps by the International Telecommunication Union’s estimate that 3.9 billion people remain unconnected to the internet, Boeing, LeoSat, OneWeb, SpaceX and others have proposed or are developing broadband Mega Big LEO constellations. Several of these are due to go into service by 2020.
The year also saw further progress in reusable rocket technology that might someday lower launch costs by 30 percent or more. In April, SpaceX achieved a first when a Falcon 9 first stage landed on an unmanned barge in the Atlantic Ocean, after boosting a Dragon cargo capsule toward the space station. Previously, SpaceX had only achieved a vertical landing on dry land. Blue Origin demonstrated reusability for the first time in January when the same booster that launched its New Shepard capsule to space in November 2015 launched New Shepard again. The European Commission advised the European Space Agency to invest more in reusable technology, citing the American achievements. Ariane 6, under development for first launch in 2020, is unlikely to incorporate reusability before 2030, while the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center in Moscow believes its expendable Angara A5 can win 60 percent of the commercial market.
SpaceX’s Sept. 1 prelaunch explosion of a Falcon 9 destroyed the Amos-6 satellite and delayed Facebook’s plans to provide internet access to sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to the loss, Falcon 9 demonstrated eight launches with six first-stage recoveries.
All-electric and hybrid electric-chemical propulsion are becoming the norm, facilitating cost-saving dual launches and greater satellite capacities.
Eutelsat and Space Systems Loral conducted Q/V band transmissions using an experimental payload on Eutelsat 65 West A. The companies are assessing the potential of the 40-50 gigahertz band for enabling terabit-per-second high-through-put satellites.
ESA’s European Data Relay System-hosted laser communications payload launched on Eutelsat 9B in late January to transmit and receive data at 1.8 gigabits per second.
In June, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 launched the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Objective User System-5 satellite, but MUOS-5’s primary orbit-raising system failed before achieving geo-synchronous orbit. The Navy began analyzing alternative means of correcting the orbit. ★
Contributors: Roger Rusch and Joe Pelton
Orion module undergoes acoustic testing
Structures small to large take shape
New computing tools, international collaboration spell design progress
Year of records includes Falcon Heavy launch, unmanned aircraft registrations
Real-world geometries, wind tunnel tests bring improved results
Understanding aerodynamics for small, large craft
Focus on ability to predict separated flow
Expanding reach, capabilities of balloon systems
Airbus, Boeing airliners make first flights
FAA reaches NextGen, unmanned air milestones
A century ago, aviation became an industry
Standards group releases UAS publications
Attention on drone safety and data collection
UH-1 Huey flies autonomous resupply mission in test
Government and industry pour resources into electric power
Hypersonics changing the world
Exploring space for nuclear fuels
Advances in cubesat propulsion, launch technology
Testing alternative fuels, solar-thermal systems
Commercial launch companies and NASA chart successes
Potential for more affordable exploration
Hypersonic work escalates on multiple fronts | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line902 |
__label__cc | 0.513751 | 0.486249 | Tests at the Lockheed Martin Low Speed Wind Tunnel in Ohio confirmed the low-speed handling qualities of the Hybrid Wing Body, which is targeted to use 51 to 74 percent less fuel over today’s commercial freight missions. Credit: Lockheed Martin
By Gary A. Dale|December 2016
The Green Engineering Program Committee promotes a holistic, systems approach to improved energy efficiency, sustainability, renewable energy and design.
Environmental regulations will increasingly impact future aviation, as witnessed by events in 2016. In February, following six years of development, the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO, took a significant step on efficiency targets with an agreement on CO2 emissions standard. If adopted by ICAO’s governing council, then the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection will impose the first-ever binding energy efficiency and CO2 reduction targets for aviation.
In July the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a determination that greenhouse gas emissions from certain types of aircraft engines contribute to the pollution that causes climate change and endangers health.
NASA completed its six-year Environmentally Responsible Aviation project that aims to reduce aviation’s environmental impact. Partnering with U.S. industry and other government agencies, researchers matured advanced commercial transport technologies that reduced aircraft drag, weight and noise, as well as reduced the fuel burn and oxides of nitrogen output of the engines. If applied to the U.S. fleet starting in 2025, NASA’s analysis shows the technologies could help U.S. airlines realize over $250 billion dollars in savings from 2025 to 2050, and claim large reductions in carbon and noise footprints.
NASA in September awarded contracts to Aurora Flight Sciences and DZYNE Technologies, both in Virginia, along with Boeing and Lockheed Martin for system requirements definitions for promising X-plane concepts. The contracts support NASA’s 10-year New Aviation Horizons initiative to further develop technology with U. S. industry and other government partners to enable revolutionary ultra-efficient subsonic transport aircraft. Objectives are the simultaneous reduction of fleet-level carbon footprint of aviation by at least 50 percent and reduction of perceived community noise levels by one-half, while significantly reducing landing and takeoff emissions.
The European community is also addressing environmental and economic performance targets. Clean Sky 2 is focused on integrating breakthrough technologies at aircraft level and delivering in-flight demonstration of novel architectures and configurations. One example is the BLADE, or Breakthrough Laminar Aircraft Demonstrator in Europe, flight demonstrator: its A340 with new natural laminar flow on the outer wings. The wing assembly is nearing completion at Aernnova in Spain.
In Japan the National Institute for Materials Science has achieved energy conversion efficiency exceeding 18 percent using standard size perovskite solar cells, a key driving technology toward the government’s goal of doubling conversion efficiency and lowering power generation costs.
In June, Solar Impulse completed the first circumnavigation of the globe, flying 40,000 kilometers without fuel to promote the use of renewable energies. Airbus Group confirmed production plans for its electric aircraft E-Fan 2.0. Initial production volume will be small, but could grow to some 80 units annually by 2025, according to the company.
The White House in July released its strategy for setting out prioritized research and development goals to address key scientific and technical challenges holding back the development, production and use of economically viable alternative jet fuels at commercial scale. The FAA continued its five-year effort under the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise Program to develop and demonstrate certifiable aircraft technologies to reduce aircraft fuel burn, emissions and noise, as well as to advance the development and introduction of sustainable alternative jet fuels. Recently, a new alternative — environmentally friendly, bio-based jet fuel, alcohol to jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene — was approved by ASTM International of Pennsylvania.
In March, United Airlines launched an initiative that uses biofuel to help power flights running between Los Angeles and San Francisco, with eventual plans to expand to all flights operating out of Los Angeles International. It’s the first time an American airline is using renewable fuel for regular commercial operations. ★
Interest grows in digital twins, digital engineering
Incorporating uncertainties in aircraft design
Aerospace structures showed diverse advances
Turning-point year for urban mobility, electric aircraft
New technologies advancing thermophysics
Forecasting space weather to protect travelers
Atmospheric vehicles tilt toward ‘going green’
Space, military delivery systems undergo testing
Trainer makers compete; many aircraft take first flights
NASA, FAA roll out apps for improved flight efficiency
A year that caught public’s notice
Autonomous drone test opens up possibility of low-level urban flights
Progress on avoidance, guidance and displays
Computing advances push manufacturing, design, deep learning
FAA budget increase comes amid unmanned aircraft boom
Electric efforts gaining power
Voyagers hit 40 years operating, Cassini mission ends
Improving simulations of engine performance for training, aircraft design
Lightweight fission reactor passes test; work on innovative engine combustor
Small and large launch companies report successes
U.S. Space Force proposal, commercial crew programs grab interest
Military truck program offers lessons | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line903 |
__label__cc | 0.666895 | 0.333105 | Boarding school for misbehaving, failing, or expelled boys who are endangering their own future. An affordable Christian boarding school for troubled boys. – military schools and Christian boarding schools.
Agape Boarding
Boarding school for teenage boys exhibiting bad behavior or failing academics. We will turn around your troubled teen.Inquire Now
Christian Boarding School that Turns Around Rebellious Boys
A Year-Round, Affordable Boarding School Specifically Designed for Boys Struggling with Academics or Behavior
If your son is out of control, expelled or falling behind in school, we will help get him back on track! Unlike typical boarding schools and military schools, we only work with boys who are struggling, so we strictly maintain discipline and security, while showing Christian love and care for the boys at all times. Agape teaches and reinforces proper behavior, responsibility, and strong goals in life; turning uncaring, self-centered boys into responsible and mature young men.
Academics at Agape
Agape Boarding School provides a profound focus on each of our students achieving academic success. We believe that every teen should have a strong academic foundation, as well as college preparatory studies. We are a fully accredited school.
Many therapeutic boarding schools put less emphasis on academics. While attempting to get a teen’s behavior back on track, their academics may suffer and put them even further behind. At Agape, academics are of equal importance to improving behavior.
Parents and families will also be counseled and offered special times to visit.
Our Awesome Campus
Welcome to our exciting campus! We are located in Missouri on a 200 acre ranch. There are many things for the boys to participate in on the campus. Our ranch is also a home to horses, lamas, alpacas, donkeys, water buffalo, emus, zebras, cows, and many more exotic and farm animals.
All of our staff live right on our campus. They are dedicated to working with the boys and we are pleased with all that God has done among the boys over the years at Agape Boarding School.
You won’t find a teen program with as many features as Agape has!
What Others Say About Agape
Agape is Affordable! Agape’s tuition is well below other residential programs for at-risk boys.
Steve Bozak,
“Agape has had a long history of helping boys. With improved behavior and impulse control, these young fellows learn to succeed and develop a healthy respect for authority figures, parents and loved ones. As a physician, I strongly support the model practiced at this boarding school.”
David E. Smock, MD
25 Years Helping Troubled Teens
We founded Agape 25 years ago out of a burden to help troubled teens. By showing God’s love daily to these boys, Agape has helped thousands of troubled teens turn around their life, become a productive member of society, grow spiritually, and complete their high school education. We love working with the boys, motivating them to reach their potential, showing them what God can do in their life, and helping them restore the relationship with their parents and family.
Dr. & Mrs. Clemensen,
Agape Boarding School
Philip Bradney on Google
Our son had an amazing experience at Agape. It was not always an easy path for him but the changes we saw in his life over the two years he was there were definitely life changing. Agape was what our READ MORE
Lisa O on BirdEye
We are very grateful for your positive influence on our son. He has been doing great since coming back home. The best testimony to your influence is how much our son talks about the different staff meb& READ MORE
Parent Comments
My grandson entered Agape under duress at age 14, a know it all who wouldn’t go to school. The staff at this school turned him around, in effect, replacing his missing father. He graduated as valedictorian this year. I can’t say enough about how this school helped him. He has stayed over at this school…
- Parent of Former Student
We had two problem sons, both adopted from bad home backgrounds and who had serious issues. Agape was exactly what they needed and the school did wonders for them. It is a wonderful place that teaches respect, Biblical knowledge and principles and where they genuinely love the boys. They also teach work and taking responsibility…
- Parent of Former Students
I was the typical ‘know it all, you can’t tell me anything’ boy was I wrong! I went to the school when I was 15. After I graduated I stayed on for a year to help out as best I can. The school taught me a lot about myself, and a lot about God, and…
- Former Student
I was not a kid into drugs or anything, I was just plain rebellious. Agape broke it out of me and I thank God He intervened and allowed me to change. The education is tremendous and the biblical beliefs are great. I love Agape and thank the Lord for a place like it. It taught…
I enrolled my brilliant but unchallenged 15 year old son at Agape Boarding school in the fall of 2004. His grades had been slipping; he wasn’t a bad kid but starting to get into the wrong crowd and not try to succeed in school. After 4 months at Agape he became a disciplined achiever. The…
Agape helped us with an out-of-control son; we had nowhere else to turn. Agape’s prices are better than many other so-called teen boarding programs. Our son is a better person today because of Agape. He never would have graduated from school, and possibly wouldn’t have ever become a Christian without his time there.
Agape has saved the life of my son as well as the rest of the family. My son was adopted at age 7 from a third world country. He had spent his entire life in a bad orphanage. Upon arrival, his behavior was utterly out-of-control — though family, teachers and professionals were doing all they…
I made the difficult decision at Christmas time to send my son, and remember thinking, “God gave His only son and never got Him back alive, how blessed I am that I WILL get mine back better than when I handed him over” and had no idea how far Agape would bring him along. The…
Look as long and hard as you want, but you won’t find a better all boys school that promotes Christian morals for your son. My son has completed 2 years at Agape and I couldn’t be prouder of his achievements and growth. Over the past year I had been hunting for another school like Agape,…
About 1 1/2 yrs. ago,we, as parents were in the position of desperately searching for the right place for our 13 y.o. son. I know what to look for in a school, through the MANY hours of “Googling”, searching, calling, reviewing. Nothing compares to the whole package we have found in Agape. Firstly, and most…
We can also help you in your search for other Christian boarding schools, home for troubled teens, homes for troubled boys, or therapeutic boarding schools for boys. This boarding school for boys can help your boy who is defiant, breaking laws, or otherwise behaving badly. Low Cost Christian boarding schools helping at-risk troubled teen boys. Agape’s therapeutic residential school helps rebellious boys who are at risk and defiant or out of control. Designed as a school for troubled teenage boys Agape helps solve behavioral disorders, providing
help for boys with ADHD,
alternatives for boys with ODD – Oppositional Defiant Disorder,
and a school for youth with Attention Deficit Disorder.
We also help boys with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Compare our affordable boarding school to top therapeutic boarding schools and other residential schools for troubled teens. If you are a parent with a troubled teen and are looking for alternative schools, boot camps, troubled teen programs, military schools, therapeutic programs, wilderness programs, or therapeutic boarding schools, call us to see how affordable our low cost boarding school can be. While not a military school, military schools are often a parent’s first thought when their boy is in trouble. Military schools can change teen behavior temporarily (out of fear), but lasting change rarely happens. Military high schools rarely enroll troubled teens, and while they can change a boy’s actions, they do not change hearts and minds. We enroll students from the East Coast and New England states and central and West Coast states such as
Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and also from Midwest states like: Ohio,
Missouri,
Kansas,
Kentucky,
Tennessee,
Michigan,
Wisconsin and
Indiana. From the Southern states, boys come from: Florida, Louisiana and Arkansas. We also accept international students. But most of our residents come from California, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Boarding School for Boys | Christian Residential School for Troubled Boys
Boarding school for misbehaving, failing, or expelled boys who are endangering their own future. An affordable Christian boarding school for troubled boys. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line906 |
__label__cc | 0.633035 | 0.366965 | Christian boarding schools in Lansing, Illinois — Agape Boarding School may be the right choice. – boarding schools and therapeutic boarding schools.
Christian Boarding Schools in Lansing, Illinois
Home » Christian Boarding Schools in Lansing, Illinois
Looking for a Christian Boarding School for Your Boy in Lansing, Illinois?
While you search for a Christian boarding school in Lansing, Illinois for your teenage son, would you also look at a program in another place that is affordable, and has helped struggling teen boys to turn their lives around for more than 21 years?
Conveniently situated in the center of the country, Agape Boarding School accepts at-risk boys from all over America. We are also certified to enroll international students. A number of boys typically come to our Christian boarding school from the West Coast, Texas, New England, Illinois and Florida, and even Lansing, Illinois.
An Affordable Alternative to Boarding Schools in Lansing, Illinois. Boys come from all over the U.S., and from Other Countries.
Even though our main focus is on dealing with behavioral issues and mentoring these boys, as a Christian boarding school, we also provide an accredited education, competitive sports and a variety of daily activities — all at a very affordable price. Agape helps teenage boys become respectful, disciplined and educated young men. Real change comes from our emphasis on the power of God to change lives. And our structured environment separate from their peers, helps the boys learn positive new patterns and habits for living.
teens at the Agape Christian boarding school have an opportunity to catch up and complete their high school coursework and prepare for college. Boys complete an accredited curriculum to earn high school diplomas. Boys also receive training in a variety of vocational skills at Agape, including automotive repair, painting, electrical, tiling, laying carpet, cement work, construction, landscaping, welding, and more. Students are well-prepared for college or entry into initial jobs in the workforce, having obtained these skills, as well as the self-discipline that will serve them all their lives.
Boys also participate in daily activities and athletic programs. The campus includes a full-size gymnasium and well-equipped indoor recreation center; baseball, football, and soccer fields and a volleyball court and boxing arena; a fishing pond and a small lake; horse barns with an outdoor riding arena; and an in-ground swimming pool, among other facilities. The land also is home to an abundance of exotic animals, from alpacas to zebras.
Agape is a Christian Boarding School that Welcomes and Works with Teenage Boys Who are Struggling with Anger Issues, Academic Failure, or Self-Destructive Behavior
Many of the boys who come to Agape are displaying behavior issues such as rebelliousness, lying, lack of motivation in school, spending time with the wrong crowd, anger, ADHD, trying out drugs or alcohol, or otherwise following the wrong road in life that could lead to serious problems if it were to continue.
Though not located in Lansing, Illinois, Agape Christian Boarding School Enrolls and Helps Boys from Around the Country, Including Lansing, Illinois.
Numerous teen boys from Illinois have turned their lives around with the help of Agape Boarding School and look forward to a promising future.
Please consider looking outside of Lansing, Illinois to this effective and affordable Christian boarding school for boys with behavioral and academic difficulties.
To learn more, we invite you to read the rest of our website, then fill out our inquiry form or phone us today to learn more.
More about Christian boarding schools in or near Lansing, Illinois:
Lansing is a village in Cook County, Illinois, USA. Lansing is a southern suburb of Chicago. The population was 28,332 at the 2000 census.
Excerpt about Christian boarding schools in Lansing, Illinois, used with permission from Wikipedia.Christian Boarding Schools in Alabaster, Alabama
Christian Boarding Schools in Rhode Island
Christian Boarding Schools in Arkansas
Map Overview
Christian Boarding Schools in Branford, Connecticut
Christian Boarding Schools in Hawaii
Boot Camps for Teen
Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens
Christian Boarding Schools in Anchorage, Alaska
Should you need help finding boys ranches, alternative schools, affordable schools or school for troubled teens, please let us know. If you are searching for troubled teen homes, troubled teen schools or troubled teen boarding schools, this is a Christian one. Boys homes don’t typically offer teen counseling and therapy, but we do. Other troubled teen schools and residential treatment programs for teens are often quite costly, but this one of few residential treatment centers and residential schools for teens that is affordable. This boarding school for boys can help your boy who is defiant or misbehaving. Among Low Cost Christian Boarding Schools, Agape helps at-risk troubled teen boys. Agape’s therapeutic residential school helps rebellious boys who are defiant or out of control. Designed for troubled teenage boys Agape helps solve behavioral disorders like
Christian boarding schools in Lansing, Illinois — Agape Boarding School may be the right choice. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line907 |
__label__wiki | 0.86421 | 0.86421 | Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/a01f98121ccd5c76843285860747fbba
EPA Sues Kaiser For Alleged Pollution Violations
JAMES L. ENGFebruary 9, 1989
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) _ The Environmental Protection Agency has sued Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. for allegedly violating pollution standards at its Trentwood plant east of Spokane.
If found liable, the company could be subject to civil penalties of as much as $25,000 per day of violations for each of eight emission points, EPA’s regional office in Seattle said in a news release.
A Kaiser spokeswoman, Susan Ashe, called the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Spokane, ″totally inappropriate, completely unnecessary and most regrettable.″
According to the civil suit announced Wednesday, the federal government seeks a permanent injunction against Kaiser prohibiting violations of visible emissions standards caused by releases of particulate matter.
Also sought is an order directing the Trentwood plant to comply immediately with clean air regulations developed by the Washington Department of Ecology and approved by EPA, said EPA regional spokesman Bill Jacobson.
The complaint accuses the Kaiser plant of exceeding emissions standards for particulate matter ″on numerous occasions since 1984.″
The Trentwood plant rolls and ships such products as beverage can lids and heat-treated sheets, plates and coils.
In 1985, EPA sent Kaiser a formal notice, giving the company 30 days to correct the problem, said Jacobson. The complaint alleges that smoke stacks from the same plant furnaces continued to violate federal and state standards after the 30-day grace period expired.
Ms. Ashe, the Kaiser spokeswoman, said in a prepared statement that the company has spent nearly $500,000 ″redocumenting that particiulate matter within these occasional bursts of smoke from our remelt area were well below every health standard by which one measures.″
Kaiser also announced last month that it would install $1.8 million in pollution-control equipment to reduce emissions from the casting area.
Since the regional EPA office was aware of these steps, Kaiser was shocked when the civil suit was filed, Ms. Ashe said.
In essence, the debate centers around the so-called ″opacity standard″ developed by the state. Industries are restricted in the amount of time that their smoke stacks can exceed 20 percent opacity - basically, seeing 80 percent of what one should be seeing.
EPA uses that opacity standard as an indicator of how much particulate matter is in the air. When an opacity standard is violated, EPA assumes that the federal particulate air standard is violated as well.
Kaiser and others have argued that opacity standards do not truly measure the health or environmental impact of material escaping from stacks. EPA contends the opacity standard is the best available way to measure particulate matter.
Ms. Ashe said Kaiser has been working in good faith in the past year with the county Air Pollution Control Authority, the state Ecology Department and the regional EPA office on an equitable solution to what it calls ″an arbitrary visual emissions standard that has no relation to scientific fact or to health.″
The aluminum company had also sought a local variance and a change in state law to permit any industry or regulatory agency to undertake studies that would lead to the establishment of a scientifiically sound standard.
″We suspect that this regrettable decision (to sue) by the Department of Justice was reached in Washington, D.C. without even checking at the state and local level to find out how much progress has been made,″ Ms. Ashe said. ″Someone far removed from the scene appears to just want to chalk up a mark on the wall as an enforcement undertaken.″
Jacobson, however, said the civil action originated in EPA’s regional office in Seattle.
″It was our idea. We pushed it and there was concurrence from headquarters,′ ′ he said.
Ms. Ashe said Kaiser would seek to meet with all the parties involved in an attempt to settle the dispute. If that fails, the company is prepared to vigorously contest the action in court, she added. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line914 |
__label__cc | 0.528374 | 0.471626 | Blowing Up
German architecture firm crafts multi-sensory, inflatable projects
By Jason Sayer (@adjasoncies) • May 10, 2016
The Templehof Airport in South Berlin has a history of giving. In 1948, Operation Vittles, also known as the “Berlin Airlift,” saw American aircraft carry 80 tons of food into Tempelhof. Shortly after, the famed Operation Little Vittles saw renowned “Candy Bomber” Gail Halvorsen drop candy via parachute to children living nearby. Many pilots soon followed in his footsteps. The airport is now no longer in service, though more recently, it was used as one of Europe’s largest refugee camps. This inspired local architecture firm Plastique Fantastique to install an over-sized inflatable dinghy, reminiscent of those many refugees had been using to get to the continent, at the airport.
Called LIVEBOAT, the firm, who are well known for their inflatable installations, said that dingy offers space for dialogue surrounding the refugee crisis. The boat serves as a visual pun of being a dinghy at an airport is big enough for people to walk inside. Visitors can walk through the boat and on their way discover multi-lingual sound bites of Homer’s Odyssey as well as “fragments of refugee experiences.”
Started in 1999, Plastique Fantastique comprises two architects, a set designer, a sound artist, a sculptor, and an intern. As their name suggests, plastic is the material of choice, selected due to its low cost and only needing a fan to form a space. “The fact that we used plastic, was just usually the fact that we had no money,” said co-founder Marco Canevacci. Initially, in their first works, they sought to create warm places to stay through the use of a hot-air blower.
Since their founding though, their work has, in many ways, continued to expand. Drawing on the pneumatic and inflatable volumes found in Ant Farm’s Inflatocookbook, they rely on their diverse knowledge base of sound artistry, set design, and sculpture to integrate contemporary mediums into their work.
One project, SOUND of LIGHT is a notable example of this. The synesthetic sculpture analyses and interprets sunlight, “dynamically” transforming it into audio frequencies. Situated in the former music pavilion in Hamm, Germany, a high-end digital camera placed on top of the structure films the sky above, dividing it into red, green, blue and cyan, magenta, yellow.
Commonly known as “RGB” and “CMY” this selection is derived from how colors are formed on-screen and in print (with black the only color missing). Subsequently, the two groups of three colors “receive different frequencies and convert them from visible to audible sensory input.”
To produce the sound, woofers placed at the bottom of each color column turn the space into a “giant vibrating loudspeaker.” “Visitors can also discover their own concert by changing their point of view—an individual spectrum,” the firm says on their website.
Sound is once again a key component of one of the latest works, BREATHING VOLUME.
Breathing walls constantly swell and retract, giving the impression of being inside a living, breathing organism. Subwoofers at the back “transform the pulsing bass frequencies into the soul of the organism,” while four synchronized ventilators work alongside to induce the movement of the walls and sense of breathing.
Another project, installed in 2011 in Neukölln, not far from Templhof, aims to “embrace the Passage’s “waistline” and façade”. Called RINGdeLUXE, the inflatable golden ring wraps an archway as part of the “48 hours Neukölln” art festival.
RETTUNGSRING (lifesaver) is a ring that, instead of clinging to a building, floats on the river river Spree in Berlin’s Treptow district. “Once inside of the structure, the visitor enjoyed the full experience of walking, sitting and relaxing on the water.”
Those interested can further explore their diverse body of work here.
Jason Sayer (@adjasoncies)
Editorial Associate, The Architect's Newspaper
Berlin Inflatables Soundscapes
Clubcraft
You can now tour Berghain, Berlin's decadent techno club, in Minecraft
Peruse our favorite spring 2019 architecture book releases
Stay Dry
PARTISANS' Building Raincoat could help Toronto keep a street culture year-round
Yabba Dabba Don't
California town sues owner of the "Flintstone House" over prehistoric additions
For season three of Stranger Things, they built an entire mall | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line915 |
__label__cc | 0.724973 | 0.275027 | ‘Paulie the Plumber’ – notorious murderer – joins Raniere as inmate at MDC
Paul ‘Paulie the Plumber’ Weadick, 63, convicted of committing a murder with former New England Mafia boss Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme, has been transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison in Brooklyn.
He is at the same prison as another dangerous criminal, Keith Alan Raniere, currently resides.
Also residing there is El Chapo.
It is a matter of opinion as to who is the most ruthless or dangerous. Raniere is especially tough when it comes to torturing and scaring women.
It wasn’t immediately clear where Salemme, 85, is being held but he might be at MDC or headed there soon.
Paulie the Plumber joins Keith the Vanguard at MDC.
Salemme and Weadick were recently convicted for their roles in the June 1993 killing of Steven DiSarro, a South Boston club owner, to prevent him from cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation targeting Salemme and his son.
Prior to that – in 1982, Weadick was convicted of second-degree murder in the Joe Mistretta homicide and served seven years behind bars.
Raniere seems to have had a hand in two women coming up missing or dead, but authorities have not yet pinned the death or disappearance on Raniere, whose followers call him Vanguard.
According to the Weadick indictment, DiSarro, 43, was strangled to death in the spring of 1993 by [now deceased] Frankie Boy Salemme, Jr. in the kitchen of the Salemme home in Sharon, Massachusetts as Weadick held DiSarro’s legs and Cadillac Frank and his younger brother John (Action Jack) Salemme watched.
MK10ARt’s chilling sketch of criminal Keith Raniere
When Raniere ordered the branding of women, Dr. Danielle Roberts wielded the hot iron, as his other DOS slaves held their legs and arms in the living room of Allison Mack’s home.
Weadick, being muscular, was able to hold down DiSarro all by himself, whereas it took four women to hold down the branded women – one to each limb.
Will Frank Saleme also join Raniere at MDC?
Leave a Reply to Pea and Sultan as Lovers Cancel reply
Will “Paulie the Plumber” inspect VanTurd’s pipes?
Keith picks on women. He must be pissing his pants being locked up with men he has no control over. Aside from dumping him in the bay I cannot imagine them having any use for such a toad as Rainere.
These and other prisoners should be able to toughen up what Raniere’s lawyer has described him as, a very soft man. At the very least, they will toughen up his anus.
Python Swoope says:
“KARMA” …..You gotta Love it !
What has really weakened organized crime over the past 30 years is the aggressive use of the RICO laws to take the profits out of rackets.
Skillful prosecutors like Patrick Fitzgerald had used RICO to tear apart organized crime piece by piece.
And it must have come as quite a shock to Raniere that RICO can be used to bury NXIVM and his gang of Flying Monkeys.
And any organization that is corrupted can be turned into a racket.
RICO is a loosely written law that is liberally interpreted.
As long as Raniere was dealing with corrupt local prosecutors he could use Bronfman money to buy protection.
No More!
The FBI and many professional prosecutors can not be purchased.
Moreover, by providing a Brooklyn base for Allison Pimp Mack’s sex trafficking operations, the US government has the jurisdiction to bring the case in the Eastern District of New York where there is an incorruptible class of investigators and prosecutors.
And under Federal jurisdiction one overt act committed in the ED NY brings the whole conspiracy into the EDNY.
Here is the biography of the law professor who drafted the RICO law that has dismantled a lot of organized crime.
His name is G. Robert Blakey and he was a long time law professor at Notre Dame University.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Robert_Blakey
George Robert Blakey (born January 7, 1936, in Burlington, North Carolina) is an American[3] attorney and law professor. He is best known for his work in connection with drafting the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and for scholarship on that subject.
More specifically, Blakey also has experience with examining MLM RICO frauds: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Amway/blakey_report.pdf Remember, Raniere cut his teeth with Amway and applied the scammy principles to Consumers’ Buyline and NXIVM.
When people hear RICO they think of the old fashioned organized crime.
Under Blakely’s RICO statute any organization can become a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization.
A business corporation, a church, a charity, a school, a local government, a union or even a self help group can become a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization.
Raniere and the Bronfman sisters never counted on that.
It’s a powerful law with triple damages.
In the right circumstances it can even be used to prosecute murder conspiracies.
Tommy Hitachi says:
Guys: The photo on the bottom is not Paulie the Plumber. Rather, the photo is of Stephen DiSarro, a Boston real estate developer and nice guy who made the mistake of developing gangsteritis in the early 1990s. DiSarro let the Boston mob use his famously successful nightclub as a front and then made the another mistake by naively bragging about it. That’s when Paulie the Plumber killed him in 1993. Only recently were DiSarro’s remains found.
Maybe you wanna fix the picture?
Let me correct myself.
DiSarro is the second photo. The bottom photo is indeed Pauli the Plumber, but not his boss, Frank Cadillac Salamme.
I really hope if Keith is allowed to look anything up on the internet that he checks out The Frank Report. Lately there hasn’t been as many members on the forum.
Nxivm members that is
Maybe the superseding indictment with the RICO charges woke up some of Raniere’s supporters.
Keith is keeping track of the Frank Report you better believe it and he will even the score when he comes out.
He is coming out?! I knew it, I just Knew he was a closet homosexual. Thanks Pea Brain.
Keith has discovered his feminine side over the last six months.
Tell us Pea, was NXIVM laundering money for corrupt Mexican politicians and businessmen?
Did NXIVM also launder money for Mexican criminal gangs?
There’s a rumor that Allison bought a 452 K house with laundered money from Mexico.
Later she sold that house to Doctor Brandon Porter and co-signed the mortgage.
Pea, is that rumor true?
Inquiring minds want to know.
I’ll wager that those 70 NXIVM computers the FBI has contain the answers to those questions and many more questions.
The truth will out.
Pea and Sultan as Lovers says:
Pea,
If SultanOfSix (Sultan of Twat) is willing to join the Society of Protectors and defend Keith’s honor by learning NXIVM technologies —– would you ever consider copulating with him?
awwww, how romantic. They can spank it together…
Ex-NXIVM member gives insight into what he experienced
No ‘Credible Allegations’ Against Kavanaugh | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line919 |
__label__cc | 0.529765 | 0.470235 | Keith Raniere
Featured • News • NXIVM
Agnifilo accuses government with de facto witness tampering with DOS slaves and withholding crucial information from defense
Marc Agnifilo, the brilliant and high-priced attorney for Keith Raniere, is now accusing the government of behaving unethically. What he claims all but amounts to de facto witness tampering.
He writes in his affirmation to the court that the government is withholding information from the defense and is actually trying to get witnesses to change their stories.
Agnifilo writes the government has interviewed a number of DOS slaves as potential witnesses.
He writes, “…in some instances, after witnesses provided an account of their experience in DOS, the Government subsequently attempted (and sometimes succeeded) to have these witnesses change their accounts, in whole or in part, by confronting these witnesses with purported statements by a defendant or the Government’s opinions about the evidence.”
He writes that the government knows that much of what they are alleging is untrue.
He wrote, “In a novel effort to fabricate the element of coercion as part of the sex trafficking count, the Government artificially links collateral to a requirement of sex with Keith Raniere. However, we expect that the Government has by now spoken with numerous women who have stated to the investigators and prosecutors that collateral was wholly unrelated to sex or an expectation of having sex with
anyone, let alone Raniere…. The evidence is overwhelming that the collateral was a function of a woman’s membership in and commitment to DOS, and nothing more….
“We believe that the Government has been told by a number of people the Government considers ‘DOS slaves’ during proffer sessions with the AUSAs and the FBI agents assigned that no sex trafficking or other illegal conduct took place.
“These witnesses provided information which contradicts the factual allegations and theory of the prosecution. Defense counsel believes, moreover, that when confronted with these accounts of alleged ‘DOS slaves’ that no illegal conduct took place that the Government attempted to ‘convince’ these witnesses to the contrary.
“The defense is concerned with the propriety of this investigation in light of this information.”
After suggesting that the government is engaged in, in effect, witness tampering, he then accuses the governmental prosecutors of withholding information they know would tend to prove Raniere’s innocence.
They have not turned over the required Brady Material [any evidence that might exonerate Raniere], he claims.
“Simply put,” Agnifilo writes, “if the Government has been told by someone it believes to be a ‘DOS slave’ that nothing inappropriate happened, contradicts information alleged by any of its witnesses or that any defendant did not act with the requisite mental state required for the commission of the crime, that is the very definition of Brady material, and it must be disclosed immediately…
“Notwithstanding assurances that it is aware of its ethical obligations, the Government has still not responded to counsel’s original Brady request (filed five months ago), counsel’s subsequent Brady demand (sent four months ago) or counsel’s most recent demand for immediate disclosure of Brady materials (filed two months ago).”
Agnifilo alleges several examples of the government withholding information.
He writes, “I also believe that at least one witness who was apparently given an assignment to seduce Raniere has spoken to the Government and told them that she did not fear the release of their collateral if she did not complete this assignment. Notably, she has informed law enforcement that this ‘assignment’ did not actually result in seducing Raniere.”
And again, “…counsel has provided numerous examples of witness statements to law enforcement that directly contradicted the Government’s theories. Yet, in the eight months since Raniere’s expulsion from Mexico and subsequent arrest, the Government has still failed to provide these exculpatory statement, clearly within the purview of Brady…
“While counsel is aware of some of these witnesses’ statements, this does not relieve the Government of its ethical obligations under Brady. Counsel were not present at these witness interviews and therefore do not know exactly what these witnesses told law enforcement.
“Moreover, while counsel know that some witnesses provided exculpatory information, we do not know how many other witnesses have provided similar information. Only the Government knows the full extent of the exculpatory information.”
The line of defense Agnifilo is evidently planning is that for every one victim the government produces at trial – he plans to call multiple non-victims who were in similar circumstances.
If, for example, a victim claims she was forced to have sex with Raneire, Agnifilo will produce 10 women who will testify they were not forced. Then he will try to impeach the victim claiming she is lying and/or misunderstood Raniere’s intentions. That the other 10 women understood it was not compulsory to have sex with Raniere.
This is over simplifying, but the rebuttal is: “I am innocent. I did not force 10 women to have sex with me – I only raped one.”
But, unfortunately for Raniere, one will be enough for him to go prison for a long, long time.
Arts & Culture • Featured • Theater
On the BOARDS • Week of JULY 11 – JULY 17- What’s Playing on BUFFALO THEATER Stages
Does anyone know who the 2nd or 3rd level American DOS slaves that still support Raniere?
Heather Anne says:
Agnifilo admits they are DOS slaves. From the beginning of this case, he has called the women who claim abuse liars on camera. Was he there? No. He is simply taking his clients’ word for it, now they even sound like the same person, especially in bail filings!
His behavior is similar to Clare and Keith’s many court cases, winning is not the real issue. Keeping the court tied up is!
Is the jury going to care that for every abused victim, many of whom are hopefully getting counseling, and hopefully working with cult deprogrammers?
They being Nxivm have never denied using NLP. It may take some time before many of the women realize they were victims as they have been told for years they are at fault.
The idea that any woman can testify that she never felt her collateral would be released is foolish. As long as that collateral was out there with more damaging collateral required monthly, you couldn’t possibly feel safe.
Raniere realized that as the victim got used to each piece of collateral being out there (they knew not where), he would need to up the fear level. JMO.
PS: the only decent thing I see about Aggie. As an attorney, is he is willing to do whatever his client asks of him, even if it makes him look like an idiot!!!
I heartily second Heather Anne. Sometimes I think “Aggie” 😁, Agnifilo, has either consumed so much Vanguard poison word salad he’ll need to have his brain pumped to survive OR he’s raking in so much moola on this case between the Bronfman’s and Salinas’ and who knows who else, he doesn’t care what kind of idiot he looks like, he’ll be hanging on Necker Island with Richard Branson sacrificing virgins for breakfast the rest of his born days.
TK says:
Absolutely agree with you Heather Anne. Lot’s of defense attorneys in high profile cases tend to look idiots. Someone’s got to do the work. And, he gets paid with publicity to boot. He represented Martin Shkreli, so he’s well versed in how to powder his clients butts as the coin rolls in. It is quite interesting that the collateral seemed to always increase over time. Makes sense. How else to keep others under control. I would guess that a psychopath would prefer to keep the mind control in their favor by expected to receive new collateral on a regular basis for the sole purpose of keeping this threat front and center in the victims mind.
It’s nice to see you posting regularly under “Heather Anne” again. While I’m relatively still new to this site, thank you for sharing what you have. I know you are going through a very tough time in your life, and you are in my thoughts. I think you are really cool!
I meant to add for every victim is the jury going to care that 10 come forward saying they weren’t victims? Count me in. I wasn’t a victim either but I believe the women and men who were.
Linseed says:
Everything about his defense is screaming that Mack is being set up to take the fall.
Anytime Agnifilo writes something to the government, they should just respond with Raniere’s “fuck toy” email and tell him to STFU.
Monte Blu says:
There is abundant truth in what Marc says. It should be pretty clear that Keith will be acquitted.
Monte Blu:
Where is Pea?
Preparing to be indicted?
How can the government turn over Brady material exonerating Raniere when such material does not exist?
Albany Defense Attorney With Big Ears says:
The prosecution most definitely has Brady material – and they will eventually turn it over to the defense attorneys. All Agnifilo is trying to do here is raise issues that can possibly be used on appeal – and perhaps speed up the process.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article220097825.html
The link above tells us why the vigilance of FR, the media, remains critical to bringing justice to Nx victims. (Please ignore the headline. Sad state of affairs when it has to have a political celebrity name or bipartisan slant in it to sell views.)
Snorlax says:
Good try there counselor, but you still cannot polish a turd.
Time’s running out for NXIVM.
https://media3.giphy.com/media/IZcjxKQNbOOly/giphy.gif?cid=3640f6095c007b3947724e615557921a
Unsubscribe me, again.
Dispute over privilege may prompt DOJ investigation into Clare Bronfman perjury on servers in computer trespassing case | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line920 |
__label__wiki | 0.587464 | 0.587464 | Shake Shack arriving in Tokyo next year
February 18, 2015 05:53 JST
TOKYO -- Hot off its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, Shake Shack, a U.S. hamburger shop chain with a gourmet flair, is coming to Japan.
It has signed an exclusive franchising agreement with Sazaby League, a Japanese retail and restaurant group, which will open the first Shake Shack here next year, followed by nine more in Japan by 2020.
From its original location in New York City, Shake Shack has grown to 64 shops in nine countries. Priding itself on quality ingredients, it also offers hot dogs and beer and wine.
Its mainstay ShackBurger sells for around $5 in the U.S. In Japan, it will aim for a somewhat lower price range than the 1,000 yen ($8) premium burgers that many restaurants are now dishing out.
India aborts moon mission launch citing technical glitch
Russia offers to supply etching gas to S Korea amid Japan export curb
SK Hynix surges to top Asia300 company rankings as trade war takes toll
Xi doctrine comes before profit for China's state-owned companies | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line921 |
__label__wiki | 0.523987 | 0.523987 | Atlanta Venues /
Huff Harrington Fine Art Schedule
Huff Harrington Fine Art Atlanta
4240 Rickenbacker Drive Northeast
Neighborhood: Buckhead
Tel: 404.257.0511Fax: 404.257.0677Ann Huff and Meg Harringtonwww.huffharrington.com Huff Harrington Fine Art introduces comfort and ease into the Atlan... read more
MORE INFO ABOUT Huff Harrington Fine Art
Tel: 404.257.0511Fax: 404.257.0677Ann Huff and Meg Harringtonwww.huffharrington.com Huff Harrington Fine Art introduces comfort and ease into the Atlanta art-buying experience. Owners and fellow Francophiles, Ann Huff and Meg Harrington have combined their love of art, their admiration for European antiques and their desire for a comfortable, home-like retail atmosphere into a welcoming fine art gallery. Featuring emerging and established French and American artists with a broad range of styles including representational, impressionist and abstract paintings, the gallery has won a reputation for fine art, stellar service and a very discerning eye. Huff Harrington was named Best New Gallery by Atlanta Magazine when it opened in 2006. Ann Huff: Raised in Geneva, Switzerland, Huff earned a B.A. in Art History from Swarthmore College before working in marketing and advertising in New York, Boston and Atlanta. In 2000, with the goal of expanding her children's cultural horizons, she and her family spent a year in the South of France where she cultivated friendships with several talented local artists. Upon returning to the United States, she began hosting highly successful art shows in her home and building a strong following of clients. Meg Harrington: Although born in New York, Harrington spent the first 16 years of her life living in Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East. Her love of art began at an early age when she was exposed to some of the world's most renowned museums and art collections. She earned a B.A. in French from Stetson University and Universite de Dijon (France). She maintained a career in public relations in New York with Accor, the French hotel conglomerate, before finally relocating to Atlanta. It was there she began representing Southeastern artists and successfully selling their art.
Venue Details @ atlantaplanit.com | Venue details at atlantaplanit.com
Claim this venue profile on eventful:
at State Farm Arena (Formerly Philips Arena)
RESCHEDULED: Ozzy Osbourne ...
May 27 – 7:30 PM
at Center Stage
JayDaYoungan
Suicidegirls: Blackheart Bu...
Demetri Martin: Wandering M...
The Office! A Musical Parody
An Evening With Kristina Ku...
More Venues in Atlanta
Georgia Dome
Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Infinite Energy Center - Infinite Energy Arena
Verizon Amphitheatre
Venue setup: Huff Harrington Fine Art | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line931 |
__label__wiki | 0.60187 | 0.60187 | We've noticed you are using Internet Explorer. This is an outdated Web Browser and is not fully supported by this website. Consider switching to a moden Web Browser like Google Chrome.
Talk to our breast care nurses
Sign in Register Donate
Visit Breast Cancer Care View all jobs Search jobs
Breast Cancer Care is an innovative and forward-thinking organisation committed to providing first-class services and campaigning for better treatment and support for people with breast cancer.
If you have a query about any of our current vacancies or you want to talk about job opportunities, please contact us at recruitment@breastcancercare.org.uk or call 0345 092 0801.
We recruit for both paid and volunteer roles. To view information on any vacancy, click the listing below.
*Breast Cancer Care Announcement*
In April 2019, we merged with Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s largest breast cancer research charity.
From research to care, our new charity has people affected by breast cancer at its heart – providing support for today and hope for the future.
United, we have the ability to carry out even more world-class research, provide even more life-changing support and campaign even more effectively for better services and care. We hope you’ll join us on this exciting journey.
Listing all vacancies.
Senior Supporter Care Manager
London, EC3N 1DY
28/07/2019 (11 days)
About the role The Senior Supporter Care Manager is a vital role leading the new Supporter Care and Compliance team for Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now. As part of the Fundraising and Partnerships...
Fort William, Inverness, Skye Caithness
£20 per hour (self-employed contract for services basis)
Our Moving Forward services provide information, emotional and practical support and bring people with breast cancer together. Due to expansion across the UK, Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now...
London , Essex
£20 per hour
Senior Digital Community Manager
We’re excited to announce that in April 2019, Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now united to create one charity for everyone affected by breast cancer. From research to care, our new charity...
Carlisle and Whitehaven, Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford
ABOUT THE ROLE Our Moving Forward services provide information, emotional and practical support and bring people with breast cancer together. Due to expansion across the UK, Breast Cancer Care and...
RSS and ATOM
Alexa Skills terms Contact Forum Jobs Media Mobile app Privacy and cookies Publications Shop
© Breast Cancer Care 2019. Registered charity: England and Wales 1017658, Scotland SC038104.
From 1 April 2019 Breast Cancer Care will merge with Breast Cancer Now to form Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now a company limited by guarantee in England 9347608 and a charity registered in England and Wales 1160558, Scotland SC045584 and Isle of Man 1200, with registered office: Fifth Floor, Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DY | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line932 |
__label__wiki | 0.652121 | 0.652121 | Svojšín Hotels
Accommodation in Svojšín
See Svojšín hotels on a map
Hotels in Svojšín, Czech Republic
What's Svojšín Like?
If you're looking to discover somewhere new, look no further than Svojšín. Whether you're planning to stay for a night or for the week, the area around Svojšín has accommodations to fit every need. Search for hotels in Svojšín with Hotels.com by checking our online map. Our map displays the areas and neighborhoods around all Svojšín hotels so you can see how close you are from landmarks and attractions, and then refine your search within the larger area. The best Svojšín hotel deals are here with our lowest price guarantee.
How to Get to Svojšín
Flights to Svojšín
• Karlovy Vary (KLV-Karlovy Vary Intl.), 30.1 mi (48.5 km) from central Svojšín
Things to See and Do in Svojšín
Things to See near Svojšín:
• Stribro Town Hall (4.8 mi/7.7 km from the city center)
• Kladruby Monastery (5.7 mi/9.2 km from the city center)
• Sahara (6.5 mi/10.4 km from the city center)
• Gutstejn Castle Ruins (7.9 mi/12.7 km from the city center)
• Konstantinovy Lazne Park (8.7 mi/13.9 km from the city center) | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line933 |
__label__wiki | 0.588013 | 0.588013 | Nissan along with Tan Chong begin vehicle assembly in Myanmar
Nissan and TCMM made a strong commitment to Myanmar market which includes strong product line up and local production capabilities.ETAuto | January 23, 2017, 09:38 IST
YANGON: Nissan Motor Company and Tan Chong Motor Myanmar (TCMM) today in a press statement announced that they have begun assembling cars for the first time in Myanmar with the Nissan Sunny. The assembly operations will initially use the existing Tan Chong facility.
Nissan and TCMM made a strong commitment to Myanmar market which includes strong product line up and local production capabilities. Today’s event is a key milestone in the ongoing expansion plans for Nissan and its partner TCMM. Honourable Chief Minister of Yangon along with several dignitaries from business community, automotive associations joined the event alongside executives from Nissan and Tan Chong.
Earlier in February 2016, Nissan and Tan Chong executives joined Bago government officials to sign a land lease agreement with representatives of the country's Bago Region.
“With the introduction of the locally assembled New Nissan Sunny today, we are confident that this will further cement our commitment and support to the Myanmar Government in developing the automotive industry,” said Dato’ Tan Seng Sung, consultant to Tan Chong Group, in his opening remark.
“Nissan is pleased to be a strong player in the growth of automotive industry in Myanmar," said Yutaka Sanada, regional senior vice president, Nissan Asia & Oceania region. "This is a key milestone in our wider growth strategy in the region, including countries like Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. We are eager to develop a long and productive relationship with the people of Myanmar and continue to generate returns throughout the supply chain, stimulate jobs and investment."
“I am pleased that Tan Chong Group, the sole distributor of Nissan vehicles in Myanmar, will further expand their business in Myanmar with the construction of a CKD assembly plant, thus, bringing in investment and employment opportunities to the local community to help boost the economic growth and elevate income levels,” said Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Yangon Region Government.
Tags : Industry, Yangon, Nissan Sunny, Nissan, Myanmar, local production, international | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line936 |
__label__wiki | 0.605931 | 0.605931 | 2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door review notes
Andrew Stoy
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: After driving the 2014 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 5-Door, I called it “perhaps the best affordable small car on the market today.” While the lower-powered i model may not inspire quite the same level of enthusiasm, the final verdict remains the same: This is an outstanding small car.
If you're going to copy an infotainment interface, you could do a lot worse than Mercedes' COMAND knob-based system -- and that appears to be exactly what Mazda's done. The controller is well placed and the screen floats in the same iPad afterthought manner as seen on modern Benz models. It's a vast improvement over Mazda's old orange three-line display.
Comparing options and pricing, it's apparent that Mazda has Honda Civic intenders in its crosshairs. This 2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door comes in markedly higher than a comparably equipped Toyota Corolla or Nissan Sentra (it's also far more entertaining to drive than either), but lands within pocket change of the similar Civic EX-L, not to mention the Ford Focus Titanium. That places it at the premium end of the entry-compact segment, but buyers should note that there are several well-equipped trim levels that slot in thousands below our loaded tester -- in other words, don't assume the Mazda 3 that suits your needs is going to run $25K.
A couple of observations: Mazda has done an outstanding job making the 3 i, whose mission in life is to get good gas mileage, feel quick in normal driving. The way the Skyactiv transmission is programmed ensures the driver gets a satisfying shove when moving away from lights at part throttle and when performing average interstate passing moves. Mat the throttle from a standing start, though, and you quickly realize this is not a fast car -- the engine screams, the transmission shifts get sluggish and the sense of torque present in milder driving evaporates under pressure. Of course, no one is buying a 2.0-liter Mazda 3 to drag race, so this is fundamentally a compliment to Mazda for doing such a good job disguising the car's modest output in average driving.
Also, whether it was the winter tires our tester wore or an unavoidable characteristic of driving a small, lightweight car, the Mazda 3 sedan suffered on the highway in crosswinds and when passing semis and other large vehicles. The car was easily tossed around by gusts requiring a firm hand on the wheel and keen awareness of the situation. I didn't notice the issue on our earlier Mazda 3 s Grand Touring hatchback, so at this point I have to lay some of the blame on the squishy winter tires.
Minor quibbles, really, and there's not much else to complain about on the Mazda 3. It's not the cheapest option, but remains a benchmark compact car in my book -- light on its feet, comfortable, well-equipped and capable of delivering diesel-like fuel economy numbers while remaining fun to drive. There's a good-looking sedan for the traditionalists and a hot hatch for the kids, both with ample interior and cargo space. If you're in the market for a small car, the Mazda 3 is a must-drive before you make your choice.
The 2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door has a base price of $24,590 with our tester topping off at $25,085.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: While I was driving this car recently, and thinking about how good it is, I was hoping that I wouldn't come in to the office to find out it stickered at $34,000 or something. Thankfully it does not.
The cabin is surprisingly roomy for a small car, though I'd bet a long road trip with four adults would get a little cramped. I like the rotary knob to control navigation and entertainment functions, and when both hands are on the wheel, the redundant controls are easy to use. Maybe it's because the Germans started doing it, but it feels like an upscale option.
The 155-hp, 2.0-liter is just enough to get this car around. For a nonenthusiast it would be perfectly adequate. You have to put your foot deep to get some thrust, but drivers will be thanking their lucky stars at the gas pump. The six-speed automatic shifts early and smoothly. As always, the 3 gets better than average steering and medium-stiff suspension setup. I can't wait for a new Mazdaspeed 3 model to get here.
I like the sheetmetal on the hatchback better, but this sedan has grown more handsome in this latest generation car. The five-sided grille is much better than the old face. The wheels also look good.
So, the base Mazda 3 sedan starts at about $17,000 and so does the Ford Focus sedan. The Nissan Sentra starts about a thousand bucks cheaper, so there's no dearth of options in the small-car realm. If you're looking for a basic car, the Mazda 3 is one of the best deals out there.
The 2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door is equipped with a 2.0-liter I4.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: As I wrote before, the new Mazda 3 is the small-car gold standard. And at $25K, it's also a great deal.
To me, the Mazda 3 looks fantastic in both 4- and 5-door form. It's so much better looking than the outgoing car. Swoopy sheetmetal, long hood, the right proportions, and an upscale look. Though I personally prefer the five-door, a family member walked in the house last night and said “that car is hot.” How often does one hear that about an “entry-level” car?
Ditto the interior. Materials look high quality and are well assembled. The seats fit me perfectly. The switchgear feels and operates like a more expensive car. The only thing that bugged me about the infotainment system was that I couldn't figure out how to set stereo pre sets. I'm sure it can be done, and had I looked in the manual I'm sure I could have figured it out. An owner would take the time and do these things, and it wouldn't be an issue.
The suspension and rock-solid chassis are terrific. For commuting, the car drives darn near perfectly. It's a really comfortable small car. How many of those are on the market? The ride is compliant but firm and steering is precise. The car feels tight and alert and on the money in terms of balance. Is it the best-riding small car? I'd have to drive them all back-to-back, but it is darn fine.
The engine is zippy off the line, even with the automatic. In fact, I didn't mind the automatic at all. With my own money I'm not sure I'd bother with the bigger engine. No, it's not a pro-stock drag racer, but I didn't think it would be. Quality and NVH levels are impressive for this price.
The car is impressive and Mazda has a real winner on its hands. And again to me $25K is a sit-up-and-take-notice price, in a good way. Overall, it's a pretty and refined small car that is a hoot to drive. Plus, this particular car has a ton of stuff on it. I predict Mazda will sell all it can build.
The 2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door is capable of producing 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque.
2014 Mazda 3 i Grand Touring 4-Door
ASSOCIATE WEST COAST EDITOR BLAKE Z. RONG: The 2014 Mazda 3 is slightly reminiscent of a 1990s compact car: depending on how charitable you are, it's either “light on its feet” or “rough around the edges.” Anyone who went to high school last decade or has parents surely knows. It's sprightly, kind of slow, rolls a lot. Other compact cars like the Honda Civic are trying to impart a honed-from-iron solidity; the Mazda 3 rolls with the punches.
No word on whether chief engineer Dave Coleman took inspiration from his Lemons team -- the most successful Lemons team in series history, we may add -- to tweak the Mazda 3's steering, as he claimed at the press launch, but it's one of the 3's strongest suits.
The all-black interior is dour, strangely discordant for a car that once wore a silly, sloppy grin on its face. That grin is gone, oh well. Inside are comfortable seats, good rear headroom, and a trunk of above-average size, accented by red bits that seem to draw their inspiration, across the screens and gauges.
On that aforementioned press drive, Mazda hadn't yet readied its Commander infotainment knob. Now, however, it worked, and works well: menu screens display without hesitation, and the black graphics are plain but legible. Only the navigation screen has been left behind, and operates at a turgid pace guaranteed to induce frustration. All the round knobs in the 3 feel like quality -- and they all have the same shape and knurling, which is a nice touch of consistency.
However, the Commander panel is supported on top, by the center console, and there is nothing below to prop it up in case it, say, is hit with a weighty force and falls into its hole, where it languishes awkwardly like any number of Chevy Corvettes.
But enough about knobs falling into holes. I'll echo the enthusiast-driven peanut gallery and declare the Mazda 3 to be an interesting alternative to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corollas of the world, lacking in solidity but making up for it with good design -- at least on the outside -- and certain verve to match its practicality.
Base Price: $24,590
As-Tested Price: $25,085
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter I4; FWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 155 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 150 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,848 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 30/41/34 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 36.8 mpg
Options: Soul red metallic paint ($300); scuff plates/door sill trim plates ($125); cargo mat ($70) | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line937 |
__label__cc | 0.571703 | 0.428297 | Aziza Kendrick's WordPress Blog!
Legal Assistant – Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas
About Aziza Kendrick
Aziza Kendrick – Flavors.me
Aziza Kendrick – Zerply
Aziza Kendrick | WebberID
Aziza Kendrick
@antgraytness Amazing performance - by the club during the game and its fans at the afterparty. Love it! 1 month ago
@antgraytness @FuelTheatre Congrats on the new gig! They are lucky to have snagged you! 7 months ago
Working on a 4 hour flight delay to get from Dallas to Houston with no end in sight! First a bolt, then a tire, the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 year ago
@antgraytness It was so hard to watch. He carries so much on his shoulders and the stress was palpable. 1 year ago
RT @jimmykimmel: 1) Call your reps at (202) 224-3121- tell them to END the separation of families at the border (ask your Senators to pass… 1 year ago
Making the Most of Your Trip to Italy, by Aziza Kendrick
Offering a dense concentration of natural and cultural attractions, Italy is one of the most-frequently visited nations globally. The culture-rich nation spans 3,000 years of history and features some of the world’s most luxurious beaches, most breathtaking views of mountain ranges, and an array of iconic historical cities filled with ruins.
When traveling to Italy, here is a list of notable places to visit in order to make the most of your trip:
Rome, Italy, aerial photo. Scans of 2 d images in the public domain believed to be free to use without restriction in the US
-Rome, Italy’s capital, offers history at every turn. The city is packed with enough monuments, museums, churches, and palaces to keep any history buff occupied for an extended period of time. Those looking for a great dining and nightlife scene will also find Rome an ideal destination.
Colourful: The Bridge of Sighs in Venice
–Venice is a city built on water and is one of Italy’s most-popular tourist sites. In addition to the impressive architecture of its churches and museums, the city is also filled with canals, offering visitors an opportunity to take a ride on a gondola.
Piazza Cesare Beccaria
-Milan offers many shops, restaurants, and art galleries to the fashion-savvy visitor. The city features La Scala, a world-famous opera house.
World traveler Aziza Kendrick has visited numerous cities in Italy, including Rome, Florence, and Milan.
For more information you can also visit Ms. Kendrick on his Identyme Profile
Tags: Aziza Kendrick, by Aziza Kendrick, Italy, Making the Most of Your Trip to Italy
Adrenaline Aziza Kendrick by Aziza Kendrick caribbean carnival Croatia culture Extreme Sports Italy live theater Making the Most of Your Trip to Italy New York City Rock climbing Tony Awards Trinidad Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad Carnival | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line938 |
__label__cc | 0.736075 | 0.263925 | WACs > Title 296 > Chapter 296-62 > Section 296-62-08019
296-62-08017 << 296-62-08019 >> 296-62-08021
WAC 296-62-08019
Hygiene areas and practices.
(1) General.
(a) General industry, shipyards, marine terminals and longshoring. Where protective clothing and equipment is required, the employer must provide change rooms in conformance with WAC 296-800-230, Sanitation and hygiene facilities and procedures. Where skin contact with chromium (VI) occurs, the employer must provide washing facilities in conformance with WAC 296-800-230, Sanitation and hygiene facilities and procedures. Eating and drinking areas provided by the employer must also be in conformance with WAC 296-800-230, Sanitation and hygiene facilities and procedures.
(b) Construction. Where protective clothing and equipment is required, the employer must provide change rooms in conformance with WAC 296-155-17321, Hygiene facilities and practices. Where skin contact with chromium (VI) occurs, the employer must provide washing facilities in conformance with WAC 296-155-17321, Hygiene facilities and practices. Eating and drinking areas provided by the employer must also be in conformance with WAC 296-155-17321, Hygiene facilities and practices.
(2) Change rooms. The employer must ensure that change rooms are equipped with separate storage facilities for protective clothing and equipment and for street clothes, and that these facilities prevent cross-contamination.
(3) Washing facilities.
(a) The employer must provide readily accessible washing facilities capable of removing chromium (VI) from the skin, and must ensure that affected employees use these facilities when necessary.
(b) The employer must ensure that employees who have skin contact with chromium (VI) wash their hands and faces at the end of the work shift and prior to eating, drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco or gum, applying cosmetics, or using the toilet.
(4) Eating and drinking areas.
(a) Whenever the employer allows employees to consume food or beverages at a worksite where chromium (VI) is present, the employer must ensure that eating and drinking areas and surfaces are maintained as free as practicable of chromium (VI).
(b) The employer must ensure that employees do not enter eating and drinking areas with protective work clothing or equipment unless surface chromium (VI) has been removed from the clothing and equipment by methods that do not disperse chromium (VI) into the air or onto an employee's body.
(5) Prohibited activities. The employer must ensure that employees do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics in areas where skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) occurs; or carry the products associated with these activities, or store such products in these areas.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 19-01-094, § 296-62-08019, filed 12/18/18, effective 1/18/19; WSR 06-16-106, § 296-62-08019, filed 8/1/06, effective 9/1/06.] | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line939 |
__label__cc | 0.74681 | 0.25319 | For the transition from Android users choose big and cheap iPhone
Analyst firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) has shared with MacRumors a report that explains what Apple prefer the former Android users.
CIRP surveyed two thousand American customers of Apple who bought the iPhone in the second fiscal quarter of 2018, it ended March 31. Analysts have found that 15-20% of iPhone buyers are switching from Android devices. Basically they buy iPhone and iPhone Plus 8/8 7/7Plus. Often former Android users buy the Plus model. The researchers attribute this to the fact that Android manufacturers have long used the big screens.
Compared to current iPhone owners, former users of Android smartphones, more likely to buy an old and cheap model. Probably this is because current iPhone owners switching to the new model, and Android users want to start with cheaper smartphones.
This trend is noticeable if we consider the graph of iPhone sales the SE and X. iPhone the cheapest smart phone Apple twice as popular than the former owners of Android devices, while “ten” is in high demand among iPhone users.
The presentation of the new system or Apple never misses an opportunity to criticize Android. In April 2018, Apple has released a promotional video in which he told about the reasons to switch to iPhone.
MDlavka — our store for your favorite readers. Technology Apple for the most pleasant prices are waiting for you every day from 10:00 to 21:00. Macdigger putting the promo code at checkout and get discount of 500 RUB.
Tagged Android, apple, iOS, iPhone, presentation
Comparing the performance of the iPhone 7 and OnePlus 3: 6 GB of RAM is not needed? [video]
In June of this year, OnePlus released a killer flagship smartphone OnePlus 3 with a Snapdragon 820 processor and 6 GB of RAM, which in theory should significantly speed up the smartphone. MacDigger offers to watch the video from Tech Trinkets where OnePlus 3 competes in performance with the iPhone 7, is equipped with “only” […]
Apple has become market leader in wearable devices, ahead of Fitbit and Xiaomi
According to analysts from research company Strategy Analytics, Apple became the world’s largest manufacturer of wearable devices in the first
Microsoft released the ugly sweater with the logo of Windows 95 that is very difficult to obtain
Microsoft said on Twitter that will distribute the jerseys with the logo of Windows 95 “happy fans”. The company called it ugly, but on the Internet all want to. The company says fans should check their private messages on Twitter to find out about how to obtain a sweater with the logo of Windows 95. […]
Apple didn’t beat the Amazon ranking of most valuable brands
Apple released a public beta of macOS Mojave | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line940 |
__label__cc | 0.517311 | 0.482689 | Merrion Vaults invests £1m (€1.17m) in Newcastle facility
A £1m (€1.17m) investment by the Irish-based Merrion Vaults in Newcastle in the United Kingdom is set to create the city’s first safe deposit facility.
The new facility, which is known as Newcastle Vaults, is owned by Merrion and has been launched in response to major banks withdrawing safety deposit box services.
It follows similar initiatives by Merrion in Dublin and New York.
The company’s Co-founder David Walsh said the move into Newcastle “is part of our ambitious plans for further growth across the UK.
“We’re looking forward to building the business in the city, providing a much-needed service that will ultimately give peace of mind to people who require a safe haven for their valuable and irreplaceable possessions.”
Meanwhile, Co-founder Seamus Fahy, said: “Cost-cutting measures at high street banks means that secure storage is being phased out and so customers who rely on the boxes to keep their treasured items safe are now left with having nowhere to store them.”
Based in the centre of Newcastle, and with capacity for 15,000 boxes, it offers safe-keeping services to private individuals and businesses, allowing them to safeguard items such as cash, jewellery, family heirlooms, title deeds, and gold bullion.
The state-of-the-art purpose built vault includes surveillance technology such as seismic shock sensors, round-the-clock monitoring, and biometric identification technology.
(Originally published here)
How to Buy and Store Gold Bullion in Scotland
How to buy and store Gold and Silver Bullion in Ireland, Scotland and mainland UK with Nigel Doolin, Head of Trading at Merrion
Nigel Doolin is Head of Trading for Merrion Gold in Ireland, Scottish Bullion and Newcastle Bullion in the UK. Having been a long-term personal investor in precious metals and coming from the business background of running a Vault facility, Nigel was involved in the starting-up of Merrion Gold in 2013. Since then the company has grown to include trading desks in Scotland and mainland UK. With a keen eye and interest in world economics and politics, Nigel and the team at Merrion Gold have rapidly built up a reputation for straight-talking, transparent dealings and educating investors in what is best for them when purchasing or investing in precious metals.
Where does gold / silver derive its value from?
The answer to this question stretches back thousands of years! There are Egyptian hieroglyphs from as early as 2600 BC describing gold as a valuable item. Some of the first minted gold coins to be used as currency were found to be from around 600 BC in Asia. The basic reason gold has come to be so valuable must surely derive from the fact that from days past it was an easy way to move around or travel with your wealth. Of course, it could be worn as jewellery, it is hugely resistant to corrosion and it is (relatively) light. Today the world usage and consumption of new gold produced is about 50% in jewellery, 40% in investments, and 10% in industry.
A lot of the above can be said of silver also, except the world usage and consumption figures are quite different with about 60% of silver being used in industry and teh remainder in jewellery and investment. A little known fact and probably a good way to put the price of gold and silver into perspective is that there is more Silver mined every DAY than there has EVER been gold mined in the history of records!
In general, what is the nature of the relationship between the British and Gold/Silver?
We find on the most part the British tend to move towards investing in gold in times of uncertainty – both political and economic. The Lions share of investors will look at gold as a medium to long-term investment (4-5 years+), with most happy to ride out the dips that usually come at some stage along the way and wait for their investment to top the price they bought at. We have more and more smaller investors getting interested in buying gold and these would tend to be 1-5oz buyers who will buy coins as opposed to bullion. No matter which of these brackets the buyers fall in to they tend to be more educated on the safe-haven value of gold these days.
Which is your favourite gold/silver coin and why?
My own personal favourite coin is the 1oz Gold American Buffalo. I think it is one of the most recognisable coins out there and it’s one of the few coins which I like the design on both the front and reverse. It has a great feeling of heritage and nostalgia about it, and I think it very much looks like the kind of coin one would find in a treasure chest of old!
Do you notice any difference in psychology between the silver and gold investor?
In my experience I find gold investors tend to be a little more relaxed in their attitude to their precious metals investments – most are happy to wait out a longer timescale for their investment to mature – silver investors tend to look for a quicker ‘turnaround’ on their investment. I also feel the silver investor would be more willing to take a higher risk.
What are the most common mistakes of physical Gold and physical Silver investors?
I think the most common mistake first-time investors will make is automatically opting to buy coins – we always ask the purpose of the investment so as to be able to give the best precious metals advice to the client. Clients should understand that with coins there are minting charges and you must also take into account that some coins are more in-demand than others, therefore it is possible that someone purchasing a 1oz gold coin could end up paying a lot more for that 1oz coin than they would a 1oz bullion bar. When they go to sell back to a bullion dealer it will almost always be just valued on the weight, therefore (unless you sell a coin to a coin collector) you will rarely make this difference in price back when you go to sell. There are other pitfalls involved when purchasing gold for the first time, which is why at Merrion Gold we strive to educate our clients as well as serving them in the most efficient manner possible.
Are there any tax advantages in Ireland when investing in Gold or Silver?
The most obvious is that gold is VAT Free, whereas there is VAT applied to all silver sales.
In your experience which silver/gold coin is the most difficult to fake?
The most difficult coins to fake are the newer coins – the likes of the 2017 Britannia and the Canadian Maple (from 2015 on) – these coins have laser-precission waves on the face of them which are practically impossible to fake. It must be noted however that no coin is completely impossible to fake – this is why here at Merrion Gold we have a 6-level testing set-up in-house. Buyers should always be wary of any dealer who does not have sufficient testing set-ups in their business.
Can you describe your 6-level testing set-up?
At Merrion Gold, we have a 6-level testing set-up at our disposal in-house. This enables us to test every precious metal that comes through our company, when either buying or selling. Even though we only trade in LBMA approved refineries, this testing ability means we can ensure all precious metals through our company are 100% as they should be. It is worth noting that some companies will use 1 or 2 methods of testing (some listed below), but we find when all of the testing variations below are used together, the result is as definite as you can get.
Our testing set-up includes:
Digital Weighing scales
Digital Caliper and dimension matching
Magnetic Balance Weighing – this measures the (apparent) weight change in the metal by use of a super-strong test magnet positioned on a digital balance.
Electronic Conductivity measuring apparatus
Fisch testing implements (for coins and used only in-conjunction with the above)
Use of Bullion code matching system.
Can you briefly describe the History of Merrion?
Nigel Doolin
When we started Merrion Gold in 2013, we wanted to create a world-class gold bullion and coin trading service. We offer our clients the complete privacy and security they deserve, this is why we are housed within an actual vault facility. This not only offers clients an environment with total security – but we also offer them the ability to purchase, collect and store their precious metals in the one place.
Our trading volumes have increased year on year, proving to us that if you offer the right service and value to clients they will return time and again. In 2016 we opened our second trading desk in Scotland called Scottish Bullion – and in January of 2017 we opened Newcastle Bullion in the UK.
Can you tell us more about the services you offer?
We buy and sell physical gold bullion and coins. We only deal with LBMA approved refinery’s so our clients can be sure that all gold we sell is ‘good-delivery’ gold. We also have a 6-level testing set-up at Merrion Gold, where all gold moving through us (in OR out) is fully tested and verified. We do not offer any financial advice as we are not QFA’s – however we will give you the very best precious metals advice that you can get.
We also offer safety deposit box rental within the vault (through our sister-company Merrion Vaults) where you can store your precious metals and/or any other valuables you may have.
Why do customers choose Merrion?
I think customers chose Merrion because we are completely transparent and honest in our dealings. The security of being housed within a vault is also a huge plus for us. Our traders have a wealth of knowledge and we try to educate new clients as to what is the best product/s to suit their requirements. Some clients who have given us reviews and feedback online always state that our professionalism and efficiency is second to none. We enjoy what we do here at Merrion Gold and this obviously comes through in our dealings with clients.
Do you sell gold outside the UK / EU?
We can transact with any client anywhere around the world – however when you purchase from us you must collect from one of our vaults. We have vaults currently in Ireland, Scotland and UK. We do not ship to anywhere except to our vaults. If the client cannot make it straightaway for their gold collection, we will securely hold their purchase for them in our company safety deposit box within our vault for up to 30 days at no extra cost.
What are the storing costs after the first 30 free days?
We can store clients purchases within our company vault box for up to 30 days at no cost to the client, to enable them sufficient time to collect their purchase. After 30 days the cost is capped at €45 per month.
Where can potential customers find more about your services?
Potential customers can call me directly at: +353 (0)1 254 7901 – Nigel Doolin – Head of Trading or you can view our website at: www.merriongold.ie
Nicola Sturgeon MSP Officially Opens Glasgow Vaults
Nicola Sturgeon MSP has officially opened Scotland’s first independent safety deposit box service in Glasgow.
Based in the city’s southside, Glasgow Vaults has been introduced in response to the major banks withdrawing the service that safeguards people’s valuable possessions.
The venture is being led by David Walsh and Seamus Fahy, who have invested in the region of £1m equipping the vault with the latest state-of-the-art surveillance technology, including seismic shock sensors, 24/7 monitoring and biometric identification technology.
Employing five staff, the Glasgow facility is part of a strategy to expand the model across the UK and Ireland, following the successful launch of its first site in Dublin in 2013. The business is expected to grow its staff numbers in Glasgow to 15 by the middle of 2017.
Speaking at the officially opening today, Friday 19th, Nicola Sturgeon, the MSP for Glasgow Southside, said: “………………..”
Seamus thanked the MSP for her attendance, as he revealed that Glasgow Vaults is already growing a strong customer base with both homeowners and the local business community.
He said: “Firstly I would like to thank Nicola Sturgeon MSP for her attendance and support as we launch a new service in Scotland, it is very much appreciated.
“We launched in Dublin three years ago, very much in response to demand from people who had either lost confidence in the banking system or were looking to keep possessions safe amidst rising crime figures.
“The business has delivered consistent growth and we have been exploring opportunities to grow our footprint across other UK regions.
“After considerable due diligence we identified Scotland as a key growth region, mainly due to the fact that the banks no longer offer the service and there are no other providers in the market place.
“We have already witnessed a strong demand for our service with homeowners and the business community, and our client footprint stretches as far as Aberdeen, where oil & gas workers are keen to keep their valuables safe when working offshore.”
Typical items stored in a safety deposit box include cash, jewellery, family heirlooms, gold bullion, Title Deeds for a property, memory devices, watch collections and passports.
With latest Police Scotland figures showing that there were 20,607 reported housebreakings in Scotland in 2014/15, Seamus expects demand for the service to grow.
To meet this demand, Glasgow Vaults has in the region of 10,000 boxes, which come in ten different sizes and start from £150 a year. Client have unlimited access seven days per week and there is no appointment necessary.
Seamus added: “While crime overall is falling, figures show that housebreakings remain high and thieves are certainly becoming more and more sophisticated in their efforts to target properties – making it vital for individuals and business owners to safeguard their valuables and money.
“Complete peace of mind can only be given through the use of a safety deposit box, which is why an increasing number of people across Scotland are turning to us to provide a convenient and affordable way to protect valuable possessions.
“We have built in capacity to meet this increasing demand and will grow our staff numbers to ensure we provide a comprehensive and personal service to our customers.”
The vault is open 362 days a year, and was designed in partnership with security consultants working on behalf of insurer Lloyd’s of London.
MERRION VAULTS ANNOUNCE NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR
Merrion Vaults – Ireland’s No. 1 safety deposit box facility – are delighted to announce Rugby pundit and TV presenter Brent Pope as their Brand Ambassador.
Brent, who features in Merrion Vaults latest advertising campaign, both in Print and on Radio, was “the perfect choice for the Brand” says Nigel Doolin – Communications Director for Merrion Vaults.
Keeping valuables at home is an open invitation to burglars, so why not keep them in a secure vault. asks Mark Keenan.
A wealthy Dublin-based entrepreneur is heading off to see a hypnotist this week – to help him remember where he stashed a wad of tens of thousands of euro he had hidden in a “safe place” in his house.
Having hidden away several stacks of cash for a rainy day, he recently went to retrieve them and discovered he couldn’t account for that last hiden hole.
Household stash mishaps are becoming far more common among the super rich.
Last year the gardai recovered more than 200 grand concealed in the former home of developer Tom McFeely on Ailesbury Road in Dublin 4 (Mr McFeely has denied it is his). Whoever put it there, had certainly hidden it away, believing it to be safe.
Then there was the case of the Barnardos curtains in highbrow Dublin 6. Charity shop staff discovered thousands of euro sewn into a pair of curtains donated by a resident in the area. The money was returned to the embarrassed owner after the shop issued an appeal through the gardai. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line945 |
__label__wiki | 0.558671 | 0.558671 | Watford 1 Newcastle United 2 (28/02/2010) 28/02/2010
Five thunks from a sodden Vicarage Road
1- The overriding emotion is one of frustration; dominance in the middle of the park is of limited value if you can’t defend a set piece, and don’t have the guile to unpick a defence. Enormously frustrating to see whatever neat passing we could fashion on what is suddenly a hugely unhelpful surface labour to create chances whilst free headers were being offered to Newcastle in our own box.
2- Newcastle came as advertised, only more so. After so long hankering for a return to the cavalier side of the mid-nineties, the Toon Army currently “enjoys” a team that is as close to the antithesis of that as it is possible to imagine; pragmatism over style, what over how, a kick up the arse over a quick pass, a team of enormous blokes, defensively resolute, aggressive and unpleasant in midfield, crude and direct in attack. A recipe for escape from this division to be sure… and an approach that seemed to have been deliberately exaggerated to intimidate our young and (still) lightweight side. It worked too, until the last five or ten minutes when we got stuck in a bit more, nicked a goal and immediately had United’s charmless goons bickering at the back. There’s a lesson there, I think.
3- Lloyd Doyley. You’d sooner have a defender of Lloydinho’s character and application who didn’t occasionally pass the ball inexplicably into touch, to be sure. But I will happily take Lloydy’s failings in return for his indefatigable readiness to try again next time, his willingness to have a go at Newcastle when others seemed to cower. That over a better player who is at our level because he can’t always be bothered. Every day of the week. I’m hugely heartened to be (apparently) in the majority too – difficult to think of many players past or present whose errors would be greeted with such encouragement and enthusiasm.
4- Experience tells us that you have to be pretty poor to be relegated from this division. You don’t need to be good to stay up, just less poor than three other teams and we don’t look a poor side. You can go down through being unlucky however, by being the mug without a chair when the music stops (witness Leicester two years ago), and with a small squad, a packed schedule and a heavy pitch that no longer permits us to impose our game on opponents as it has done in the past we kinda need to hope that our main men stay fit.
5- If that’s what a mid-season break would feel like, you can stuff it. Sure, we’ve had a couple of midweeks and there have been the away games, but being back at Vicarage Road on a Saturday for the first time since Boxing Day felt somewhat first-day-of-the-seasonish. Apart from the rain, obviously.
1. Hydeandseek - 28/02/2010
Can’t remember the last time I walked away after losing thinking every player on the pitch had tried their heart out. We may lack some quality in the final third but surely with that sort of passion and commitment on the pitch we’ll get enough points to survive.
All rather unsatisfactory really.
No-one had a poor game particularly (except possibly for Marriapa who looks very tentative on the ball at present – I’m not yet sure if this is down to him per se or the fact that the link up with Cowie seems to be misfiring a bit at present) but you couldn’t help but feel that it was a relativley comfortable afternoon for Newcastle.
When it came to the crunch our physical disadvantages on set plays at both ends of the pitch proved the difference as Newcastle had 3 or 4 set plays around the box, looking dangerous from each and we had numerous opportunities without, from my recollection, winning a single first or second ball. Demerit found rather wanting for both the away goals although I thought he generally had not a bad game, those two incidents aside.
As for the prospects of relagation, I mentioned in a post previously that this is not a season for table watching, given how close things are. We are likely to need 4 wins and a draw from 15 games to be certain to avoid relegation and I remain confident that we can acheive that. Provided everyone remains calm and injuries and suspensions don’t kick in too hard, there’s enough there to finish happily mid-table.
“provided…” was my point. You’re right, of course, we SHOULD be ok.
Agree about Mariappa. re Demerit, the second goal was a bit unfortunate, and down in part to some holding in the box – these things happen, but it’s harsh to criticise. The first was a shambles.
3. kris - 28/02/2010
Good thunks Matt. Malky has stated that despite losing both fixtures against the geordies, we should take confidence and pride from those two games. I however, am taking no end of worries as well. The fact that we can dominate possession like we have, not getting much return on tpossession and still let in cheap goals – that to me is a recipe for relegation.
I have maintained we were relegation candidates throughout this season – even when others were (overly optimistically) suggesting we were playoff material. I still can see us go down. The squad is extremely thin and the inability to score from our chances is key.
That said, there are some truly awful teams in the division. Peterborough are down for sure, Plymouth are looking a good bet as well. But the final spot is up for grabs and it could easily end up being us. We need to remain focussed and Malky needs to find a plan B for when the pitch and the weather do not suit out Brazil like passing.
Ad. thunk 3 – you are spot on. Doyley is not only a personal favourite of mine – he’s kind of a hero imho. The way he’s been dropped and come back so many times is one thing. But there’s never been one word of moaning – just head down, hard work and “bounce-back-ability” ;). He’s not an obvious hero but he’s such a perfect pro and from what I hear – a genuinely nice guy. His stray passes – which are becoming fewer and farther apart from what I hear – can be frustrating BUT… IF SLD had a good consistent passing game along with his defending he’s be in the premiership I feel. I prefer him in yellow and black 😉
Re. thunk 5 – we have a mid season break in denmark. From November til March no football is played. It means the clubs have two pre-seasons more or less. I think it’s good for the players’ fitness but as a fan it is annoying. And should the CCC also introduce mid-season breaks, my weekends would be a lot less exciting.
thehornet35 - 02/03/2010
My money is now on Palace joining them with Warnock off to QPR, how ever much I despise Warnock (and I do) he does have a decent track record in the Championship. With all the financial worries and thin squad that Palace have, I think it is the worst time to loose him, and I think they will drop out.
4. rousman - 28/02/2010
Agree with most matt. Why make the substutions so late any idea ? Newcastle set up to allow for the state of the pitch, you feel that had the goal come 5 minutes earlier we may have got a second, although we did not win many headers in there box. We will be ok this season but as I have said before we are not as good without Cleverley. Both keepers had not a lot to do, but to lose the 2 goals from set plays when we bring everyone back to defend is not good.
5. DM - 28/02/2010
@ Kris – Re: dominating posession but not creating chances, and conceding soft goals being a recipe for relegation – if these had been the norm this season I too would be worried. However, they’ve been very much the exception at home this season. We have only been well beaten 3 times in 15 outings (Cardiff, Derby and yesterday being the 3..the Cov defeat was just bad luck). Perfectly acceptable home form for a team that’s only pre-season aspiration was to beat the drop.
Keep in mind, too, that while we came up against a brick wall defensive display from yesterday’s visitors, we brushed our last 2 home opponents aside, and the pitch was no better on those 2 nights. There are enough distinctly average teams due at The Vic between now and May to ensure we pick up enough points to finish pretty much where we’ve been all season. If we can nick an away win somewhere as well, so much the better !
6. Tim Turner - 28/02/2010
The most frustrating thing for me was the general unwillingness to shoot, which reminded me of the Lewington years. I lost count of the number of times John Eustace collected the ball directly in front of goal, a few yards away from the penalty area, and chose to loft a hopeful pass into the area rather than just lamping it. He may not be Richard Johnson, but a long shot is always worth a try, IMO, in the hope of a useful deflection if nothing else.
The strikers were no better. Shortly before Hoskins’s goal, Heidar got the ball just inside the area. Instead of shooting, he tried to move the ball on to someone running in from the left and we lost the ball.
The other telling factor is that, because of our limited resources, even with seven players on the bench, there’s no one sitting there who you can look to when we need a lift – the sort of role Anthony Macnamee so often performed, for instance. Okay, Hoskins scored, and I’m really pleased for him, and maybe McGinn and Buckley will give us that option in due course. But for now, you feel that an attacking substitution is only worth making if someone’s injured or tiring.
Agree with the general point about options from the bench Tim, but citing McNamee as what we’re missing does rather lose your argument some credibility.
Fair point. But I always felt that even if little Ant didn’t actually produce much end product, the mere fact of him coming on late in a game and running at opposing defenders lifted the team, and the crowd, when we needed it.
Obviously, my argument would be a lot stronger if I could think of a single concrete example where this changed the result of a match…
simmo - 02/03/2010
Tim, I agree with your first paragraph and to prove the point the goal was scored in just those circumstances. I find it frustrating that when we seem to be in a central position someone knocks it to the wing for a cross. Take the shot, don’t pass the buck!
What Malky and his team have managed throughout the season is to keep heads high after a defeat or even several defeats. We are still playing some good stuff and if McGinn had been able to keep his feet who knows what would have happened. Hoskins did well and although I think he is still an enigma, he could have a very important part to play. We also need consistency from several senior players, including Helguson and Tom Cowie.
Agree fully with your point about Lloyd Doyley. They got nothing of any note to work down that side with Lloyd’s resolute defending… and first and foremost that’s what you want from a defender. Unfortunately they didn’t need to as we gifted them a couple down the middle.
The limted amount that I’ve seen of Lee Hodson this season looked very promising, but the consensus among the regulars was that he was looking defensively vulnerable (but then so did Mariappa yesterday). Could he have a role in the last 20 minutes of a game in right midfield, as a potential supplier of crosses for the head of Mr H?
9. hornetboy84 - 28/02/2010
only real moan yetserday was that the subsutution should have been 20 mins earlier. For me – if Cleverley is not playing I would play Hoskins (at Home) and Harley (away)…. we needed players who could beat a player to take them out of the game….
… it will be a tight run in… just need to keep our nerve and do our thing and we should be okay…
.. and we battered ’em for 3 mins !
10. The Great Big O - 01/03/2010
I feel it’s a bit harsh to discuss possible relegation following defeat to the league leaders during a monsoon.
Each week, we get a different performance. Unincisive against Newcastle, wasteful against Scunny, effective against Bristol City…
That’s mid-table for you. And I’m delighted to be there.
no probs with being midtable, and i’m not castigating Saturday’s performance. the reality is though that we are close enough to the relegation zone for it to be a nagging worry, particularly since so much of our season is crammed into the next couple of months.
Losing players or form at this point could be expensive – that’s what happened five years ago (Lewington’s last season) and it nearly got us relegated.
DM - 01/03/2010
Or we could get a point at Derby, win 2 of the 3 home games in a week and be almost home and hosed. You pessimistic bugger.
11. Sequel - 01/03/2010
The fact that the “multi-ball” system was discontinued for the second half aided and abetted Newcastle’s tactics. Harper was beyond a joke at times, pretending not to know where the ball was, knocking his boots on the post, waving to the players etc, etc
12. Dave Jackson - 01/03/2010
Anyone notice how it was their snivelling number 2, Simpson I think, who got Harley booked by pointing out to the ref he’d already had a chat to him. Isn’t trying to get a player booked meant to be a bookable offence of its own?
The argument would carry more weight if Harley wasn’t the subject. More than worth a yellow card over the piece…
13. NickB - 01/03/2010
What a grim, functional outfit Newcastle are; a poor man’s Stoke.
What happened to the always watchable Magpies with their expansive football? Sir Bobby will be turning in his grave.
Very reminiscent of the Birmingham game last year – they score first and there’s no way back.
We’re not short of effort, but seriously lack width and pace.
Wonder what sort of a mess Sarries made of the pitch in yesterday’s conditions?
Fortunately next up are Swansea, not Newcastoke. They won’t like playing on that surface either.
14. rousman - 01/03/2010
the thing is Matt you must play to the condition of the pitch as Newcastle did on Saturday, Swansea may do the same, we must adapt as well.
15. Matt Lovett - 01/03/2010
Couldn’t agree more with you Matt on a number of points. Watching this match took be back to the 70s – the pitch was reminiscent of the mudbaths that were commonplace then, the (tied up) mullets worn by what seemed like half of Newcastle’s personnel, the cynical, dirty, niggly attitude/behaviour of all of their team bar the classy Harper (yeah he did a bit of timewasting, but compared to the rest of ’em he was a saint), the ref letting the (mostly Necastle) players kick the oppo other into submission…Revie’s Leeds at their finest. Sir Bobby will surely be squirming, let alone turning, in his grave.
As for the mighty Lloyd – aren’t England looking for a left-back…?
16. markymark - 02/03/2010
The great Big O : You sound like Ray Lewington with this “happy to be mid table” malarky.
I beg to differ, as IMO this seasons championship is so poor it annoys me to see us struggle when I know on paper our starting X1 is as good as anyone in the division including Newcastle
The only difference is of course is that our SQUAD is probably the smallest ( in terms of numbers and height! ) and youngest in the division. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line954 |
__label__wiki | 0.875952 | 0.875952 | Anti-Semite Ilhan Omar Attacks Jewish Stephen Miller
The freshman congresswoman just can’t stop attacking Jews.
Peter D'Abrosca
A Muslim Congresswoman took to Twitter Monday to label a Jewish political opponent a “white nationalist,” another in a string of attacks against Jewish Americans.
“Stephen Miller is a white nationalist. The fact that he still has influence on policy and political appointments is an outrage,” said Rep. Ihan Omar (D-Minn.) on Twitter.
Stephen Miller is a white nationalist. The fact that he still has influence on policy and political appointments is an outrage. https://t.co/7NyMDgojd7
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 8, 2019
Miller is a high-ranking advisor to President Donald J. Trump’s, and has drawn the ire of liberals due to his hardline stance on illegal immigration. Miller is often branded as a “white nationalist,” despite the fact that he is ethnically Jewish.
But many commentators have observed that the term “white nationalist” has been expanded to include anyone in America who supports a sane immigration policy.
This is the latest of many blunders for the Freshman Congresswoman, who cannot seem to stop putting her anti-Semitism on public display.
Democrats in the House of Representatives were forced to condemn her Jew hatred just one month ago. Previously, she suggested that lawmakers were bribed to support Israel. She once Tweeted that “Israel has hypnotized the world,” and suggested that Jewish members of Congress expected her to have dual loyalties to Israel and the United States.
Follow Peter D’Abrosca on Twitter: @pdabrosca
Like Peter D’Abrosca on Facebook: facebook.com/peterdabrosca
Preorder Peter D’Abrosca’s Book: “Enemies: The Press vs. The American People”
REPORT: Trump Plotted Clinton-Epstein Takedown For Years, Knew About Clinton ISLAND PHOTOS | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line955 |
__label__wiki | 0.618227 | 0.618227 | Forms of ALS
Familial ALS
Sporadic ALS
ALS and Genetics
Muscular Symptoms
Lung Function Tests
Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture)
Tests for Infectious Diseases
Electromyography (EMG)
Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)
Stages of ALS
ALS and Fatigue
ALS and Exercise
ALS and Smoking
Mobility and Movement
Speech and Communication
Emotional and Mental Wellbeing
Differences between ALS and MS
Joyful Sorrow
Living Well with ALS
Notes From the ALS Front
The Mighty Mind
Approved Treatments
Tiglutik (Riluzole Oral Suspension)
Rilutek (Riluzole)
Radicava™
Symptomatic Treatments
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)
Mexiletine
Nuedexta
Non-Drug Therapies
Paleolithic Diet
Experimental Treatments for ALS
Anti-inflammatory/Neuroprotective
AMX0035
Arimoclomol
BHV-0223
Gilenya (Fingolimod)
Gleevec (Imatinib Mesylate)
GM6 (Previously GM604)
H.P. Acthar Gel
Masitinib
MN-166 (Ibudilast)
Telbivudine
TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid)
Tofersen (BIIB067 – Previously IONIS-SOD1Rx)
miQure
SynCav1
VM202
AstroRx
CNS10-NPC-GDNF
NurOwn
Reldesemtiv (Formerly CK-2127107)
No Longer in Development
Tirasemtiv
Flash Briefings and Podcasts
Brainstorm Decides Not to Offer Investigational ALS Therapy NurOwn Under Right to Try Law
by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD
Click Here to receive ALS News via e-mail
NurOwn, an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) treatment candidate, will not be made available under the new Right to Try Act at this time due to a lack of funding alternatives for patients, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics announced in a press release.
The company said it reached this decision after carefully evaluating the Right to Try (RTT) law, including its ethical, legal, and practical aspects, as well as receiving feedback from patients, clinicians, and regulatory, and legal experts.
Under the RTT legislation recently passed in the United States, patients can receive early access to potentially life-saving investigational therapies that are still in clinical trials and not yet commercially available.
Brainstorm established four key criteria that would allow access to NurOwn under RTT. They were: providing it to a reduced number of patients at experienced clinical trial sites to ensure the potential treatment is delivered safely and effectively; making sure patients are fully educated on NurOwn’s benefits and risks; limiting access to patients who do not meet inclusion criteria of the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial (NCT03280056) so that the RTT pathway does not negatively impact the trial; and having funding strategies for patients who can’t afford regenerative medicine cell therapies, such as NurOwn.
While it was able to satisfy the first three elements, BrainStorm was unable to solve the funding issue, which the company says makes it unable to provide NurOwn under RTT for the time being.
“We feel a tremendous sense of urgency and responsibility to provide an ethical, compassionate, and well-reasoned practical response to the demand for NurOwn and have worked tirelessly with patients and other stakeholders to find a solution,” Chaim Lebovits, president and CEO of BrainStorm, said in the release. “As we were unable to identify a practical funding solution, we unfortunately are not in a position to initiate access to NurOwn under RTT at this time.”
In the meantime, the company is going to continue working to complete its Phase 3 clinical trial of NurOwn. The study is primarily evaluating the safety and effectiveness of repeated administrations of the therapy into the spinal canal, aiming to assess whether the therapy improves functional impairment in ALS.
Enrollment — for a planned total of about 200 patients — in the trial is currently ongoing in the U.S. For more information on study locations and contacts, click here.
NurOwn is a therapy based on the patients’ own mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are able to generate various types of cells. The treatment, which can be injected into the muscle or the spinal canal, is intended to induce the development of cells that release neurotrophic factors, which promote nerve tissue growth and survival.
Recently, BrainStorm presented results of a Phase 2 trial (NCT02017912) showing that treatment with NurOwn led to increased levels of microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that have been linked to ALS and proposed as biomarkers of disease development and progression.
In an interview with ALS News Today in December, Ralph Kern, MD, Brainstorm’s chief operating officer and chief medical officer, discussed the Phase 2 findings — including improvements on an ALS functional scale — as well as the current Phase 3 trial.
The passage of the national RTT law in the U.S. in late May has pleased rare disease patients, their families, and supporting organizations such as the Goldwater Institute. However, others, such as the National Organization for Rare Disorders, worry that it may weaken existing protections by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to try unapproved therapies, while not addressing existing barriers to such treatments, such as their limited supply.
In a statement emailed to BioNews Services, publisher of this website, the ALS Association noted that while it supports initiatives to enable ALS patients to access treatment candidates as soon as possible, even before FDA approval, there is still a need to speed up development and approval of these therapies so that all patients can benefit.
Tagged BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, NurOwn, Phase 3 trial, Right to Try Act.
Previous: ProMIS Moving into 2nd Phase of Work on Antibody Treatment for ALS
Next:Global Project MinE Aims to Identify Rare Gene Variants in ALS
Well, I hate to say I told ya so , but I did didn’t I…
You see it works like this…
1) A pharma’s product is used with a small number of patients under RTT
2) It is found to be ineffective or only marginally effective in RTT
3) Product discontinued
4) Pharma loses the chance to make oodles of money
1) A pharma declines to participate in RTT
2) Phase 3 shows the product is only justmarginally effective
3) Health Authorities allow it to be used to satisfy the pALS community clamour for ‘something/anything.’
4) Product manufactured and distributed with oodles of money made by the pharma
5) A year later the product found to be ineffective for most pALS
6) Pharma very happy as oodles of money made and shareholders delighted
7) Pharma says ‘On to the next!’
All the above chatter from the company is noise. Like noise? Listen to some rock music on You Tube…..
You see …it’s ALL ABOUT MONEY.
This move shows that Brainstorm does not have sufficient confidence in its product, because if it provided this treatment to just a few patients and it worked really well, they could write their own check.
Bad pharma…bad bad pharma !
David Steenblock, D.O. says:
The bottom line is that you can get stem cells today at many clinics around the world including mine but you have to pay for them.
Yes, but do they work? I mean, really work? There should be evidence for efficacy by now ? They’ve been selling this route in Israel for years.
what stats do you have for us for efficacy for pALS ?
Frank Campbell says:
Yes it is about the money. They cannot afford to give this out after all the research dollars spent. Did you see the ABC video of the man with only one treatment starting to walk?? You should. We remain very hopeful for the conclusion and results of the 3rd clinical trial. We are even planning our trip to Irvine.
You GO FOR IT!
Bob Berman says:
To: Frank Campbell:
Where can we view the ABC video you mentioned?
Also, once Phase II has be successful, demonstrating safety, and also possibly some efficacy, the FDA should allow full distribution of the drug or medical procedure for those with rare diseases and access to no other alternative, which should then be covered by medicare and other insurance programs.
Doc Steenblock..why hasn’t the research community for ALS taken up your ideas to test for efficacy?
Sounds like a really good money-spinner but DOES IT WORK ?
How to Avoid the Sticky Points
Enrollment Completed for Phase 3 REFALS Trial Evaluating Levosimendan in ALS Patients
Study in Twins Links Age-Related Changes in DNA Methylation with ALS
Scientists Recreate Human Peripheral Nerve Cells’ Interactions on a Chip
Introducing the ALS News Today Forums, Our Hub for Open Dialogue
How I Stop Feeling Overwhelmed by ALS
Perhaps the ‘Dark Ages’ Can Enlighten Us to Think ‘Why Not?’
Visit ALS News Today's profile on Pinterest.
ALS News Today
ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line957 |
__label__cc | 0.745953 | 0.254047 | alyalkholifi 2018, Adult, Adulthood, Aging, Blogging, Cabin Crew, Crew Life, Entertainment, Family, FamilyLife, Flight Attendant, Fly, Girls, Inspiration, Inspire, Life, LifeOverseas, Love, Me Time, Millennial, Millennials, Motivate, OFW, Overseas, Quarter Life Crisis, Real Life, Realities, Silver Year, Soar, Survival, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized, Wanderlust, Woman, Women, Writing, YoungAdult July 20, 2018 July 20, 2018 6 Minutes
I love my twenties. I don’t think I could put it any other way. I think they are the best years of my life, not just my adult life, to be honest. Oh, the vigor and the strength and the silliness and tears of growing up and taking on the line “I am a strong, independent woman” to heart..
Here are some of the things that transpired in my (early) twenties that paved the way of me becoming a full-fledged strong and independent woman. 😉
I’ve waited five months after college graduation to finally get my license and finally apply for a nursing job. I’ve never imagined myself working in the communities. If you’re a nursing graduate, you’d know that community nursing isn’t exactly the most popular area of nursing nurses would choose. Almost everyone want to work in the hospitals. Me included. But during that time, Philippine nursing was at its lowest, I would say. I don’t remember knowing any hospitals hiring at the time. Most hospitals were doing the “volunteer system”. And as I’ve said in my previous posts, I was too proud to be a “volunteer”. (Hands down to those who did and are now working overseas and reaping the fruits of their labor. You guys deserve it.) DOH was hiring community nurses at the time to be assigned in the uplands. The job comes with a monthly stipend – which was a very unusual thing to hear related to a nursing job opening. So I grabbed it in spite of my reservations about the community nursing field.
Earning my first paycheck
Oh, no matter how little that stipend was from my first ever job, I’ll never forget how much that made me feel like an adult – finally. Especially that my first job (I worked as a rural health nurse) did not only require me to be theoretically competent but also physically and more so emotionally strong.
Spending my first paycheck
In my case, I didn’t exactly buy something special to commemorate my first paycheck because like I told you, the amount just wasn’t significant. It was just enough to get my needs covered through a whole month of working in the rural areas (a.k.a. mountains) while we wait for the next stipend. But even if I spent that money mostly on groceries on toiletries, it still felt so emancipating to finally spend your own cash for your own needs. I felt super.
The first resignation
No matter how fulfilling my community nursing job felt, I knew it was not enough. I knew that’s not supposed to be everything I can get out of being employed. I knew I had to be well-compensated because I knew that I am a hard worker. I knew I deserve more and that there’s a larger world out there, no matter how depressing nursing was at the time. So I submitted my resignation and mentally prepared myself for a new chapter that was going to unfold by going back to the city.
Stepping on foreign ground
I joined the BPO industry. It was a tough decision to make – to bring myself to apply, that is. What made it easier was that I was accepted on my first try. So I accepted what was happening and what I believed life was throwing at me. It was an intimidating environment especially for someone like me who always strives to be the best. Imagine having to speak English every second you are in the office. It would be violated every now and then during breaks but I honestly felt like someone was always listening and waiting to catch me like in high school where our school nuns enforced EOP (English Only Policy). It was an adjustment. Not entirely because of the English language having to be spoken at all time but it was a drastic change of environment for me. From the mountains to the sophisticated buildings of Quezon City and a workplace where everyone spoke English and a lot of them seemed to purposely but effortlessly looked conyo for it.
Questioning my career choices
A year into my stay in the call center industry where I’ve made some friends whose friendships are still important to me and where recognition and opportunities abound, I have started missing my nursing career. I started questioning my decision to be in this industry. I looked for options and applied in some hospitals even if Philippine nursing has not really made improvements. No matter how much appreciation I was presented with the promotions that were down the line, I knew I had enough. No matter how grateful I was of the opportunities given me, I knew in my bones I wanted out.
Taking my chances
I applied in the airline industry as a cabin crew. The second airline that I tried applying for accepted me and I was ready to be shipped off to Malaysia to realize another dream and that is to work abroad.
The waiting time for the “shipping off” part stretched from a month to four months. I could be the most impatient person in the world. The waiting time was hell.
Stepping on yet, another foreign ground
Finally, those four long months have passed and I found myself being whisked away to Kuala Lumpur – excited, nervous and motivated. This time it was a whole different world. It was a world where looks, poise and aviation smarts were expected of you every time you’re on duty that it should have become your second nature if you wanted to truly thrive in the industry. Having to learn manuals by heart was not really much of a challenge for me, to be honest. I guess nursing prepared me so well for that. Our safety and emergency procedures manuals were nothing compared to Marieb, Saunders, Perry & Potter, etc. The challenge for me was the grooming part. I’d say I was in the bottom third of my class when it came to makeup skills. It was not my thing. I wasn’t blessed with the gift. But every preparation for flight was a chance for learning and though I can’t really say that I have improved so much, I could still say I’ve improved.
Having my boyfriend of eight years (ten years now) to pop the question and put a ring on it is of course one of the defining moments of our long-term relationship. It was the start of a new chapter in our lives where we had to both step up in envisioning and preparing for our future – not just his, not just mine, but this time, ours.
Seeing the world.. and still learning
Now on my fourth flying year and my second airline, I’m still blessed with the opportunity to see and experience different parts of the world and learn from it. Although honestly, I guess I have reached a point in my flying career where sleep is just so much more important than sightseeing, I still get excited particularly about places that I’m visiting for the first time. While my earned experiences through travelling have taught me and opened my eyes to so many realities, there’s still so much to see, so much to do and so much to explore.
Making friends who have become family
It is in my twenties that I have identified the best people in my life. I know just who will stick with me and ride with me until the end. The craziness of my twenties have filtered these people. And they’re here to stay, I am confident to say.
Cutting people off
Toxicity is toxicity – regardless of its form – be it a relative, a colleague or a friend.
Making nemeses
No matter how saint-like you live your life, you can never please everybody. Enter Taylor Swift who once said “There are going to be people along the way who, will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or fame. But if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you’re going, you will know it was you and the people who love you who put you there, and that will be the greatest feeling in the world.”
Ticking off my goals
Professionally and personally, slowly but surely, my goals are being met one by one.
Me doing me
— whether that is writing or making a series of funny IG stories or making Youtube videos or cooking or being an insurance pro or creating a wow feed or being a proud full-time housewife and mom or watching TED Talks for pastime or buying makeup that you don’t use or collecting Pandora charms. I unapologetically do me. Just like Sarah Knight said, I do “whatever sizzles my bacon.”
Now who’s ready for the dirty thirty? ;p #
alysthoughts
crewlife
flightattendant
livelovelaugh
pinaynurse
quarterlifecrisis
randomthoughts
silveryear
Previous Post Being present on social media
Next Post The Ten Commandments of Adulthood | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line958 |
__label__cc | 0.723488 | 0.276512 | Ethereum [ETH] Founder, Vitalik Buterin’s announcement on GitHub
Source: Pexels
The Founder of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin came into the limelight on April 1st with no prior hint at all to propose a 120 million hard cap on Ethereum’s [ETH] native currency Ether. People started commenting and declaring it as a prank on the Fool’s day as the sudden proposal was a surprise. The Founder suggests the cap could be part of the next hard fork mostly in the first phase of the Casper update.
He made this unexpected announcement on the developer’s forum, GitHub yesterday. The latest Ethereum Improvement Proposal [EIP], recommended by Buterin is to set a hard cap on the coin at 120,204,432 which is exactly twice the amount sold in the original sale in 2014.
The proposal penned by him could lay the foundation for resolving one of the Ethereum network’s biggest outstanding questions, that is, a limit on the amount of Ether that could be created. He foresees the implantation of the hard cap occurring with the next phase of the Casper update when all rewards in the sharding system would be predominated to reflect the hard cap as a finite supply of Ether.
He explained the reasons for the hard cap suggestion as part of his announcement:
“In order to ensure the economic sustainability of the platform under the widest possible variety of circumstances, and in light of the fact that issuing new coins to proof of work miners is no longer an effective way of promoting an egalitarian coin distribution or any other significant policy goal, I propose that we agree on a hard cap for the total quantity of ETH.”
According to his statement, if it is too late before EIP is adapted to set a 120,000,000-hard cap, then the next logical cap will be 144,052,828 – twice the amount of Ether sold in the Genesis block.
There is currently more than 98 million worth ETH circulating around and Buterin addressed miners concerns about diminishing rewards in the change to a proof-of-stake model as part of the Casper update.
Vitalik’s statement intended to provide clarity stating that the original issuance up to 18 million ETH can be issued every year which is one of the very few times he has addressed Ethereum’s monetary policies on a public platform.
The EIP was released as only a proposal. There was no timeline or any dates for the implementation of either the hard cap or the changeover to Casper phase one included in the statement.
Alan Heckle, a Twitter user said:
“The truth is always constant everyone travels in their own path to find it. Next time don’t drag us along. Anyway, will it push Ethereum prices which lots of supply are HODling.”
Chris Hellen, a forum user commented:
“If it’s done smart, perhaps we got a shot at it. That’s why today’s experimentation is important, no matter the results. This road just only begun.”
Wall Street firm claims Ethereum [ETH] mining through Bitmain’s ASICs
Blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence – A love story in making | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line960 |
__label__wiki | 0.753473 | 0.753473 | Containing Iran?
The dust has yet to clear from this week's NIE bombshell, so one might think we'd avoid another abrupt change in foreign policy thinking on Iran.
Not so lucky, I guess, considering the publication of Vali Nasr and Ray Takeyh's new piece over at Foreign Affairs, "The Costs of Containing Iran." The authors argue that the Bush administration's Iranian containment policy is destined to failure: Stuck in a Cold War-era mindset, the perspective's woefully inadequate considering the current correlation of forces in the Middle East:
Taking a page out of its early Cold War playbook, Washington hopes to check and possibly reduce Tehran's growing influence much as it foiled the Soviet Union's expansionist designs: by projecting its own power while putting direct pressure on its enemy and building a broad-based alliance against it. Washington has been building up the U.S. Navy's presence in the Persian Gulf and using harsh rhetoric, raising the specter of war. At the same time, it funds a $75 million democracy-promotion program supporting regime change in Tehran. In recent months, Washington has rallied support for a series of United Nations resolutions against Iran's nuclear program and successfully pushed through tough informal financial sanctions that have all but cut Iran out of international financial markets. It has officially designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and the IRG's elite al Quds Army as a supporter of terrorism, allowing the Treasury Department to target the groups' assets and the U.S. military to harass and apprehend their personnel in Iraq. Washington is also working to garner support from what it now views as moderate governments in the Middle East -- mostly authoritarian Arab regimes it once blamed for the region's myriad problems.
Washington's goal is to eliminate Iran's influence in the Arab world by rolling back Tehran's gains to date and denying it the support of allies -- in effect drawing a line from Lebanon to Oman to separate Iran from its Arab neighbors. The Bush administration has rallied support among Arab governments to oppose Iranian policies in Iraq, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. It is trying to buttress the military capability of Persian Gulf states by providing a $20 billion arms package to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf emirates. According to Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, one of the arms sales' primary objectives is "to enable these countries to strengthen their defenses and therefore to provide a deterrence against Iranian expansion and Iranian aggression in the future." And through a series of regional conclaves and conferences, the Bush administration hopes to rejuvenate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process partly in the hope of refocusing the energies of the region's governments on the threat posed by Iran.
Containing Iran is not a novel idea, of course, but the benefits Washington expects from it are new. Since the inception of the Islamic Republic, successive Republican and Democratic administrations have devised various policies, doctrines, and schemes to temper the rash theocracy. For the Bush administration, however, containing Iran is the solution to the Middle East's various problems. In its narrative, Sunni Arab states will rally to assist in the reconstruction of a viable government in Iraq for fear that state collapse in Baghdad would only consolidate Iran's influence there. The specter of Shiite primacy in the region will persuade Saudi Arabia and Egypt to actively help declaw Hezbollah. And, the theory goes, now that Israel and its longtime Arab nemeses suddenly have a common interest in deflating Tehran's power and stopping the ascendance of its protégé, Hamas, they will come to terms on an Israeli-Palestinian accord. This, in turn, will (rightly) shift the Middle East's focus away from the corrosive Palestinian issue to the more pressing Persian menace. Far from worrying that the Middle East is now in flames, Bush administration officials seem to feel that in the midst of disorder and chaos lies an unprecedented opportunity for reshaping the region so that it is finally at ease with U.S. dominance and Israeli prowess.
But there is a problem: Washington's containment strategy is unsound, it cannot be implemented effectively, and it will probably make matters worse. The ingredients needed for a successful containment effort simply do not exist. Under these circumstances, Washington's insistence that Arab states array against Iran could further destabilize an already volatile region.
What's so ineffective? Why will containment of Iran make things worse in the Middle East?
For one thing, Nasr and Takeyh argue that Iran in no way presents a threat on the same level as the old Soviet Union. Particularly, the authors suggest that Iran is not a revisionist power, and is not "seeking to create disorder in order to fulfill some scriptural promise, nor is it an expansionist power with unquenchable ambitions."
I find this a strange claim, particularly coming from Nasr, who has written that the administration's Iraq policy left a strategic power vacuum inside the Middle East, which Tehran - as the leader of a regional Shiite resurgence - was all too eager to fill.
Not to be outdone, Peter Galbraith, writing in the New York Review of Books, argued that America's difficulties in Iraq positioned Iran toward a situation of dominance previously unheard of:
Of all the unintended consequences of the Iraq war, Iran's strategic victory is the most far-reaching. In establishing the border between the Ottoman Empire and the Persian Empire in 1639, the Treaty of Qasr-i-Shirin demarcated the boundary between Sunni-ruled lands and Shiite-ruled lands. For eight years of brutal warfare in the 1980s, Iran tried to breach that line but could not. (At the time, the Reagan administration supported Saddam Hussein precisely because it feared the strategic consequences of an Iraq dominated by Iran's allies.) The 2003 US invasion of Iraq accomplished what Khomeini's army could not. Today, the Shiite-controlled lands extend to the borders of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Bahrain, a Persian Gulf kingdom with a Shiite majority and a Sunni monarch, is most affected by these developments; but so is Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, which is home to most of the kingdom's Shiites. (They may even be a majority in the province but this is unknown as Saudi Arabia has not dared to conduct a census.) The US Navy has its most important Persian Gulf base in Bahrain while most of Saudi Arabia's oil is under the Eastern Province.
I imagine the administration's brinkmanship throughout the year has forced a shift among foreign policy liberals such as Nasr and Takeyh: We have, on the one hand, the claim that Iraq has destabilized the region, with Iran emerging as a new systemic power broker; while on the other hand we have a newer softening line that suggests Iran's not as dangerous as the administration asserts. Hmm?? Having our cake...?
A second major claim by the authors indicates that threat perception of Iran among Arab states varies widely: Some Arab regime worry about Iranian power, others not so much:
The Bush administration's strategy also fails to appreciate the diverse views of Arab states. Arab regimes are indeed worried about Iran, but they are not uniformly so. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain decry Iranian expansionism and fear Tehran's interference in their internal affairs. But Egypt and Jordan worry mostly that Iran's newfound importance is eroding their standing in the region. The stake for them is not territory or internal stability but influence over the Palestinian issue. Even within the Persian Gulf region, there is no anti-Iranian consensus. Unlike Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, for example, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates do not suffer a Shiite minority problem and have enjoyed extensive economic relations with Tehran since the mid-1990s. Far from seeking confrontation with Iran, they fear the consequences of escalating tensions between it and the United States. Even U.S. allies in the Middle East will assess their capabilities and vulnerabilities, shape their alliances, and pursue their interests with the understanding that they, too, are susceptible to Iran's influence. A U.S. containment strategy that assumes broad Arab solidarity is unsound in theory.
Perhaps, although the Los Angeles Times suggests that the NIE has signaled to some regional states a reduction of U.S. influence in the Middle East, as well as an increasingly free hand for Iran to fulfill its ambitions of regional dominance:
The dwindling possibility of a U.S. attack on Iran is changing the dynamics of Middle East politics and raising Arab concern that Tehran may now feel emboldened to strengthen its military, increase its support for Islamic radicals and exert more influence in the region's troubled countries.
Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations opposed military action against Iran's nuclear program. But, analysts said, those governments were privately relieved that U.S. threats helped to further preoccupy Tehran, which had irritated much of the Arab world with its deep involvement in the politics of Iraq and Lebanon and support for the radical Palestinian group Hamas.
The U.S. intelligence report released Monday, which says Iran does not have an active nuclear weapons program, has eased international pressure for sanctions and invigorated the Islamic Republic's hard-liners. This comes as the Arab world has been trying to counter Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's rhetoric and his government's influence over the presidential turmoil in Lebanon, the politics in Syria and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The report did not allay Arab fears over Iran's nuclear intentions and its program to enrich uranium.
The same day the intelligence assessment was made public, Ahmadinejad became the first Iranian president to attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The meeting in Doha, Qatar, was hailed by many as a symbolic milestone to defuse decades of tensions between Shiite-dominated Iran and other oil-producing, mostly Sunni nations of the region. The Iranian leader, however, said little at the meeting to calm nerves about his country's regional ambitions.
Suspicion that Iran seeks to dominate the Persian Gulf region has prompted some Middle Eastern states -- including Saudi Arabia, which the U.S. regards as the leading Arab voice -- to increase military spending.
"There's no trust on the Arab side about Iran's intentions," said Christian Koch, research director for international studies at the Gulf Research Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. "There are concerns of Iran's nuclear program for military purposes. There are concerns about Iran's influence in Iraq, over the unsettled political situation in Lebanon and over the dispute regarding" three gulf islands in Iran's control that are claimed by the United Arab Emirates.
Most importantly, Nasr and Takeyh argue the American weakness over Iran counsels not power politics but diplomacy, and especially the creation of regional institutions of multilateral cooperation - something of a "new order" for the Middle East:
Instead of focusing on restoring a former balance of power, the United States would be wise to aim for regional integration and foster a new framework in which all the relevant powers would have a stake in a stable status quo. The Bush administration is correct to sense that a truculent Iran poses serious challenges to U.S. concerns, but containing Iran through military deployment and antagonistic alliances simply is not a tenable strategy. Iran is not, despite common depictions, a messianic power determined to overturn the regional order in the name of Islamic militancy; it is an unexceptionally opportunistic state seeking to assert predominance in its immediate neighborhood. Thus, the task at hand for Washington is to create a situation in which Iran will find benefit in limiting its ambitions and in abiding by international norms.
This call for greater attention to institutions and norms, I would argue, is Nasr and Takeyh's ultimate goal. But adopting such a shift - at least wholesale - holds disastrous implications.
The Western democracies have worked through international institutions for the last four years to rein-in Iran's nuclear ambitions. Even if Iran indeed curtailed its weapons program in 2003 (which would take some willing suspension of disbelief), the fact remains that continuance of Tehran's peaceful nuclear development program will generate the scientific expertise and programatic infrastructure needed for nuclear weapons capability.
In addition, no one can be completely certain exactly what's happening inside Iran - in terms of both its arms procurement and foreign policy intentions. We do know that Iran is one of the world's most dangerous sponsors of international terrorism, its terrorist proxies battled for Israel's destruction in the 2006 Mideast war, and the ultimate acquisition of nuclear capability would introduce an unacceptable level of instability to a region already in the grips of catastrophic danger.
The United States needs to continue with a combination of containment and sanctions, but we should never let down our guard by ceding influence and capability to some shady regional multilateral grouping of appeasement hawks.
Labels: Iran, Middle East, U.S. Foreign Policy
Conservatives in 2008 and Beyond
Democrats Are Fired Up!
New York Times Rings in the New Year
China, International Institutions, and Power Trans...
Kenya Vote Sparks Riots and Tribal Violence
Preventive Strike? Declaring War on Neoconservativ...
Witness Intimidation: An Urban Crisis
Kristol Mess? The Neocon Controversy at New York T...
The Future of Newspapers
The New York Times Goes Neoconservative!
The Political Character of Benazir Bhutto
John McCain: The Choice is Clear
Earmarking Ron Paul
John McCain, Pakistan, and Election '08
After Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto, 1953-2007
Benazir Bhutto Assassinated
Black Candidates and the Presidency
The Real Media Story on Iraq
Mike Huckabee and American Foreign Policy
Will Last Minute Shoppers Help the Economy?
Don't Forget the Love at Christmas
Hard Life (and Death) in Los Angeles
New Hampshire is Up For Grabs
Trolling the Clinton Campaign
Holiday Spending May Bode Well for Economy
Political Books: The Ultimate Christmas Gift
The Politics of Political Polarization
Daily Kos and Moral Equivalence
The GOP and American Foreign Policy
Outside Organizations Give Hillary Clinton a Boost...
Economic Success and Campaign '08
David Petraeus is Man of the Year
South Carolina's "Black Primary"
John McCain Reviving Frontrunner Status
The Pregnancy of 16-Year-Old Jamie Lynn Spears
Vladimir Putin and Russian Authoritarianism
The Lost Promise of Democratic Power
Interest Groups to Dominate Big Money Campaign Fin...
New Poll Shows No Republican Frontrunner
Economy Moving to Forefront of Political Agenda
Vladimir Putin is Person of the Year
Toll of the Campaign: Hillary Clinton Old and Bitc...
Blaming America for Terrorism?
McCain Battles Romney, Giuliani in New Hampshire
Can McCain Win New Hampshire Swing Voters?
More McCain: Why the Comeback?
McCain Endorsements Piling Up
Civilian Casualties in Iraq: The Hidden War?
Des Moines Register Backs John McCain!
Another Endorsement for John McCain!
Hillary Clinton Losing Her Inevitability
John McCain: Confident and Ready
The Wide Open GOP Nomination Race
The Dark Side of Microlending
Gettin' Out of the 'Hood
More Public Optimism on Iraq War
Blog Watch: Lawyers, Guns and Money
Democratic Finger-Pointing
Hillary Clinton Sees California as Key
Immigration is Big in Iowa
Congressional Pork Helps Vulnerable Democratic Fre...
Betrayal of America? The Bureaucratic Shadow Warri...
The Anti-Bush Forces and the NIE
Republican Race is Free-For-All
Giuliani's Resiliency
President Bush Surging at End of Tenure
Iowa Republicans Not Sure on Eve of Vote
How McCain Could Win
Hezbollah Rearms for the Next Attack on Israel
Military Families Unhappy With President Bush
Gulf States Recognize Iranian Threat
Are We Fighting World War IV?
Republicans on the Fringe in Academe
High Confidence in Iran's Continuing Threat
NBC Won't Run Pro-Troop Ads Over Holidays
Antiwar General Switches Sides to Back Surge
Hillary Clinton Strains to Build Sisterhood Solida...
Was President Bush Behind the NEI Report? An Updat...
Pearl Harbor Remembered
Endorsing John McCain
Mitt Romney and Religious Freedom
Voters Split on Illegal Immigration
Black Thugs and the Death of Sean Taylor
The Politics of the National Intelligence Estimate...
Economy is Top Priority for Voters in 2008
Was President Bush Behind the NIE Report?
Mike Huckabee Surges Nationally
Poll Shows More Public Backing on Iraq
Confidence Game: Questioning Intelligence on Iran
Iran and Nuclear Weapons
Oprah's Rewriting Every Line for Clinton-Obama Rac...
Going Down? Hillary Clinton on the Defense in Iowa...
John McCain Could Be Last Man Standing
Public Opinion Rebounds on Iraq
New Hampshire Union-Leader Endorses John McCain
Mike Huckabee: The Republican Frontrunner?
The Democrats and Universal Health Care | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line961 |
__label__wiki | 0.540492 | 0.540492 | RT @mikejcasey: Sure enough, the hearings show that #Libra's biggest problem is Facebook's trust deficit. No amount of ring-fencing, decent… 1 hour ago
Tag: Stuart Hoegner
Turns out, you can make money on horse manure, and tethers are worth just that
Did you know, there is an actual business for horse manure?
“It’s wild,” one horse farmer told Stable Management. “You can take this stuff that nobody wants and turn it into something of value.”
You can do something similar in the crypto word. Shitexpress was a service that delivered horse poop anywhere in the world for bitcoin. Now, instead of sending actually poop, you can send tethers, a stablecoin issued by a company of the same name, Tether Limited.
Tethers are a major source of liquidity in crypto markets. In lieu of the US dollar, you can use them to enter and exit positions in times of volatility. As such, tethers are responsible for the health and wellness of dozens of crypto exchanges, including Binance, Huobi, Bittrex, OKEx, Poloniex and others, that don’t have direct banking.
Inner workings
When Tether first entered the world in 2015, tethers were promised as an I.O.U. For years, Tether assured us that every tether was worth $1—as in, one actual US dollar that Tether had on hand that you could redeem your tethers for.
Tether and its sister company Bitfinex, one of the largest crypto trading platforms by volume, are now being sued by the New York Attorney General. As court documents reveal more of the companies’ inner workings, people are asking: What are tethers worth? Is one tether worth a dollar? Less than a dollar? What can I get for my tethers?
For a while, the thinking was, well, maybe one tether is worth 74 cents, because in his first affidavit, filed on April 30, Stuart Hoegner, Bitfinex and Tether’s general counsel, said tethers were only 74% backed. In other words, Tether was operating a fractional reserve, kind of like a bank, but sans regulatory oversight or deposit insurance.
Tether updated its terms of service on February 26, to let you know tethers weren’t fully backed, but if you weren’t paying close attention—i.e., checking the Tether website every single day—you may have missed it. Tether says it can amend, change, or update its terms of service “at any time and without prior notice to you.”
Now, it’s looking like one tether is worth whatever someone gives you for it. If someone gives you bitcoin for a pile of tethers, hurray for you, that is the value of your tethers. If the person who got your tethers can pass them off to someone else for bitcoin, or another crypto of value, then yay for them! It’s called the greater fool theory, and, so far, it seems to be working—Tether is still trading on par with the dollar.
But if you take those tethers to Tether, the company that, so far, has shoveled $3 billion worth of them onto the markets, and say, “Hey, can I redeem these for dollars, like you have been promising me all these years?,” they will most certainly tell you, “Sorry, no.”
Are you verified?
You can only redeem tethers under certain conditions, such as you bought loads of them directly from Tether—and you are not a US citizen.
In Hoegner’s recent affirmation, filed on May 21, he says you have to be a “verified” Tether customer to redeem tethers.
“Only verified Tether customers are entitled to redeem tether from Tether for fiat on a 1:1 basis. There is no right of redemption from Tether on a 1:1 basis for any holders of tether who obtained the tokens on a secondary market platform and who are not verified Tether customers; on the contrary, such holders of tether have no relationship with Tether and are expressly precluded from redeeming tether on a 1:1 basis for Tether.”
In that paragraph, Hoegner reminds us three times—just to make sure we understand his point—that whoever you are and however you ended up with your tethers, the company is under no obligation to give you cash back for those tethers.
Per Tether’s terms of service, only those who bought tethers directly from Tether Limited—aka “validated users”—can redeem tethers. Anyone who got tethers on the “secondary market,” meaning, an exchange, is not able to redeem those tethers.
As court docs reveal, from November 2017 to December 2018, you could only buy tethers for cash directly from Bitfinex. Per Tether’s website, as of November 27, 2018, you could once again buy tethers directly from Tether. However, you have to buy a minimum of $100,0000 worth. According to Tether’s definition, Bitfinex is a secondary market.
Also, if you want to redeem tethers on Tether, you have to redeem a minimum of $100,000 worth at a time, and you can’t redeem more than once a week.
Further, if you live in the US, you have zero chance of ever redeeming your tethers for cash. Hoegner says that as of November 23, 2017, Tether ceased servicing customers in the US, and at this time, “no longer provides issues or redemption to any US customers.”
To summarize, if you are a US citizen holding a bag of tethers, Tether will give you nothing for them. If you acquired tether on Bitfinex or some other exchange, Tether owes you nothing. And if you don’t like that, too bad, because Tether also says in its terms that when you buy tethers, you waive any rights to “trial by jury or proceeding of any kind whatsoever.”
Has anyone been able to buy or redeem tether via Tether? Is there anyone out there who has ever done this? Would love to hear from you. https://t.co/Xi4HjSOUX2
— Amy Castor (@ahcastor) May 23, 2019
Wait, this doesn’t look like a dollar!
If you are one of the lucky few who purchased $100,000 or more worth of tethers via Tether’s website—and you are not a US citizen—and would like to redeem 100,000 or more of them, you may or may not get actual dollars back any time soon.
In its terms of service, Tether says it “reserves the right to delay redemption or withdrawal” of tether in the event of illiquidity—meaning, if they don’t happen to have cash on hand today. The company also says that it reserves the right to pay you “in-kind redemption of securities and other assets” held in its reserves.
Basically, that equates to, you could get shares of iFinex (Bitfinex and Tether’s parent company) or LEO tokens (a new token Bitfinex recently created) or whatever is in the soup bowl that day. And you may end up with something that has as much real world value as horse manure—just not as good for the roses.
Update (May 27): This story has been updated to reflect that if you buy or redeem tethers from Tether, you have to buy or redeem a minimum of $100,000 worth.
Bitfinex to NYAG: You have no authority! We did nothing wrong!
Bitfinex has filed yet another rebuke to the New York Attorney General’s ex parte court order.
The April 24 order basically tells Bitfinex to submit documents and stop dipping into Tether’s reserves, which it has done, so far, to the tune of $750 million.
Bitfinex filed a motion to vacate or modify the order on May 3. On Friday, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) opposed the motion. And on Sunday, Bitfinex filed a response to the opposition. The reply memorandum in further support of the motion to vacate or modify the order was filed by law firms Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Steptoe & Johnson LLP.
In the memo, Bitfinex argues that “nothing in the Attorney General’s opposition papers justifies the ex parte order having been issued in the first place.” It lists a bunch of reasons for this—essentially, a lot of “buts,” which equate to Bitfinex saying, “It wasn’t me, you can’t prove it, and anyway, nobody was harmed by the thing I totally didn’t do.”
Here is a summary—also, I am not a lawyer.
But, tethers are not a securities!
The OAG claims Bitfinex violated the Martin Act, New York’s anti-fraud law, which grants the agency expansive powers to conduct investigations of securities fraud.
Bitfinex argues that the OAG did not even try to explain how tethers (the dollar-backed coins issued by Bitfinex’s affiliate Tether) qualify as securities or commodities in the first place. In its opposition, this is what the OAG did say, in a footnote:
“The Motion to Vacate wrongly suggests that an eventual Martin Act claim stands or falls on whether ‘tethers’ are securities or commodities. It does not. The Bitfinex trading platform transacts in both securities and commodities (like bitcoin), and is of course at the core of the fraudulent conduct set forth in OAG’s application.”
This looks like an attempt by Bitfinex to pull the OAG into the weeds, and the OAG is not going there. The fact that Bitfinex does trade in securities and commodities (the CFTC considers bitcoin a commodity, and the SEC considers most ICO tokens to be securities) is enough to bring Bitfinex under the OAG’s purview. ‘Nuff said.
But, this is so disruptive!
The ex parte order is “hugely disruptive,” says Bitfinex, because it freezes $2.1 billion of Tether reserves—what’s currently left to back the 2.8 billion tethers in circulation—prohibiting any investment of any kind, for the indefinite future.
In other words, Bitfinex feels like it can do whatever it wants with the cash that tether holders gave it for safe keeping. Tether works like an I.O.U., which means Bitfinex is supposed to hold onto that money for redemptions only.
The big reason Bitfinex wants to bend the rules here is that it is desperate for cash to stay in operation. If it can’t get that cash from somewhere, the exchange is potentially in danger of running aground, or getting into even more trouble with regulators. At this point, Bitfinex is even trying to raise $1 billion in a token offering.
But, we didn’t do anything wrong!
Bitfinex argues it has not committed fraud. It has taken hundreds of millions out of Tether’s reserves, but that is okay, because it updated Tether’s terms of service to make it clear that reserves could include loans to affiliates. What’s more, Bitfinex says it updated the terms before it drew a line of credit from Tether for $900 million.
(It has so far dissipated $750 million of that loan—which was signed by the same people on either side of the transaction—with access to another $150 million.)
In its memo, Bitfinex says:
“This disclosure gave anyone holding or considering buying tether the opportunity to take their money elsewhere if they chose, defeating any allegations of fraud.”
In fact, Tether did update its terms of service on its website on February 26, 2019, but it did so silently. It was not until two weeks later, when someone inadvertently stumbled upon the change, that the news became public. In contrast, a bank would totally be expected to reveal such a move—at the very least, to its regulators.
The OAG also claims that in mid-2018, Bitfinex failed to disclose the loss of $851 million related to Crypto Capital, an intermediary that the exchange was using to wire money to its customers. Bitfinex argues that, as a private company, it had “no duty to disclose its internal financial matters to customers.”
If Bitfinex were to go belly up all of a sudden, traders could potentially be out of their funds, but apparently, that is none of their business. Also, Bitfinex went beyond not disclosing the loss. It even lied about it, telling its customers that rumors of its insolvency were a “targeted campaign based on nothing but fiction.”
The OAG’s opposition to Bitfinex’s move to vacate, literally has an entire section (see “Background”) that basically says, “We’ve caught these guys lying repeatedly, here are the lies,” which Bitfinex does not even address in its memo.
But, nobody has been harmed!
The OAG’s job is to protect the public, but Bitfinex says “there has been no harm to tether holders supposedly being defrauded, much less harm that is either ongoing or irreparable.” Particularly now, it says, after it made the details of its credit transaction—the one where it borrowed $900 million from Tether—fully public.
“Holders of tether are doing so with eyes wide open,” Bitfinex says. “They may redeem at any time, and Tether has ample assets to honor those requests.”
Ample assets, that is, as long as everybody doesn’t ask for their money back all at once. Bitfinex’s general counsel Stuart Hoegner already stated in his affidavit, which accompanied the company’s move to vacate, that tethers are only 74% backed.
Tether’s operation fits the definition of a fractional reserve system, which is what banks do, which is why banks have a lot of rules and also backing and deposit insurance.
But, “the balance of equities favors Bitfinex and Tether!”
Bitfinex and Tether would be fine, if the OAG would just go away. The agency is doing more harm than good, Bitfinex argues.
The exchange argues that a preliminary injunction would not protect anyone, but would instead cause “great disruption” to Bitfinex and Tether—”ultimately to the detriment of market participants on whose behalf the attorney general purports to be acting.”
It maintains that it needs access to Tether’s holdings because it needs the “liquidity for normal operations.” That is, Bitfinex admits it does not have enough cash on hand, without dipping into the reserves.
But, what’s good for Bitfinex is good for Tether. “For its part, Tether has a keen interest in ensuring that Bitfinex, as a dominant platform for Tether’s products and known affiliate, can operate as normal,” the company says.
Besides, the OAG has no business “attempting to dictate how two private companies may deal with one another and deploy their funds,” says Bitfinex.
It maintains the OAG’s actions have actually done harm. In the weeks leading up the order, the crypto market was rallying after an extended downturn. In its court document, Bitfinex writes:
“This rally was halted by this case, which resulted in an approximate loss of $10 billion across dozens of cryptocurrencies in one hour of the April 24, 2019 order becoming public.”
Not only that, but Bitfinex itself was harmed by the publicity brought on by the OAG’s lawsuit. The exchange says the balance of it cold wallets “have fallen sharply, an indication that customers have been drawing down their holdings.”
It is likely that Bitfinex is going to have to surrender the documents the OAG is asking for at some point—and that may be what it is trying to avoid. Its attempts to vacate the OAG’s order appears to be an effort to buy time, while it scrambles to figure out how to come up with the nearly $1 billion it needs to stay afloat—a token sale may be just the thing.
On May 6, New York Supreme Court judge Joel M. Cohen ruled that the OAG’s ex parte order should remain in effect, at least in part. However, he thinks the injunction is “amorphous and endless.” He gives the two parties a week to work out a compromise and submit new proposals for what the scope of the injunction should be.
On May 13, iFinex, the parent company of Bitfinex and Tether, submitted this letter and this proposed order to the court. Among other things, iFinex is asking for a 45-day limit on the injunction and to replace three paragraphs—one of which would allow Tether employees to get paid using Tether’s reserves.
For its part, the OAG submitted this letter and this proposed order. The OAG is not opposed to Tether’s employees being paid, but it wants Tether to to pay its employees using transaction fees—not reserves.
NY Supreme Court Judge: Bitfinex may not touch Tether’s reserves for 90 days
NYAG: Bitfinex needs to submit docs and stop dipping into Tether’s reserves
The curious case of Tether: a complete timeline of events
Was this material helpful to you? You can support my work by becoming a subscriber on Patreon for as little as $5 a month. It only takes a minute!
Posted on May 6, 2019 May 20, 2019 by Amy Castor 1
News: More Bitfinex drama, Crypto Capital, a dodgy football businessman and a relationship coach
There is so much going on now with Bitfinex. My eyes are burning and my head hurts from reading piles of court docs. Here is a rundown of all the latest—and then some.
The New York Attorney General (NYAG) is suing Bitfinex and Tether, saying tethers (USDT) are not fully backed—after $850 million funneled through third-party payment processor Crypto Capital has gone missing.
It’s still not clear where all that money went. Bitfinex says the funds were “seized and safeguarded” by government authorities in Portugal, Poland and the U.S. The NYAG says the money was lost. It wants Bitfinex to stop dipping into Tether’s reserves and to handover a mountain of documents.
In response to the NYAG’s ex parte order, Tether general counsel Stuart Hoegner filed an affidavit accompanied by a motion to vacate from outside counsel Zoe Phillips of Morgan Lewis. Hoegner admits $2.8 billion worth of tethers are only 74% backed, but claims “Tether is not at risk.” Morgan says New York has no jurisdiction over Tether or Bitfinex. Meanwhile, the NYAG has filed an opposition. It wants Bitfinex to stop messing around.
Bitfinex: No one is willing to audit us because they don't want to damage their reputation by auditing us! Asymmetric risk!
New York Attorney General: We'll audit you! For free!
Bitfinex: NOT LIKE THIS!
New York Attorney General: Send documents.
Bitfinex: NO GOD PLEASE NO!
— Bitfinex’ed (@Bitfinexed) May 5, 2019
Football businessman Reggie Fowler and “co-conspirator” Ravid Yosef were charged with running a “shadow banking” service for crypto exchanges. This all loops back to Crypto Capital, which Bitfinex and Tether were using to solve their banking woes.
In an odd twist, the cryptocurrency saga is crossing over into the sports world. Fowler was the original main investor in the Alliance of American Football (AAF), an attempt to create a new football league. The league filed for bankruptcy last month—after Fowler was unable to deliver, because the DoJ had frozen his bank accounts last fall.
The US government thinks Fowler is a flight risk and wants him held without bail. The FBI has also found a “Master US Workbook,” detailing the operations of a massive “cryptocurrency scheme.” They found it with email subpoenas, which sounds like it was being kept on a Google Drive?
Yosef is still at large. She appears to have split her time between Tel Aviv and Los Angeles. This is her LinkedIn profile. She works as a relationship coach and looks to be the sister of Crypto Capital’s Oz Yosef (aka “Ozzie Joseph”), who was likely the “Oz” chatting with “Merlin” documented in NYAG’s suit against Bitfinex.
All eyes are on Tether right now. Bloomberg reveals the Commodity and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has been investigating whether Tether actually had a stockpile of cash to support the currency. The DoJ is also looking into issues raised by the NYAG.
Meanwhile, bitcoin is selling for a $300 to $400 premium on Bitfinex — a sign that traders are willing to pay more for bitcoin, so they can dump their tethers and get their funds off the exchange. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this sort of thing. Bitcoin sold at a premium on Mt. Gox and QuadrigaCX before those exchanges collapsed.
Bitfinex is still in the ring, but it needs cash. The exchange is now trying to cover its Tether shortfalls by raising money via—of all things—a token sale. It plans to raise $1 billion in an initial exchange offering (IEO) by selling its LEO token. CoinDesk wrote a story on it, and even linked to my Tether timeline.
It's funny because LEO also means law enforcement organization
— Bennett Tomlin (@BennettTomlin) May 5, 2019
Did a sex-trafficking site sparked the Crypto Capital investigation? Also, Decrypt’s Tim Copeland takes a look at the payment processor’s dark past.
Very interesting! One correction though: Backpage was not a sex-trafficking site as many of those sex workers were consenting adults. 🙂
— Leigh Cuen (@La__Cuen) May 3, 2019
Tether wants to move tethers from Omni to the Tron blockchain. Tron planned to offer a 20% incentive to Omni USDT holders to convert to Tron USDT on Huobi and OkEx exchanges. But given the “recent news” about Bitfinex and Tether, it is delaying the rewards program.
Kara Haas has an article on AccountingWeb and a Twitter thread on the potential accounting implications of Tether’s definition of “reserves.”
Coinbase is bidding adieu to yet another executive. Earn.com founder Balaji Srinivasan, who served as the exchange’s CTO for a year, is leaving. It looks like his departure comes after he served the minimum agreed period with Coinbase.
Will the last executive to leave please turn off the lights?@coinbase CTO @balajis set to depart after only 1 year https://t.co/sdFcOoCnLg
— Mike Dudas (@mdudas) May 4, 2019
Elsewhere, BreakerMag is shutting down. The crypto publication had a lot of good stories in its short life, including this unforgettable one by Laurie Penny, who survived a bitcoin cruise to tell about it. David Gerard wrote an obituary for the magazine.
The Los Angeles Ballet is suing MovieCoin, accusing the film finance startup of trying to pay a $200,000 pledge in worthless tokens—you can’t run a ballet on shit coins.
Police in Germany and Finland have shut down two dark markets, Wall Street Market and Valhalla. And a mystery Git ransomware is wiping Git repository commits and replacing them with a ransom note demanding Bitcoin, as this Redditor details.
Posted on May 4, 2019 May 6, 2019 by Amy Castor 0 | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line965 |
__label__cc | 0.73086 | 0.26914 | Simple Most
Beatrice, NE (68310)
Mostly clear. Low 76F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..
Mostly clear. Low 76F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Sign up with an existing account
Sign up using Facebook or another account.
Sign up with us
This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely!
Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. We won't share it with anyone else.
Create a password that only you will remember. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address.
Confirm your password.
By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line968 |
__label__wiki | 0.658205 | 0.658205 | Media Library Home
Search for tag: ""enid galler papers""
Center for the History of Medicine - John W.…
Center for the History of Medicine - John W. Henderson, 2005 June - Part 2
Interview with John W. Henderson conducted by Enid Galler. This is only part of an interview. For additional parts, click the tag with the item identifier: 2014164_0001_0011
2014164_0001_0011enid galler papersinterviews
From Dallas Pillen 2 Years ago
Enid Galler papers
Bentley Historical Library
Galler, Enid
2014164_0001_0011-2
This recording may be protected by copyright law. Every audio, visual, or textual work has copyright protection unless that protection has expired over time or its creator has placed it in the public domain. It is the responsibility of anyone interested in reproducing, broadcasting or publishing content from the Bentley Historical Library collections to determine copyright holders and secure permissions accordingly.
Recordings available here are a historical record which reflects different views, attitudes, and beliefs. The Bentley Historical Library does not endorse viewpoints found in these or within its holdings.
Center for the History of Medicine - Gertrude V.…
Center for the History of Medicine - Gertrude V. Huebner, 2004 April - Part 3
Interview with Gertrude V. Huebner conducted by Enid Galler. This is only part of an interview. For additional parts, click the tag with the item identifier: 2014164_0001_0015
Center for the History of Medicine - Mignon…
Center for the History of Medicine - Mignon Meyer, 1989 April
Interview with Mignon Meyer conducted by Enid Galler.
Center for the History of Medicine - Thomas A.…
Center for the History of Medicine - Thomas A. Roach, 2003 November - Part 7
Interview with Thomas A. Roach conducted by Enid Galler. This is only part of an interview. For additional parts, click the tag with the item identifier: 2014164_0001_0018
Center for the History of Medicine - Layman E.…
Center for the History of Medicine - Layman E. Allen, undated
Interview with Layman E. Allen conducted by Enid Galler.
Center for the History of Medicine - Robert H.…
Center for the History of Medicine - Robert H. Bartlett, 2007 May
Interview with Robert H. Bartlett conducted by Enid Galler.
Center for the History of Medicine - Frances E.…
Center for the History of Medicine - Frances E. Bull, 2005 December
Interview with Frances E. Bull conducted by Enid Galler. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line973 |
__label__wiki | 0.561162 | 0.561162 | Marchlands
Kuban, Karla
Daughter of an alcoholic mother, sister of a soldier in Vietnam, Sophie Baer dreams of finding her missing father while riding her beloved horse across her family's Wyoming sheep ranch, leading to a violent confrontation. A debut novel. 35,000 first printing.
Living on a thousand-acre sheep ranch, fifteen-year-old Sophie Behr can ride for hours and not see another person; her closest companion, her horse, Pablo. And Sophie often roams to think - about Demetrio, the Mexican ranch hand who helped make the baby growing inside her; about her mother and Aunt Alice, who drink every night while watching the television news, hoping to catch a glimpse of their sons fighting in Vietnam; and about her father, who vanished one day when Sophie was four years old.
Sophie's mother - tough, bitter, and unstable - warns Sophie never to mention her father's name, but Sophie is compelled to find him and discover why he left. After a frighteningly violent reunion, she seeks refuge and illumination from her grandmother. At once child and woman, Sophie is a precociously wise observer of the tragedies of her own family and of the world.
In Marchlands, Karla Kuban's stunning first novel, she introduces a troubled, intrepid, ultimately triumphant young heroine whose path to womanhood is both original and extraordinarily compelling. Living on a thousand-acre sheep ranch, fifteen-year-old Sophie Behr can ride for hours and not see another person; her closest companion, her horse, Pablo. And Sophie often roams to think -- about Demetrio, the Mexican ranch hand who helped make the baby growing inside her; about her mother and Aunt Alice, who drink every night while watching the television news, hoping to catch a glimpse of their sons fighting in Vietnam; and about her father, who vanished one day when Sophie was four years old. Sophie's mother -- tough, bitter, and unstable -- warns Sophie never to mention her father's name, but Sophie is compelled to find him and discover why he left. After a frighteningly violent reunion, she seeks refuge and illumination from her grandmother. At once child and woman, Sophie is a precociously wise observer of the tragedies of her own family and of the world. It is Karla Kuban's masterful sense of place and the startling clarity of her voice that make Marchlands such a spectacular fiction debut.
Publisher: New York, NY : Scribner, c1998
Read more reviews of Marchlands at iDreamBooks.com
Find it at BPL | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line985 |
__label__cc | 0.524373 | 0.475627 | Is the Oceano dunes a Machine or other contrivance?
OPINION BY KEVIN RICE
If you answer “no” to the above question, you agree with Friends of Oceano Dunes.
Three years of litigation challenging the Air Pollution Control District’s “dust rule” (Rule 1001) regulating Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area has boiled down to one simple question: Is Oceano Dunes an “article, machine, equipment or other contrivance?” On Wednesday of this week, that question came before a three judge panel of the Second District Court of Appeal in Ventura.
The question stems from Health and Safety Code section 42300(a) which authorizes that air pollution control districts may require a permit for any “article, machine, equipment or other contrivance which may cause the issuance of air contaminants.”
Simply put, if Oceano Dunes is not an “article, machine, equipment or other contrivance” the SLO County APCD cannot require Oceano Dunes to obtain a permit to operate.
On Wednesday, three appellate justices heard opposing arguments from Friends of Oceano Dunes and SLO County APCD Counsel Raymond Biering. Joining in, was Santa Barbara County Counsel William Dillon arguing for the amicus curiae of six air pollution districts (Santa Barbara APCD, Bay Area AQMD, Mojave Desert AQMD, Monterey Bay AQMD, North Coast Unified AQMD, and Great Basin APCD). Also joining in amicus, was attorney Babak Naficy for the Sierra Club.
Each side received thirty minutes to argue. Oddly, APCD argued only a few minutes, giving most of their time to Mr. Dillon of Santa Barbara. APCD gave up ten minutes (one-third) of their time to the Sierra Club.
The court docket reads, on March 2, “Raymond A. Biering, Esq. (counsel, SLO APCD) confirming that he will share 10 minutes with Amicus Curiae SIERRA CLUB at Oral Argument”.
I found it disconcerting and questionable that APCD shared its time with the Sierra Club. The APCD has always maintained it does not intend to close Oceano Dunes, yet the Sierra Club has long advocated for complete closure. At least one of the justices noticed this point, as I relate below.
Subsequent to an adverse ruling in 2013 by the SLO County Superior Court, Friends of Oceano Dunes appealed. Friends of Oceano Dunes contends SLO County APCD exceeded the authority granted to it by the California Legislature in that Health and Safety Code section 42300(a) does not authorize APCD to require a permit to operate a state park. Friends of Oceano Dunes argues that a state park is not an “article, machine, equipment or other contrivance.”
While conceding Oceano Dunes state park is not an “article, machine, or equipment”, SLO County APCD and the amici air districts and Sierra Club argue Oceano Dunes is a “contrivance.” They offer various definitions from Webster’s Dictionary: “A ‘contrivance’ is commonly defined as the act of ‘inventing, devising or planning,’ ‘ingeniously endeavoring the accomplishment of anything,’ ‘the bringing to pass by planning, scheming, or stratagem,’ or ‘[a]daption of means to an end; design, intention.’” The air districts argue “contrivance is also defined as ‘something contrived,’ which is ‘[t]o bring about by artiface’ or ‘[t]o invent or fabricate.’”
In essence, SLO County APCD argues “contrivance” is nearly anything that can be contrived in the human mind, and therefore, the Health and Safety Code should be interpreted broadly, granting expansive authority to APCD to require a permit for many things.
In reply, Friends of Oceano Dunes argues a broad interpretation of “contrivance” would grant APCD authority to require a permit for just about anything. Friends argues, “if the Legislature meant to grant permitting authority to any source of air pollution of any kind, then the Legislature would have simply said any source ‘of any kind’ or used the word ‘anything’ when describing what items could be permitted.” Friends continues, “It is therefore notable that the Legislature took the time to list specific items rather than including air pollution sources ‘of any kind.”
Friends of Oceano Dunes cites a 1949 case ruled on by the same Second District Court of Appeal in which a four year old was bitten by a circus animal. The Plaintiff asserted the Defendant was keeping an “artificial and dangerous contrivance.” However, the Court ruled, “An animal in a cage is not artificial and it does not fall within the definition of the word ‘contrivance’ which is defined in Webster’s New International Dictionary […] as ‘a mechanical device; an appliance.”
Friends also cites a well-recognized canon of statutory interpretation known as ejusdem generis. This canon states when a law sets out a list of items (i.e., “article, machine, equipment”), those items which follow in the list include only things of like kind or character. Because “article, machine or equipment” are all mechanical in nature, Friends contends “contrivance” must be construed similarly.
In their opening brief, Friends of Oceano Dunes writes, “By interpreting the phrase ‘other contrivance’ to mean something as large and different as a sprawling recreational park like Oceano Dunes, both the [Superior] court and the [APCD] construed the term to mean something of a completely different character, nature and scope than the other items listed in section 42300(a). To do so is not reasonable because it offends the long-standing canon of ejusdem generis.”
Oral arguments
It is not wise to presume the eventual decision of a court based upon the questions and interrogations of the justices. But, I must say, the appellate justices lobbed some quite provocative remarks toward APCD.
Friends of Oceano Dunes attorney Tom Roth opened, immediately raising some eyebrows by reserving twenty minutes of his thirty minutes time for rebuttal. One justice remarked he had never seen anyone reserve so much time for rebuttal. Mr. Roth laid out the generalities of the case, asking the Court to strike APCD’s permit requirement from Rule 1001.
Next, Mr. Biering spoke for APCD. In opening, Mr. Biering restated the question before the court, “Is the facility a ‘contrivance’?”
But, Mr. Biering hardly got that out before Presiding Justice Gilbert intervened, asking, “What’s the ‘facility’?”
Mr. Biering related that Oceano Dunes is a “facility” because it has fences, a kiosk, and restrooms, and it is this “facility” that produces pollution.
Justice Gilbert prodded, “Pollution comes from this facility, like the restrooms?”
Biering launched into an overview of APCD’s position, explaining, “It’s not the vehicles that produce pollution.” He explained vehicles break up the “crust” on the dunes that liberates dust to blow when winds occur.
To be clear, I don’t buy into the APCD’s “crust” theory, and neither does the California Geological Survey or the Coastal Commission. Nevertheless, APCD and its non-geologist “experts” observed crust on some dry lake beds in Mono County and purports there is a “crust” on Oceano Dunes. APCD convinced its Board of Directors that “crust” exists, and that debate between that political fact and actual scientific fact will rage on.
Mr. Biering argued to the Court that APCD possesses authority to require a permit of Oceano Dunes.
Justice Gilbert asked, “What authority?”
Taking a stand, Mr. Biering said, “It’s a ‘contrivance.’”
Justice Gilbert, “What’s ‘it’?”
Biering, “The park.”
Now, it seems to me the justice was not playing kindergarten word games, but was actually trying to elicit a firm stand from Mr. Biering on what characteristics APCD feels makes Oceano Dunes into a “facility” and a “contrivance.” Is it restrooms? Fences?
Mr. Biering then reiterated the Webster’s Dictionary definition of “contrivance”, instigating Justice Perren to remark, “You’ve covered every conceivable thing one could do with land.”
Presiding Justice Gilbert opined, “One could make the argument that your argument is a contrivance.”
Mr. Dillon of Santa Barbara County then took up arguments. Dillon emphasized the air district view that the definition of “contrivance” is “straight out of Webster’s Dictionary.”
Justice Yegan injected, “I thought you were going to say, ‘straight out of Ambrose Bierce’s, The Devil’s Dictionary’.”
That seemed harsh, I thought. And, in checking, I do not find “contrivance” in The Devil’s Dictionary.
Justice Yegan postulated to Mr. Dillon, “What if you win? There can be a Rule that there can be no dune buggies on this beach.”
Mr. Dillon insisted air districts apply a reasonable approach. That air districts would not propose such a harsh rule.
However, Justice Yegan then pointed at the Sierra Club’s attorney, “The last time he was here, the guy you’re sitting next to, your co-amici, he said his goal is to get rid of every vehicle on that beach.”
More inquiry followed as to the proper interpretation of “contrivance.” Justice Yegan stated, “Frankly, it violates the ejusdem generis canon … How could a park be an article or machine?”
Justice Gilbert added, “It’s the general term following specifics,” referring to “contrivance” following “article, machine or equipment.”
Eventually, the Sierra Club attorney, Babak Naficy took his turn. Mr. Naficy attempted to clarify the Sierra Club’s position, stating, their “position was not to ban every vehicle from Oceano Dunes. The Sierra Club position was that a ban should be effectuated by the Local Coastal Plan.”
Justice Yegan remarked, “I could have sworn you wanted to stop all of it,” and reflected that out of 1,600 miles of coastline, Oceano Dunes is only a two mile area.
In a previous lawsuit lost in front of the appellate court, the Sierra Club sought to ban off-highway vehicle recreation on the entire county owned 584-acre La Grande Tract within Oceano Dunes.
Mr. Naficy made additional arguments for an expansive interpretation of “contrivance.” Mr. Naficy opined that public policy and health dictate a broad interpretation.
Justice Gilbert remarked, “The law, we hope, is designed to give a sense of predictability… We have to write an opinion that someone will read, and that will make sense.”
Friends of Oceano Dunes rebuttal
Attorney Tom Roth closed, “Why Friends of Oceano Dunes cares about a permit? If you have an operating permit, the APCD could stop all use of the park.”
Mr. Roth cited a 2012 email from Supervisor Adam Hill in which Hill wrote, “This will inevitably necessitate SLO County having to fence off and patrol the La Grande tract, thereby significantly reducing the recreation area.”
Mr. Roth made further points that Oceano Dunes is not a “direct source” or “point source” of emissions. Such sources are machines and clearly fall under “article, machine, equipment or other contrivance,” and can be regulated by a permit. Roth elucidated the history of the Health and Safety Code section in dispute, which was written by Los Angeles County in 1947. At that time, the County of Los Angeles sought to regulate engines, machines, and contrivances. The original legislation made no mention of large plots of land such as parks.
Case argued and submitted
We can anticipate a ruling from the Appellate Court within 45 days or so.
Subjects: Air Quality Lawsuits Oceano Oceano Dunes Oceano Dunes SVRA Opinion San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (SLOAPCD)
Airline cuts flights from SLO airport in half
Teen killed in fall at Pirates Cove
Liberty1948
Well written, Kevin
PismoRicky
1st perceived problem: the vegetation is being destroyed endangering animals and the dunes themselves.
Solution: Fence off 90% of the dunes to save the vegetation.
2nd perceived problem: So called endangered “western” snowy plover is going extinct.
Solution: Close all but 6 miles of beach to vehicles.
3rd perceived problem: dust being stirred up and blowing inland creating “pollution”
This is another made up problem to bring the end to vehicles on the beach and dunes.
The people/entities behind this want the dunes CLOSED to ORV’s. PERIOD.
They don’t care about the validity of their findings and they will not stop until they
succeed in finding a judge to agree with their fairy tale issues.
I can only hope the powers at be can see through this farce and leave the off-road community with this small area that is merely a FRACTION of the California coastline already off limits to ORV’s……
To the Sierra Club: I would LOVE to see The Club publish in its monthly newsletter a statement or clarification that the Sierra Club does not wish to remove every vehicle from Oceano Dunes.
Because that’s what your attorney is representing.
What say you, Sierra Club? | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line993 |
__label__cc | 0.504117 | 0.495883 | The Official NVIDIA Blog
DGX STATION
GPU VIRTUALIZATION
GPU APPS DIRECTORY
DESIGN AND PRO VISUALIZATION
20-SERIES GRAPHICS CARDS
AI FOR THE HOME
GEFORCE FORUMS
VIRTUAL GPU FORUMS
INCEPTION PROGRAM
Pro Graphics
AI Podcast
Let’s Go Driverless: Daimler, Bosch Select NVIDIA DRIVE for Robotaxi Fleets
Imagine summoning a driverless car from your smartphone: Fully autonomous vehicles based on DRIVE Pegasus AI supercomputer will usher in a new era of mobility-as-a-service.
July 10, 2018 by Danny Shapiro
Press a button on your smartphone and go. Daimler, Bosch and NVIDIA have joined forces to bring fully automated and driverless vehicles to city streets, and the effects will be felt far beyond the way we drive.
While the world’s billion cars travel 10 trillion miles per year, most of the time these vehicles are sitting idle, taking up valuable real estate while parked. And when driven, they’re often stuck on congested roadways. Mobility services will solve these issues plaguing urban areas, capture underutilized capacity and revolutionize the way we travel.
All over the globe we are seeing a rapid adoption of new mobility services from companies like Uber, Lyft, Didi and Ola. But now the limited availability of drivers threatens their continued growth.
The answer is the driverless car — a vehicle rich with sensors, powered by an extremely energy-efficient supercomputer and running AI software that acts as a virtual driver.
The collaboration of Daimler, Bosch and NVIDIA, announced Tuesday, promises to unleash what auto industry insiders call Level 4 and Level 5 autonomy — cars that can drive themselves.
The benefits of mobility services built on autonomous vehicles are enormous. These AI-infused vehicles will improve traffic flow, enhance safety and offer greater access to mobility. In addition, analysts predict it will cost a mere 17 cents a mile to ride in a driverless car you can summon anytime. And commuters will be able to spend their drive to work actually working, recapturing an estimated $99 billion worth of lost productivity each year.
Driving the convenience of transportation up, and costs down, is a huge opportunity. By 2030, driverless vehicles and services will be a $1 trillion industry, according to KPMG.
To reap these benefits, the great automotive brands will need to weave the latest technology into everything they do. And NVIDIA DRIVE, our AV computing platform, promises to help them stitch all the breakthroughs of our time — deep learning, sensor fusion, image recognition, cloud computing and more — into this fabric.
Our collaboration with Daimler and Bosch will unite each company’s strengths. NVIDIA brings leadership in AI and self-driving platforms. Bosch, the world’s largest tier 1 automotive supplier, brings its hardware and system expertise. Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler brings total vehicle expertise and a global brand that’s synonymous with safety and quality.
Street Smarts Needed
Together, we’re tackling an enormous challenge. Pedestrians, bicyclists, traffic lights and other vehicles make navigating congested urban streets stressful for even the best human drivers.
Demand for computational horsepower in this chaotic, unstructured environment adds up fast. Just a single video camera generates 100 gigabytes of data per kilometer, according to Bosch.
Now imagine a fully automated vehicle or robotaxi with a suite of sensors wrapped around the car: high-resolution camera, lidar and radar that are configured to sense objects from afar, combined with diverse sensors that are specialized for seeing color, measuring distance and detecting motion across a wide range of conditions.
Together, these systems provide levels of diversity to increase safety and redundancy to provide backup in case of failure. However, this vast quantity of information needs to be deciphered, processed and put to work by multiple layers of neural networks almost instantaneously.
NVIDIA DRIVE delivers the high performance required to simultaneously run the wide array of diverse deep neural networks needed to safely driving through urban environments.
A massive amount of computing performance is required to run the dozens of complex algorithms concurrently, executing within milliseconds so that the car can navigate safely and comfortably.
Daimler and Bosch Select DRIVE Pegasus
NVIDIA DRIVE Pegasus is the AI supercomputer designed specifically for autonomous vehicles, delivering 320 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) to handle these diverse and redundant algorithms. At just the size of a license plate, it has the performance equivalent to six synchronized deskside workstations.
This is the most energy-efficient supercomputer ever created — performing 1 trillion operations per watt. By minimizing the amount of energy consumed, we can translate that directly to increased operating range.
Pegasus is architected for safety, as well as performance. This automotive-grade, functional safety production solution uses two NVIDIA Xavier SoCs and two of our next-generation GPUs designed for AI and vision processing. This co-designed hardware and software platform is created to achieve ASIL-D ISO 26262, the industry’s highest level of automotive functional safety. Even when a fault is detected, the system will still operate.
From the Car to the Cloud
NVIDIA AV solutions go beyond what can be put on wheels. NVIDIA DGX AI supercomputers for the data center are used to train the deep neural nets that enable a vehicle to deliver superhuman levels of perception. The new DGX-2, with its two petaflops of performance, enables deep learning training in a fraction of the time, space, energy and cost of CPU servers.
Once trained on powerful GPU-based servers, the NVIDIA DRIVE Constellation AV simulator can be utilized to test and validate the complete software “stack” that will ultimately be placed inside the vehicle. This high-performance software stack includes every aspect of piloting an autonomous vehicle, from object detection through deep learning and computer vision, to map localization and path planning, and it all runs on DRIVE Pegasus.
In the years to come, DRIVE Pegasus will be key to helping automakers meet a surge in demand. The mobility-as-a-service industry will purchase more than 10 million cars in 2040, up from 300,000 in 2017, market research firm IHS Markit projects.
“The partnership with Bosch and Daimler illustrates that the NVIDIA DRIVE Pegasus architecture solves the critical needs of automakers as they tackle the challenge of automated driving,” said Luca De Ambroggi, senior research director for artificial intelligence at IHS Markit. “The combination of NVIDIA’s AI silicon, software, integrated platforms and tools for simulation and validation adds value for AV development.”
A Thriving Ecosystem for Mobility-as-a-Service
The NVIDIA DRIVE ecosystem continues to expand in all areas of autonomous driving, from robotaxis to trucking to delivery vehicles, as more than 370 companies have already adopted the DRIVE platform. And now our work with Daimler and Bosch will create innovative new driverless vehicles and services that will do more than just transform our streets, they’ll transform our lives.
Categories: Driving
Tags: Artificial Intelligence | Automotive | NVIDIA DGX | NVIDIA DRIVE | NVIDIA in Europe | Xavier
All nvidia news
NVIDIA DGX-Ready Program Goes Global, Doubles Colocation Partners
Deep Learning and AI
Share Your Story Idea
Explore our regional blogs and other social networks | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line997 |
__label__wiki | 0.718056 | 0.718056 | Will the community nurse continue to function during H1N1 influenza pandemic: a cross-sectional study of Hong Kong community nurses?
Eliza LY Wong†1,
Samuel YS Wong†2Email author,
Kenny Kung,
Annie WL Cheung†2,
Tiffany T Gao†1 and
Sian Griffiths†1
© Wong et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010
Healthcare workers have been identified as one of the high risk groups for being infected with influenza during influenza pandemic. Potential levels of absenteeism among healthcare workers in hospital settings are high. However, there was no study to explore the attitudes of healthcare workers in community setting towards the preparedness to the novel H1N1 influenza pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore the willingness of community nurses in Hong Kong to work during H1N1 influenza pandemic.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among all 401 community nurses employed by the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong when the WHO pandemic alert level was 6.
The response rate of this study was 66.6%. 76.9% participants reported being "not willing" (33.3%) or "not sure" (43.6%) to take care of patients during H1N1 influenza pandemic. The self-reported reasons for being unwilling to report to duty during H1N1 influenza pandemic were psychological stress (55.0%) and fear of being infected H1N1 influenza (29.2%). The reported unwillingness to report to duty was marginally significantly associated with the request for further training of using infection control clinical guideline (OR: 0.057; CI: 0.25-1.02). Those who reported unwillingness or not being sure about taking care of the patients during H1N1 influenza pandemic were more depressed (p < 0.001) and found work more emotionally stressful (p < 0.001).
Interventions to provide infection control training and address community nurses' psychological needs might increase their willingness to provide care to patients in the community during H1N1 influenza pandemic. This would help to ensure an effective and appropriate health system response during the H1N1 influenza pandemic.
Healthcare Worker
H1N1 Influenza
H1N1 Pandemic
The current influenza (H1N1) pandemic has become a public health threat due to its associated morbidity and mortality. Among those at high risk for being infected with influenza (H1N1), healthcare workers have been identified as the priority group whose preparedness is a critical element in the response to the pandemic. In addition to patient care, HCWs are involved in public health education, epidemiological surveillance, quarantine management, fever clinics, staging facility operation, and more [1, 2]. Although the role of HCWs is important during emergencies such as a pandemic, not all healthcare workers are ready or prepared to work with infectious patients [3]. For example, during the SARS outbreak, some healthcare workers in Taiwan escaped from hospital or resigned due to perceived shortage of facilities for handling patients with SARS [4]. Since then, a number of studies have been conducted to explore the willingness of HCWs to work during influenza pandemics. These studies suggested that at the time of an epidemic, the potential levels of absenteeism could be as high as 16% in Hong Kong [5], 28% in Germany [6], 33% in Australia [7], 43% in Taiwan [8] and 50% in UK [9]. Potential absenteeism was most likely among nursing and ancillary workers [10] and the major reported reasons were fear for themselves and their families' health and lack of protective equipments [3, 11, 12].
Healthcare workers who care for patients in their homes are among those at high risk in pandemics. Previous studies in the United States showed that the number of patients who were being cared for at home during a pandemic was nearly 3 times to the number being hospitalized [13]. During the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong, the fall in hospitalizations for those with pre-existing chronic diseases was complemented with an increase for demand for community nursing services at patients' homes [14].
Studies from the United Kingdom found that community HCWs expressed less willingness to work during a pandemic than their hospital counterparts [10]. A similar study in the United States found that the intention to work with quarantine cases among community home health care services was lower (11%) than the willingness of healthcare workers who worked in the hospital (54%) [15]. Another study found that for HCWs working in New York City long-term facilities and outpatient centers, the most important barriers to willingness to work were fear and concern for family and self (31%) [16]. To the best of our knowledge, there is no other study exploring the willingness of, and factors associated with community nurses to work during the H1N1 pandemic. Thus, this study was conducted to explore the willingness of community nurses to continue to work during H1N1 influenza pandemic.
This cross-sectional survey investigated the willingness of community nurses in Hong Kong to work during H1N1 influenza pandemic. All community nurses in Hong Kong are employed by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and their responsibility is to provide patient care and education in patients' homes. This programme was introduced in 1967 with the aim of providing continuing nursing care for people who are discharged from hospitals. There are now 401 community nurses working out of 48 centres and stations attached to 14 hospitals over 7 organizational clusters in Hong Kong, each serving a geographical region with a population catchment of approximately 1 million people. Patients are referred to community nursing services by public hospitals and out-patient clinics or through self referral. Community nurses work closely alongside with the community geriatric service nurse in old age homes and the psychiatric outreach team.
During 24 to 30 June 2009 when Hong Kong faced community spread of H1N1 and around 50 cases were being reported a day in the community [17], a cross-sectional survey was conducted among all 401 community nurses in Hong Kong to determine their willingness to work during the H1N1 influenza pandemic, when the WHO pandemic alert level was 6. A questionnaire was sent to all community nurses who provided medical care services at patient's home in Hong Kong excluding those working for geriatric teams at old age homes and as part of psychiatric outreach. General Managers of community nursing service centres or stations were contacted by phone to obtain the approval to send the questionnaire to their nursing staff. In total, 401 self-administered anonymous questionnaires were sent to all community nurses via their general managers in the 7 organizational clusters in Hong Kong. To keep responses confidential and anonymous the completed questionnaires were returned to us directly or via the centre/station manager in sealed envelopes.
The content of this questionnaire was based on the conceptual framework suggested by Patel et al [18] and consisted of 6 aspects with 44 questions: (1) clinical services change as a response to pandemic influenza; (2) internal environment changes as a response to pandemic influenza; (3) macro-environmental changes as response to pandemic influenza; (4) professional and public health responsibilities with respect to pandemic influenza; (5) attitude and psychological responses to pandemic influenza; (6) willingness to continue to work during H1N1 influenza pandemic; and (7) demographics and year of education of respondents. This paper only reports the community nurses' willingness to work during H1N1 influenza pandemic and its associated factors. The study was reviewed and approved by the Survey & Behavioural Research Ethics Committee of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Descriptive statistics including the characteristics of respondents giving positive or negative responses to their willingness to take care the patients with suspected H1N1 influenza were presented. Responses were dichotomized into those with "willingness to work" and those with "not willingness to work or unsure". Binary logistic regression was used to compute bivariate and multivariate odds ratios (ORs) to evaluate the association of demographic variables (age, working district, post-graduation education, year of nursing registration, years of being community nurses) and other respondent characteristics (use of infection control clinical guideline, received training for infection control clinical guideline, request further training, experiences of taking care SARS or Avian Flu cases, received vaccination in the past 12 months, participation in surveillance) with the willingness. Responses to the stress level using 100 m Visual Analog Scale in 9 items (the higher score, the more stressful) and satisfaction level using 100 m Visual Analog Scale in 2 items (the higher score, the higher the satisfaction) were used to explore the relationship with the respondents to the willingness to work by independent t-test. All data were analyzed using SPSS (version 15.0) and p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
A total of 401 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all community nurses in Hong Kong and 270 completed questionnaires returned within which three questionnaires were uncompleted, within a two week period between 24 Jun, 2009 and 8 July, 2009 (response rate: 66.6%). Of the 267 valid respondents, the majority were females (96.2%) who had been registered nurses for 16.5 years (ranging from 1 year to 36 years) and had worked for an average of 8.8 years as a community nurse (ranging from 2 months to 32 years). The mean age of respondents was 39.1 years and about a third (29.2%) had had the experiences of the taking care of SARS/Avian Flu cases. Two third of them had postgraduate qualifications and one third of them had received vaccination for seasonal influenza in the past 12 months. Nurses from each cluster participated and other demographic details are summarized in Table 1.
Demographics of nurses in the study
Demographic characteristics
Mean(SD)
Number of community nurses
39.13(7.69)
254(96.2)
10(3.8)
Place of Education
264(100.0)
Postgraduate qualification
Special training
Work status
4(1.5)
Years of Working as a community nurse
8.79(6.76)
District of working
New Territories West
New Territories East
Willingness to work and characteristics
Overall, one third of participants (36%) reported the demand for community services increased during H1N1 influenza pandemic. 171 participants (76.9%) reported "not willing" (33.3%) or "not sure" (43.6%) about taking care of patients during H1N1 influenza pandemic. The self-reported reasons for being unwilling to take care of patients during H1N1 were psychological stress (55.0%) and fear of being infected (29.2%) (Figure 1). Only one third of participants (33%) had used the infection control clinical guidelines to assist them in taking care of the patients with suspected H1N1 influenza. Almost two thirds of respondents (74.5%) wanted more training and professional education regarding how to deal with H1N1 influenza.
Reasons of not willingness to work during H1N1 influenza pandemic.
Multivariate analysis of the relationship between professional development and their willingness to take care of patients during H1N1 influenza presented in Table 2 showed that their unwillingness was marginally significantly associated with the request for further training on the use of infection control clinical guideline (OR: 0.51; CI: 0.25-1.02) (Table 2).
Association between demographics, nurses' behaviours, experiences and their willingness to work during H1N1 influenza pandemic
Variables and variable levels
Bivariate OR (95% CI)
Multivariate OR (95% CI)
1.03 (0.99 - 1.07)
1.08 (0.99-1.19)
11.50 (0.80 - 2.82)
11.43 (0.62-3.32)
Working as Community Nurse
Use of Guideline
Further training required
0.51 (0.25-1.02)*
SARS or Avian Flu experience
1.41(0.81-2.45)
1.18(0.55)-2.53
Received vaccination in the past 12 months
Participation in surveillance activity
* borderline significant
Psychological concerns and job satisfaction
Participants who were unwilling or unsure about taking care of patient who was all regarded as "suspected H1N1 cases" generally reported a significantly higher level of psychological stress in various areas including the contraction risk of own and family to H1N1 due to the job, quality of life, activity of living, psychological status and emotional status, in which the details are listed in Table 3. Those who were unwilling or unsure were also significantly more dissatisfied with the influenza case arrangement of the Hospital Authority (unwilling mean score 69.3 mm, willing mean score 74.4 mm, p < 0.049) (Table 3).
Association between stress levels and their willingness to work during H1N1 influenza pandemic
Q28 frightened of dealing with H1N1 influenza (0, not frightened at all -100, extremely frightening)
No or Not Sure
Q29 worried to be infected due to your job (0, not worrying at all - 100, extremely worrying)
Q30 worried about infecting your family due to your job (0, not worrying at all - 100 extremely worrying)
Q31 confidence that you can protect you and your family from being infected (0, not confident at all - 100, extremely confident)
Q32 your family worried about being infected by you due to your job (0, not worrying at all - 100, extremely worrying)
Q33 influenza A (H1N1) affected your daily living activities (0, not affected at all - 100, extremely affected)
Q34 influenza A (H1N1) affected the quality of your life (0, not affected at all - 100, extremely affected)
Q35 feel depressed in the past 2 weeks (0, not depressed at all - 100 extremely depressed)
Q36 feel emotionally stressful in the past 2 weeks (0, not stressful at all - 100, extremely stressful)
With the rising morbidity and mortality associated with H1N1 influenza infection, contingency plans are needed since there is an increase in demand on the healthcare workforce in both hospitals and community settings. Absenteeism of HCWs, whether due to fear about work or due to being infected with H1N1 influenza, is one of the major concerns at the time of a pandemic [10]. Studies that aim at improving our understanding of the characteristics and factors that may contribute to HCWs' decision to work or working conditions that may affect their willingness to work during a pandemic are important as they provide a deeper understanding of how to address HCWs needs and keep then engaged in the healthcare system.
Our study found a large proportion of community nurses being unwilling to work during the current influenza pandemic (76.9%) and the figure is much higher than those reported from nurses who work in the hospitals in Hong Kong (16%) [5] and from other countries (28-50%) [6, 7, 19]. Our findings are, however, consistent with findings from other studies conducted in the United Kingdom [10] which showed that community HCWs including nurses had the lowest reported likelihood of working during an influenza pandemic among all employment categories. The reasons for the higher unwillingness to work during H1N1 pandemic among HCWs in the community are unknown. We may only postulate that the inaccessibility of a protective working environment or facility, for example, isolation rooms with negative pressure may be the concern for HCWs working in patients' homes and further in-depth qualitative studies may be needed to address this issue.
Additional findings from our study showed that community nurses who had inadequate training in infection control were less likely to express a willingness to continue to work. Similar to findings from previous studies conducted in both hospitals and community settings, the major reasons for being unwilling to work during pandemic or outbreak were the risk of infection to self or family and psychological stress [10, 16]. The findings demonstrated that stress levels were significantly associated with higher levels of fear of the risk of infection to one's own and/or family health and potential negative impact of H1N1 influenza on nurses' daily living activities and quality of life. Lack of knowledge, ambiguity regarding one's exact tasks, and questionable ability in performing one's role as rick communicator were all significantly associated with a higher perceived personal risk and a two-to ten fold decrease in willingness to report to duty (new suggested one). Special attention should be paid to this group of more junior community nurses who need more training and guidance in dealing with an emerging infectious disease especially in the community setting. Currently infection control training has focused on infection control in the hospital settings, and our findings suggest that regular clinical training should be enhanced for HCWs working in the community in order to increase confidence among all HCWs including nurses in taking care of patients with influenza and reducing the occupational related psychological stress [10]. The findings also showed that the majority of community nurses felt dissatisfied with the arrangements or management of the suspected H1N1 influenza cases (mean score: 71/100) and that unwillingness to work was significantly associated with the reported dissatisfaction. This may suggest that there is a lack of communication between hospital-based management and community HCWs but further studies are needed to explore reasons for dissatisfaction. Experience of SARS highlighted the need for effective communication and HCWs need full access to information as it becomes available [4].
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the willingness of community nurses to work during an influenza pandemic and our findings suggest that this is an important issue for policy makers and healthcare organizations especially for those who participate in the provision of community care. Our strength includes an acceptable response rate of 66.6% which is higher than the last survey exploring hospital staff's working attitudes towards influenza pandemic in 2006 in Hong Kong (39%) (CUHK9). The response rate of other western studies covering similar topics was varied ranged from 34% to 79% (H1N1 2, H1N1 3, 3). Therefore, the SAR territory wide representative covers of all nurses working in the community nursing services in Hong Kong.
There were some limitations to this study. First, the marital status and family background of community nurses were not included. Though previous studies showed that HCWs with children were not significantly more likely to be absent, support for child care was reported to be one of the reasons related to the unwillingness to work during influenza pandemic. This may be related to school closure policies rather than hospital management. Nevertheless, this reason was not reported by our participants. Furthermore, we have only reported on the responses to a pandemic among general community nurses employed by the Hospital Authority and, nurses who work in private general practice or with elderly or mentally ill in community centres were not included in our sample. In addition, this was only a cross-sectional study and temporal relationships between unwillingness to work and its associated factors could not be confirmed.
Our study found that a high proportion of nurses who worked for the community nursing services were unwilling to work with the suspected H1N1 patients. Our study also suggests that community nurses need additional training on infection control in the community setting and are suffering increased psychological stress during the current H1N1 pandemic. The provision of targeted education and improved communication may address these problems and increase their willingness to work during an influenza pandemic.
Eliza LY Wong, Samuel YS Wong, Kenny Kung, Annie WL Cheung, Tiffany T Gao and Sian Griffiths contributed equally to this work.
This study was supported by the Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID), Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government
All authors were involved in the design of the project. The survey tool was designed by ELYW and SYSW. The data collection and analysis were carried out by AWLC and TGG, with the results interpretation carried by ELYW and SYSW in consultation with SG. The first draft of this article was composed by ELYW and was revised critically by all authors. All authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.
School of Public Health & Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, School of Public Health Building, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, 4/F, School of Public Health Building, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
Information Services Department H: Hong Kong: The Facts - Department of Health. 2008, Information Services Department, HKSARGoogle Scholar
Seale H, Leask J, Po K, MacIntyre CR: "Will they just pack up and leave?" - attitudes and intended behaviour of hospital health care workers during an influenza pandemic. BMC Health Serv Res. 2009, 9: 30-10.1186/1472-6963-9-30.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Balicer RD, Omer SB, Barnett DJ, Everly GS: Local public health workers' perceptions toward responding to an influenza pandemic. BMC Public Health. 2006, 6: 99-10.1186/1471-2458-6-99.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Tsai MT, Ya-Ti H: A resource-based perspective on retention strategies for nurse epidemiologists. J Adv Nurs. 2008, 61 (2): 188-200. 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04463.x.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Tam DK, Lee S, Lee SS: Impact of SARS on avian influenza preparedness in healthcare workers. Infection. 2007, 35 (5): 320-325. 10.1007/s15010-007-6353-z.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Ehrenstein BP, Hanses F, Salzberger B: Influenza pandemic and professional duty: family or patients first? A survey of hospital employees. BMC Public Health. 2006, 6: 311-10.1186/1471-2458-6-311.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Stuart RL, Gillespie EE: Hospital pandemic preparedness: health care workers' opinions on working during a pandemic. Med J Aust. 2007, 187 (11-12): 676.PubMedGoogle Scholar
Tzeng HM, Yin CY: Nurses' fears and professional obligations concerning possible human-to-human avian flu. Nurs Ethics. 2006, 13 (5): 455-470. 10.1191/0969733006nej893oa.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Daniels N: Duty to treat or right to refuse?. Hastings centre report. 1991, 21 (2): 36-46. 10.2307/3562338.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Damery S, Wilson S, Draper H, Gratus C, Greenfield S, Ives J, Parry J, Petts J, Sorell T: Will the NHS continue to function in an influenza pandemic? A survey of healthcare workers in the West Midlands, UK. BMC Public Health. 2009, 9: 142-10.1186/1471-2458-9-142.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Shaw KA, Chilcott A, Hansen E, Winzenberg T: The GP's response to pandemic influenza: a qualitative study. Fam Pract. 2006, 23 (3): 267-272. 10.1093/fampra/cml014.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Yee Wong T, Koh GC, Cheong SK, Sundram M, Koh K, Chia SE, Koh D: A cross-sectional study of primary-care physicians in Singapore on their concerns and preparedness for an avian influenza outbreak. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2008, 37 (6): 458-464.Google Scholar
Knebel A, Phillips SJ: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Home Health Care During an Influenza Pandemic: Issues and Resources. 2008, Rockville MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Publication No 08-0018Google Scholar
Hospital Authority: Hospital Authority Statistical Report. 1997, Hong Kong: Hospital Authority, Statistics and Research SectionGoogle Scholar
Gershon RMR, Qureshi AK, Stone WP, Pogorzelska M, Silver A, Damsky RM, Burdette C, Gebbie MK, Raveis HV: Home Health Care Challenges and Avian Influenza. Home Health Care Management Practice. 2007, 20 (1): 58-69. 10.1177/1084822307305908.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Qureshi K, Gershon RR, Sherman MF, Straub T, Gebbie E, McCollum M, Erwin MJ, Morse SS: Health care workers' ability and willingness to report to duty during catastrophic disasters. J Urban Health. 2005, 82 (3): 378-388.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Influenza A(H1N1) InfoDesk. [http://www3.hku.hk/facmed/h1n1/indexE.php]
Patel MS, Phillips CB, Pearce C, Kljakovic M, Dugdale P, Glasgow N: General practice and pandemic influenza: a framework for planning and comparison of plans in five countries. PLoS One. 2008, 3 (5): e2269-10.1371/journal.pone.0002269.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
NHS Employers and Department of Health: Pandemic flu: human resources guidance for the NHS. 2008, London: Department of HealthGoogle Scholar | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1002 |
__label__cc | 0.599894 | 0.400106 | The redistributive effects of copayment in outpatient prescriptions: evidence from Lombardy
Paolo Berta†1, 6,
Rosella Levaggi2,
Gianmaria Martini3 and
Stefano Verzillo†4, 5, 6Email author
BMC Health Services ResearchBMC series – open, inclusive and trusted201717:336
Received: 7 October 2016
In Italy, copayment has changed its nature and it can no longer be simply considered a system to curb inappropriate expenditure. It has become an important form of revenue for public health care provision, but it might also become a source of distortions in income and health benefits redistribution.
We use a rich administrative dataset gathering information on patients demand (whose records have been matched to income declared for tax purposes) to study the effects of an additional copayment (the so called “superticket” introduced by the Italian government in 2012) in Lombardy, the biggest Italian Region whose socio-economic dimension is comparable to that of many European countries (e.g., the Netherlands, Switzerland, etc.).
Our analysis shows that at the aggregate level the non-uniform superticket schedule adopted in Lombardy is slightly pro-poor, but this result coexists with evidences pointing towards possible cases of restriction to access caused by the additional copayment.
The introduction of the superticket and the ensuing increase in the out-of pocket payment for health care raises questions about the distribution of the burden among patients, and the sustainability of the extra revenue through time. This issue needs to be further investigated by combining health status data with the information in this dataset.
Copayment
Superticket
Redistributive effects
Copayment was firstly introduced in public health care systems to curb inappropriate expenditure; nowadays it produces substantial revenues, but it might become a barrier to access to health care [1, 2, 4, 5, 9]. In this article we focus on the effects of the increase in the copayment for diagnostic tests and ambulatory care in Italy where copayments are means and health tested through a set of exemptions set at national and regional level [7, 10].
Since 2012, two different cost sharing schemes coexist: a regional and a national one (the so called “superticket”). In that year the Italian Government reduced the equalisation grant to each Region by an amount equal to €10 times the number of prescriptions reimbursed by each Regional Health care System (RHS) in 2011. Regions were allowed to set their own superticket schedule to cover the gap [7, 10]. Three schemes were adopted: (1) a uniform superticket equal to €10 for each prescription; (2) a cost-related extra payment and (3) a means tested superticket.
In this paper we analyse the effects of the introduction of the superticket on outpatient prescriptions in Lombardy using a rich administrative dataset with information on patients demand whose records have been matched to income declared for tax purposes. Lombardy is the biggest Italian region, with a population of about 10 million inhabitants (17% of Italy’s population) and a GDP equal to 25% of the national one. Hence, its socio-economic dimension is comparable with that of many European countries (e.g., the Netherlands, Switzerland, etc.).
For the superticket, Lombardy adopted a cost-related scheme with an extra-payment proportional to the cost of service/reimbursement schedule, starting from €0 (for treatments whose regional reimbursement is below €5) to €30 (for prescriptions with reimbursement above €100), as shown in Table 1 (column #2). The schedule was determined by the Regional Government using a budget balance hypothesis. Taking year 2011 as reference, and under the assumption of no change in the demand composition, the superticket in 2012 should have exactly compensated the reduction in the national equalisation grant, i.e., about 135 million Euro.
Copayment, superticket, prescriptions, revenue and cost for regional health service. Lombardy, 2012
Regional Ticket
service (€)
Copayment (€)
RHS (€)
revenue (€)
12,266,593.2
327,923,400.1
The schedule adopted in Lombardy allows to reduce the burden of the extra charge on low value prescriptions, which would be priced well above their reimbursement cost, but it does not avoid overcharging completely. As a result, for outpatient prescriptions whose user charge is below €51 patients pay more than the amount reimbursed by Lombardy to the provider. For prescriptions above this threshold patients pay instead less than the cost (i.e., copayment is restored), but the superticket varies from €15 to €30.
In this paper we use a unique dataset to study the distribution of the revenue of the superticket across two dimensions: (1) the value of the prescriptions (defined as the amount paid to the provider by the Lombardy Region) and (2) the group of individuals that has to pay more (or less) for it. The first dimension allows to determine the actual distribution of the superticket across prescriptions while the second dimension allows some speculations on the distributive impact of this extra charge.
The dataset used includes individual administrative records provided by the Regional Social Health Care Information System on outpatients prescriptions and by the Tax and Income Department of the Lombardy Region on individual and family incomes. Data for about 9 million individuals with at least one outpatient prescription in 2012 were recorded and treated after being made anonymous. The outpatient database collects data for administrative purposes regarding 40,634,616 prescriptions (reporting the value of prescription, the regional copayment, the superticket, etc.). Individual and family incomes are related to year 2010 and were then associated to each citizen to investigate the relationship between disposable income and healthcare consumption levels (See [11] for a detailed overview of the system). Fiscal data may underestimate true income for self employed (due to omissions and tax evasion), but they represent the only reliable source of data at individual level. For this reason, we present our empirical analysis for employees and self-employed and check whether there is any significant difference in the relationship between income and prescriptions. Figure 1 compares the income distribution between our 2010 Lombardy income declaration data and the EU-SILC Lombardy income data.1 The two distributions are clearly similar with the only exception of a small difference in the left tie.2
Individual income distribution
Another possible shortcoming of our data is the two-year lag between individual income and outpatient consumption datasets. If it is possible that a small fraction of individuals3 may have experienced a reduction in their ability to pay for health care due to the global economic crisis (but we can control for this using income exemptions in 2012), it should also be noted that the timing of income declaration in Italy justifies the two-year lag between income and prescription data. In order to obtain a copayment (full or partial) exemption in 2012 individuals have to apply and show their latest income declaration. For this reason, in the period January-September 2012 the latest income declaration is that of 2011, related to 2010 income.4
The copayment system foresees two types of exemptions: income and chronic condition.5 In Lombardy, individuals (and their family members with no income) may be eligible for an income exemption (i.e., any prescription free of charge) if they fall into one of the following groups:
the family income is below €8,263.31 (or €11,362.05 with a spouse with no income) increased by €516.46 for each children;
the family income is below €36,151.98 and members are aged 65+;
social pension (equal to €5,824.91) recipients;
unemployed registered in employment centers.
Chronic patients suffering from a set list of illnesses are also eligible to receive free health care, provided that the prescription is related to their chronic condition. This information is available in our dataset and these individuals (exempted for income or chronic condition) have been excluded from the analysis; the dataset so obtained was then sorted according to the value of the prescriptions.
As shown in Table 1, prescriptions have been sorted in 17 groups which correspond to the superticket schedule foreseen by Lombardy; the lowest class corresponds to a provider’s reimbursement lower than €5 (and no superticket), while the highest has a prescription cost higher than €100 (and a superticket of €30). For each class we record the copayment (column #2), the superticket schedule (column #3), the total number of prescriptions (column #4), the total costs for the regional health system (column #5), the regional health system revenue (column #6), the superticket revenue (column #7) and its relative price (column #8). The latter is defined as the sum of copayment and superticket revenues divided by the total costs.
In 2012 the regional accounting system still allowed for “mixed prescriptions”, i.e., disease-specific exempt treatments that could be jointly prescribed with non-exempt ones. Unfortunately, information in the dataset does not allow to separate the prescription costs and revenues due to non-exempt treatments. As a consequence, the relative price presented in the last column of Table 1 may be underestimated. For the treatments falling into the €0-36 classes it is possible to identify these mixed prescriptions and compute their frequencies (see Table 2). Their contribution to the superticket revenue is only 0.52% in the €5.01-10 cost of service class and at most for 4.64% in the €25.01-30 class. We are confident that they do not alter the qualitative results of our analysis.
Total, non exempt and “mixed” prescriptions. Lombardy, 2012
Non exempt
(% on total)
Our main goal is to identify the distributive impact of the superticket. We use three measures: (1) the Kakwany index; (2) the ANOVA analysis, and (3) the econometric analysis of individual demand and costs for the regional health service (based on income, demand groups and employment status). The Kakwani index K [3], is given by the following expression:
$$K=G_{S}-G_{I} $$
where G S is the Gini concentration index of the extra payment due to superticket and G I is the Gini coefficient for the income distribution. To evaluate G S and G I , individual income and prescription expenditure were divided into seven groups of family income, as shown in Table 3. The first group (income lower than €8,000) represents the cut-off for income exemption. The other classes have an income varying from €8,000 to more than €75,000.
Distribution of prescriptions and patients’ payments by demand type, Lombardy, 2012
Group #1
income (€)
Patients with relative price <1
Patients with relative price >1
Non exempt-high users
Av. presc.
pay (€)
<8,000
>75,001
Not matched
For each income category we divide users into three demand groups: Group #1, where patients demand only prescriptions whose cost is above €51 (i.e., with relative price < 1). Patients in this group may be charged a superticket varying between €15.01 and €30. For these patients the superticket is higher than what they would have paid under a uniform regime, but the treatments they demand are partially subsidized. Group #2 represents patients that have demanded only prescriptions whose cost is below €51 (relative price > 1). They benefit from the non uniform superticket regime schedule since the average superticket they pay is less than €10. However, their relative price is higher than 1 which implies had they addressed the demand to the private sector they could have been charged a lower price. Group #3 represents individuals that have paid the copayment for at least one prescription both with relative price below and above 1.
The ANOVA analysis is used to test whether the average superticket payment is significantly different among the 7 income classes in the three demand groups. An F test for the null hypothesis that the average superticket expenditure is the same allows to accept or reject this hypothesis.6
The demand for prescriptions has been further investigated using a cross-section analysis at individual level. The following model is estimated:
$$ Y=a+b\mathbf{X+}c\Psi+\epsilon $$
where Y is the individual copayment expenditure (Model #1) or the cost generated by the demand (Model #2). X is a vector of individual characteristics (sex, age, marital status, number of children, number of disabled persons in the family, the local health authority of residence - Azienda Sanitaria Locale–ASL). Ψ is a vector of covariates that includes income class, the demand group (i.e., Group #1, #2 or #3), the employment status (employee, pensioner, self-employed) and some interaction variables.
Equation (1) has been estimated for the whole sample with the inclusion of a dummy variable for self-employed, and for a sub samples consisting of employees and self-employed only. In this way we can control for tax evasion.
In year 2012 the total number of prescriptions in Lombardy was equal to 40,634,616. The superticket was paid only for 12,970,896 prescriptions, since 27,789,625 prescriptions were exempt and 1,251,256 were in the €0-5 class, whose superticket is equal to 0 (see Table 1). The total revenue generated amounted to €132 million which is quite close to the target of €135 million that Lombardy had to reach in order to compensate for the lower grant received from the Central Government. The revenue generated by residents in Lombardy is equal to €128,861,641 (see Table 1) while the rest has been paid by non residents.
Prescriptions over €100 account for 26% of the revenue while those with cost range €15-25 raise about 20%. The rest is spread evenly among the other classes. The third column in Table 1 shows the superticket schedule. Prescriptions up to €36 benefit from the non uniform schedule adopted in Lombardy since they are charged a superticket lower than €10. They represent 9,987,995 prescriptions (70% of the total). As mentioned before, the last column in Table 1 shows the relative price in each class. The average relative price is 1.2, i.e. patients pay 20% more than the regional reimbursement. The cost to the Regional Health System for prescriptions falling in this range (where most of the demand is concentrated) is equal to €235,025,158; the revenue for the Regional Government is equal to €281,784,715. Hence, the net gain for the Lombardy Region is €46,759,557.7 In the range above €51 the relative price varies between 0.23 and 0.95 and the copayment regime is restored.
The average superticket is about €10; for a prescription whose cost is below €51 is equal to €6, while for those with cost higher than €51 is equal to €23.50, with a limited and not significant variance (standard deviation equal to €2.54) between income groups.
Figure 2 shows the distribution of prescriptions among different income groups per cost of service class. About 35-40% of the prescriptions fall in the €15-25 cost class, about 15% belongs to the €0-15 class and the rest is evenly distributed among the other classes. The distribution is skewed to the right for low income groups, which means that the demand for costly prescriptions is more frequently made by high income individuals. Given the superticket schedule presented in Table 1 this means that its payment is borne more by rich than poor individuals. The Kakwani index is equal to 0.21: this is a first evidence that the effect of the superticket regime introduced in Lombardy is slightly progressive. Further insights into the distribution of the payment can be gained by analysing the superticket payments and consumption for the three previously identified demand groups: Group #1 (the high-cost consumption group), Group #2 (the low-cost consumption group) and Group #3 (the mix consumption group). The average superticket for patients belonging to Group #1 is €25.61 (see Table 3). The average payment is increasing in income, from €23.55 for the lowest income class to €29.66 for the highest one (the difference is on average €6.11, i.e. +25.9%).
Distribution of prescriptions by income groups
The average superticket for patients in Group #2 is equal to €13.50, about half of the average payment in Group #1. Again, the average payment is slightly increasing in income (from €12.22 for patients belonging to the lowest income group to €14.75 for those in the highest one). On average, the highest income class pays €2.55 (+20.9%) more that the lowest class.
The picture changes dramatically when we examine Group #3 (the last two columns of Table 3). The annual average superticket shoots up to €58.27, with a significant difference between the bottom and the top end of the income distribution (€51.90 for the lowest income class and €60.85 for highest class, i.e, €8.95).
Table 3 also presents the average number of annual prescriptions by income classes among the three demand groups. The annual number of prescriptions is lower in Group #1 (1.32) and higher in Group #3 (5.36 more than 4 times higher), with Group #2 in the middle (2.20). For this reason, we can consider individuals in Group #3 as high users. The difference in average consumption between bottom and top income groups is +6.2% in Group #1, +15.5% in Group #2 and +14.1% in Group #3. Consumption is higher the greater is the income, and this is particularly important for consumers belonging to Group #3, the high users.
A more robust evidence of the effects of the superticket on health care demand may be obtained by applying the ANOVA analysis to test for the difference in expenditure and in the number in prescription across demand groups. The results are shown in Tables 4 and 5.
Tests for differences in superticket payments among income classes
F–statistic
H 0: equal mean among income classes
0.00 ∗∗∗
Observations: 369,455
Observations: 1,844,945
Legend: ∗∗∗ = 1% statistical significance
Tests for differences in number of prescriptions among income classes
1,165.096,
The null hypothesis cannot be accepted for any of the three demand groups. This means that the superticket expenditure as well as the number of prescriptions is increasing in income. The differences among the income groups may also be due to an age effect (young, healthy individuals may have a lower average income; or retired people may have a pathology exemption and are not considered in our sample) and it would be worth to investigate it further.
Finally, we investigate the demand for prescriptions using the model presented in Eq. (1). The results for the complete sample are presented in Table 6, both for Model #1 (copayment expenditure as dependent variable) and for Model #2 (cost for the regional health care regional system as dependent variable).8 As expected, consumption has a positive and statistically significant impact on copayment expenditure (+3.805). On average, the copayment paid is increasing with income (the no-income class is the baseline); this confirms that the system is slightly progressive as shown by the Kakwani index. Female patients pay more than male (+3.701); copayment expenditure increases with the patient’s age (+0.236) and is lower the higher the number of children (-0.285). This may be due to the low health care demand of young people living with the family. The copayment expenditure is higher if there are family members with disability (+2.622), but it is lower if the spouse has no income (-0.662). Finally, self-employed have lower copayment than the baseline income group (-0.662), while employed and retired have higher copayment expenditures (respectively +2.632 and +1.694). As shown in Table 6 we have controlled for the ASL fixed effects and for some demographic characteristics of the prescription’s payer, i.e., whether it is single or married, divorced, widower, etc. The results for the regional health care cost are similar; for this reason they are not discussed.
Determinants of individual copayment and cost-of-service
Dependent variable
Independent variables
Copayment (Model #1)
Cost (Model #2)
Number of prescriptions
3.805c
Family members with disability
4.915a
Dependent spouse
Income classes
8,001−15,000
15,001−24,000
12.61c
Demand groups
Interaction income classes-demand groups
<8,000× Group #1
8,001−15,000× Group #1
15,001−24,000× Group #1
-22.44c
>75,001× Group #1
ASL dummies
Marital status dummies
R-squared
Legend: a 10% significance level; b 5%; c 1%
From Table 6 we can obtain the marginal effects of income for the three demand groups (computed at the sample mean of the other variables). They are shown in Fig. 3. The income classes are reported on the horizontal axis while the predicted superticket payment is on the vertical axis. High users (Group #3) pay higher copayments, increasing with income, while the other two groups have similar trends, both in terms of copayment expenditure and of variation with income. The blue line represents the average predicted copayment expenditure for high users (Group #3). The expenditure increases for the first five income classes and then decreases. This result confirms that low income classes have a lower expenditure for patients belonging to Group #3. The decrease in copayment expenditure for high income classes may be due to different factors, e.g., a supplementary health care insurance. For the other two demand groups there does not seem to be the same pattern, with the only exception of the decrease in copayment expenditure for high income classes in Group #1.
Marginal effect of income classes on superticket
This is a confirmation that income seems to be an important determinant of demand for high users, and that the superticket, by rising the price, may have increased this difference even further.
A shortcoming of our fiscal data is that income may be underestimated due to tax evasion. This is more frequent for self-employed. For this reason, we have performed a sensitivity analysis by re-estimating Model #1 including a dummy variable for self-employed and its interaction with demand groups and income classes shown in Tables 7 and 8. Figures 4 and 5 present the same marginal effects of income in the sensitivity analysis. They are similar to those presented in Fig. 3; hence, even if we take tax evasion into account we obtain the same evidence (i.e., the superticket may be associated with a significant difference in expenditure especially for high user patients).
Marginal effects of income classes on superticket when self-employed are included
Marginal effects of income classes on superticket. Self-employed and employed sub-sample
Sensitivity analysis: including a dummy only for self-employed interacted with income classes and demand groups
11.18***
18.55**
8,000 # Group #1
8,001−15,000 # Group #1
15,001−24,000 # Group #1
>75,001 # Group #1
Interaction income classes-self employed
8,000 # Self Employed
8,001−15,000 # Self Employed
15,001−24,000 # Self Employed
>75,001 # Self Employed
Interaction demand groups-self employed
Group #1 # Self Employed
Interaction income classes-demand groups-self employed
8,000 # Group #1 # Self Employed
8,001−15,000 # Group #1 # Self Employed
15,001−24,000 # Group #1 # Self Employed
>75,001 # Group #1 # Self Employed
Legend: * 10% significance level; ** 5%; *** 1%
Sensitivity analysis: self-employed dummy. Self-employed and employed subsample
55,001−75,000 #
Group #2# Self Employed
8,000 # Group #2# Self Employed
8,001−15,000 # Group #2# Self Employed
15,001−24,000 # Group #2# Self Employed
>75,001 # Group #2# Self Employed
The revenue from the superticket in 2012 was in line with what was expected: the 135 million reduction in the grant from Central Government was matched by an extra revenue of around 132 million from the superticket. However, the introduction of the extra charge means that outpatient treatments whose reimbursement is below €51 are charged more than what reimbursed to the provider (see Table 1). In year 2012 this produced a net revenue equal to €46,759,557; this income source may drop in the years to come: if patients become aware of this extra payment, they may start looking for cheaper alternatives in the private market. Indeed, private labs are starting to attract patients out of the public health care system by advertising lower prices than the copayment (see, for example, http://novolabs.it/index.php/tariffe/ssn-e-ticket). The non linear schedule chosen by Lombardy means that prescriptions in the €0-36 cost range cost to patients less than under the uniform system; users in this class are somehow the gainer of this reform. Our results shows that about 70% of non exempt prescriptions falls in this range and that in general they form a more consistent share of the prescriptions demanded by low income groups, but this result coexists with evidences pointing towards differences in health care expenditure caused by the superticket. This is particularly relevant for the high-users, as shown by our analysis.
The increase in the out of pocket payment due to the introduction of the superticket raises questions about the distribution of the burden among patients and the barriers to access that it may have created. From the revenue side, in the short run, the policy is sustainable, but competition from private providers casts some doubts on long-run perspectives.
On the distribution side, the “paternalistic goods” nature of health care services [6, 8] means that there are two dimensions on which redistribution should be evaluated: (1) the health status measuring the need for care and income, (2) the income effects in the access to health care. Our data do not allow to study the first dimension since the only available health-related information is exemption for pathology. This issue should be furtherly investigated in future research where this dataset might be matched with health status variables in order to assess whether the superticket may also create barriers to the access to health care services.
1 The EU-SILC (Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) is one of the main source of information on social and economic conditions in Member States. It is based on survey data and it is the most important source available in Europe for individual income distributions.
2 The difference is due to the very small number of individuals that have only tax with holding income declarations; the latter do not report identifiers for other family members. Therefore they are treated as individuals with independent income, and this slightly increases the left tie frequency of the distribution of our income data in comparison to those of EU-SILC.
3 This occurrence is rather limited: according to official statistics unemployment in Lombardy increased from 5.5% in 2010 to 7.4% in 2012; which means an increase in unemployed people by 95,000 units. Since our dataset covers 5,805,177 individuals having declared an income in 2010 and receiving at least one treatment in 2012, the maximum possible incidence of this temporal asymmetry is rather small (less than 2%).
4 A fraction of individuals had to be dropped from the analysis because it was impossible to get a match for their income, mainly due to unemployment conditions or administrative residence outside the region.
5 These are the general principles; the system foresees exceptions and special cases. For a more specific description see [7, 10].
6 The standard ANOVA test requires equal variance among the different income classes. If this is not fulfilled, as in our case, it is possible to apply the simulated ANOVA, which simulates 1000 replications of the standard ANOVA test and computes how many times the p-value of the test is higher than that of the standard ANOVA. If the p-value of the simulated ANOVA test is lower than that of the standard test the results obtained with the latter are not distorted.
7 It is possible to argue that this amount represents a potential loss for the regional budget if patients, becoming aware that they pay more than the prescription costs, decide to swap their demand to the private sector, where they may pay less.
8 To save space standard errors are not reported.
EU-SILC:
European - Statistics on income and living conditions
We would like to thank Dott. Luca Merlino (Regione Lombardia) and Dott. Alessandro Colombo (Eupolis) for providing us with the data and the two referees of this journal for helpful suggestions. **The final revision of both the text and the empirical strategy of the article have been conducted when Stefano Verzillo took service at the European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Competence Centre on Microeconomic Evaluation (CC-ME). The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of this publication.
Unfortunately we are not the owner of the data used in this paper. They are administrative records and are only accessible upon authorization granted by the Health Care Department of the Lombardy Region. The data analyzed in this paper were provided by the Health Care Department of the Lombardy Region under the framework of a research program between Eupolis Lombardia and CRISP–University of Milan-Bicocca. The Health Care Department of the Lombardy Region must be contacted to discuss the provision of the data.
All the authors have made substantial contributions to conception, acquisition of data, design and the drafting of the manuscript. In particular, SV and PB performed the statistical analysis. GM and RL carried out the literature and background analysis and economics interpretation of the main results. All the authors approved the final manuscript.
Department of Quantitative Methods, University of Milan Bicocca, Via Bicocca degli Arcimboldi, 8, Milan, 20146, Italy
Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Via San Faustino 74b, Brescia, 25100, Italy
Department of Management, Information and Production Engineering, University of Bergamo, Via Pasubio 7/b, Dalmine, 24044, Italy
Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan, Via Conservatorio, 7, Milan, 20126, Italy
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, TP 361, Ispra, 21027, (VA), Italy
CRISP, University of Milan-Bicocca, Via Bicocca degli Arcimboldi, 8, Milan, 20126, Italy
Atella V, Peracchi F, Depalo D, Rossetti C. Drug compliance, co-payment and health outcomes: evidence from a panel of italian patients. Health Econ. 2006; 15(9):875–892.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Fiorio CV, Siciliani L. Co-payments and the demand for pharmaceuticals: Evidence from Italy. Econ Model. 2010; 27(4):835–841. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026499930900131X.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Kakwani NC. Measurement of tax progressivity: An international comparison. Econ J. 1977; 87(345):71–80. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2231833.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Kiil A, Houlberg K. How does copayment for health care services affect demand, health and redistribution? a systematic review of the empirical evidence from 1990 to 2011. Eur J Health Econ. 2014; 15(8):813–828. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10198-013-0526-8.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Levaggi L, Levaggi R. Optimal copayment strategies in a public health care system In: Brosio G, Muraro G, editors. Il finanziamento del settore pubblico. Milano: Franco Angeli: 2006.Google Scholar
Levaggi L, Levaggi R. Welfare properties of restrictions to health care based on cost effectiveness. Health Econ. 2011; 20(1):101–110.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Mastrobuono I, Visconti G, Sorbara D, Labate G. L’evoluzione della compartecipazione alla spesa sanitaria in europa: possibili scenari evolutivi e proposte di riorganizzazione in italia. Igiene e Sanita’ Pubblica. 2012; 68:155–230.Google Scholar
Schnellenbach J. Nudges and norms: On the political economy of soft paternalism. Eur J Polit Econ. 2012; 28(2):266–277. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0176268011001480.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Sinnott SJ, Buckley C, O’Riordan D, Bradley C, Whelton H. The effect of copayments for prescriptions on adherence to prescription medicines in publicly insured populations; a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2013; 8(5):e64,914.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Thompson S. International profiles of health care systems 2013. Tech. Rep 1717, The Commonwealth Fund. 2013. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/.
Verzillo S, Santoro A, Mezzanzanica M, (forthcoming). Family splitting versus joint taxation: a case-study. J Anal Inst Econ - Econ Politica. doi:10.1007/s40888-016-0039-x.
Health policy, reform, governance and law | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1003 |
__label__wiki | 0.656515 | 0.656515 | BMC Medical Research Methodology
Baseline results
Protocol for a mixed methods study investigating the impact of investment in housing, regeneration and neighbourhood renewal on the health and wellbeing of residents: the GoWell programme
Matt Egan1Email author,
Ade Kearns2,
Phil Mason2,
Carol Tannahill3,
Lyndal Bond1,
Jennie Coyle3,
Sheila Beck4,
Fiona Crawford3,
Phil Hanlon5,
Louise Lawson2,
Jennifer McLean3,
Mark Petticrew6,
Elena Sautkina1,
Hilary Thomson1,
David Walsh3 and
the GoWell Team
BMC Medical Research Methodology201010:41
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-10-41
© Egan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010
Received: 8 March 2010
There is little robust evidence to test the policy assumption that housing-led area regeneration strategies will contribute to health improvement and reduce social inequalities in health. The GoWell Programme has been designed to measure effects on health and wellbeing of multi-faceted regeneration interventions on residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.
This mixed methods study focused (initially) on 14 disadvantaged neighbourhoods experiencing regeneration. These were grouped by intervention into 5 categories for comparison. GoWell includes a pre-intervention householder survey (n = 6008) and three follow-up repeat-cross sectional surveys held at two or three year intervals (the main focus of this protocol) conducted alongside a nested longitudinal study of residents from 6 of those areas. Self-reported responses from face-to-face questionnaires are analysed along with various routinely produced ecological data and documentary sources to build a picture of the changes taking place, their cost and impacts on residents and communities. Qualitative methods include interviews and focus groups of residents, housing managers and other stakeholders exploring issues such as the neighbourhood context, potential pathways from regeneration to health, community engagement and empowerment.
Urban regeneration programmes are 'natural experiments.' They are complex interventions that may impact upon social determinants of population health and wellbeing. Measuring the effects of such interventions is notoriously challenging. GoWell compares the health and wellbeing effects of different approaches to regeneration, generates theory on pathways from regeneration to health and explores the attitudes and responses of residents and other stakeholders to neighbourhood change.
Mixed Method Study
Regeneration and health
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that housing characteristics, including the interlinked dimensions of household, dwelling, community and neighbourhood environment, have the capacity to affect individual health status through physical, mental or social mechanisms [1]. As poor health is associated with poorer living circumstances, there is a policy expectation that area regeneration and housing improvement strategies will contribute to health improvement and reduced social inequalities in health [2–4]. We have designed a study to test this hypothesis.
Evidence from systematic reviews
There is limited evidence on the health impacts of housing improvement and regeneration. For example, a systematic review of the health impacts of housing improvement has found that improvements in respiratory, general and mental health have been observed following home warmth improvement measures, but these health improvements varied across studies [5]. Some of the reviewed studies reported that housing improvement was associated with positive impacts on socioeconomic determinants of health. An earlier systematic review found some evidence that housing improvements led to rent increases - a possible mechanism for adverse outcomes to low budget households with inadequate welfare protection [6]. Evidence on the health impacts of housing interventions that included neighbourhood improvements was found to be inconsistent or unclear.
Despite several systematic reviews, we are aware of little or no robust evidence on the positive and negative health effects of broader, multi-component housing-led area based regeneration. Other 'evidence gaps' include long term effects of housing improvement and area regeneration, the social patterning of effects (i.e. effects on health inequalities), the comparative effects of rehousing and housing improvement, and the mechanisms by which different interventions or combinations of interventions might lead to positive health outcomes [5, 7, 8].
GoWell
The Glasgow Community Health and Wellbeing (GoWell) Research and Learning Programme has been designed to provide such evidence. GoWell focuses on a large, multi-faceted programme of housing investment and area regeneration across the city of Glasgow (Scotland). These interventions can be described as 'natural experiments.' At an early stage in the planning process, regeneration planners identified high level goals that included improvements in residents' health and health behaviours, and reduced health inequalities. This contributed to the development of GoWell (GoWell is the name of the study, not the regeneration programme).
GoWell is a research and learning programme that aims to investigate the impact of investment in housing, regeneration and neighbourhood renewal on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities over a ten-year period. The Programme aims to establish the nature and extent of these impacts and the processes that have brought them about, to learn about the relative effectiveness of different approaches, and to inform policy and practice. It is a multi-component study with a comparative design. Although focused on regeneration in Glasgow, we aim to produce findings that are transferable to other regeneration settings.
This paper summarises GoWell's methods, focusing particularly on its Community Health and Wellbeing Survey, and discusses some of its strengths and limitations.
GoWell may be described as an observational study of a complex intervention. It is a mixed methods study that includes both quantitative and qualitative methods. Comparison areas (all relatively deprived) are incorporated into GoWell's design so we can compare the effects of different approaches to regeneration in different areas of the city. These regeneration activities are planned and delivered by a variety of stakeholders rather than by the researchers.
GoWell has been designed to regularly produce findings on short term impacts to inform ongoing planning and delivery of the interventions being evaluated (i.e. formative evaluation), and more broadly transferable evidence of effects including short, medium and long term outcomes. (i.e. summative evaluation) [9].
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and contains high concentrations of poverty, disadvantage and ill health [10, 11]. Area based health inequalities are stark: for example life expectancy in the most disadvantaged areas of Glasgow has been estimated to be at least 15 years shorter than in the least disadvantaged areas [12–14].
Glasgow's urban landscape includes features familiar to many European cities. Many of its residents live in flats rather than houses, and most have either no garden or share a garden. Even some of the more popular inner-city gardened estates contain buildings that look like large semi-detached houses but actually contain 4 single-entry flats with shared gardens (called 'four-in-a-block' flats). Glasgow's socially disadvantaged areas include large post-war peripheral estates (made up of 'low-rise' tenement flats, houses and, to a lesser extent, 'high-rise' multi-storey flats); inner-city mass housing estates (mostly post-war multi-storey flats with some tenement flats); inner-city gardened estates (houses and 'four-in-a-blocks' mostly dating from the 1930s); and old neighbourhoods dominated by 19th and early 20th century tenement flats. There are also affluent neighbourhoods in the suburbs and inner-city with housing types that include houses, tenements and recently built multi-storey developments.
In 2003, over 80,000 socially rented homes in the city transferred from public ownership to a newly created not-for-profit organisation called Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), following a tenants' referendum. GHA became the largest provider of social housing in the city alongside a number of smaller providers (collectively known as 'Registered Social Landlords' or RSLs). The stock transfer paved the way for a city-wide regeneration investment programme spearheaded by GHA but involving other RSLs and partner organisations from other sectors.
Key elements of the programme include:
Housing improvement: includes internal and external refurbishment based on surveyor's assessments of each property. Social rented homes receive the bulk of this investment, which is driven by a government requirement that all social housing meets the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015 [15].
New builds: building new homes, including socially rented and private sector homes in green and brown field sites. Plans include more owner occupied homes in areas dominated in the past by socially rented property (referred to as tenure diversification), especially in regeneration areas.
Transformational regeneration: a neighbourhood-wide approach to regeneration planning (rather than improvements planned on a home-by-home basis) involving several or all of the following: relocation of residents, demolitions, new builds, housing improvement, tenure diversification, improvements to the physical neighbourhood environment, new/improved amenities and services, and community interventions. Typically, a Transformational Regeneration Area (TRA) would initially comprise between 1000-2000 households.
Local regeneration: similar to transformational regeneration but targeting smaller pockets of disadvantage situated in larger neighbourhoods.
Community interventions (sometimes called 'wider actions'): include employment and training initiatives, activities for young people, improved play areas, support for vulnerable people, addiction support, parent and child groups, financial advice and debt management, services for elderly residents, community buildings and resources, and other investments intended to strengthen and support communities in specific localities or across the city.
Community engagement and empowerment: improving the way tenants are informed and consulted regarding decisions affecting their homes, neighbourhoods, communities and public services. Includes provision of information, surveys, consultation exercises and changes in housing management processes (including the gradual splitting of GHA into smaller local housing organisations working towards becoming independent Registered Social Landlords).
Wider effects: it is hoped that transforming highly disadvantaged neighbourhoods and reducing social problems in those areas will benefit adjoining neighbourhoods.
Scale and Cost of Intervention
Around three quarters of Glasgow's social housing needed improvement to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Target, including most of the 80,000 homes transferred to GHA, and homes managed by other Registered Social Landlords. Approximately 20,000 homes are to be demolished over a 15-year period following stock transfer (to 2018). GHA is to build approximately 3,000 new homes with a further 3,000 being provided by other RSLs within the city [16]. Private sector new builds are also planned but subject to market conditions.
The cost of these interventions in each area will be identified and tracked over time. Figures from GHA's 30 year business plan state that some £1,714 million of public money was invested in the initial housing stock transfer [17]. Of that, £900 million was historic debt which was written off. That left GHA with access to £814 million of public money and to £725 million of private borrowing (a bank loan to be repaid by 2033). Of the £814 million, £114 million had been allocated for demolitions, £113 million for new homes, £21 million for central heating and £100 million for capital works for owner occupiers. The balance, £466 million, along with annual rental income of some £200 million, is committed to home and neighbourhood improvements, providing housing services, community regeneration and running the Local Housing Association network and support services [17].
GoWell consists of a number of inter-connecting components (i.e. a community health and wellbeing survey; a longitudinal component; an ecological component; a qualitative study of governance, empowerment and participation; and nested evaluations of 'wider actions'). Detailed methodological descriptions of each component (some of which are themselves multi-method) would be too voluminous for a single paper. This paper will focus on GoWell's Community Health and Wellbeing Survey, which provides formative and summative data on the outputs, outcomes and health effects of different regeneration interventions at a neighbourhood level. Other components are detailed in Additional file 1 and will be described more fully in future papers.
The Community Health and Wellbeing Surveys are repeat cross-sectional surveys of (at baseline) approximately 6000 householders living in the 14 study areas using structured questionnaires. After each survey wave, the GoWell team select key findings/issues to explore further using qualitative research methods (12 focus groups after each wave). This selection can involve stakeholder engagement (e.g. through GoWell events, conferences, meetings, etc) to identify findings of particular interest to those delivering or receiving the interventions.
Area selection and sample targets
Fourteen areas were selected from lists of Glasgow neighbourhoods scheduled to receive one of five types of intervention package, with the key inclusion criteria being that intervention delivery would commence after the baseline survey (i.e. after September, 2006) [18]. Table 1 describes the intervention types and study areas. Table 2 summarises data on the number of households and tenure mix in each intervention area type at the time of the baseline survey. It shows that the Transformational and Local Regeneration Areas (TRAs and LRAs) were dominated by social rented dwellings; Housing Improvement Areas (HIAs) and Wider Surrounding Areas (WSAs) contained a broadly even split of social rented and private homes; whilst just over three quarter of the Peripheral Estates' (PEs) dwellings were social rented. Figure 1 is a map showing the location of study areas across the city.
GoWell Intervention Types and Study Areas.
Name of Intervention area type
No. of Areas
Description of Study Areas
Transformational Regeneration Areas (TRAs)
Transformational regeneration.
Community interventions (wider actions).
Engagement/empowerment.
3 inner-city mass housing estates
Local Regeneration Areas (LRAs)
Local regeneration.
Wider Surrounding Areas (WSAs)
Wider effects and housing improvement.
2 inner-city gardened estates (surrounding a TRA and a LRA).
Housing Improvement Areas (HIAs)
Housing improvement.
2 inner-city gardened estates
Peripheral Estates (PEs)
New builds (mostly private sector)
2 peripheral estates
* Note: in 2008, a fifth Housing Improvement Area (Birness Drive) was selected to collect data on more popular multi-storey flats - bringing the total number of GoWell areas to 15 for the second survey wave. However, only the original 14 areas can be compared with baseline findings.
Number and percentage of social rented, private rented and owner occupied homes in GoWell intervention area types.
No. of social
rented households (%)
No. of private
No. of owner
occupied households (%)
TRAs
4927 (96.3)
LRAs
WSAs
17804 (69.5)
Source: Glasgow City Council, Council Tax Register, August 2006.
Map of GoWell study areas. Map of Glasgow showing the GoWell study areas (© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Glasgow City Council, 100023379, 2009):
Power calculations
Power calculations for two-tail tests were carried out based on previous housing research [19, 20]. We were interested in a range of outcomes with a range of prevalences. For different types of analysis we could differentiate between, or combine, various area types or subgroups within our study. To give an idea of the sorts of outcomes we could detect, the following examples were calculated. For a common condition (25% prevalence - for example, some common psychological symptoms), to detect a small reduction in prevalence to 20% with 80% power would require a sample of 2266 at a minimum. For a condition with a lower prevalence of 15% (e.g. some respiratory conditions), having 80% power to detect a reduction of 5% would require a sample of 1450. Changes may be more pronounced for some of GoWell's residential outcomes: a reduction from 25% to 15% would require a sample size of 540.
The 14 areas varied greatly in population size at baseline and it was expected that some would experience major population shifts during the study period due to demolition and new build programmes. Applying a single sampling target or sampling fraction for all the areas would have led to underpowered samples for some area types or over-sampling elsewhere. We set pragmatic sample targets for achieved responses (we initially assumed a 60% response rate) in each area and area type at every wave. The sample targets for the baseline survey were as follows: TRAs = 1750; LRAs = 750; WSAs = 700; HIAs = 1400; PEs = 1400. The TRAs and LRAs targets were particularly high (relative to the number of households in these areas) to maximize numbers for GoWell's longitudinal study component (see Additional file 1). Addresses were selected at random from the Royal Mail postal address file, or for smaller areas all residential addresses were selected. We sampled one householder per household (by most recent birthday, as required).
Most focus group participants have been (and will continue to be) participants of the cross-sectional survey (or in a small number of cases, their children). Sampling for the focus groups was generally purposive and dependent on the themes selected. Usually, fieldworkers aimed to recruit around 8 participants per focus group, with a target of around a dozen focus groups at each wave.
Households selected for cross-sectional surveys were posted information sheets and letters inviting householders to take part. Fieldworkers then made at least 5 attempts (if necessary) to contact selected homes in person to seek consent to participate. A face-to-face questionnaire lasting around 40 minutes was verbally administered by fieldworkers at participants' homes with responses recorded using paper or CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing).
Interpreters were available or assistance from other household members obtained if selected householders did not speak English (some contracted fieldworkers were also fluent in several languages common amongst UK non-English speakers). GoWell information leaflets were produced in English, Arabic, Urdu, Cantonese and Turkish.
Participants selected for post-survey focus groups were re-contacted, provided with information about the nature of the focus group and given the option of attending a session - held at local venues such as community halls or schools.
An incentive (e.g. £20 supermarket voucher) was provided for those attending focus groups/qualitative interviews. No financial incentive was offered to participants of the 2006 repeat cross-sectional survey, but a prize draw has been used for subsequent repeat cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys.
The Community Health and Wellbeing component includes 4 survey waves (one baseline, 3 follow-up over a ten year period). The baseline survey was conducted in 2006 and wave 2 took place in 2008. Wave 3 is planned for 2011 and wave 4 for a period 2-3 years thereafter, to be agreed in light of pace of intervention implementation. The 2006 survey took place from April to July, with subsequent cross-sectional surveys also conducted in the summer months. Focus groups are scheduled for the Autumn months following the surveys.
When designing the study we considered the physical and mental health scores measured by the Short Form 12 version 2 questionnaire (SF-12) to be GoWell's primary outcome measures [21]. There are sound methodological reasons for having a primary outcome measure but in reality GoWell's stakeholders are interested in a wide range of outcomes, and their priorities change over time. As our understanding of the mechanisms and pathways from regeneration to health develops over the course of the study, so our range of outcomes has become more broadly defined.
Figure 2 summarises categories of data collected by the Community Health and Wellbeing Survey. It includes self-reported items on neighbourhood contextual factors, interventions, outputs and outcomes, including health outcomes but also social and residential outcomes. We also collect relevant routine data to add to our understanding of these dimensions over the course of the study (see Additional file 1).
Summary of GoWell outcomes.
Details of the baseline questionnaire are provided in Additional file 2. The questionnaire contained mostly closed response questions (and a small number of open response questions). It is based on a questionnaire piloted in a previous study (SHARP [22]), which was itself adapted from other questionnaires. Some additional questions were added following consultations with stakeholders. Further details on the development of the questionnaire are available [23].
The questionnaire included items about respondents' households, homes, neighbourhoods, communities and local housing management. There were questions on residential outcomes, social and community outcomes, human capital, health behaviours, health service use, physical and psychological health during the previous 4 weeks and the previous 12 months. Most of these questions asked about the respondent's own health although parents were also asked about the health of their children. Subsequent cross-sectional and longitudinal GoWell questionnaires replicate most of the items in the baseline questionnaire to enable comparability [24]. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) was unavailable at baseline but was included from Wave 2 onwards to add a positive mental wellbeing measure to the more 'clinical' SF-12 mental health measures [21, 25].
After each survey, data are range and quality control-checked and back-checked in a process that includes one-in-five respondents being contacted by telephone to verify the manner of conduct of the interview and to double-check a selected number of responses for accuracy. All 'errors' found in the back-checking exercise are corrected. Data cleaning continues throughout the analysis.
To ensure as far as possible that our sample is representative of key features of the population, we developed a set of weights (numerical coefficients) for all of the cases by which the responses of people who possessed characteristics that were under-represented in our sample were given greater importance, while the importance of responses from residents with over-represented characteristics was downplayed. The choice of weights took into account the availability of data upon which weighting could reliably be based and five were decided upon as being most relevant to findings related to individuals, housing and neighbourhoods. Areas were at times divided into sub-areas to assist with this process [24].
Thus, we weighted each case in turn by the following area characteristics:
Respondent's gender: male/female
Respondent's age group: 16-24/25-39/40-54/55-65/65+ years
Respondent's housing tenure: owned/social or private rented
Adult population size in study area: subareas within study areas
Adult population size in intervention area types (IATs): study areas within IATs
The frequencies of the two tenure types for households in each of the subareas were derived from the Glasgow City Council Tax Register. Populations of adults (16+ years old) in the study areas and intervention area types (further classified by gender and age group at subarea level) were estimated from NHS Community Health Index (CHI) records of GP registrations in the corresponding postcode units. Weights are the product of the five coefficients whose values correspond to the particular circumstances of each respondent.
In order that highly under-represented cases were not given excessive importance, weights were constrained to have a value of no more than five. Finally, all weights were multiplied by a constant so that the total number of weighted cases was equal to the actual number of interviews achieved.
Data analysis methods will be reported in the methods sections of future publications presenting the findings of specific analyses. Multi-level and individual level analysis will be employed as appropriate. Our primary interest is to examine changes in the circumstances, opinions and experiences of our respondent samples between survey waves. We compare change over time across the five IATs (rather than for individual study areas). However specific analyses may also focus on particular study areas or particular survey waves. For example, regression modelling is employed to explore potential causal relationships between intervention activity and health or social outcomes (i.e. to generate hypotheses for future analysis of change over time).
Management of GoWell
The partners and sponsors in this collaboration maintain communication through quarterly Steering Group Meetings and informally through other contacts. The study staff have monthly team meetings and are sub-divided into groups that focus on specific components of the Programme. The principal investigators (currently AK, CT and LB; previously also MP and PH) share responsibility for overseeing the management and governance of the Programme. Fieldwork is conducted by GoWell researchers and contracted fieldworkers (via a commercial survey company).
GoWell's main programme of study (reported here) received ethical approval from NHS Scotland B MREC committee in 2005 (no. 05/MRE10/89). All participants gave written informed consent. In line with GoWell's ethics requirements and participant consents, sponsor organisations that are involved in intervention delivery (along with anyone else outside GoWell's research team) cannot access GoWell data except for publicly available anonymised findings. Data are recorded, transported and stored in accordance with data protection principals, ethical requirements and UK Medical Research Council guidance - for example, data that can identify individuals are physically locked away or electronically password protected, and are stored separately to research data with restricted access.
For the baseline survey in 2006 contacts were attempted with 11,995 inhabited (as far as we could assess), residential addresses. A small number of households were removed from the sample for health and safety reasons (n = 25). Of the remaining 11,970 addresses, we achieved survey responses from 6,008. The response rate varied by area: the lowest area response rate was 39% and the highest was 65%. The overall baseline response rate was 50%.
The most common reason for non-response was inability to make contact with householders (38.5%), followed by refusal (10.5%). The response targets we set for fieldworkers were (approximately) achieved for LRAs, HIAs and PEs. The TRA target fell short due to non-responses and vacancies, so we used the opportunity to interview additional participants from the WSAs (see Table 3).
GoWell baseline (2006) interview responses; summarised demographic and health characteristics of sample (unweighted).
Response (n)
Gender (%)
Age (%)
Citizenship/ethnicity (%)
Scotland - white
Rest of UK - white
UK - black minority ethnic
Household type (%)
Single parent family
Two parent family
Single adult
>1 adult
Tenure (%)
Social rented
Household employment status (%)
Not employed
Current Smoker (%)
GP visits in last 12 months (%)
Longstanding illness (%)
Current general health: SF-12 (%)
Fair, Poor
Excellent, (very) good
Sample characteristics
To provide an overview of our sample, Table 3 summarises a selection of unweighted baseline characteristics. Overall the respondents were predominantly female (60%); white Scottish (82%) and living in social rented accommodation (75%). Only a minority were in paid employment (29%). The sample contains a greater proportion of pensioners (>64 years old = 25%) compared to estimates for all Scotland (20%) and for all Glasgow (16%) [26]. The proportion of respondents who do not live with another adult (34%) is similar to the national estimate (33%) [27].
Twenty-four percent of GoWell participants reported their general health to be fair or poor (i.e. not 'good', as assessed by the SF-12): similar (one percentage point higher) to the national figure from the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) 2003 [26]. GoWell respondents were less likely to report long standing illnesses compared to the corresponding SHeS figure (no long standing illness: GoWell = 76% (for men and for women); SHeS men = 60%; SHeS women = 58%) [28]. Smoking was more prevalent amongst GoWell respondents compared to Scotland as a whole (current smokers: GoWell men = 45%; GoWell women = 41%; SHeS men = 29%, SHeS women = 28%) [28]. Seventy-nine percent of GoWell respondents reported at least one GP consultation during the previous 12 months: similar to the national figure of 76% [29].
Baseline findings differ by intervention area type and are often patterned by the following groupings. Transformational Regeneration Areas and Local Regeneration Areas are similar types of neighbourhood (relatively poor post-war mass housing estates considered to need major investment). Wider Surrounding Areas and Housing Improvement Areas also have many similarities (they are more popular inner-city areas considered to need less investment). GoWell baseline data and routine data [14, 30] for these intervention area types concur that TRA/LRA residents are more likely than WSA/HIA residents to be younger, belong to an ethnic minority group (particularly to asylum seeker and refugee communities), live in social rented homes, live alone or as single parents, and be unemployed. The latter area types include more older residents and owner occupiers. The Peripheral Estates, which have received substantial investment in the past, tend to occupy a middle ground between the two groupings described above: PEs share some characteristics of the TRAs/LRAs, some of the WSAs/HIAs, and some unique features. For example, Peripheral Estates tend to include a more even spread of age-groups, more people with long-standing illnesses and more smokers.
To date, focus group topics have included: community engagement, experiences of asylum seekers and refugees, the experience of housing improvement, transformational regeneration, being relocated in advance of demolition, and youth-related anti-social behaviour. Findings have been disseminated to stakeholder organisations as part of GoWell's formative evaluation.
This paper has provided an overview of the GoWell Programme and a more detailed description of the Community Health and Wellbeing Survey. GoWell is a mixed methods study that aims to improve our knowledge of the impacts of different approaches to regeneration on the health and wellbeing of residents in deprived urban areas. Compared to many housing improvement and regeneration studies it is large, long term and explores a range of different outcomes including health outcomes [5, 31]. Its comparative design will help us better understand the impacts of different multi-faceted approaches to regeneration.
GoWell is intended to be 'theory generating' with regard to identifying mechanisms and pathways to health. GoWell's qualitative research components will help us understand what different stakeholders consider to be the most important aspects of regeneration and ways in which regeneration impacts upon their lives [32]. One early result of our work has been the development of a 'capitals framework' comprising six component capitals for understanding and investigating the impact of regeneration upon the physical, mental and social health of communities [4].
GoWell is of interest methodologically as a study that evaluates a social intervention affecting wider determinants of health, health inequalities and wellbeing. The regeneration of Glasgow would meet most definitions of a complex intervention [33, 34]: it includes multiple, inter-related activities delivered by many different partners and is 'emergent' in that intervention plans change over time for a variety of reasons (and sometimes in response to findings from the GoWell study). GoWell recognises that our understanding of public health improvement can be enhanced by treating complex interventions such as regeneration as 'natural experiments'. The potential uses (and under-use) of this approach has been stated elsewhere [35].
One reason suggested for there being relatively few evaluations of the health effects of complex social interventions is that these evaluations are so difficult to conduct [34–37]. 'Difficult' in this context can mean resource intensive, requiring methodological compromises, multiple stakeholder engagement, and the challenge of studying a changing environment over which the researcher has limited control or no control.
For example, GoWell had to be designed and funded quickly - in the relatively short time span between researchers becoming aware of regeneration plans and the intervention being delivered. GoWell researchers have not been responsible for the planning or delivery of regeneration interventions and we could not assign (randomly or otherwise) individuals to different interventions. We could not identify appropriate 'no intervention' comparison areas because similarly deprived urban neighbourhoods within or outside Glasgow are unlikely to remain free of regeneration interventions during the ten year study period.
There are methodological limitations associated with some of these challenges. By comparing different neighbourhood populations, we risk the possibility that findings are confounded by contextual effects (e.g. neighbourhood specific characteristics that may affect outcomes). We will attempt to mitigate those risks by adjusting the data to take account of baseline population and health characteristics, and at times by comparing those intervention area types that had the most similar baseline characteristics (i.e. the LRAs and TRAs, and the WSAs and the HIAs). However, this will not 'solve' the problem of contextual effects, nor will it be possible to precisely measure the magnitude of that problem.
GoWell's community health and wellbeing component includes a repeat cross-sectional study. This type of design cannot measure change to individuals over time. It does measure change at an area level. It can tell us whether residents are more or less likely to highly rate their home, neighbourhood, community, health and wellbeing at different points in the regeneration process. Residential mobility may be an important driver for any changes we measure and so we will monitor this. GoWell also has a longitudinal component that will trace the health and wellbeing of individuals over time. This will focus particularly on the Transformational and Local Regeneration Areas and will be described in future publications.
GoWell focuses on neighbourhoods experiencing multiple interventions. The quantitative data we obtain may be better geared towards providing evidence of the overall impact of regeneration programmes rather than untangling the effects of individual interventions. To help gain insights into the impacts of specific interventions we will draw upon findings from GoWell's qualitative research and nested studies.
Policy statements on regeneration often identify health improvement and reductions in health inequalities as aims and/or outcomes. The UK Department of Health has contributed to the funding of urban regeneration since the 1970s [4]. The report of the Scottish Government's Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities (Equally Well) recently highlighted the importance of broadly defined regeneration activities, and the role of GoWell in evaluating such activities, as a means of tackling social inequalities in health [3]. In short, governments assume that urban regeneration improves health. GoWell tests that assumption.
Stakeholder Relevance
Residents, housing managers and other practitioners involved in delivering the interventions have made it clear that they value the regular feedback from GoWell to assess progress and inform future activities. Sometimes this involves producing GoWell reports for specific stakeholders. For example, residents of one area asked us to analyse data on respiratory health and other outcomes in their neighbourhood. The resulting report was then used to convince housing managers to change regeneration plans for that area so that health damaging dwellings could be demolished.
We know little about the health effects of urban regeneration and housing improvement because many such interventions have been studied using weak study designs, or not studied at all, whilst robust studies have tended to focus on specific dimensions of housing improvement and health. This is a common problem for complex social interventions, even though such interventions may be costly and affect the health and wellbeing of large populations in unpredictable ways. We know least about the effects of those interventions that are most likely to influence the wider determinants of health--a problem described elsewhere as the "inverse evidence law" [38, 39]. This 'evidence deficit' has been ascribed in part to the difficulty of conducting robust evaluations, particularly when the researchers have no direct input into intervention planning and delivery. The GoWell programme has been developed in such circumstances and aims to demonstrate that credible and useful evidence can be obtained from natural experiments to improve our understanding of how to maximise the benefits of urban regeneration.
Liz Fenwick leads on GoWell's economic study. ME, JM, DW and FC are funded by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (which has also co-funded ES). PM and LL are funded by NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Government. LB, HT and ES are funded by the Medical Research Council and the Chief Scientist Office (part of the Scottish Government Health Directorates). When the project was initiated, MP was funded by the Scottish Executive Department of Health's Chief Scientist Office and the UK's Medical Research Council. AK and PH are funded by the University of Glasgow. SB is funded by NHS Health Scotland. CT and JC are funded by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The Community Health and Well-being survey was funded by GHA. BMG Research conducted fieldwork.
12874_2010_444_MOESM1_ESM.DOC Additional file 1: GoWell's study components. The various elements of GoWell (a mixed methods, multi-component study) are described. (DOC 28 KB)
12874_2010_444_MOESM2_ESM.DOC Additional file 2: GoWell community health and wellbeing survey questions. List of questions (and their sources) used in GoWell's 2006 baseline survey. (DOC 376 KB)
12874_2010_444_MOESM3_ESM.jpeg Authors’ original file for figure 1
12874_2010_444_MOESM4_ESM.ppt Authors’ original file for figure 2
GoWell is a collaborative partnership between the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, the University of Glasgow, and the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit. The programme's main sponsors are Glasgow Housing Association, the Scottish Government, NHS Health Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Some of the sponsors (e.g. Glasgow Housing Association and the Scottish Government) are also delivering interventions being evaluated by GoWell. Such sponsors are represented on GoWell's steering group and can suggest specific research topics and comment on non-academic dissemination of findings. GoWell's research team does not include anyone from the organisations delivering interventions being evaluated, nor has anyone from those organisations contributed to or commented upon this manuscript.
All the authors have contributed to GoWell's study design and methods. ME led the writing of this manuscript. All the other authors have been involved in revising it critically for important intellectual content and have approved the final version.
Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, 4 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, UK
Department of Urban Studies, University of Glasgow, 25 Bute Gardens, Glasgow, UK
Glasgow Centre for Population Health, 1st Floor, House 6, 94 Elmbank Street, Glasgow, UK
NHS Health Scotland, Elphinstone House, 65 West Regent Street, Glasgow, UK
Public Health and Health Policy, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, UK
Public and Environmental Health Research Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London, UK
The WHO approach to housing and health. [http://www.euro.who.int/Housing/20080319_10]
House of Commons Health Committee: Health Inequalities (Third Report of Session 2008-09). 2009, House of Commons Health Committee: House of Commons Health Committee, 1:Google Scholar
The Scottish Government: Equally Well: Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities. Edinburgh. 2008Google Scholar
Kearns A, Tannahill C, Bond L: Regeneration and health: Conceptualising the connections. Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal. 2009, 3: 56-76.Google Scholar
Thomson H, Thomas S, Sellstrom E, Petticrew M: The health impacts of housing improvement: a systematic review of intervention studies from 1887-2007. Am J Public Health. 2009, 99: S681-S692. 10.2105/AJPH.2008.143909.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Thomson H, Petticrew M, Morrison D: Health effects of housing interventions: a systematic review of intervention studies. BMJ. 2001, 323: 187-190. 10.1136/bmj.323.7306.187.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Atkinson R, Thomson H, Kearns A, Petticrew M: Giving urban policy its 'medical': assessing the place of health in area-based regeneration. Policy Polit. 2006, 34: 5-26. 10.1332/030557306775212179.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Thomson H, Atkinson R, Petticrew M, Kearns A: Do urban regeneration programmes improve public health and reduce health inequalities? A synthesis of the evidence from UK policy and practice (1980-2004). J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006, 60: 108-115. 10.1136/jech.2005.038885.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Scriven M: The Methodology of Evaluation. Perspectives of Curriculum Evaluation. no. 1 edition. Edited by: Tyler RW, Gagné RM, Scriven M. 1967, Chicago: Rand McNally, 39-83.Google Scholar
Palmer G, MacInnes T, Kenway P: Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Scotland 2006. 2006, York: York Publishing Services for Joseph RowntreeGoogle Scholar
Poverty Site. [http://www.poverty.org.uk]
WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health: Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. 2008, Geneva: World Health OrganizationGoogle Scholar
Hanlon P, Walsh D, Whyte B: Let Glasgow Flourish. 2006, Glasgow: Glasgow Centre for Population HealthGoogle Scholar
Walsh D: Health and Wellbeing in Glasgow and the GoWell Areas - deprivation based analyses. 2008, Glasgow: Glasgow Centre for Population HealthGoogle Scholar
Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS). [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18860/32772]
Glasgow City Council: Glasgow's Housing Issues: Consultative Draft Local Housing Strategy. Glasgow. 2009Google Scholar
Glasgow Housing Association: Better homes, better lives. 30 year Business Plan 2007/08. Glasgow. 2007Google Scholar
GoWell: Selection, Definition and Description of Study Areas. GoWell Working Papers. 2007, Glasgow: Glasgow Centre for Population Health, 2:Google Scholar
Platt S, Martin C, Hunt S: Damp housing, mould growth and symptomatic health state. BMJ. 1989, 298: 1673-1678. 10.1136/bmj.298.6689.1673.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Singleton N, Bumpstead R, O'Brien M, Lee A, Meltzer H: Psychiatric morbidity among adults living in private households, 2000. 2001, London: The Stationary OfficeGoogle Scholar
Quality Metric. [http://www.qualitymetric.com/WhatWeDo/GenericHealthSurveys/tabid/184/Default.aspx]
Petticrew M, Kearns A, Mason P, Hoy C: The SHARP study: a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the short-term outcomes of housing and neighbourhood renewal. BMC Public Health. 2009, 9: 415-10.1186/1471-2458-9-415.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Egan M, Kearns A: Community Survey: Wave 1 Questionnaire. GoWell Working Papers, Glasgow. 2006, 3:Google Scholar
GoWell: Progress for People and Places: Monitoring Change in Glasgow's Communities. Evidence from the GoWell Surveys 2006 and 2008. Glasgow. 2009Google Scholar
Tennant R, Hiller L, Fishwick R, Platt S, Joseph S, Weich S, Parkinson J, Secker J, Stewart-Brown S: The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS): development and UK validation., Vol.5 (No.63). ISSN 1477-7525. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2007, 5 (63): ISSN 1477-7525Google Scholar
2008 Mid Year Estimates. [http://www.sns.gov.uk/]
The Scottish Government: Scotland's People: Annual Report: Results from 2007/2008 Scottish Household Survey. Edinburgh. 2009Google Scholar
The Scottish Government: The Scottish Health Survey - 2003 Results. Edinburgh. 2005Google Scholar
NHS Information Services Division Scotland. [http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3757.html]
Turner SM: Health and Wellbeing in GoWell and Social Housing Areas in Glasgow. 2008, Glasgow: Glasgow Centre for Population HealthGoogle Scholar
Thomson H: Assessing the health impacts of housing-led neighbourhood renewal (commentary). 2008, British Urban Regeneration Association: British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA), 2: 19-20.Google Scholar
Beck SA, Hanlon PW, Tannahill CE, Crawford FA, Ogilvie AJ, Kearns AJ: How will area regeneration impact on health? Learning from the GoWell study. Public Health. 2010, 124: 125-130. 10.1016/j.puhe.2010.02.004.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Craig P, Dieppe P, Macintyre S, Michie S, Nazareth I, Petticrew M: Developing and evaluating complex interventions: the new Medical Research Council guidance. BMJ. 2008, 337: a1655-10.1136/bmj.a1655.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Shiell A, Hawe P, Gold L: Complex interventions or complex systems? Implications for health economic evaluation. BMJ. 2008, 336: 1281-1283. 10.1136/bmj.39569.510521.AD.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Petticrew M, Cummins S, Ferrell C, Findlay A, Higgins C, Hoy C, Kearns A, Sparks L: Natural experiments: an underused tool for public health?. Public Health. 2005, 119 (9): 751-757. 10.1016/j.puhe.2004.11.008.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Thomson H: A dose of realism for healthy urban policy: lessons from area based initiatives in the UK. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2008, 62: 932-936. 10.1136/jech.2007.068775.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Petticrew M, Whitehead M, Macintyre S, Graham H, Egan M: Evidence for public health policy on inequalities: 1: The reality according to policymakers. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2004, 58: 811-816. 10.1136/jech.2003.015289.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Whitehead M, Petticrew M, Graham H, Macintyre S, Bambra C, Egan M: Evidence for public health policy on inequalities: 2: Assembling the evidence jigsaw. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2004, 58: 817-821. 10.1136/jech.2003.015297.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Nutbeam D: How does evidence influence public health policy? Tackling health inequalities in England. Health Promot J Austr. 2003, 14: 154-158.Google Scholar
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/10/41/prepub | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1004 |
__label__wiki | 0.608311 | 0.608311 | Changes in obesity-related diseases and biochemical variables after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a two-year follow-up study
Villy Våge1Email author,
Vetle Aaberge Sande2,
Gunnar Mellgren2, 4,
Camilla Laukeland1,
Jan Behme1 and
John Roger Andersen1, 3
BMC Surgery201414:8
© Våge et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2014
Received: 8 July 2013
Accepted: 5 February 2014
To evaluate changes in obesity-related diseases and micronutrients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).
We started the procedure in May 2007, and by December 2011, 117 patients could be evaluated for a two year follow-up. Comparisons of preoperative status with 12 and 24 months postoperative status were made for body mass index (BMI), obesity-related diseases and micronutrients.
Major complications included bleeding requiring transfusion at 5.1%, leak at 1.7% and abscess without a visible leak at 0.9%. Mean BMI was reduced from 46.6 (standard deviation (SD) 6.0) kg/m2 to 30.6 (SD 5.6) kg/m2 at two years, and resolution occurred for 80.7% of patients with type 2 diabetes, 63.9% with hypertension, 75.8% with hyperlipidemia, 93.0% with sleep apnea, 31.4% with musculoskeletal pain, 85.4% with snoring and 73.3% with urinary incontinence. Amenorrhea resolved in all premenopausal females. The proportion of patients with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease increased from 12.8% to 27.4%. The prevalence of patients with low ferritin-levels increased, while 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency decreased postoperatively.
LSG is an effective procedure for morbid obesity and obesity-related diseases, but the technique should be further explored particularly to avoid gastroesophageal reflux.
Between 1980 and 2008, the age-standardized mean global body mass index (BMI) increased by 0.4–0.5 kg/m2 per decade in men and women [1], and worldwide obesity more than doubled. Obesity, and particularly morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40) is known as a strong risk factor for several diseases and premature death [2].
Bariatric surgery is the only evidence-based treatment of morbid obesity with proven, sustained weight loss and improvement in comorbidities [3–5]. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) was introduced as the first stage in a two-staged bariatric surgical approach on super-obese or high-risk patients [6], but has now gained acceptance as a stand-alone bariatric procedure [7–11]. Physiologically it is an attractive procedure because it reduces the gastric volume while preserving the continuity of the gastrointestinal tract. Data on complications and weight loss after LSG have been increasingly published in the surgical literature, but data for the effects on comorbidities and micronutrients should be further explored [12, 13].
Our bariatric surgical program started in 2001 with open Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPDDS), and LSG as a stand-alone procedure was started in May 2007. We had no experience with laparoscopic bariatric surgery prior to May 2007, and this prospective study reviews our first patients focusing on procedure complications, comorbidity resolution and changes in biochemical variables at 12 and 24 months postoperatively.
After having obtained written informed consent from the patients, data was prospectively collected and stored in our database from the first LSG in May 2007 when LSG was introduced as a part of our standard bariatric program. The database is part of our continuous surveillance-program and approved by the Norwegian Data Inspectorate. This present study is a prospective cohort study with data extracted from the database. By December 2011 we had 117 patients eligible for a two year follow-up. Indications for LSG were either a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 or a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 with obesity-related diseases. Contraindications for operation were alcohol or drug abuse and active psychosis.
Preoperative evaluation and care included a one day seminar with information about morbid obesity, bariatric surgery and its risks, and estimated results as well as projected possibilities about life changes after surgery. This was followed by an individual consultation with the bariatric surgeon and other health- personnel if needed. Preoperative advice included smoking cessation, increased physical activity and weight loss.
On the evening before the operation all patients received low molecular weight heparin subcutaneously (enoxaparin), 40 mg if < 160 kg or 60 mg if ≥ 160 kg, and an H2 blocker (cimetidine 300 mg) orally. Intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis (400 mg doxycycline, 1.5 g metronidazole) was started just prior to the operation. The operation was performed through six ports. Pneumoperitoneum was established through the upper part of the left rectal sheet using a 10 mm port containing the camera and the CO2-insufflator. A 15 mm port was introduced at the same level through the right rectal sheet. Four 5 mm ports were used: One at the right subcostal area, one just below the xiphoid process and two towards the left subcostal area. All ports were reusable (Karl Storz™) except for the 15 mm port which was non-reusable (Ethicon™).
The greater curvature was freed from the pylorus to the cardia, dividing all vessels by Ligasure (Covidien™). To ensure a good overview of the left crus and the gastro esophageal junction the periesophageal fat-pad was generally freed from both the diaphragm and the cardia. The stomach was divided along a 32 Fr bougie by the Tri-Stapler (Covidien™) from 1-2 cm proximal to the pylorus to the cardia. Over-sewing of the staple line was performed for visible bleeding. Attention was paid to avoid twisting or otherwise disrupting the gastric tube. The resected part of the stomach was removed without a bag through the incision for the 15 mm port. The abdominal fascia at this point was closed by two Polydioxanon (PDS) number 1 sutures. All skin-incisions were closed by intracutaneous reabsorbable sutures. Patients were allowed to drink freely from the first postoperative day, and discharged when tolerating a liquid diet. The enoxaparin was continued for ten days after discharge.
Postoperative advice included a low carbohydrate - high protein diet, intake of one multivitamin tablet daily, high frequency of water intake and physical activity. The first 61 patients were also routinely recommended to take Calcigran Forte (NycoMed Pharma™) containing one gram of calcium carbonate and 800IE 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) daily. Controls and data collection took place at the outpatient clinic 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. In addition, the patients were advised to see their general practitioner at 6 and 18 months. Pregnancy was strongly discouraged during the first 12 months after the operation.
Surgical complications were defined as complications occurring within 90 days after the surgical procedure. Obesity-related diseases were defined as diseases that were under medical care, and considered resolved when the patient no longer needed medical care for the actual disease (dichotomous variables). Diseases evaluated were type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, obstructive lung disease, musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, depression and gastroesophageal reflux. In addition, obesity-related problems as snoring, urinary leakage, amenorrhea and infertility were included independently of whether the patient received treatment or not. Infertility was defined as attempting to get pregnant over a period of two years without success.
Biochemical variables were selected according to our empirical experience, and were all analyzed by the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at our hospital except for the vitamin D-analyses (Hormone Laboratory, Haukeland University Hospital). The biochemical variables were converted into dichotomous variables, as either within the reference range or outside the reference range.
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19.0 was used to perform the statistical analysis. Paired t- test was used in comparing paired means for change in BMI, and the McNemar´s test was used for categorical variables. Statistical significance was set conventionally at p < 0.05.
For the 117 patients studied (87 women and 30 men), the mean weight prior to the operation was 135.6 kg ± 23.7 kg (standard deviation (SD)), mean BMI 46.6 ± 6.0 kg/m2, and mean age 40.3 ± 10.7 years (Table 1).
Overview of the patients (n = 117)
Mean ± SD
Sex (Women/Men)
BMI (kg/m2)
Operation time (min)
Concurrent operations*
SD = Standard deviation. BMI = body mass index.
*Concurrent operations were cho l ecystectomi (2), appendectomy (1) and hiatal hernia repair (1).
Major complications included bleeding (5.1%, n = 6), leak (1.7%, n = 2) and abscess without a visible leak (0.9%, n = 1) (Table 2). One patient had both bleeding and leak. The two patients who had a leak were treated with nil by mouth and a nasojejunal feeding tube for two and five months respectively before it healed. Both leaks were at the cardiac region. Two of the patients with bleeding had relaparoscopy with evacuation of blood (1.7%). There was no conversion of laparoscopic to open surgery and no mortality.
90-day morbidity after surgery (n = 117)
Patients, n (%)
Bleeding (given transfusion)
Reoperated
Abscess without leak
Minor complications:
Wound infection
Relaparoscopy for retained drain
Obesity-related diseases
LSG significantly lowered the BMI to 30.3 ± 5.9 kg/m2 and 30.6 ± 5.6 kg/m2 at 12 and 24 months respectively, and resolved obesity-related diseases (Table 3). At two years, the remission-rate for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was 80.7%, hypertension 63.9%, hyperlipidemia 75.8%, sleep apnoea 93.0%, musculoskeletal pain 31.4%, snoring 85.4% and urinary leakage 73.3%. Amenorrhea was resolved for all premenopausal female patients with two years data. We lacked two year data for three of our twelve patients with preoperative amenorrhea. The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) increased from 12.8% prior to the operation to 27.4% at two years (p = 0.011).
Proportion of patients (%) with obesity-related diseases prior to, and at 12 and 24 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
Preoperative
12 vs 0 months
24 vs 12 months
No. with available data/total no.
BMI (kg/m2, mean ± SD)
Treated for
No. with disease/no. with available data (%)
T2DM
23/117 (19.7%)
5/114 (4.4%)
Suffering from (treated or not)
Premenopausal/total no. of women
33/87 (37.9%)
8/79 (10.1%)
3/65 (4.6%)
BMI = Body mass index. SD = Standard deviation. No = Number. T2DM = Type 2 diabetes mellitus. GERD = Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
*Pregnancy was strongly discouraged during the first 12 months. At 24 months, two of the 12 women defined as infertile preoperatively had given birth to two healthy children.
Biochemical variables
Of the biochemical variables, ferritin was lowered while 25 (OH)-vitamin D, albumin and alanine amino transferase (ALT) improved significantly postoperatively (Table 4). We found a high prevalence of patients with Parathyroid hormone (PTH) above reference-level both preoperatively and postoperatively. Hemoglobin-, folic acid-, cobalamine-, 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), PTH and calcium levels did not change significantly after the procedure but 87% of the patients were taking vitamin and/or mineral supplements 24 months after the operation (Table 5). There was no difference in the vitamin or mineral status when comparing patients using supplements (n = 83) with patients not using supplements (n = 12) (chi-square test and t-test).
Proportion of patients (%) with important biochemical variables below or above reference value prior to, and at 12 and 24 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
12 vs. 0 months
24 vs. 12 months
No. with available data/total no:
No. below or above reference/no with available data (%)
Hb<ref. (11,5-16,0 g/dl)
7/117 (6%)
Ferritin<ref. (25-300 ug/l)
Folic acid<ref. (> 5 nmol/l)
Cobalamin<ref. (145–540 pmol/l)
25(OH)D<ref. (30-150 nmol/l)
25(OH)D<50 nmol/l)
1,25(OH)2D>ref. (50-145 pmol/l)
ALP>ref. (< 105 U/l)
PTH>ref. (1.6-7.0 pmol/l)
Calcium<ref. (2.15 – 2.55 mmol/l)
Albumin<ref. (35-50 g/l)
ALT>ref (35 U/l)
No = Number. Hb = Hemoglobin. Ref = Reference value. 25(OH)D = 25 hydroxyvitamin D. 1,25(OH)2D = 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. ALP = Alkaline Phosphatase. PTH = Parathyroid hormone. ALT = Alanine aminotransferase.
Number of patients (%) using supplements prior to, and at 12 and 24 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
No supplement
11 (9.6%)
Cobalamin
No = Number.
In the present study we find LSG to have acceptable morbidity-rates and to be an effective procedure for weight loss and resolution of comorbidities. LSG had high resolution rates for T2DM, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, musculoskeletal pain, snoring, urinary leakage and amenorrhea. The BMI and the prevalence of obesity-related diseases were stable between 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Between 85 and 90% of patients were taking some kind of vitamin and/or mineral supplement at follow-up.
In general, the reported complication rates for LSG are low despite high surgical risks in this patient group [8]. Shi et. al. systematically reviewed major perioperative complications for LSG and found a mean ± SD of 1.17 ± 1.86% for leaks and 3.57 ± 5.15% for bleeding respectively [14]. In order to reduce our leak-rate we have become particularly careful not to use heat-creating instruments close to the stomach wall at the cardia where both leaks occurred. In an attempt to reduce bleeding, we have changed our regime for prophylaxis against thrombosis in that the prophylaxis is started postoperatively and at reduced dosage. Other measures that could influence the rate of bleeding would be the use of different stapler cartridges and buttress material. There is currently no clear consensus on how the surgical technique is optimally performed [14], which makes it even more important to continuously evaluate the results at different centers.
We are only presenting resolution and not changes in the degree of severity of the obesity-related diseases or conditions, these results therefore represent an underreporting of the patients’ improvement. Remission rates for T2DM, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and sleep apnea are higher among our patients than among sleeve- and gastric bypass operated patients in the study by Zhang et al., but our gastroesophageal reflux-rate is also higher [12]. This could be due to differences in the surgical technique as we used a somewhat smaller boogie (32 versus 38/40 Fr), and we start the resection closer to the pylorus. For infertility, we observed a reduction in infertility rate of 55.0% at two years, but as pregnancy was strongly discouraged for the first 12 months after the operation, the study is dependent on 36 months data for completion of the infertility data according to the definition. The regain of a normal menstrual cycle in all amenorrheic premenopausal females is remarkable.
Association between LSG and GERD has been systematically reviewed, finding both a significant increase and a significant decrease in GERD after LSG [15]. Our study shows a significant increase in GERD after the operation, even though five of our fifteen patients who were treated for GERD symptoms preoperatively had resolution of their GERD symptoms postoperatively. Our advice has been to have smaller meals at increased frequency and consume foods at slower rates with sufficient chewing, which might have some effect in reducing GERD-symptoms as Melissas et. al. have also experienced [16]. In accordance to the experience of Nocca et. al. [17] it is also our experience that the patients with GERD subjectively have a good effect of proton pump inhibitors. Howard et. al. [18], who had a one year GERD rate of 21.0%, declare that all of their GERD patients were “extremely happy with their surgery” and “would choose the procedure again”. Despite Howard et. al.´s findings, GERD is a potential drawback for the LSG and more work is being done in order to reduce the risk for GERD after LSG [15, 19, 20].
A high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies among morbidly obese prior to bariatric surgery has been observed, a proposed consequence of malnutrition and/or altered bioavailability to micronutrients due to reduced dietary intake, reduced levels of hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor [21]. The number of patients with ferritin levels below reference range in our data increased significantly, similar to the findings of Himpens et. al. [22]. Himpens et. al. also found cobalamin deficiency one and three years after LSG, which together with iron-related deficiencies are the most common deficiencies after bariatric surgery [22, 23]. The number of patients with cobalamin-deficiency was not altered in our study, but 27% and 29% of the patients were substituted with folic acid or cobalamin respectively already one year after surgery. Unfortunately, we do not know whether this substitution was based on low serum values for these vitamins or not. Our findings highlight a need for further exploring the necessity of folic acid, cobalamin, iron and possibly calcium-substitution in LSG patients before making any general recommendations.
Values for albumin and ALT showed significant improvement after the operation, and ALT levels remained significantly lowered at 24 months. Obesity is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [24], and resolution of NAFLD has been proven after bariatric surgery [25]. Improvement of liver-associated biochemical variables due to resolution of NAFLD is therefore a probable explanation of our finding.
LSG has been found to be equally as safe and effective for weight loss and resolution of comorbidities as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) in the short term [12, 23], and as the small bowel is not transected and no mesenteric defects are created, the risk for long term complications as jejunal ulcers and internal hernias are avoided. Also, further conversion to BPDDS or RYGBP if inadequate weight loss or weight regain should occur makes LSG a good option among the bariatric procedures. Long term effects of LSG are, however, still limited in terms of possible weight regain, side effects and persistence of comorbidity resolution [14, 17, 26].
We find LSG to have acceptable morbidity-rates and to be an effective procedure for weight loss and remission of obesity-related diseases. Further development of the technique should be attempted, particularly to reduce the risk for postoperative gastroesophageal reflux.
We acknowledge Ronny Gåsdal, Helse Førde for collection of data and Jonathan Butcher, Helse Førde for reading through and commenting the English version of the manuscript.
Villy Våge has had travel expenses for two international conferences covered by Covidien and Johnson & Johnson. Vetle Aaberge Sande, Gunnar Mellgren, Camilla Laukeland, Jan Behme and John Roger Andersen do not have any commercial associations that might be a conflict of interest in relation to this article.
VV was responsible for the surgery, collection, and extraction of data, and participated in the statistical analysis and writing of the article. VAS participated in the extraction and analysis of data, and in writing of the article. GM participated in the design of the study, analysis of the blood-samples and writing the manuscript. CL was responsible for the dietary advices to the patients and participated in writing the manuscript. JB operated about half of the patients and participated in writing the manuscript. JRA participated in the statistical analysis and writing of the article. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Department of Surgery, Førde Central Hospital, 6807 Førde, Norway
Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
Department of Health, Sogn og Fjordane University College, 6803 Førde, Norway
Hormone Laboratory, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
Finucane MM, Stevens GA, Cowan MJ, Danaei G, Lin JK, Paciorek CJ, Singh GM, Gutierrez HR, Lu Y, Bahalim AN: National, regional, and global trends in body-mass index since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 960 country-years and 9.1 million participants. Lancet. 2011, 377 (9765): 557-567. 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62037-5.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Whitlock G, Lewington S, Sherliker P, Clarke R, Emberson J, Halsey J, Qizilbash N, Collins R, Peto R: Body-mass index and cause-specific mortality in 900 000 adults: collaborative analyses of 57 prospective studies. Lancet. 2009, 373 (9669): 1083-1096. 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60318-4.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Pories WJ, Swanson MS, MacDonald KG, Long SB, Morris PG, Brown BM, Barakat HA, de Ramon RA, Israel G, Dolezal JM: Who would have thought it? An operation proves to be the most effective therapy for adult-onset diabetes mellitus. Ann Surg. 1995, 222 (3): 339-350. 10.1097/00000658-199509000-00011. discussion 350-332View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Sjostrom L, Narbro K, Sjostrom CD, Karason K, Larsson B, Wedel H, Lystig T, Sullivan M, Bouchard C, Carlsson B: Effects of bariatric surgery on mortality in Swedish obese subjects. N Engl J Med. 2007, 357 (8): 741-752. 10.1056/NEJMoa066254.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
WHO: Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. 2000, Geneva: Worlds Health OrganizationGoogle Scholar
Cottam D, Qureshi FG, Mattar SG, Sharma S, Holover S, Bonanomi G, Ramanathan R, Schauer P: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as an initial weight-loss procedure for high-risk patients with morbid obesity. Surgical Endoscopy. 2006, 20 (6): 859-863. 10.1007/s00464-005-0134-5.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Baltasar A, Serra C, Perez N, Bou R, Bengochea M, Ferri L: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a multi-purpose bariatric operation. Obes Surg. 2005, 15 (8): 1124-1128. 10.1381/0960892055002248.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Brethauer SA, Hammel JP, Schauer PR: Systematic review of sleeve gastrectomy as staging and primary bariatric procedure. Surgery for obesity and related diseases: official Journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. 2009, 5 (4): 469-475. 10.1016/j.soard.2009.05.011.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Mognol P, Chosidow D, Marmuse JP: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as an initial bariatric operation for high-risk patients: initial results in 10 patients. Obesity Surgery. 2005, 15 (7): 1030-1033. 10.1381/0960892054621242.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Rice RD, Simon TE, Seery JM, Frizzi JD, Husain FA, Choi YU: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: outcomes at a military training center. The American Surgeon. 2010, 76 (8): 835-840.PubMedGoogle Scholar
Silecchia G, Boru C, Pecchia A, Rizzello M, Casella G, Leonetti F, Basso N: Effectiveness of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (first stage of biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch) on co-morbidities in super-obese high-risk patients. Obes Surg. 2006, 16 (9): 1138-1144. 10.1381/096089206778392275.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Zhang N, Maffei A, Cerabona T, Pahuja A, Omana J, Kaul A: Reduction in obesity-related comorbidities: is gastric bypass better than sleeve gastrectomy?. Surgical Endoscopy. 2013, 27 (4): 1273-1280. 10.1007/s00464-012-2595-7.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Committee ACI: Updated position statement on sleeve gastrectomy as a bariatric procedure. Surgery for obesity and related diseases: official Journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. 2012, 8 (3): e21-26.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Shi X, Karmali S, Sharma AM, Birch DW: A review of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity. Obesity Surgery. 2010, 20 (8): 1171-1177. 10.1007/s11695-010-0145-8.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Chiu S, Birch DW, Shi X, Sharma AM, Karmali S: Effect of sleeve gastrectomy on gastroesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2011, 7 (4): 510-515. 10.1016/j.soard.2010.09.011.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Melissas J, Daskalakis M, Koukouraki S, Askoxylakis I, Metaxari M, Dimitriadis E, Stathaki M, Papadakis JA: Sleeve gastrectomy-a "food limiting" operation. Obesity Surgery. 2008, 18 (10): 1251-1256. 10.1007/s11695-008-9634-4.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Nocca D, Krawczykowsky D, Bomans B, Noel P, Picot MC, Blanc PM, de Seguin , de Hons C, Millat B, Gagner M, Monnier L: A prospective multicenter study of 163 sleeve gastrectomies: results at 1 and 2 years. Obesity Surgery. 2008, 18 (5): 560-565. 10.1007/s11695-007-9288-7.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Howard DD, Caban AM, Cendan JC, Ben-David K: Gastroesophageal reflux after sleeve gastrectomy in morbidly obese patients. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2011, 7 (6): 709-713. 10.1016/j.soard.2011.08.003.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Soricelli E, Iossa A, Casella G, Abbatini F, Cali B, Basso N: Sleeve gastrectomy and crural repair in obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and/or hiatal hernia. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2013, 9 (3): 356-361. 10.1016/j.soard.2012.06.003.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Daes J, Jimenez ME, Said N, Daza JC, Dennis R: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux can be reduced by changes in surgical technique. Obes Surg. 2012, 22 (12): 1874-1879. 10.1007/s11695-012-0746-5.View ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Snyder-Marlow G, Taylor D, Lenhard MJ: Nutrition care for patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2010, 110 (4): 600-607. 10.1016/j.jada.2009.12.022.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Himpens J, Dapri G, Cadiere GB: A prospective randomized study between laparoscopic gastric banding and laparoscopic isolated sleeve gastrectomy: results after 1 and 3 years. Obes Surg. 2006, 16 (11): 1450-1456. 10.1381/096089206778869933.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Kehagias I, Karamanakos SN, Argentou M, Kalfarentzos F: Randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for the management of patients with BMI < 50 kg/m2. Obesity surgery. 2011, 21 (11): 1650-1656. 10.1007/s11695-011-0479-x.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Farrell GC, Larter CZ: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: from steatosis to cirrhosis. Hepatology. 2006, 43 (2 Suppl 1): S99-S112.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Kral JG, Thung SN, Biron S, Hould FS, Lebel S, Marceau S, Simard S, Marceau P: Effects of surgical treatment of the metabolic syndrome on liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Surgery. 2004, 135 (1): 48-58. 10.1016/j.surg.2003.10.003.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
Deitel M, Gagner M, Erickson AL, Crosby RD: Third international summit: current status of sleeve gastrectomy. Surgery for obesity and related diseases: official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. 2011, 7 (6): 749-759. 10.1016/j.soard.2011.07.017.View ArticleGoogle Scholar | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1005 |
__label__wiki | 0.72706 | 0.72706 | Research article | Open | Open Peer Review | Published: 07 August 2005
Complications after cryosurgery with new miniature cryoprobes in long hollow bones: An animal trial
Frank Popken1,
Peter Meschede1,
Heike Erberich2,
Timmo Koy1,
Marfalda Bosse3,
Jürgen H Fischer3 &
Peer Eysel1
BMC Surgeryvolume 5, Article number: 17 (2005) | Download Citation
In vitro studies show that new miniature cryoprobes are suitable for cryoablation of bone tissue. The aim of this animal trial on 24 sheep was to examine the perioperative complications, particularly the danger of embolism, of cryoablation when using miniature cryoprobes.
Cryoablations with 2 freeze-thaw cycles each were carried out in the epiphysis of the right tibia and the metaphysis of the left femur. Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and central venous pressure (CVP) were measured. Throughout the intra- and perioperative phase, heart rate and oxygen saturation by pulse oxymetry, blood gas and electrolytes were monitored regularly. Postoperative complications were examined up to 24 weeks postoperativ.
As result, no significant increase of PAP, CVP or heart rate were observed. Blood gases were unremarkable, with pO2 and pCO2 remaining constant throughout the operation. Regarding pH, standard bicarbonate and base excess, only a non-significant shift towards a slight acidosis was seen. There was a mean hemoglobin decrease of 0.5 g/dl. One animal showed postoperative wound infection and wound edge necrosis. No major peri- and postoperative complications associated with cryosurgery of bone were observed, especially regarding clinically relevant pulmonary embolism.
Surgery with new types of miniature cryoprobes appears to be a safe alternative to or a complement to conventional resection of abnormal bone tissue.
Surgical treatment of bone tumours often requires generous resection of bone, leaving defects which are difficult to span. Freezing tumours with liquid nitrogen was introduced in the late 1960's as an adjuvant treatment to extend the surgical margin of excision for intralesional resection or for curettage by pouring or spraying the nitrogen directly into the bone cavity [1–9]. Animal trials by Gage et al. [10] have shown that devitalised bone matrix can serve as a framework for new periostal and endostal growth, and hence that the former tumour space can be bridged with autologous, healthy bone tissue. However, the freezing procedure is difficult to control, and therefore harbours risks of injury for the patient [11, 12] and the surgical team, as well as of gas embolisms caused by evaporation [13] and spread of the liquid nitrogen.
Aside from the open use of liquid nitrogen, closed systems for treating bone tumours have also been used [14], although they never became popular because the cooling power of the cryoprobes then used was low compared to their diameter [15]. Recent technical advances [16] made it possible for us to develop new probes for cryoablation of bone tissue and test these in animal trials [17, 18]. The efficiency of these procedure and the extent of tissue distruction is well documented in a former study with a comparable setup [19].
Various complications have been reported, ranging from soft tissue wound infection and fractures [20] to bone marrow and fat embolism caused by the spread of the ice front due to an increase in intramedullar pressure [21]. These miniature cryoprobes with a minimised diameter allow precise control of the freezing process, thus avoiding uncontrolled freezing of soft parts and healthy bone tissue, as well as a sudden expansion of the ice front. Aim of this animal trial was to determine whether the use of modern miniature cryoprobes can avoid the above described complications.
A commercially available cryotherapy system (Erbokryo CS-6-System, Erbe, Tübingen, Germany) was used for cryoablation. This system consists of a casing with a control board and up to 6 vacuum-isolated flexible tubes with a cryoprobe (diameter 3.2 mm) at the end. A cryoprobe creates a cold zone 3 cm long. The Erbokryo is also fitted with computer-controlled temperature sensors (diameter 1.2 mm) witch allow 6 simultaneous measurements.
The cryoprobes were introduced via an access hole 3.6 mm in diameter drilled perpendicular to the cortical substance. Temperature was measured inside the cortical substance. Two 15-minute freezing cycles were done with the probe at full power, with a 6-minute thaw in between. Prior to starting the cryoablation, the position of the cryoprobe was checked radiologically and recorded.
sheep with a mean weight of 61 kg (range 39–78 kg) were placed under general anaesthesia and, using a single cryoprobe introduced through a lateral access hole, one cryoablation was done in the distal diametaphyseal transitional region of the head of the medial left tibia and the right femur of each sheep. For the tibial head, a medial access hole was drilled and the cryoprobe introduced centrally 1.5 cm below the joint and pushed to the other side of the cortical substance.
For the femoral cryoablation, the cryoprobe was introduced through a distal, posterolateral access hole in the area of the linea aspera at the diametaphyseal transition. In addition, 4 temperature sensors were introduced through access holes drilled radially at 1 cm from the bore hole. The cryoprobes were only introduced 1 cm into the bone to avoid freezing the cortical substance. Thus, the necrosis zone (which roughly corresponds to the -10°C isotherm [24]) only comprised an area of 2.4 × 2.4 in the outer cortical substance. Control holes and access holes were drilled on the contralateral sides (left femur, head of the right tibia).
All operations were done under 600 mg clindamycin i.v. and 12 hours prior to surgery, each animal also received thrombosis prophylaxis (0.3 ml nadroparin calcium [Fraxiparin®] s.c.). There was no postop thrombosis prophylaxis since all animals were fully mobile after anaesthesia. The pulmonary-arterial pressure (PAP) and the central venous pressure (CVP) were measured via a pulmonary catheter inserted into the jugular vein. Measurements were done before the first cryoablation (1, Fig. 1, 2, 3), after the first cryoablation on the right femur (2, Fig. 1, 2, 3) and the head of the left tibia (3, Fig. 1, 2, 3), as well as after drilling the control holes immediately after shifting the animals from the right back to the left unilateral recumbent position (4, Fig. 1, 2, 3). Intra- and perioperative monitoring was complemented by measurements of heart rate (Fig. 3) and oxygen saturation via pulse oxymetry, as well as blood counts (Fig. 4), deep body temperature (Fig. 5), blood gases and electrolytes after each cryoablation. Postoperative complications were monitored clinically. 8 animals were sacrificed at 8, 16 and 32 weeks postop and tissue samples taken from the lungs and from blood vessels in the areas of cryoablation were examined for signs of embolism. Samples were taken from each lobe and from the femoral vein, fixed in formaline and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Furthermore, the ablation sites were examined histologically for infection of the soft tissue respectively osteomyelitis. X-rays were taken after the animals were sacrificed.
Mean central venous pressure (CVP): Measurements were done before (point 1) and after the two cryoablations (point 2, 3) and after drilling the controll holes (point 4).
Mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) before (point 1) and after the two cryoablations (point 2, 3) and after drilling the controll holes (point 4).
Mean heartrate measured at different times of the operation (see fig. 1, 2).
Mean hemoglobin (HB) measured before and directly after the operation.
Mean deep temperature measured before and after the operation.
Mean duration of operation was 4 h 22 min, mean duration of anaesthesia 5 h 13 min. In 18 of 24 cases, the mean pulmonary-arterial pressure PAP and the mean central venous pressure (CVP) showed no significant changes at any of the 4 sampling times (Figs. 1 and 2). The PAP rose in 2 animals while in 4 other cases, the haemodynamics could not be determined for technical reasons. There was only a temporary increase of the mean PAP and CVP while the animals were in the right unilateral recumbent position, but all values normalised when the animals were shifted to their left side. The heart increased marginally during the operation (Fig. 3).
Blood gas analysis showed an increase in pCO2 at constant oxygen saturation after the animals were shifted to their right side. In 5 of the animals, the pCO2 remained slightly higher even after they were shifted to their left side. PH, base excess, electrolytes and lactate showed no changes at any sampling time. Hemoglobin decreased marginally (Fig. 4). The deep body temperature (taken central-venously) before and after cryosurgery was not obviously related to any single cryoablation, but it did show a mean decrease of 1.25°C over the course of the entire operation (Fig. 5). Clinical follow-up observations yielded no remarkable findings. The mean time of recovery – i.e., from the end of anaesthesia until the animals were able to stand up again – was 86 minutes. None of the 24 animals showed any clinically significant respiratory insufficiency. One animal developed a severe wound infection which required treatment. The wound was excised and showed secondary healing under antibiotics (Fig. 6).
Superficial wound infection 2 weeks after cryosurgery.
Autopsy revealed clean scars in all animals. There were macroscopically and microscopically no signs of ongoing or resolved osteomyelitis. All vein samples were free of old or recent thrombi. The lungs were grossly unremarkable. Histology of the bronchopulmonary arteries showed no evidence of acute or cronic embolism or thrombus. Thus, none of the animals had suffered an embolism even at the segment level. Some did show a marked bronchial pneumonia, although it followed an asymptomatic course and was therefore of no consequence. No animal showed spontaneous fractures, and X-rays taken at the end of the trial revealed no evidence of healed fractures.
Intravasation of adipose tissue or bone marrow can lead to acute blockage of pulmonary microcirculation, with increased resistance in the arterial pulmonary capillaries and a secondary increase of pressure in the pulmonary artery and the right atrium [22]. This causes the pCO2 to rise and oxygen saturation to decrease, with tachycardia resulting from left ventricular volume deficiency. To date, no comparable trials on large animals have been done examining cryoablation in bone tissue with modern cryoprobes. Kerschbaumer et al. [23] found no lung embolisms in rabbits after cryosurgery. On the other hand, Oeseburg also used rabbits and observed a large number of bone marrow embolisms in the extraosseous veins immediately after cryoablation [21].
One of the aims of this study was the detection of larger, clinically significant lung embolisms, we restricted ourselves to venously measurable hemodynamic parameters so as not to cause additional, iatrogenic complications. Likewise, we decided against a transesophageal ultrasound probe for detecting microemboli [24, 25] since the animals already were administered a large transesophageal tube to aspirate gastric juices during the operation, thus leaving no room for an ultrasound probe.
None of the animals showed histological evidence of lung embolisms, nor were any embolism-specific hemodynamic phenomena or blood gas changes observed. The rise in pCO2 seen in all animals at the end of the operation is likely to be due to the impaired pulmonary gas exchange and decreased venous flow resulting from the increased intraabdominal pressure, which in turn can probably be attributed to the distended rumen during while the animals were lying on their right side. The rise in pCO2 explains the slight acidosis which the animals showed towards the end of the operation, and is therefore not to be seen as pathological.
In our opinion, the absence of significant embolisms is due to the small diameter of the probe, which prevents the intramedullar pressure from rising when the probe is introduced. A further reason could be the controlled expansion of the ice front in the bone, which prevents intramedullar pressure from peaking, and hence bone marrow or adipose tissue from being pressed out of the marrow cavity.
As expected, we did not observe any decrease in body temperature after cryosurgery as was reported for small animals such as mice and rats [26]. The minimal reduction in body temperature which we did see towards the end of the operation can be explained by the normal cooling of the body despite a heating pad. We believe that the more pronounced decrease in body temperature in small animals is due to their smaller body volume, next to which the cryoprobe is comparatively much larger. Hence, the results of our trials with large animals can be extrapolated more readily to human patients than can results from similar trials with small animals, and a significant decrease in body temperature is not to be expected in human patients.
Except for hemoglobin, all blood chemistry values remained essentially unchanged during the operation. The drop in hemoglobin by on the average 0.5 g/dl is not clinically significant.
Clinical follow-up revealed one serious wound infection, which underscores the tendency these wounds have for infection [20]. Even so, it would seem to us that the risk of infection can be controlled with perioperative administration of antibiotics, as is also evident from the histology of the treated bone sections, none of which developed acute inflammation. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that the tissue treated here was healthy bone in animals with an intact immune system, and a higher infection rate must be expected when applying this method to patients with advanced malignancy.
Convalescence after cryosurgery is associated with changes in bone stability, a topic which few studies have addressed so far. Gage et al. (1967) reported 11 spontaneous fractures in 20 dogs, where the entire cross-section of the femur was frozen over a length of 4.5–7 cm [9]. Further studies report a maximum reduction in bone stability some 8 weeks after cryosurgery [27, 20]. The absence of fractures in our trial shows that limiting bone necrosis by controlled freezing and minimum tissue loss when introducing the cryoprobe helps minimise the reduction in bone stability, and hence prevent fractures. To be sure, the size of a tumour dictates the extent of the freezing zone, so that stabilising measures may be necessary.
In conclusion the use of modern miniature cryoprobes for cryoablation of bone tissue seems to be a gentle method, and the complications reported for earlier systems did not occur in this study. Therefore, this cryosurgical technique has a pontential in human subjects and could be usefull either to complement conventional resections, or else as a minimally invasive alternative procedure.
Malawer MM, Bickels J, Meller I, Buch RG, Henshaw RW, Kollender Y: Cryosurgery in the treatment of giant cell tumor. A long-term followup study. Clin Orthop. 1999, 359: 176-188. 10.1097/00003086-199902000-00019.
Marcove RC, Miller TR, Cahan WC: The treatment of primary and metastatic bone tumors by repetitive freezing. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1968, 44 (5): 532-544.
Marcove RC, Miller TR: Treatment of primary and metastatic bone tumors by cryosurgery. JAMA. 1969, 207 (10): 1890-1894. 10.1001/jama.207.10.1890.
Marcove RC, Weis LD, Vaghaiwalla MRT, Pearson R, Huvos AG: Cryosurgery in the Treatment of Giant Cell Tumors of the bone. Cancer. 1978, 41: 957-969.
Marcove RC, Weis LD, Vaghaiwalla MR, Pearson R: Cryosurgery in the treatment of giant cell tumors of bone: a report of 52 consecutive cases. Clin Orthop. 1978, 134: 275-289.
Marcove RC, Sheth DS, Brien EW, Huvos AG, Healey JH: Conservative surgery for giant cell tumors of the sacrum. The role of cryosurgery as a supplement to curettage and partial excision. Cancer. 1994, 74 (4): 1253-60.
Schreuder HW, Conrad EU, Bruckner JD, Howlett AT, Sorensen LS: Treatment of simple bone cysts in children with curettage and cryosurgery. J Pediatr Orthop. 1997, 17 (6): 814-820. 10.1097/00004694-199711000-00022.
Schreuder HW, van Egmond J, van Beem HB, Veth RP: Monitoring during cryosurgery of bone tumors. J Surg Oncol. 1997, 65 (1): 40-45. 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9098(199705)65:1<40::AID-JSO8>3.0.CO;2-O.
Schreuder HW, Pruszczynski M, Veth RP, Lemmens JA: Treatment of benign and low-grade malignant intramedullary chondroid tumours with curettage and cryosurgery. Eur J Surg Oncol. 1998, 24 (2): 120-6. 10.1016/S0748-7983(98)91459-7.
Gage AA, Greene GW, Neiders ME, Emmings FG: Freezing bone without excision. An experimental study of bone-cell destruction and manner of regrowth in dogs. JAMA. 1966, 196: 770-774. 10.1001/jama.196.9.770.
Schreuder HW, van Beem HB, Veth RP: Venous gas embolism during cryosurgery for bone tumors. J Surg Oncol. 1995, 60 (3): 196-200.
Russe W, Kerschbaumer F, Bauer R: Kryochirurgie in der Orthopädie. Orthopäde. 1984, 13 (2): 142-150.
Hewitt PM, Zhao J, Akhter J, Morris DL: A Comparative Laboratory Study of Liquid Nitrogen and Argon Gas Cryosurgery Systems. Cryobiology. 1997, 35: 303-308. 10.1006/cryo.1997.2039.
Popken F, Bertram C, Land M, König DP, Bilgic M, Jeschkeit S, Hackenbroch MH, Fischer JH: The cryosurgical ablation of bone tissue by means of a new miniature cryoprobe – adaption of the method for an in-vitro and in-vivo application to bone. Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 2001, 139: 64-69. 10.1055/s-2001-11872.
Popken F, Bertram C, König DP, Rütt J, Land M, Hackenbroch MH: The cryosurgical ablation of bone tissue by means of a new miniture cryoprobe – adaption of the method for an in-vitro and in-vivo application to bone. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2002, 122 (3): 129-133. 10.1007/s00402-001-0371-6.
Popken F, Land M, Bosse M, Erberich H, Meschede P, König DP, Fischer JH, Eysel P: Cryosurgery in long bones by means of a new miniature cryoprobe: An experimental in vivo study of the cryosurgical temperature field in sheep. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2003, 29 (6): 542-547. 10.1016/S0748-7983(03)00069-6.
Kerschbaumer F, Weiser G, Neuerer G, Russe W, Bauer R: Cryolesions of Bone. An Experimental Study. Part I: Examinations in technique of controlled cryolesion in bone. Arch Orthop Traumat Surg. 1980, 96: 5-9. 10.1007/BF01246134.
Oeseburg HB: Cryochirurgische behandeling van enkele beentumoren. Proschrift. 1977, Groningen
Schlag G, Schliep HJ, Dingeldein E, Grieben A, Ringsdorf W: Does methylmethacrylate induce cardiovascular complications during alloarthroplastic surgery of the hip joint?. Anaesthesist. 1976, 25 (2): 60-7.
Kerschbaumer F, Krösel P, Schlag G: Cryogenic surgery of the bone – examinations of hemodynamics and tissue. Beitr Orthop u Traumatol. 1982, 29: 134-139.
Popovic AD, Milovanovic B, Neskovic AN, Pavlovski K, Putnikovic B, Hadzagic I: Detection of massive pulmonary embolism by transesophageal echocardiography. Cardiology. 1992, 80 (2): 94-99.
van der Wouw PA, Bax M: Images in clinical medicine. Massive pulmonary embolism. N Engl J Med. 1997, 6, 336 (6): 416-10.1056/NEJM199702063360605.
Myers RS, Hammond WG, Ketcham AS: A method for cryosurgical investigation of mouse tumors. Int Surg. 1969, 52 (3): 232-233.
Fisher AD, Williams DF, Bradley PF: The effect of cryosurgery on the strength of bone. Br J Oral Surg. 1978, 15: 215-222. 10.1016/0007-117X(78)90003-3.
This study was performed with approval of the local animal care committee and supported by the Köln Fortune Programm/Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Germany.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cologne, Josef-Stelzmann-Str. 9, 50931, Cologne, Germany
Frank Popken
, Peter Meschede
, Timmo Koy
& Peer Eysel
Institute of Pathology, University of Cologne, Josef-Stelzmann-Str. 9, 50931, Cologne, Germany
Heike Erberich
Institute of Experimental Medicine, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 10, 50931, Köln, Germany
Marfalda Bosse
& Jürgen H Fischer
Search for Frank Popken in:
Search for Peter Meschede in:
Search for Heike Erberich in:
Search for Timmo Koy in:
Search for Marfalda Bosse in:
Search for Jürgen H Fischer in:
Search for Peer Eysel in:
Correspondence to Frank Popken.
FP and PM carried out the operations and drafted the manuscript. MB and TK carried out the hole perioperativ treatment of the animals and the monitoring throughout the intra- and perioperative phase. HE performed the histological investigations. JHF participated in the design of the study and performed the statistical analysis. PE conceived of the study, and participated in its design and coordination. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Central Venous Pressure
Pulmonary Artery Pressure
Nadroparin
Animal Trial
Access Hole | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1006 |
__label__wiki | 0.649358 | 0.649358 | / Cory Doctorow / 10:35 am Mon Nov 14, 2016
Anish Kapoor banned from using world's pinkest pink in retaliation for hoarding the blackest black
Anish Kapoor -- last seen in these parts when he apparently insisted that it was illegal for people in Chicago to take pictures in their public park if they captured a sculpture that had been donated to the city -- got a nanotech company called Nanosystems to promise him the exclusive right to paint with their Vantablack pigment, which uses carbon nanotubes to absorb 99.96% of visible light.
In retaliation, UK artist Stuart Semple has released the world's most vivid pink, which he developed over a decade's work with global paint labs. The paint is available from one supplier, Culture Hustle, and in order to buy it, you must promise that "You are not Anish Kapoor, you are in no way affiliated to Anish Kapoor, you are not purchasing this item on behalf of Anish Kapoor or an associate of Anish Kapoor. To the best of your knowledge, information and belief this paint will not make its way into the hands of Anish Kapoor."
The more a paint reflects light the more fluorescent it becomes, and Semple's PINK is very reflective, meaning it gives off a very powerful fluorescence. "The pink already chucks out bucket loads of light but then we made it water soluble so it can be used as a paint and that took it up a notch." explains the artist. "Basically, now it pretty much glows. Whilst Anish's absorbs nearly all light, mine reflects it, kind of the antithesis of what his is doing."
So what does Anish Kapoor think of all this? Has Semple told him? Will there be some kind of paint-off between the two colors? "One of my friends is good friends with a friend of Anish's and apparently he's desperate to get his hands on some PINK, " notes Semple. "But I'm not budging till he shares the black. He started it!"
Anish Kapoor is Banned From Buying the World's Pinkest Paint [Kevin Holmes/The Creators Project]
art / color / Copyfight / fuck anish kapoor / material science / nanotech / none more black
Cooperative porno copyright troll gets 5 years in prison, while his co-conspirator got 14 years
Last month, Paul Hansmeier was sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay $1.5m in restitution for the copyright trolling his firm, Prenda Law, engaged in: the firm used a mix of entrapment, blackmail, identity theft, intimidation and fraud to extort millions from its victims by threatening to drag them into court for […]
Judge rules that EFF's DRM lawsuit can proceed!
In 2016, EFF sued the US Government on behalf of Andrew "bunnie" Huang and Matthew Green, both of whom wanted to engage in normal technological activities (auditing digital security, editing videos, etc) that put at risk from Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Pacman in 512 bytes
Pillman is Oscar "Nanochess" Toledo's reimplementation of Pacman ("a game about a yellow man eating pills") in 512 bytes -- small enough to fit in a boot sector -- written in 8088 assembler. (via Four Short Links) | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1008 |
__label__wiki | 0.526333 | 0.526333 | LEILA GEORGE talks MORTAL ENGINES
Dave Griffiths March 19, 2019
Leila George is clearly an actress on the rise. The daughter of acting royalty – Vincent D’Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket, Men In Black) and Great Scacchi (The Player, Emma) the young actress is now wowing audiences in the new film from producer Peter Jackson – the sci-fi epic Mortal Engines.
In Mortal Engines George plays Katherine Valentine the daughter of the ambitious Thaddeus (Hugo Weaving) who is destined to make a name for herself and has her eye on her friend, young historian Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan). HEAVY Mag recently had a chat with George to find out what it was like being able to act in a film with such huge scale.
“I didn’t get the script until I already had the part,” says George when we talk about what it was like to sit down and read through the script of a film so epic. “I read the book after my first call back and I absolutely loved it. I loved the whole world in it so much that I actually read the entire book in one day. I was immediately drawn to the character of Katherine Valentine because I immediately related to her and from there I was just so excited. I was excited because of the people behind the movie Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Christian Rivers and the whole team have a pretty good track record so I knew whatever they were going to do with it was going to look incredible and reading the book and seeing all the possibilities that they could do with it was extremely exciting because I was just like ‘wow this is going to be huge.’”
ALSO CHECK THIS OUT! THE POPCORN CONSPIRACY Ep #10: Sicario 2 & The Equalizer 2
“Then when I read the script I could see that they had done the book so much justice,” she continues. “The audition process was a couple of months long because they was such a huge gap between my first audition and my second and third call-backs. Then it was another month before I was told that I had the part and I can remember exactly where I was when I got the email. I drive past that spot in L.A. sometimes and it will forever be the spot where my life was changed for the better. I couldn’t believe it, I literally couldn’t believe it and it didn’t hit me until I was really there. It hit me when I landed in New Zealand and I was taken around the set and I was just blown away by what the artistic department and everybody over there had done.”
You can listen to our full Leila George interview on Spotify. Mortal Engines is out now in cinemas.
Dave Griffiths
Dave has worked as a music & film journalist for over 20 years now. Aside from Heavy he does radio and various podcasts as well. He is the proud owner of Metal Cat.
The Popcorn Conspiracy Ep #042 – SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
Film Review: Yesterday
HEAVY MAG live from the “SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME” world premiere
The Popcorn Conspiracy Ep #040: “TOY STORY 4”
action Christian Rivers fantasy Fran Walsh Greta Scacchi Hugo Weaving Leila George Mortal Engines Peter jackson Philiipa Boyens Robert Sheehan sci-fi Vincent D'Onofrio | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1014 |
__label__wiki | 0.753236 | 0.753236 | Remainder Bin
This handsome but rather humdrum Spanish-UK adaptation of Penelope Fitzgerald’s novel stars Emily Mortimer as a determined widow in 1959 Suffolk who faces down the usual assortment of village naysayers to open a small bookstore. Bill Nighy and Patricia Clarkson lend able support as, respectively, a reclusive bibliophile who champions the new business and a wealthy, politically connected so-and-so intent on sabotaging same.
After reading a book, Florence Green (Mortimer) “loved taking long walks to clear her mind of all the emotions and feelings that had started within her,” we’re told in stilted narration that reads as if it’s lifted verbatim from the source novel.
Though pi ctorially arresting and earnestly performed by all, “The Bookshop” ultimately disappoints as standard PBS Masterpiece fare. Directed and scripted by Spain’s Isabel Coixet (“Learning to Drive”) and filmed in Northern Ireland, this modest character piece feels at once self-consciously arty (Florence recalls her late hubby in soft-focus flashbacks; Nighy’s Mr. Brundish breaks the fourth wall) and as studied as a John Constable pastoral that creaks to life.
Florence’s tentative approach to Brundish’s front gate, right down to the skewed Dutch angle, owes something to classic David Lean. Indeed, sub the mysterious Brandish for the thwarted Miss Haversham in Lean’s adaptation of Dickens’ “Great Expectations” and you’ll catch my meaning.
Another problem, this modest import is chock-a-block with signpost red herrings that cause us to expect the worst, something more sinister and perverse, like the school gossip that leads to suicide in Lillian Hellman’s “Children’s Hour.” Among these strategically placed dud mines: a stash of naughty postcards, a possibly dangerous paraffin heater, late afternoon tête-à-têtes between a local poet (James Lance) and Florence’s precocious 10-year-old assistant (Honor Kneafsey), who, as an adult, turns out to be the story’s narrator.
Florence turns Brundish on to Ray Bradbury by ordering “Fahrenheit 451.” He reassures her that Nabokov’s “Lolita” is a lot more than sensationalist smut and should be prominently displayed in her window. Why a bookshop owner looking to win over inhospitable locals would take such a risk is anybody’s guess.
Reading, a passion for the written word, is hardly what you’d call cinematic. Which is why, apart from “84 Charing Cross Road,” Truffaut’s 1966 adaptation of “Fahrenheit 451,” and a handful of other titles, it’s hard to come up with mainstream films on the subject. The trick is to approach the theme tangentially, use it as a metaphor for something else, like unrequited love or dystopian repression. Coixet and company have small-town hypocrites in their sights but, alas, in the end prove too polite to pull the trigger.
THE BOOKSHOP ✮✮ With Emily Mortimer, Bill Nighy, Patricia Clarkson. Scripted, directed by Isabel Coixet from Penelope Fitzgerald novel. Rated PG. 113 min. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1015 |
__label__cc | 0.582763 | 0.417237 | CineVoly
Tejaswi Madivada Biography, Age, Affairs, Boyfriend, Family, Wiki, Caste, Movies, Physical stats & More
Posted on March 22, 2019 Written by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment
Tejaswi Madivada Biography is the best articles, Which will attract you in all way. She is a popular model and Indian film actress who works in Telugu film industry. She is one of the most stunning Girls in the reality show where she was the contestant in Big boss Telugu 2 house.
Tejaswi Madivada Biography
Real Name: Tejaswi Madivada
Nickname: Teju
Profession(s): Actress, Model
Famous For: Her role as “Renu” in the Telegu film ‘Ice Cream’ (2014)
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)
centimeters: 163 cm
meters: 1.63 m
feet inches: 5’ 4”
Weight (approx.)
kilograms: 55 kg
pounds: 121 lbs
Figure Measurements: 32-26-32
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Date of Birth: 3 July 1991
Age (as in 2017): 26 Years
Birthplace: Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Zodiac sign/Sun sign: Cancer
Hometown: Hyderabad, Telangana, India
School(s): Hyderabad Public School, Hyderabad
Nasr School for Girls, Hyderabad
College/University: St. Francis Degree College For Women, Hyderabad
Educational Qualification: B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism
Debut Film: Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2013)
Web Series: Mana Mugguri Love Story (2017)
TV: Bigg Boss Telegu 2 (2018)
Religion: Hinduism
Caste: Naidu
Hobbies: Dancing, Photography, Running, Trekking
Tattoo Left Wrist: Maa has written in Hindi
Controversy: Her nude scenes in Ram Gopal Varma’s horror fiction ‘Ice Cream’ stirred controversy.
Boys, Affairs and More
Marital Status: Unmarried
Affairs/Boyfriends: Not Known
Husband/Spouse: N/A
Father: Not Known
Mother: Bani Singh
Food: Pani Puri
Actor(s): Mahesh Babu, Nani, Hrithik Roshan, Chris Hemsworth
Actress: Samantha Akkineni
Director(s): Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Puri Jagannadh
Film(s): Tamasha, Taare Zameen Par
Singer/Band(s): Eminem, Green Day, Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown
TV Show(s): Narcos, The Night Of, Tom, and Jerry, So You Think You Can Dance
Tejaswi Madivada was born on 3rd July 1991 in Hyderabad, Telangana, and India. She was born to a middle-class Naidu Hindu family of Hyderabad. Tejaswi Madivadacompleted her schoolings in Hyderabad Public School and NSR School for girls in Hyderabad. She did her BA in mass communication and journalism at St Francis Degree College for a woman which is situated in Hyderabad.
Personal details and hobbies
Tejaswi Madivada looks so glamorous since she is a born dancer she keeps her body fit and she is more conscious in her personality she looks bubbly lively and also more cheerful her height is 163 CM and weight is 55 kg, eye color is dark brown and her hair color is black.
Her hobbies are dancing, photography, trekking and running. Her most favorite food is Pani Puri and always she loves to hear music’s and she is very fond of watching American TV shows and her favorite cartoon shows Tom and Jerry.
As a Journalist
Tejaswi Madivada girl from Hyderabad is a born dancer and she started her career as a Journalist she was an average student in her school days and she successfully completed her schooling and she did her graduation in BA Mass communication during those days she was very interested in dancing she danced herself by playing songs and she participated in all the cultural activities in her school and college days and also she has worked as a freelance dance instructor for twist and turns organization.
As a Choreographer
When she was doing her college days she worked as the choreographer for MNC companies like Wipro, HSBC, and Franklin Templeton. Tejaswi Madivada during her college days she was a very good athlete player and also she was a basketball player in her college days, she will enthusiastically participate in all the events which are conducted in college and school days.
Tejaswi was very interested in modeling field so side by side she was also preparing for the modeling contests by the year 2011 she participated in the Deccan beauty contest and in that she was the second runner-up in Miss Dabur Gulabari beauty contest.
After completing her graduation she started working in Times of India as a journalist and while the time she was working as a journalist she got a chance luckily to feature in a 7up commercial add along with Allu Arjun, she was very happy and she accepted the offer to act in that commercial add. She successfully completed the commercial add and after that, she decided to become an actress. Initially, she started her acting career by the year 2013 in Telugu movie cinema Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu.
Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
In 2013 her first project was Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu produced and directed by Srikanth Addala, leading stars in this movie are Daggubati Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Anjali, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Tejaswi Madivada played as a Geeta sister’s role. Music composer is Mickey j Meyer and this movie was released on 11th January 2013.
In 2014 she acted in Telugu movie Manam which was directed by Vikram Kumar and leading stars played in this movie are Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Tejaswi Madivada played as a Dhivya character, Music composer is Anup Rubens and P S Vinod is the cinematographer this movie was released on 23rd May 2014 by Annapurna studios production company.
In 2014 her next project was a Telugu romantic movie Heart Attack directed by Puri Jagannath leading stars in this movie are Nitin and Adah Sharma, music composer is Anup Rubens and this movie was released on 31st January 2014.
In 2014 her next Telugu project was Ice Cream which was written and directed by Ram Gopal Varma, leading stars played in this movie are Navdeep and Tejaswi Madivada, music composer is Pradypthan and this movie was released on 12th July 2014.
Anukshanam
Her next project in 2014 was Anukshanam which was written and directed by Ram Gopal Varma, leading stars in this movie are Vishnu Manchu and Tejaswi Madivada this movie was released on 13th September 2014.
Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju
The next project in 2015 is a Telugu romantic movie Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju directed by Kranthi Madhav leading stars in this movie are Sharwanand Nithya Menon and Tejaswi Madivada, music composer is Gopi sunder and Gnana Shekar is cinematographer this movie was released on 6th February 2015.
Pandaga Chesko
Next Telugu project is Pandaga Chesko directed by Gopichand Malineni, leading stars played in this movie are Ram Rakul Preet Singh and Tejaswi Madivada played as a Swati character this movie was released on 29th May 2015.
Kerintha
Next Telugu project in 2015 is Kerintha directed by Sai Kiran Adivi, leading stars in this movie are Sumanth Ashwin, Vishwanath, Sri Divya, And Tejaswi Madivada. Music composer is Mickey j Meyer and Vijay C Chakravarthy is a cinematographer this movie was released on 12th June 2015.
Subramanyam
Her next movie is Subramanyam for Sale directed by Harish Shankar, leading stars played in this movie are Sai Dharam Tej, Regina Cassandra, and Tejaswi Madivada. Music composer Mickey j Meyer and Ramprasad is a cinematographer this movie was released on 24th September 2015.
Srimanthudu
In 2015 next Telugu action movie is Srimanthudu written and directed by Koratala Siva, leading stars in this movie are Mahesh Babu, Shruti Hassan, and Tejaswi Madivada. Music composer is Devi Sri Prasad and this movie was released on 7th August 2015 by Mahesh Babu entertainment Private limited company.
Naanna Nenu Naa Boyfriends
Her next project in 2016 is Naanna Nenu Naa Boyfriends directed by Bhaskar Pandey, leading stars played in this movie are Hebah Patel, Rao Ramesh, and Tejaswi Madivada. Music composer is Shekar Chandra this movie was released on 16th December 2016 by Sri Venkateswara Creations Production Company.
In 2017 her next project was a Telugu action romance movie Mister directed by Srinu Vaitla leading stars played in this movie are Varun Tej, Lavanya Tripathi, Hebah Patel, and Tejaswi Madivada. Music composer Mickey j Meyer and this movie were released on 14th April 2017.
Bala Krishnudu Telugu
Her next movie in 2017 is Bala Krishnudu Telugu romantic movie directed by Pavan Mallela leading stars played in this movie are Nara Rohit, Regina Cassandra, and Tejaswi Madivada music composer is Mani Sharma and Vijay C Kumar is cinematographer this movie was released on 24th November 2017.
In 2018 she participated in a reality show Big Boss Telugu 2 which was telecasted in Star Maa channel and she played very well in the reality show, unfortunately, she was evicted on the day 42.
Filed Under: Actors/ Actress Profile Tagged With: actress, Tejaswi Madivada
Shabana Shajahan Biography,Wiki, Images, Qualification & More
Posted on March 21, 2019 Written by Editorial Staff 1 Comment
Shabana Shajahan Biography is very attractive articles. She is a famous Indian film actress and model who works in Malayalam and Tamil television industry. She had become a very popular person after acting in a Tamil serial Sembaruthi.
Shabana Shajahan Biography
Name: Shabana Shajahan
Other Name: Shabanaa, Shabbo, Shabanaa Shahjahan
Date of Birth: 29th August 1997
Home Town: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Current City: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Father Name: N/A
Mother Name: N/A
School: Holy Cross Convent School, Kalyan
College/University: Sikkim Manipal University
Qualification: BBA
Height: 5feet
Occupation: Television Actress, Anchor
Debut: Vijayadashami
Source of earnings: Serials
Hobbies: Modeling, Dancing
Shabana Shajahan was born on 29th August 1997; she was born and brought up from Kerala India. Shabana was born to a Malayali parent and her real name is Shabana Shajahan and her nickname is Shabana, Shaboo, and Parvati. She completed her schoolings in holy Cross Angel School which is situated in Mumbai Maharashtra and currently Shabana is doing her second year BBA degree in Sikkim Manipal University by distinct education.
Shabana Shajahan is very so cute actress and her way of expression during her acting is very excellent. Her height is 5 feet and her weight is 54 kg her hobbies are dancing, singing and doing dubs mash.
Shabana Shajahan is a popular television actress, anchor, and model. During her school days onwards she was very much interested in acting and also she is very much interested in her extra-curricular activities she will enthusiastically participate in the all the activities which are conducted in the schools and college days. She is also good in her studies, she is a very sportive person she always keeps her face smiling and she will make others happy also.
Unfortunately, Shabana Shajahan left her father in her younger age itself since he died due to an accident when Shabana Shajahan was very small and now currently Shabana Shajahan lives with her mother and her brother in Mumbai Maharashtra.
Shabana Shajahan from her earlier days onwards she is very much interested in the field of modeling she loves to dance always she has practiced dance by herself since from younger age onwards she has the practice of dancing by her own and she had participated in all the cultural events which were conducted in her school days.
Shabana Shajahan started her career as an anchor and dancer for birthday parties in hotels, Shabana Shajahan is very fond of dancer Shobana, she is very interested to meet dancer Shobana since she loves her dancing.
And she is also very much fan of actor Vijay in the shooting spot she used to enjoy herself and make others happy saying that she is the sister of actor Vijay her only aim is she has to do a film as a sister role to actor Vijay.
She is a very funny girl she keeps her face always in smiling cute chubby cheeks round eyes and her expression will make others fall on her. Though Shabana Shajahan has faced a lot of struggles and troubles in her life still she will not show any of the struggles in her face, she will always entertain herself in the set and during the leisure time she used to do dub mash with her friends.
Entering into acting
She loves dancing she dances very well initially she started her career as a dancer and she thought of continuing as a dancing career but unfortunately she got the opportunity to act in Malayalam serial initially she was unhappy to enter into the serial industry but still she accepted and after completing that Malayalam serial she got an opportunity in Tamil Zee channel initially she refused to accept the role and after that she loved that story and she is also very interested to act in Tamil language.
Sembaruthi Serial
Though Shabana was born and brought up in Mumbai Maharashtra she loves and speaking Tamil. She fluently speaks Tamil and later on, she was set in the acting career. Shabana started acting as a lead role opposite to Karthik Raj in the serial Sembaruthi.
She was very scared how Tamil people will accept me will they like me and all and after when the first week telecasting was gone in the Tamil serial Sembaruthi. Shabana was very happy to see the response from the audience in a very big positive manner and She used to get many Instagram posts and Facebook posts as a positive reply.
Shabana’s Dedication & her thankfulness
She was very happy that Tamil audience has accepted her warmly and she thank them always for supporting her and without them, she is not here she thanks zee Tamil audience for giving the huge response for the Sembaruthi serial.
Shabana was appreciated by the director that most of the takes for her will be a single take in the shooting spot she will complete her acting in a single take itself she is such a talented actress, she has the grasping power and her way of expression in her face is extraordinary, she will enter in to the character and will start acting.
She will be new to acting she will act as if she has done many projects and currently she is getting many offers from the film industry but she couldn’t concentrate on that since all seven days she is busy in television serials shooting so she could not accept the offers from the film industry she is very happy and she thanks the Tamil audience for accepting her performance and her acting in this Tamil industry world.
Popular TV Actress
Now she is a popular TV actress in the industry and gets a huge positive response from the audience. She is a very good expressional queen. Her Sembaruthi serial has become very popular. This serial is in the first position in the Tamil Television industry. When compared to other serials only because of her this has become more famous. There are huge numbers of fan followers all over the world.
She has also won many awards for the serial Sembaruthi. She is very happy that she was awarded as a best television actress role in Zee Tamil awards.
Her acting career was started in a Malayalam channel she acted in Vijayalakshmi serial.
And currently, now she is doing Sembaruthi serial. Which is telecasted in Zee Tamil channel as a lead role opposite to Karthik Raj.
Filed Under: Actors/ Actress Profile Tagged With: actress, Shabana Shajahan
Sharanya Turadi Sundaraj Biography, Photos, News Reporter, Physical Stats, Wiki & More
Sharanya Turadi Sundaraj Biography is one of the best articles which will cover the reader in the most attractive way. She is a popular television actress and she was also a news reporter and program presenter. Now she is popularly doing a female … [Continue reading]
Filed Under: Actors/ Actress Profile Tagged With: actress, Sharanya Sundaraj
Dhanya Balakrishna Biography, Wiki, Age, Images, Movie List & More
Dhanya Balakrishna Biography is one of the best articles we published. She is a popular Indian actress she works in Telugu and Tamil films. She is so popular girl in modeling and acting. Dhanya Balakrishna Biography Real Name: Dhanya … [Continue reading]
Filed Under: Actors/ Actress Profile Tagged With: actress, Dhanya Balakrishna
Sameera Sherief Biography, Physical Stats, Body Measurement, Husband, Images, Serial List & More
Sameera Sherief Biography is one of the best articles. She is a popular South Indian television actress who works in Tamil and Telugu serials she has become very popular as a television actress. Sameera Sherief Biography Real Name: Sameera … [Continue reading]
Filed Under: Actors/ Actress Profile Tagged With: actress, sameera sherief
Copyright © 2019 · Focus Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1016 |
__label__wiki | 0.594855 | 0.594855 | Arditti Quartet - Nancarrow and Ligeti, 22 April 2012
Nancarrow – String Quartet no.1
Ligeti – String Quartet no.2
Nancarrow (arr. Paul Usher) – Player Piano Study no.33
Irvine Arditti, Ashot Sarkissjan (violins)
Ralf Ehlers (viola)
Lucas Fels (cello)
This concert was the last event in a full weekend of events at the Southbank Centre, entitled, ‘Impossible Brilliance: The Music of Conlon Nancarrow’. It may seem perverse to have attended only a concert without player piano music, but such was what my schedule allowed, and I was keen to hear at least something. Nevertheless, it was a pity to have missed the complete studies for player piano and a London Sinfonietta concert that programmed Nancarrow with Cage, Ligeti, and James Tenney, not to mention the parallel-running conference.
Though Nancarrow wrote three string quartets, the second is apparently not only unfinished but also unperformable. If that sounds like a challenge waiting to be surmounted, then we should doubtless bear in mind that the Arditti Quartet is not known for flinching in the face of such challenges. The first quartet is an early work, written just before the composer’s turn away from live performers. I was struck by the tonal characteristics of its harmony, as well as the harbingers of things to come: canon, of course, but also simultaneous use of different tempos. What registered perhaps most strongly, both in terms of work and performance, was the primacy of rhythm, its propelling force of liberation undeniable, though the relative repose of the second movement nurtured a melodic gift to a degree one might almost consider ‘conventional’, were that not so loaded a term. Nancarrow apparently showed the work to the Ardittis at the greatly-missed Almeida Festival in London, and the players, to the composer’s astonishment, sight-read it without obvious difficulty. There was certainly no impression here of anything other than a quartet in the bones of the players.
Ligeti’s astonishing second quartet followed, doubtless a tribute to Ligeti’s role in bringing Nancarrow and his music to greater attention, though this 1968 work was written more than a decade before Ligeti encountered the composer’s music (1980). This again is prime Arditti territory. Correspondences between Ligeti and Nancarrow were evident in context, though as Tim Rutherford-Johnson notes in the programme, ‘whilst Nancarrow de-mechanised his music when writing for string quartet, Ligeti sought to mechanise it.’ That said, and whilst one noted the use of canon as an obvious point in common, Ligeti’s music, even when mechanised, above all in ticking third movement, Come uno meccanismo de precisione, sounded wondrously free. Clocks and clouds worked their magic in what must surely rank as one of the greatest successors to Bartók and Webern in the twentieth-century quartet repertoire. This was every bit as fine a performance as that I heard from the Arditti Quartet at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival.
Nancarrow’s Third, described by Rutherford-Johnson as ‘possibly Nancarrow’s most significant statement for live performers’, received an equally thrilling performance. There could be no doubt that this was mature Nancarrow, despite the ‘concessions’, for want of a better word, necessary to render it playable. Once again the primacy of rhythm and canonic writing was audible for the most naïve of first-time listeners. Yet, at a certain point, one could hardly fail also to register the use of other, more obvious ‘string-based’ techniques, and more importantly their expressive content: the harmonics of the second movement, for instance. The music hurtles along, threatening to break down, but never once did it do so in performance from the group for which it was written. Finally, we heard Paul Usher’s transcription for string quartet of Nancarrow’s Study no.33. Its irrational tempo ratio (2:√2) renders, so far as any of us can imagine, ‘straight’ transcription impossible, let alone its performance by ‘live’ musicians. Apparently, a decision was made therefore ‘to work towards a “best fit” rather than complete accuracy’. Perhaps purists would say that defeats the purpose; perhaps it does. I can simply report, as anything but a Nancarrow expert, that the result in live performance was exhilarating. If anything, I found myself still more caught up in the progress of the Ardittis’ performance than I had in the Nancarrow quartets themselves. The variety of texture was certainly as striking as that in the co-ordination – and otherwise! – of the third quartet.
Labels: Arditti Quartet, Conlon Nancarrow, Ligeti, Paul Usher, Southbank Centre
Theseus Ensemble/Paterson - Goehr and Carter, 30 A...
Teztlaff/LSO/Eötvös - Debussy, Szymanowski, and Sc...
Der fliegende Holländer, English National Opera, 2...
Don Giovanni: The Opera, RC Theatre Productions at...
Arditti Quartet - Nancarrow and Ligeti, 22 April 2...
Der Freischütz, LSO/Davis, 21 April 2012
Staatskapelle Berlin/Barenboim - Mozart and Bruckn...
Jakob Lenz, English National Opera, 19 April 2012
The King in Prussia: Frederick the Great and Opera...
Staatskapelle Berlin/Barenboim - Bruckner, 17 Apri...
Lulu, Staatsoper Berlin, 9 April 2012
Pape/Barenboim - Schubert, Wolf, Schumann, 8 April...
Le Cheval de bronze, Komische Oper, 7 April 2012
Filarmonica della Scala/Barenboim - Falla and Rave...
Theseus Ensemble concert: Goehr and Carter
Samantha Brick: The Opera?
Save the SWR Orchestras!
Berlin Staatsoper 2013 Festtage announced
LSO/Bychkov - Mahler, Symphony no.3, 1 April 2012 | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1030 |
__label__wiki | 0.909203 | 0.909203 | Patriot Missile
Neeraj Pandey, the ‘Thriller King’, returns with another adrenaline-pumping drama titled Aiyaary.
Nitesh Tiwari To Direct SSR
That Sajid Nadiadwala has roped in power-packed filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari of Dangal fame to direct his next production venture was known
Kangana’s South Connection
Kangana Ranaut appears to be distancing herself from Bollywood, slowly but steadily. It is common knowledge that the actress’ next film Manikarnika – Queen Of Jhansi is
Soorma To Get Postponed
Last week, we told you how two stellar biopics, one on hockey player Sandeep Singh titled Soorma, and the other of actor Sanjay Dutt,
A Housefull Of VFX
A few days ago, Akshay Kumar had announced that he had just started shooting for his next film, Kesari. After this Dharma Productions venture,
Hollywood Scares Bollywood?
Over the last few years, we’ve seen how Hollywood films have overpowered Hindi cinema from time to time. There have been many instances
Shraddha Opposite Shahid
Ever since it was announced that T-Series and KriArj Entertainment had teamed up to co-produce the Shahid Kapoor-starrer Batti Gul Meter Chalu,
Ekta, Alankrita Reunite
Ekta Kapoor has teamed up with Lipstick Under My Burkha director Alankrita Shrivastava once again, for the latter’s next film,
Zee Studios International’s Slate Revealed
Zee Studios International has announced their slate for 2018. Among the films in the pipeline are Parmanu, based on the nuclear bomb
A few days ago, Akshay Kumar had announced that he had just started shooting for his next film, Kesari.
Ever since it was announced that T-Series and KriArj Entertainment had teamed up to co-produce the Shahid Kapoor-starrer Batti Gul Meter Chalu, there has been plenty of speculation about who would pla
Ekta Kapoor has teamed up with Lipstick Under My Burkha director Alankrita Shrivastava once again, for the latter’s next film, which is currently being scripted. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1031 |
__label__wiki | 0.526527 | 0.526527 | Dukes Single Gets Orchestrated
The song "One," a piano single by Sarah Dukes in honor of Leiby Kletzky's yartzeit, has now been orchestrated. Full Story, Audio
Sarah Dukes, today a resident of Crown Heights, started playing piano when she was six years old and composed her first song —a playfully dramatic number called “Elephant in Tights”— at the mere age of eight.
Classically trained until she was 18, the North Carolina raised pianist increasingly turned to music and songwriting as a way of expressing herself, and by the time Sarah finished high school in Pittsburgh, PA, she had a stirring collection of original pieces that now make up her debut album, “Finding Forever.”
A completely self-taught composer, Sarah focused on enhancing her skills while studying at New York’s Yeshiva University. Working with professor of music and composer, Christopher Buchenholz, her prowess in composing music began to cement. As a result, Sarah suddenly found herself writing music that exceeded even her own technical mastery.
Unwilling to sacrifice the perfect execution of her songs for her debut album, she turned to world renowned pianist, composer, and musical director, Yaron Gershovsky, who performed and preserved the exact emotions and sound in Sarah’s mind.
Sarah’s songs “The Memory that Lives On” and “If Only” won awards in the Performing Arts Senior Division for the Pittsburgh JCC’s Annual Holocaust Arts and Writing Competition.
Sarah’s piano solos offer listeners soothing, melodic arrangements bursting with an emotional energy that is unmistakably straight from the heart.
Her popular single “One,” released last year as a piano solo in honor of the yartzeit of the slain Boro Park boy Leiby Kletzky OBM, has now been orchestrated and is available for download as a single.
Download is available on iTunes, amazon, and mostlymusic.
Hear more of Sarah’s music and stay updated on new releases by joining her fan page at www.facebook.com/sarahdukesmusic.
First Stop for Shluchim: The Ohel
Shidduch Panel Taking Questions
Tears in my eyes
This is a masterpiece! Well done Ms. Dukes!
Biggest fan!
Yay! I love your music and this single is so beautiful now with the orchestration!
When are you coming out with a new CD? Finding forever was the best!
Ummmm no IM your biggest fan
This. Is. Fantastic.
It is so calming and meaningful.
I will now commence playing it on repeat.
Thank you for sharing yet another one of your brilliant pieces with the world! Your CD plays on repeat in our home. May G-d bless you with continued success in filling the world with such beautiful music.
Beautiful and Special!
How do you do it?
Sarah, you are amazing! You inspire me so much and teach me that no matter how busy you are, you can still follow your dreams! You are beautiful inside and out, and this song is absolutely breathtaking- along with all your others! I can’t get enough of “Finding Forever”, and I am looking forward to the release of your second album! May you go from strength to strength!
I LOVE IT!!!!! Your music expresses such emotion
Thank you for writing this peaceful and at the same time flowing piece of music. Listening to it again and again; allows me to visualize the coming together of the whole Jewish community at such a stressful and challenging moment in time. Thank you.
Love love love her music!!! this stuff sounds like it could be from the top names out there…. soon to be Sarah Dukes!
So Moving!
We just love it – thank you for sharing such beauty with us. We’re so proud of all that you are accomplishing!
So relaxing!
Listening to this piece put me into a trance. It was so beautiful and really resonated with me. Keep up the good work!
I love listening to your pieces, Sarah. They remind me that we are simultaneously human and G-dly. May you be blessed to create many more compositions, and may their inspiration only grow in depth 🙂
WOW!!!!!!! Beautiful
there’s nothing like good instrumental music thank you Sarah Dukes I love your music
What is Jewish music? This is!
It comes from the heart of a Torah Jew, and it speaks to the highest part of a person. Well done.
Who needs Mozart when we have our very own!
”I have purchased every song available on iTunes! I love your music it is soulful and truly a work of art! Keep em coming.
Absolutely beautiful and hit me to the core!
Very beautiful and peaceful!!!!!
Beautiful Composition Sarah!
Love listening to your music. Continue to achieve your dreams.
All our love, The Gs
I usually don’t listen to orchestral music but this is incredible!!!
Light from within you
Your music brought tears to my eyes. You need no words, the music speaks for itself. Your inner light is truly reflected in your music. What a gift to the world!!!
Rishe
Magnificent.
When’s the full album coming out? | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1036 |
__label__cc | 0.720689 | 0.279311 | Hyunda
Honda Pilot 2016 Spy Photos Taken
The Honda Pilot is now aging rather and so this new model will be a welcome improvement. It was photographed while it was testing and it looked like the bodywork was production ready as it even had Honda badges on it. The sheetmetal is hard to make out though as the car does have rather a lot of camouflage on it.
The current model has been around since 2009 and it has remained pretty much the same apart from an update in 2012 when it had its grille removed. Six years ago it was way ahead of the competition but now its competition has gone for lighter models and it no longer looks current. It the most recent comparison list it was placed last and so it needs to re-establish itself in the market.
The platform in the past was shared with the Acura MDX luxury crossover and it looks like there will be the same done here. The prototype pictured shows more overhand at the back than previous Pilots have and the wheelbase to overhang ratio look very like that on the MDX. The roof looks longer which means that the third row of seats could be more spacious.
The camouflage does hide a lot and therefore it is not easy to see what it will look like. However, a few clues are there and it looks like there will be a mix of old and new features. The back lights look square like the current ones but the front lights are horizontal and sleek like those on the Accord. The front looks like it has a lot of grille openings, but until the camouflage is off it is hard to see for sure whether it will work or not. The Automoblox look of the previous model has certainly gone and it will look more like the CR-V and HR-V models.
There will just be a single engine with this model, like there is with the current one. This is very likely to be the 3.5 litre V6 which is injected and will work on the front wheels or all four. IT is expected that the AWD system will also be in there as the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive used in the Acura would be too expensive.
There are some choices that they could have with regards to transmission though. It is expected that the six speed automatic used by the Accord V-6 will be used by the Pilot. However, as fuel economy requirements are tougher they may be tempted to use the nine speed automatic from the 2015 Aura TLX V-6 sedan instead. However, Acura may want to keep that for itself but with it being so expensive then it may make more financial safe to use it other cars, such as the Pilot as well.
The Pilot will compete with the Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Highlander, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango. It is expected that it will devbut soon as the bodywork looks production ready and so it could appear at the Los Angeles Auto Show in the autumn and be in showrooms at the beginning of next year. It is expected that the price will not change that much as this part of the market is very competitive so is likely to have the same base price of $30,700.
Previous articleSpy Pictures of the 2017 Subaru Impreza
Next articleSpy Pictures of the 2015 Fiat 500X
eagleweb
2018 Honda Civic Si Release Date
Some spy-shots courtesy from Type-R Turkey of the new Civic
2017 Honda Civic Hatchback spy photo from Europe
Get new spy photos first
Delivery of FeedBurner
Do you have car spy photos and video?
Send them to us at the address
info@carsspyphotos.net
Help us to detecte car on the spyphotos.
2020 Audi RS Q3 test vehicle spotted
2020 MERCEDES-AMG A45 spy pictures and video
2020 PORSCHE 992 GT3 SPIED TESTING
2020 BMW X5M spy shots and video
For connoisseurs
Help us to define car on the spy shots.
Vitos on Car shots. Jeep?
Niki Truskowski on 2020 BMW X5M spy shots and video
Marcin on Help identify the new model from Copenhagen
Basle on Help identify the new model from Copenhagen
SoundProof Consultant on 5 Benefits to soundproofing your car
Spy photos of Audi from the Moscow region
Car shots. Jeep?
2020 BMW M2 CS spyshots and video
2020 MINI JOHN COOPER spyshots and video
© 2008-2018, Cars Spy Photos.net. All rights reserved Do you have car-spy-photos? Send them to us at the address info@carsspyphotos.net | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1039 |
__label__wiki | 0.798438 | 0.798438 | Details for: An anxious pursuit :
An anxious pursuit : agricultural innovation and modernity in the lower South, 1730-1815 / Joyce E. Chaplin.
By: Chaplin, Joyce E.
Contributor(s): Institute of Early American History and Culture (Williamsburg, Va.).
Material type: TextPublisher: Chapel Hill : Published for the Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia, by the University of North Carolina Press, c1993Description: xiv, 411 p. : ill., maps ; 25 cm.ISBN: 0807820849 (cloth : alk. paper); 9780807820841 (cloth : alk. paper); 0807846139 (pbk.); 9780807846131 (pbk.).Subject(s): Southern States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 | Southern States -- History -- 1775-1865 | Agriculture -- Southern States -- History | Slavery -- Southern States -- History | Plantation life -- Southern States -- History | Agriculture Southern History | Geschichte 1730-1815 | Plantation Southern History | Slavery Southern History | Southern History 1775-1865 | Southern History Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775Additional physical formats: Online version:: Anxious pursuit.; Online version:: Anxious pursuit.DDC classification: 975/.02 Other classification: 15.85 | 15.87
Ch. 1. Perspectives on the Development of a Plantation Region -- 1. Considering Modernity. Ch. 2. The Fate of Progress in the Early Lower South. Ch. 3. Being Exotic. Ch. 4. The Local Work Ethic. Ch. 5. Projects and Power -- 2. Realizing Modernity. Ch. 6. Crisis and Response: Indigo and Cotton. Ch. 7. Crisis and Response: Tidal Rice Cultivation. Ch. 8. Creating a Cotton South. Ch. 9. Factories and Fields -- Epilogue: Slavery, Progress, and the "Federo-national" Union.
Summary: In An Anxious Pursuit, Joyce Chaplin examines the impact of Enlightenment ideas of progress on the lives and minds of American planters in the colonial Lower South. She focuses particularly on the influence of Scottish notions of progress, tracing the extent to which planters in South Carolina, Georgia, and British East Florida perceived themselves as a modern, improving people. She reads developments in agricultural practice as indices of planters' desire for progress, and she demonstrates the central role played by slavery in their pursuit of modern life. By linking behavior and ideas, Chaplin has produced a work of cultural history that unites intellectual, social, and economic history.Summary: Using public records as well as planters' and farmers' private papers, Chaplin examines innovations in rice, indigo, and cotton cultivation as a window through which to see planters' pursuit of a modern future. She demonstrates that planters actively sought to improve their society and economy even as they suffered a pervasive anxiety about the corrupting impact of progress and commerce. The basis for their accomplishments and the root of their anxieties, according to Chaplin, were the same: race-based chattel slavery. Slaves provided the labor necessary to attain planters' vision of the modern, but the institution ultimately limited the Lower South's ability to compete in the contemporary world.Summary: Indeed, whites continued to wonder whether their innovations, some of them defied by slaves, truly improved the region. Chaplin argues that these apprehensions prefigured the antimodern stance of the antebellum period, but she contends that they were as much a reflection of the doubt inherent in theories of progress as an outright rejection of those ideas.
Book University of Texas At Tyler
Stacks - 3rd Floor F212 .C47 1993 (Browse shelf) Available 0000001834118
In An Anxious Pursuit, Joyce Chaplin examines the impact of Enlightenment ideas of progress on the lives and minds of American planters in the colonial Lower South. She focuses particularly on the influence of Scottish notions of progress, tracing the extent to which planters in South Carolina, Georgia, and British East Florida perceived themselves as a modern, improving people. She reads developments in agricultural practice as indices of planters' desire for progress, and she demonstrates the central role played by slavery in their pursuit of modern life. By linking behavior and ideas, Chaplin has produced a work of cultural history that unites intellectual, social, and economic history.
Using public records as well as planters' and farmers' private papers, Chaplin examines innovations in rice, indigo, and cotton cultivation as a window through which to see planters' pursuit of a modern future. She demonstrates that planters actively sought to improve their society and economy even as they suffered a pervasive anxiety about the corrupting impact of progress and commerce. The basis for their accomplishments and the root of their anxieties, according to Chaplin, were the same: race-based chattel slavery. Slaves provided the labor necessary to attain planters' vision of the modern, but the institution ultimately limited the Lower South's ability to compete in the contemporary world.
Indeed, whites continued to wonder whether their innovations, some of them defied by slaves, truly improved the region. Chaplin argues that these apprehensions prefigured the antimodern stance of the antebellum period, but she contends that they were as much a reflection of the doubt inherent in theories of progress as an outright rejection of those ideas.
Reviews provided by Syndetics
CHOICE Review
Debate over the economic character of the pre-Civil War South never ends. Some argue for a plantation South that was precapitalist and some argue that the same South was the leading edge of American capitalism, with world participation and considerable venture capital. Chaplin has entered the debate with a review of Enlightenment thought and southern applications of that thought. She offers a compelling analysis of the development of rice, indigo, and the cotton economies of South Carolina and Georgia, and an evocation of the constant search for innovation and the ever-present adaptation of Old World practices to the new. She concludes that the 18th- and early 19th-century South was very much aware of and dedicated to the prerequisites of capitalist enterprise. The Napoleonic Wars encouraged experimentation with diversification. The postwar decision to emphasize staple crop agriculture mirrored rational economic choice based on success and reflected a nationalist orientation of the post-Revolutionary planters. A wide variety of public and private records and an impressive familiarity with secondary literature help make this an important contribution to southern and Revolutionary era historiography. Advanced undergraduate; graduate; faculty. T. F. Armstrong; Francis Marion University | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1040 |
__label__cc | 0.693256 | 0.306744 | The Rule of St. Benedict: 7 Radical Values of Catholic Monasticism and their Secular Counterparts
Winifred Corrigan
Consecrated Life,History of the Church,Saints,World in Crisis
On July 11th in the Liturgical Calendar, and on March 21st in the pre-1970 calendar, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Benedict of Nursia, father of Western Monasticism. Saint Benedict’s name has garnered more attention of late due to the conversation across the Catholic and Christian blogosphere over Rod Dreher’s best-selling book, The Benedict Option.
Benedict was the son of a nobleman in the Umbrian region of what is now Italy, in the late 5th – early 6th century. As a young man, he left Rome and his prospects for a comfortable, urbane life and struck out upon a life as a hermit, eventually – if unintentionally at first – founding what 1500 years later we understand as the Western Monastic tradition. Saint Benedict is one of the patrons of Europe but is also venerated in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Many Catholics wear the blessed and exorcised St. Benedict Medal as a sacramental and devotional for protection.
Far beyond our compartmentalized notions of “the monastery” or “monasticism,” Saint Benedict can be credited with a great deal that we take for granted today. As an aside, I look forward to seeing Bishop Barron’s full episode on the patron saint of Europe as part of his Pivotal Players Series.
The providential life of Saint Benedict and “CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players” filming updates brought to you from inside the cave where 14-year-old Benedict began his monastic life. For exclusive YouTube videos that go deeper into these topics: https://PivotalPlayersFilming.com
Posted by Bishop Robert Barron on Tuesday, July 25, 2017
But in honor of one of my own most favorite saints, let’s look at the 7 core values of his “rule” for monks, which still, even for most of us – lay men and women who live in the world – have much to teach us about the necessarily counter-cultural life of a Christian disciple.
What struck me as I looked at this list was just how resonant these values are to the contemporary mind – Christian or not, Catholic or not, conservative or liberal, and so many other dichotomies and divisions we set up in our minds, boxes we like to put people in. Whether it’s the hipster who longs for authenticity, the Millenial who sees and suffers from the errors of his parents’ and grandparents’ generations, the ex-hippy Baby Boomer… these are simply HUMAN values, corresponding to the good, to nature (ours and the planet’s), to harmony and happiness. They are not the least bit “medieval” or out of touch; they speak to us NOW because they speak to the human heart – which is a miraculous phenomenon that does not “evolve”… it has a nature to it, so transcendent values like Truth, Beauty, Generosity, Goodness, Love, etc., always speak to human hearts, across time and cultures.
St. Benedict’s Rule vs. Worldly Ways:
1. Seeking God vs. Seeking material things
Even atheists, agnostics, and non-Christians today recognize the spiritual wreckage wrought by materialism. They might not realize or agree with the Catholic belief that God IS the alternative, but, it’s not as if we hear people advocating for blatant, greedy consumerism and materialism on the other hand. It’s simply ugly, and that sensibility is not exclusive to Catholics. Most of us instinctively understand that the unbridled desire for and accumulation of stuff is not good for us.
2. Concern for the Common Good vs. Individualism
Similar to #1, no? When you spell it out in black and white terms, don’t we have a certain aversion to individualism? This is probably – at least in part – what has made Socialism attractive (albeit erroneously so!) for so many of a certain younger generation who’ve never lived under a socialist regime… a pang of sincere sorrow over extreme socioeconomic inequality.
That being said, and though I’m neither a monastic, nor an economist, it’s so important to make two distinctions here: Smallness and God. A monastery (which is the unique and particular setting for St. Benedict’s rule) is a small, voluntary but highly regimented and even hierarchical context. In other words it is not a town, a city, a state, a country or a conglomerate. Furthermore, common-good concerns can be monitored, submitted to in love, and maintained in a monastery not just because of its small scale, but because of its members’ rootedness in the Sacraments, in prayer, in the Gospels, and in Christ. A community of monks is simply not comparable to a worldly equivalent on the level of the state. That being said, the family unit is a lay analogy. Authority, sharing, commitment to the well-being of the unit and sublimation of the individual ego for the sake of the marriage and the children… this communal appeal and function starts to make sense to us.
And perhaps another relatable analogy for many of us is team sports. If you’ve ever experienced that “sweet spot” when the whole becomes better than the sum of its parts, when a team of ostensibly incompatible characters get over themselves and their individual egos for the sake of the collective pursuit. A well-constructed, disciplined team can achieve something difficult and maybe delicate and beautiful together by renouncing selfishness. We get that. It rings true and attractive – even as we know it’s very hard to come by.
3. Commitment vs Non-involvement
Slogans and cliches today like “lean in,” or “Just Do It,” smack of a sort of corporate gross-out factor, but it’s obvious that the ad industry is onto something, no? They’ve zeroed in on our attraction to commitment.
Monasteries became hubs of culture because regular lay people “set up shop,” so to speak, around the anchored, peaceful, cultivated and spiritual place where monks made their commitment – to the physical monastery, to their abbot, to their vows. Roots were put down. Rough, craggy land was subdued, irrigated lovingly. When a man knows he has to stay, when leaving is not an option – when one makes a promise – his option is to learn how to love a thing, to care for it.
Examples of this spirit of commitment include the medieval cathedrals – that not only took forever to build, but were built for forever! They were built with a mind and heart for a permanence and gift to subsequent generations. They include things like gardens (that take years to build and tame), illuminated biblical manuscripts (again – painstaking work, but unmatched for beauty by modern technology). But these values apply to the layperson today, too: To the parent who makes the child commit for the full sports season, rather than quit after two weeks… a lesson in commitment. To the cellist who works for months at a difficult piece of music because he wishes to perform, for love and beauty. To the husband and wife who keep and live their marital vows through ups and downs, and who live the richness of life together that would have been lost if one had bailed out in selfishness.
Beautiful things, like families, gardens, paintings, dissertations, a job well done… these take work, patience, investment. Investing in anything or anyone (except God) opens us up to the pains of injury, failure, risk, fatigue, frustration, and so on. But without persevering through those discomforts, what are we left with? If we don’t commit and invest ourselves, we might avoid pain, but we will never reap the rewards of beauty and love that true commitment offers to us.
4. Mutual Sharing v. Competition
This certainly relates back to #2, above. It entails a spirit of truly willing the good for the other and not seeing his success as a threat to myself. But monastic communal life is – again – uniquely designed to facilitate sharing and diminish competition. The strong carry the weak, but the weak have some important skin in the game as well. Your good benefits me, and vice-versa.
Contemporary life for most of us in the West is steeped in competition. Even innocent children’s activities have been co-opted by highly professionalized organization, training, and high-stakes competition. The technocratic conveyor belt of daycare-to-preschool-to-school-to-college… to exclusive internship to corporate life (if you’re lucky?)… this notion of the “good life” doesn’t really sound so attractive to most of us, but the world still frowns upon simpler ways of life built on sharing, and we hardly know how to safely step off the treadmill. On the other hand, we see more and more ideas like co-ops, community gardens, car and bike shares for city dwellers and community-minded ventures. These make us happy. They make for feel-good stories on the news. Why?
In an anti-Christian world of constant competition, we unwittingly begin relationships with a latent mistrust and/or jealousy of the other, rather than the healthier posture of presumption that this stranger is truly my brother or sister. How much more salutary for the body, the soul, the community, is such a thing as sharing and the common good?
5. Hospitality v. Rejection
Hospitality: a virtue that resonates with everyone. The Christian sees it as more than simply a nice thing, but a charge we’ve been given by Jesus, while across so many folk cultures hospitality is highly esteemed. But today, for many of us, it’s grown so detached from other virtues (h/t G.K. Chesterton) that we’ve largely forgotten how to do it. Suburban living, screens in every room of the home (and now in the hands of everyone in the family) are certainly inimical to hospitality. Arguably, the voluntary isolation of contemporary life is just as problematic as rejection from relationship or community.
But, regardless of our religious inclinations, we can understand the attraction of hospitality. Like the cozy grandmother whose hugs melt even the most frigid; the guileless eye-contact of the friend, the teacher, the listener; even our material sensations that make the sofa more appealing than the concrete bench. We long to be welcomed. We fear deeply the wounds of rejection. Out of this fear, we often choose isolation rather than either seeking someone else’s hospitality or going the extra mile of offering it, ourselves. But we must seek out and provide hospitality. It’s in our nature, and to deny it is to cut ourselves off from our roots.
6. Care of the earth v. Exploitation
There’s so much to be said on this topic, and it can and should bridge the growing gap between factions on the political spectrum. Stewardship is the term which comes most strongly to mind… an admission that our land and its bounties (including animals) are gifts that we must care for.
Man’s exploitation of the planet is undeniable and tragic. That being said, environmental exploitation is also a symptom of a larger disease: the forgetfulness of God and His order of creation. Use vs. Love. It should come as no surprise that the same broken culture that so greedily, carelessly and wickedly abuses the planet also tolerates, winks at, and even encourages the greedy, careless, wicked use and abuse of human beings, starting with the scourge of abortion.
It is helpful to consider the monastery model. Its permanence, its limited, small parameters (compared, say, to a mega-sized industrial food factory or meat-processing plant), necessitates stewardship, long-term sustainability, personal investment (you might call that love). I cannot solve the problem of toxic industrialization, but I can change how and where I shop. I can cultivate my own garden. I can support small farmers… not making an idol of these values, but keeping to and living by them in context of my Catholic faith.
7. Peace v. Violence
We are not brutes or beasts. We are men and women, created – miraculously, beautifully, and uniquely – in the image and likeness of God. Original sin and all its children – i.e., vices of every kind – have inclined men to do violence to other men ever since the Fall. Children fight. Siblings bicker. Nations go to war (often out of greed).
Human formation and the Gospel mitigate and redirect these unfortunate impulses, whereas malformation and breakdown of the family and the moral order give fuel and breathing room for them. The family-like structure of the monastery sets up parameters of peace, but it remains an ongoing work of purification, obedience, and love, to conquer the violence that lurks just under the surface of anyone’s heart, even the monk. The harmony and happiness that result from peace are palpable, and they tell us that peace is what we’re made for, even as we detect our own proclivities to violence… if not blatant physical violence, all the more often it’s emotional, spiritual, psychological and ecological violence. And most of the time, we don’t even realize the violence we inflict on the other!
While I will not be joining a monastery, called as I am to the lay, married state, I have much to reflect upon from St. Benedict’s Rule. Consider focusing on and developing one or two of these virtues at a time in your own life, as a spiritual project of cultivation. Give it a month, then add another and focus on it for the next month, and so on, taking care not to abandon the earlier ones once you’ve habituated them.
What if each of us were to become radiant hubs of virtue, subduing and tending to our own hearts and wills (like gardens) such that, in small and eventually bigger ways, rippling outward, we might start to reclaim territory for Christ the way Benedict’s Rule slowly and quietly civilized a continent and preserved and transmitted the faith for 1500 years (and counting).
AuthenticityMaterialismMonasticismRule of St. BenedictSt. BenedictValues
Did you enjoy this post? Please share it!
Broken link? Typo? Please let us know. We love your feedback!
Thanks, we will fix ASAP
Why We Need Bl. Miguel Pro Now, More Than Ever
“¡Viva Cristo Rey!” These were the electric and immortal words shouted by Fr. Miguel Pro, S.J., as the virulently anti-Catholic…
5 Things to Know About St. Thomas More
The lives of the Saints are meant to inspire and encourage us in our spiritual walk. We can look to…
Just Announced: Blessed Pope Paul VI and Blessed Oscar Romero To Be Saints!
Blessed Pope Paul VI and Blessed Oscar Romero will be canonized. Many expect this will take place in October at…
Top 10 St. Teresa of Calcutta Quotes of All Time
Many of us have been anticipating the day in which we could call our beloved Mother Teresa, Saint Teresa of…
The Protection and Significance of A St. Benedict Medal Explained!
Though St. Benedict was born in 480 A.D., he is certainly a Saint for our times. He was a man…
6 Things Children Learn When You Skip Mass On Sundays
It doesn’t take long for us parents to realize that our children absorb everything we do and say. I remember…
How My Parents Raised Four Adult Catholics Who (Still) Love Jesus And The Church
Disclaimer: This post is not meant to be a formula for raising Catholic kids; it’s simply one family’s experience of…
How to Explain the 7 Sacraments Without Boring Your Children
Do you have to explain the sacraments to your son or daughter? Are you lacking material for your church’s catechesis…
Gallery: Holy Motivational Quotes
Saint Quotes About The Sacred Heart Of Jesus
Only for today I will be happy St. John XXIII
Quotes On Prayer by Popes and Saints
Infographic: Biblical Names And Their Meaning
Infographic: What does St. Benedict’s medal mean?
Infographic: 4 Times To Make The Sign Of The Cross
Infographic: The Meaning Behind The Names Of The Apostles
St. Theresa Benedicta (Edith Stein)
Prayer of St. Edith Stein
O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage, and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me…
St. Anthony the Abbot
A Time is Coming When People Will Go Mad and Common Sense Will Fade
A time is coming when people will go mad, and when they meet someone who is not mad, they will…
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
“May nothing distract me from You, neither noise nor diversions…”
“May nothing distract me from You, neither noise nor diversions. O, my Master, I would so love to live with…
Beautiful, Ancient Holy Saturday Homily
“What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence…
“I Thirst For You” – A Letter From Mother Teresa
It is true. I stand at the door of your heart, day and night. Even when you are not listening,…
St. Ambrose of Milan
St. Ambrose Gives Us Advice On How To Organize Our Closets
If you have two shirts in your closet, one belongs to you and the other to the man with no…
Say This Prayer From Mother Teresa Every Day Before Going To Work
We are at Jesus’ disposal. If he wants you to be sick in bed, if he wants you to proclaim…
Act of Faith, Act of Hope, Act of Love
Act of Faith O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and… | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1042 |
__label__cc | 0.603156 | 0.396844 | Home > Journals > Waterbirds > Volume 32 > Issue 2 > Article
1 June 2009 Behavior of Parent and Nestling Brown Pelicans During Early Brood Rearing
Elena B. Sachs, Patrick G. R. Jodice
Elena B. Sachs,1,2 Patrick G. R. Jodice3
1Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
2Current address: 1239 SW 10th Street, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Ocala, FL, 34471, USA
3U-S. Geological Survey, South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
Waterbirds, 32(2):276-281 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1675/063.032.0207
Since their recovery from population declines in the 1960s and 1970s, Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) have become a common breeder on the Atlantic coast of the southeastern U.S.A. Despite their relative abundance, few studies of their breeding biology have been conducted in this region. Parent and nestling behavior during early chick rearing were examined at a colony in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Rates of parental and chick feeding decreased linearly with chick age. Rates of parental attendance, chick begging and chick aggression all peaked when chicks were approximately 21 d post-hatching and then declined. Direct feeding events were never observed when chicks were < 11 d of age and indirect feeding events were rarely observed after chicks were > 15 d of age. The transition from indirect to direct feeding was not accompanied by a change in begging rates. Shifts in the frequencies of both parent and chick behaviors occurred at approximately three weeks post-hatching, when chicks achieve thermoregulatory independence and become more mobile. These data suggest that any spatial or temporal comparisons of parent or chick behavior should be assessed in relation to the age category of the parent and the age of the chicks.
Elena B. Sachs and Patrick G. R. Jodice "Behavior of Parent and Nestling Brown Pelicans During Early Brood Rearing," Waterbirds 32(2), 276-281, (1 June 2009). https://doi.org/10.1675/063.032.0207
Received: 7 November 2008; Accepted: 1 November 2008; Published: 1 June 2009
DOWNLOAD PDF + SAVE TO MY LIBRARY
chick age
feeding rate
parental attendance
Pelecanus occidentalis
MANDIBULAR BOWING AND MINERALIZATION IN BROWN PELICANS
Movement Patterns and Population Structure of the Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) Colony Initiation Attempts Translocations and...
Mercury Exposure and Diet in Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) in...
Roosting Brown Pelicans at San Nicolas Island, California, 1972–2006
Effect of Selected Anthelmintics on Three Common Helminths in the...
HEALTH ASSESSMENTS OF BROWN PELICAN (PELECANUS OCCIDENTALIS) NESTLINGS FROM COLONIES...
Elena B. Sachs, Patrick G. R. Jodice "Behavior of Parent and Nestling Brown Pelicans During Early Brood Rearing," Waterbirds, 32(2), 276-281, (1 June 2009) | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1048 |
__label__cc | 0.689192 | 0.310808 | The Importance of Business Etiquette
By: Lorna Hordos
Types of Business Etiquette
Even though business etiquette is evolving and might look different than it did a decade ago, it's still an important part of the success journey. With company heads taking a more casual approach to dress codes, office layout and time management, you might expect a "lazy" way of doing business to develop.
There's a fine line between casual and sloppy; if efficient management slips into an overly lax state, and good staff manners turn bad, the company they represent goes downhill, too. The need for business etiquette may be higher now than in the days of flannel and tweed when you also consider today's competitive landscape, online and off.
When Addressing the Dress Code
Dressing appropriately says a lot about a person. Imagine that a friend shows up at your wedding or graduation in ragged jeans and dirty sneakers. Would make you question how much he values your friendship, right? The same goes for interviews, the all-important first day on the job and meetings of all sorts.
Whatever you're doing, dress the part, dress for success, dress as if you've already been promoted to your dream position. Being overdressed for an occasion is better than the alternative. You don't have to go overboard; think kempt and modernly understated rather than stuffy and pompous.
When It Comes to Conduct
Ever conducted business with, perhaps, a salesperson who showed a lack of interest in your concerns or presented herself in a downright rude way? We really begin to realize the benefits of business etiquette when we conduct ourselves respectfully, not haughtily or in a pushy manner. So, practice the art of diplomacy:
Be sensitive to the personalities or beliefs of others; you don't have to agree with their ways or opinions, but don't make your differences an issue.
Use discretion if you're handling a sensitive matter. For example, if you're discussing options for pulling a client's bottom line out of the red, do so behind closed doors, not in an open-office setting.
Be thoughtful. Don't use underhanded tactics or undue praise to get ahead – most bosses see right through the tactics of cheaters, backstabbers and phonies – use your well-earned certifications, skills and natural competencies, instead.
Showing a genuine interest in fellow workers, managers and clients alike makes them feel comfortable around you. Not to mention, your ideas and agendas will be taken more seriously than if you struggle to connect. When you make everyone you meet feel like they matter and like they're being heard, your credibility goes up alongside your likability.
Pertaining to Punctuality
One of the biggest business annoyances is being stood up without explanation. But tardiness is more than an etiquette faux pas; running late makes us appear unorganized and disrespectful, as if we think our time is more important than anyone else's time.
Delays happen. We can't always be on time but we can always be polite. If you're running behind schedule, send a quick text or call to explain and apologize.
What About Netiquette?
Face-to-face contact with clients and even coworkers or management is becoming less common with the surge of remote or work-from-home positions. But just because you're communicating with folks by, say, email from your kitchen island, rather than together at an urban coffee bar or a decked-out office with a view doesn't mean you can drop the etiquette ball.
The importance of etiquette and manners when communicating via a device is just as high as it is when sitting down at the same table or desk with an investor or client. So, be professional, polite and considerate, whether you're writing an email or conducting a meeting by video. As for the latter, dress appropriately, at least in a sophisticated-casual fashion, and consider where you sit – there's nothing professional about a pile of dirty dishes, an open door to a toilet or a blaring TV in the background, while you're conducting business from the comfort of home.
No matter the era, the importance of business etiquette is a given and to practice it takes little more than common sense.
Point Park University Online: The Evolution of Office Dress Codes (Infographic)
Inc.: 4 Etiquette Blunders You Can't Afford to Make at Work
Firm Handshakes Affect First Impressions
Lorna Hordos is a home-improvement business owner and freelance writer. She has written hundreds of conversational business articles for WordPress.com, Bizfluent, AZ Central and Global Post.
Reception Desk Etiquette
Intercultural Communication Problems in the Workplace
Proper Way to Put Cards in Envelopes
Elements of Business Etiquette
The Importance of Civility in the Workplace
Bad Business Etiquette | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1051 |
__label__wiki | 0.694059 | 0.694059 | (Re)mediating the remainders of authorship
7 October 2016 3:00pm–4:00pm
The dramatic tradition suggests, for the most part, a progressive relationship between author, performer, producer and audience, in which the author/s originates the playtext, the performers develop a production, and the producer presents the outcome to the public. The arrival of theatrical performance and the fine art exhibition on cinema screens worldwide, the phenomenon of ‘live relay’ or the ‘as live broadcast’ in the arts, challenges this familiar perception of the author/production/audience relationship. The emergence of the ‘livecast’ (Martin) – the term remains unsettled – has modulated the once-traditional dramaturgical interaction between text, production, and audience. The ‘live relay’ tests the very way we think about theatre and performance. With its destabilization of production and audience spatio-temporal locators, the ‘live relay’ disrupts the vocabulary of theatrical description and it inflects both ontological and epistemological attitudes to the theatre-viewing of the past, the theatre-making of the present, and the interactions thereof. The live relay, moreover, causes disturbances within what can be considered the authorial field.
If postdramatic theatre shifts the dramaturgical valency from playwright as creative genius to director as auteur, then the mediaturgy of the ‘live relay’ renders both of these models redundant. The self-evident transmediality and intermediality of the ‘live relay’ has led to the expansion of availability achieved for audiences far and wide, with inescapable implication for the democratization of the work. But this egalitarianism comes with oligarchical and indeed plutocratic hints and overtones. These are overtones that, in turn, inflect notions of both authorship and creative authority. This paper examines the proposition that the livecast, being both inherently postdramatic and situated within the paradigm of new dramaturgy, has given rise to new authorial voices, those of the cinematic director and the institution. These are voices that need to be accommodated within the mediated and intermedial paradigm of the live relay.
Bio: Bernadette Cochrane is the Drama Convenor at the University of Queensland. Recent publications include New Dramaturgy: International Perspectives on Theory and Practice (Methuen Drama, co-edited with Katalin Trencsényi) and “Screening from the Met, the NT, or the House: what changes with the live relay”. Theatre to Screen. Spec. issue of Adaptation, July 2014 (with Frances Bonner). Forthcoming publications include “Secret River: the limits of translation?” and “Wires, Strings, and Pipes: Automatous Perceptions of Hermione”. Bernadette is currently working on a collection for the Translation, Adaptation, and Dramaturgy Working Group of the International Federation of Theatre Research. She is the Australian Regional Managing Editor for The Theatre Times. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1061 |
__label__cc | 0.696581 | 0.303419 | Brawley, CA 92227's Page Activity
Brawley, CA 92227 recieved 572 views in the last 30 days. Brawley, CA 92227 has not been saved as a Favorite. To save this page to your favorites list, click the Bookmark button below.
Brawley, CA 92227
The 92227 zip code is located in the Brawley community of California in Imperial county. You can learn more about Real Estate in Brawley CA 92227 below, including current Homes For Sale: Condos, Townhomes, Foreclosures and Bank Owned Properties, Short Sales and more. Our Local Brawley CA Realtors can assist you with selling your home in California or buying your next piece of Real Estate in or around the Brawley CA 92227 community. Be sure to check out our FREE Instant Home Value wizard to get a quick report on your homes current estimated value.
About Brawley, CA 92227
Brawley, CA 92227 Real Estate & Homes in the Zip Code
Contact a Brawley, CA 92227 Expert
The 90835 zip code is located in the Long Beach community of California in Los Angeles county. Yo...
Richmond, CA 94802
The 94802 zip code is located in the Richmond community of California in Contra Costa county. You...
The 90307 zip code is located in the Inglewood community of California in Los Angeles county. You...
The 94583 zip code is located in the San Ramon community of California in Contra Costa county. Yo...
The 93121 zip code is located in the Santa Barbara community of California in Santa Barbara count...
The 94501 zip code is located in the Alameda community of California in Alameda county. You can l...
The 95402 zip code is located in the Santa Rosa community of California in Sonoma county. You can...
Encinitas CA 92023
The Encinitas CA 92023 Community is located in San Diego County in the State of California. Our L...
The 94409 zip code is located in the San Mateo community of California in San Mateo county. You c...
Carnelian Bay, CA 96140
The 96140 zip code is located in the Carnelian Bay community of California in Placer county. You ...
Beale Afb, CA 95903
The 95903 zip code is located in the Beale Afb community of California in Yuba county. You can le...
The 94560 zip code is located in the Newark community of California in Alameda county. You can le...
The 91508 zip code is located in the Burbank community of California in Los Angeles county. You c...
Davenport, CA 95017
The 95017 zip code is located in the Davenport community of California in Santa Cruz county. You ...
Lakehead, CA 96051
The 96051 zip code is located in the Lakehead community of California in Shasta county. You can l...
Westmorland, CA 92281
Westmorland, CA 92281 10.71 km
The 92281 zip code is located in the Westmorland community of California in Imperial county. You ...
Imperial, CA 92251
Imperial, CA 92251 15.03 km
The 92251 zip code is located in the Imperial community of California in Imperial county. You can...
Calipatria, CA 92233
Calipatria, CA 92233 16.41 km
The 92233 zip code is located in the Calipatria community of California in Imperial county. You c...
El Centro, CA 92243
El Centro, CA 92243 20.98 km
The 92243 zip code is located in the El Centro community of California in Imperial county. You ca...
Holtville, CA 92250
Holtville, CA 92250 23.3 km
The 92250 zip code is located in the Holtville community of California in Imperial county. You ca...
Seeley, CA 92273
Seeley, CA 92273 25.88 km
The 92273 zip code is located in the Seeley community of California in Imperial county. You can l...
Heber, CA 92249
Heber, CA 92249 27.55 km
The 92249 zip code is located in the Heber community of California in Imperial county. You can le...
Niland, CA 92257
Niland, CA 92257 29.08 km
The 92257 zip code is located in the Niland community of California in Imperial county. You can l...
Calexico, CA 92232
Calexico, CA 92232 33.41 km
The 92232 zip code is located in the Calexico community of California in Imperial county. You can...
Ocotillo, CA 92259
Ocotillo, CA 92259 50.89 km
The 92259 zip code is located in the Ocotillo community of California in Imperial county. You can...
Salton City, CA 92275
Salton City, CA 92275 53.27 km
The 92275 zip code is located in the Salton City community of California in Imperial county. You ...
Mecca, CA 92254
Mecca, CA 92254 83.27 km
The 92254 zip code is located in the Mecca community of California in Riverside county. You can l...
Winterhaven, CA 92283
Winterhaven, CA 92283 87.78 km
The 92283 zip code is located in the Winterhaven community of California in Imperial county. You ...
Palo Verde, CA 92266
Palo Verde, CA 92266 89.8 km
The 92266 zip code is located in the Palo Verde community of California in Imperial county. You c...
Bard, CA 92222
Bard, CA 92222 92.86 km
The 92222 zip code is located in the Bard community of California in Imperial county. You can lea...
Thermal, CA 92274
Thermal, CA 92274 92.98 km
The 92274 zip code is located in the Thermal community of California in Riverside county. You can...
Guatay, CA 91931
Guatay, CA 91931 96.94 km
The 91931 zip code is located in the Guatay community of California in San Diego county. You can ... | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1066 |
__label__wiki | 0.60585 | 0.60585 | Post Tagged with: "Defensive Tackle"
DT Gibbs loves the physicality of his position
June 14, 2019 at 5:50 amby Elizabeth Karchut0 comments
Blake Gibb’s career started with a simple desire, to follow in his father’s footsteps. In grade six, he did just that after his father introduced him to the game. This article is for CFC Insiders only Become a CFC Insider Member to see this content. Please login or Signup today!
Rams now home to CFC100, CJFL standout
May 18, 2019 at 6:10 amby Elizabeth Karchut0 comments
Rams add one out-of-province commit and one CJFLer to their team. CFC100 Brayden Walz, a defensive lineman from Bishop O’Byrne High School, and Cody Peters, a linebacker from the Saskatoon Hilltops (CJFL), will be shoring up the defence on the University of Regina Rams. CFC100 Brayden Walz Standing at 6’4,Read More
UBC’s history of success attracts 2
May 7, 2019 at 6:00 amby Elizabeth Karchut0 comments
UBC adds one provincial commit and one out-of-province commit to their 2019 class. Kyle Samson, a defensive tackle from Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School, and Sam Steele, an offensive lineman from St. Thomas Moore Collegiate, are excited to be a part of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. Kyle SamsonRead More
UofT a ‘young’ and ‘hungry’ team
April 6, 2019 at 6:00 amby Elizabeth Karchut0 comments
Toronto adds two local commits and one out-of-province commit to their 2019 class. Running backs Ricardo Chisholm from Northern Secondary and Samuel Conteh from Etobicoke Collegiate Institute will be able to play in front of their biggest supporters after signing with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Defensive lineman KeenanRead More
York coaches create ‘comfortable environment’
York adds two Ontario commits and out out-of-province commit to their team. Wide receiver Tavon Hibbert from St. Francis Xavier High School is ready to show the York Lions all that he can do. Defensive tackle Mohammed Morad Benaissa from Cégep Édouard-Montpetit and tight end Aidan Patton from Bill CrothersRead More
Football is an escape, somewhere to have fun for Ethan Jamieson
April 4, 2019 at 5:45 amby Adrien Montoya0 comments
Ethan Jamieson started playing football with his cousins as a young child, and never looked back. “My older cousins played football, and I started playing when I was with them. It was a game where I can get away from life and just go have fun,” he explained. RELATED CONTENT:Read More
Laurier coaches ‘are amazing’
March 27, 2019 at 6:00 amby Elizabeth Karchut0 comments
Laurier adds three Toronto area commits to their 2019 class. Kelon Thomas, a defensive end from the Toronto Thunder (OFC), will see a lot of familiar faces on the Laurier Golden Hawks. Jacob Benjamin, a linebacker from the Toronto Thunder, and Omari Hastings, a defensive tackle from Football North Clarkson,Read More
Gee-Gees bring 12 to team
Gee-Gees add one local commit, six provincial commits and five out-of-province commits to their team. The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees are set to welcome 12 commits to their 2019 recruitment class. Jonathan Agette (5’11, 175lbs) – a defensive back from St. Peter High School (Ottawa, ON) Elisha Cruickshank (6’2, 185lbs)Read More
Laval class grows by 8
Laval welcomes seven Québec commits and one international commit to their 2019 class. The Laval Rouge et Or continue to grow their recruiting class, having secured several French commits to their team. CFC60 Charles-Émile Bouchard (6’2, 225lbs) – a defensive end from Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy (Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC) Vincent Blanchard (6’1, 190lbs)Read More
Education, coaches top reasons why 4 commit to Mac
March 9, 2019 at 6:00 amby Elizabeth Karchut0 comments
McMaster adds four Ontario commits to their 2019 class. Zachary Mumby, a quarterback from McKinnon Park Secondary School, Andrew Burrows, an offensive lineman from M.M. Robinson High School, and Christian Fecteau, a defensive tackle from Holy Names Catholic High School Receiver Jack St. Hilaire from Our Lady of Lourdes CatholicRead More
CFC150 Ethan Isaac will never stop trying
March 7, 2019 at 5:45 amby Adrien Montoya0 comments
CFC150 Ethan Isaac discovered football as he spent time with his father. “I watched football with my dad when I was young,” he said. It was after a karate class that he asked his Dad if he could start to play and the rest is history. RELATED CONTENT: NOMINATE anRead More
Golden Hawks coaches ‘very friendly’ to commits
Laurier adds two Ontario commits to their 2019 class. Colton Longboat, a defensive tackle from McKinnon Park High School, and Domenic Montalbano, a wide receiver from Holy Cross High School, will be taking flight with the Laurier Golden Hawks for the 2019 season and beyond. Colton Longboat A resident ofRead More
Ravens address defense, offence, add CFC100 plus 2 more
Ravens add one local commit and two out-of-province commits to their 2019 class. After signing with the Carleton Ravens, Michael Lightbody, a defensive lineman from Arnprior District High School, is exactly where he wants to be. Running back CFC100 David Lezama from Harry Ainlay High School and wide receiver Jack HalvorsonRead More
Lindon Scalf give back with football
February 27, 2019 at 5:50 amby Adrien Montoya0 comments
Lindon Scalf grew up playing other sports until his mother introduced him to football. “My mom introduced me to football in grade eight. I can’t really say that I enjoyed it in the beginning because I was a devout hockey player. After practicing a bit with the SMAA house league,Read More
CFC100 DT Sahil Bhullar uses mom as inspiration on field
February 21, 2019 at 5:50 amby CFC Scout0 comments
The bond between CFC100 Sahil Bhullar and his mom is second to none. Most people have that one person in their life that inspires them, and Sahil knows that that’s his mother to a tee. She’s the person in his life that motivates him to be the best possibleRead More
DT Logan Warde loves brotherhood that football provides him
Logan Warde’s football career started at a young age and it’s no surprise that with his experience, he’s surpassed a lot of people on the field. Football has given Logan many life experiences, not just the ones that he has experienced while playing the game. The family aspect ofRead More
DT Trevaughn Pusey finds home at York after stellar season
It didn’t take long for Trevaughn Pusey to understand that he had a special gift as a 6’3″ 280lbs defensive tackle. Playing for the St. Joan of Arc Knights in high school, TJ as he likes to be called was instrumental in helping improve the football program. Once TJ realizedRead More
DT Thunder Atlookan overcomes life’s challenges to play football
Football means more to Thunder Atlookan than a lot of people realize, and he knows that it’s a privilege that he gets to play the sport he loves and not a right. Thunder wasn’t fortunate enough to have a typical upbringing of a young child, and now that heRead More
Curtis Ball looking forward to learning at FPC
February 8, 2019 at 5:45 amby Adrien Montoya0 comments
Curtis Ball is a natural born athlete, so it was only a matter of time before he stepped foot on the gridiron. “I love sports and wanted to give football a try,” says Curtis Ball.
3 CFC60s land with Laval, join Rouge et Or
December 18, 2018 at 6:00 amby Elizabeth Karchut0 comments
Laval welcomes three top Québec commits to their 2019 class. CFC60 quarterback Thomas Bolduc from Champlain College Lennoxville will be showing the Laval Rouge et Or just what he is capable of. CFC60 defensive lineman William Desgagné and CFC60 defensive back Félix Petit from Champlain College Lennoxville will also beRead More
DL Reese Hitterman too physical for soccer
December 17, 2018 at 5:55 amby Adrien Montoya0 comments
When he was a young boy, Reese Hitterman played soccer but was too physical for the referees, so he stopped. “I got into football when I was 6 and playing soccer but getting red cards all the time for being too rough,” says Reese Hitterman.
Varsity Blues’ commit ready to learn from coaches
November 28, 2018 at 5:55 amby Elizabeth Karchut0 comments
Toronto welcomes a local commit to their team. FPC James Stockwood, a defensive lineman from St. Stephen’s Secondary School, has played across Canada, but he will now be staying in Ontario after signing with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Currently attending Durham College, Stockwood is ready for the challengeRead More
DL Zachary Ayotte; “remember tomorrow is promised to no one”
November 17, 2018 at 5:50 amby Adrien Montoya0 comments
Zachary Ayotte fell in love with the game of football in the stands of the Ivor Wynne Stadium as he was cheering on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. “Going to my first Ti-cats game with my dad is what really got me In too football. Although I had no idea what IRead More | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1067 |
__label__cc | 0.712646 | 0.287354 | London Boat Show: Ladders
There're always some off topic stands at the London Boat Show.
For some reason many are basically the sort of thing you'd see at an Ideal Home Show, in particular kitchen and bedroom focused, with knive and pans sets or new beds. I did wonder if they never left but the stands stay there all the time.
This one make me immediately think of one of the Greendale courses on the TV show Community, namely Ladders:
Though they didn't describe itself as ladders but instead something about "Access Solutions".
Labels: Boat Shows
London Boat Show: Two Cars and a Helicopter
At a boat show you expect to see... well... boats, though for some reason other vehicles seem to creep in.
The amphibious car (above) did sort of make sense but this one less so:
Though maybe if you're buying a massive white gin palace you might as well colour coordinate the Bentley while you're at it.
But then what happens if your helicopter is charcoal grey???
That's done it! Cancel those orders!!
Posted by JP at 11:50 am No comments:
London Boat Show: Rowing the Indian Ocean
At the London Boat show saw another of those cross-ocean rowing team expeditions things. I know its all for a good cause (*) and terribly hard work but really can't get that enthusiastic - sorry guys!
I just can't see why you'd row when you could sail. Maybe I've seen too many SV Delos videos but they seem to be having a lot of fun while this just seems like making life hard for yourself.
Also, wasn't that the route that the debris from that the Malaysia flight 370 aircraft crash followed, washing up at Mauritius too?
Anyhow, there's a web site about there voyage here.
(*) raising money for to support those with Parkinson's Disease which really is horrid so worth funding
Labels: Boat Shows, Rowing
London Boat Show: Kraken Travel
A couple of years ago I went to a talk by Skip Novak at the Southampton Boat Show (as blogged here).
Afterwards wandered around looking at boats with two chaps I'd met at the talk called Henry and Emil. It turned out there were planning to charter a Challenge 72 to sail to high latitude destinations such as Jan Mayen island, home of the mighty Beerenberg.
Alas that sailing trip didn't work out due to complicated reasons and it was to set a pattern for the next few years where I'd get all excited about an adventure sail only to get sick and not go.
Anyhow, I met Henry again at the London Boat Show where he and his company Kraken Travel had a stand. They do just the sort of exciting sailing to interesting places that I'd like to be doing - see the video above (gold stars for those that spot Henry in it) - so had a good chat and catch-up.
Here's hoping at some point will be able go on voyages like these again.
Labels: Boat Shows, sailing
London Boat Show: Golden Globe Race Anniversary & Susie Goodall Racing
I used to go round the boat show visiting the yachts on display and imagining sailing away in them. But now there aren't that many boat builders at the show and those that are on display are usually either plastic gin palaces or the potter round the Med types with fat beams.
However this one did catch my eye: a tough, go-anywhere Rustler 36 and it really is going on an adventure as Susie Goodall is racing it around the world as part of the 50th anniversary of the Sunday Times 1968 Golden Globe Race.
The new Golden Globe Race will leave on the 30th June 2018 from Portsmouth and re-create the classic race, avoiding modern designs and technology. As this web site puts it "iPhone, no mod cons, just solo with the sun stars and horizon".
Sounds fascinating!
London Boat Show: Emma Bamford
I'd met Emma Bamford at last year's boat show and bought her two books about her cruising life, Casting Off & Untie the Lines, which I'd read, enjoyed and reviewed (see this post).
But they left me with the inevitable question about what happened next, so went along hoping to hear there was a third book out that would give answers.
Alas it was just the two books I'd already read available but I had a quick chat afterwards as to what she was planning.
Apparently she is working in sailing journalism in the UK and is writing a novel about yachties in the Indian Ocean arriving at Chagos Islands where there's a baddy and the plot thickens (so to speak). One to look out for ... whenever. Not sure when as it sounded like it might not be available for next year's boat show.
So I left the Boat Show without picking up another book.... ah well, I have a good stack at home.
Labels: Boat Shows, writing
London Boat Show: Sam Davies and Tracy Edwards
I arrived particularly early for the Legends sailing talk with Tracy Edwards and Sam Davies (above) and that was just as well as it was really popular - with good reason.
Tracy Edwards, MBE, was of course skipper and driving force behind Maiden, the first female crewed yacht in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht race (now the Volvo), which won 2 of the 5 legs and ended up second overall.
She has inspired many others to follow her footsteps and helped them directly, including Sam Davies, inviting her to join the crew of the multihull Royal SunAlliance.
Both have mega projects they are working on. Edwards has rescued Maiden and is now planning a global voyage to raise funds for charities that support female education. Apparently there will be berths available in return for contributions - worth looking out for that later this year. You could even sail with Edwards, though I get the impression she could be a bit of a tough cookie.
And Davies is off again on another Vende Globe! Must admit to be rather thrilled by this one in particular as she really lit up the 2008-9 circumnavigation. She really seemed to be not just relishing the challenge but actually enjoying it, and you can see why France has taken her to heart with her natural girl-next-door charm:
Her new boat is being upgraded to the latest foils and then she'll have a good long period to get familiar with it before the race. Bon courage, Sam!
Labels: Boat Shows, sailing, Vendee Globe
London Boat Show: Navigation Tips with Stokey Woodall
My chat with Conrad Humphreys touched on navigation techniques but later there was to be a whole talk about it from Pete "Stokey" Woodall (above).
I'd seen him at a previous London Boat Show when he'd described the star clock (below) for which the answer was not 42 but 41.5. I'd even gone off and done a bit of maths to work out that it was really 41.58 which I guess is close enough.
It was a very entertaining talk, including such gems as rolling up a chart into a cone and using it to locate fog-horn directions to within a few degrees (apparently that really works). Also a metal frying pan can be used to shield an AM radio so that the direction of the transmitter can be identified from the two possible directions 180 degrees apart.
There was also some more celestial navigation tips based upon one of the stars in Orion, Mintaka, that rises or sets due East / West:
Fun and informative!
Labels: Boat Shows, Navigation
London Boat Show: Conrad Humphreys and C4's Mutiny
Last year Channel 4 broadcast a programme called "Mutiny" in which they re-created the voyage of Captain Bligh after the Mutiny on the Bounty in which he was cast adrift in the Pacific in small boat.
The programme showed 9 men sailing a 23 foot open wooden boat 4,000 miles from Tonga to Timur and there was plenty of drama on the way. The boat itself was on display at the last boat show (as blogged here).
The channel's notes can be found here and it can be seen that there was only one named crew member, namely "Anthony Middleton, of SAS: Who Dares Wins".
There is a difference between a non-sailing commissioning editor and a sailor, because from my viewpoint the crew was round the world sailor Conrad Humphreys and some bloke from the marines (apologies to Anthony Middleton for that lack of knowledge).
In most cases there was perfect agreement between the two apart from the final leg where a lack of wind and water meant there was a discussion about whether to row towards wind patches.
TBH, if I'd been on that boat I know which of the two I'd have listened to the most carefully, namely the one that had sailed round the world and knew a thing or two about how to keep moving when trapped by a high pressure, but the episode was cut by someone who shared the channel's view that saw first and foremost a TV personality from the SAS.
Anyhow, it was great to meet Conrad Humphreys at the London Boat Show and hear about the voyage first hand and see some of the photos on his iPad. He also showed some of the ship's biscuits they survived on and if they were only eating a couple of those a day its no wonder they lost a lot of weight.
We also had a brief chat about navigation and the techniques they used which was pure old school techniques like dead reckoning and celestial navigation. I asked about whether he'd read Tristan's "How to Read Water" book and he hadn't but knew about Tristan and was wondering if he should reach out, to which I said yes, as that sounds like a great combination.
It was all very interesting and I look forward to hearing what he does next.
More London Boat Show photos for Tillerman
Spent yesterday wandering around the London Boat Show in between listening to various talks.
More pics and stories to come but of course first up those all important photos for Tillerman...
The full moon and storm Eleanor in a tide gauge
The weather seems to be in the news a lot in the first few weeks of 2018.
The difference in temperature between my friends in Australia and east coast America seems to be about 60C compared to which our blighty weather seems comparatively mild.
But we did get storm Eleanor blow through around the time of the full moon which led to fears of a storm surge on top of a spring tide and so the Thames Barrier had to be closed.
Previously I'd posted how closing the barrier could be read in the behaviour of the flow and this time I kept an eye on the live tides at Chelsea to see what the impact would be.
From what I understand (via Twitter) the barrier was closed at 12:15 and it can be seen that there is a sudden dip in the water height at Chelsea, but not at the same time. It seemed to take 45 minutes for there to be a significant change in the height, but then there are several miles from the barrier to this gauge.
After the dip, the levels continued to rise but more slowly, due to the Thames river flow rather than incoming tide, with a maximum delta from predicted height of 2.23m - though the flow had been less than predicted anyway. Danger averted the barrier opened when the water levels equalised later in the day.
So lots of factors from the moon to the weather to one of London's largest infrastructure assets all influencing one simple gauge.
Labels: Environment, Thames
Top 10 Posts of 2017
Happy New Year all! Time to look forward at 2018 and back at 2017.
2017 was a difficult year as had to cancel two big sailing trips and so there was a distinct lack of boating. But what were the top ten posts of 2017?
By view count it was:
London Boat Show pics for Tillerman
Paddle boat Italie on Lake Geneva (above)
Scorchio!
Boating weather
Boats! Boats! Boats! ... on the Thames at Putney
Sleaford Mods going down like B.H.S on the Thames
Book review: "A Race Too Far" by Chris Eakin
London Boat Show 2017: Recreation of Bounty Voyage
Boris Staysail's vinning sailing "alternative truths"
By number of comments it was:
(Untitled post)
Boats! Boats! Boats! .... at Richmond
Five Gigs for Glastonbury Weekend
Niagara Falls trip 3/3 - Chicago!
Quiz: How many ferries across the Thames are there in London?
Before "All is lost"
My favourites (in no particular order) were:
Totally Thames Installation: Future Dust
The Ferries of London: the secret Greenwich Ferry
The London Stones: Yantlet Creek
The Ferries of London: Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry
Visiting Bazalgette's magnificent sewers
Paddle boat Italie on Lake Geneva
Two lessons from my first yacht sail
Yes, struggled to get the full 10 favourites.
It was noticeable how view counts decreased in Q4 - did anyone else notice that? Maybe should have posted more London Boat Show pics for Tillerman.
I wonder what 2018 will bring...
London Boat Show: Golden Globe Race Anniversary & ...
London Boat Show: Navigation Tips with Stokey Wood...
London Boat Show: Conrad Humphreys and C4's Mutiny... | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1069 |
__label__wiki | 0.738105 | 0.738105 | Supporting Actor, along with supporting Actress can be a strange award. It is often given to the foil of the A-lister and handsome hero, sometimes given to someone who pops in and out of the film in a minor but memorable role, at other times given seemingly at random to one of a large ensemble cast. There seems to be a sex imbalance between the two awards and it is more likely for a man with a smaller role to win that a woman with a similarly small role. In the early years this could be a good chance for the bad guy to win, or for the side-kick to gain some glory. In the modern era there is less disparity between Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor and these boundaries appear to have been blurred. Many times an old hand, sometimes a previous Best Actor has come out of the wilderness and regained success and popularity due to this award. As I’ve mentioned before I am a big fan of horror movies, of action, sci-fi, and comedies. In many horror movies the supporting actor is the bad guy, or the boyfriend of the heroine- the bad guy usually has time and freedom to do what they want and make a huge impact, while the boyfriend is simply there to make us love the heroine more. With comedies there is the opportunity for an actor to have great fun with their role and make a lasting impact on the viewer if not the plot.
Now follows my picks for Best Supporting Actor throughout the years. More interesting (for me) will be how many bad guys, monsters, and extreme bit players I loved will get selected.
Best Supporting Actor – 1975
March 20, 2019 carlosnightman2 Comments
Official Nominations: George Burns. Brad Dourif. Burgess Meredith. Chris Sarandon. Jack Warden.
A lot of veteran nods this year, with Burns becoming the oldest winner (at the time) at 80 years old. Burgess Meredith follows with Day Of The Locust where he’s one of the story’s many failures, eking out his final days still trying to perform to anyone who’ll listen. Jack Warden stars as a rich man and unwittingly part of a sexual rectangle… pentangle.. who knows? He gets many of Shampoo’s best lines and memorable moments. Brad Dourif is one of several well acted and sympathetic side characters in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest while Chris Sarandon is effective as Pacino’s transgender wife in Dog Day Afternoon.
My Winner: Brad Dourif
My Nominations: Brad Dourif. John Cazale. Richard Dreyfuss. Robert Shaw. Richard O’Brien. Oliver Reed.
Even though all the official nominees are worthy, I’m only taking Dourif. Replacing Sarandon is John Cazale who gives the more notable performance in Dog Day Afternoon as Sonny’s hapless partner. Oliver Reed is equally hapless in Tommy, at least when it comes to bringing Roger Daltry out of his crippling psychosis, while Richard O’Brien as Riff Raff is a personal favourite in a film where everyone has their own pick. Finally, we have Jaws and both Dreyfuss and Shaw giving career-defining performances.
My Winner: Robert Shaw
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1975, Best Supporting Actor, Brad Dourif, The Oscars
October 3, 2018 carlosnightman1 Comment
Official Nominations: Robert De Niro. Fred Astaire. Jeff Bridges. Michael V Gazzo. Lee Strasberg.
Lets be clear – basically any of the male supporting cast from The Godfather II could be nominated here. We get three of them, but there’s room for more, and there’s a case for De Niro being in the Lead category too. Any way you slice this though, De Niro wins. His Vito Corleone performance is a marked step up from anything he had done previously, and he arguably covers more ground than Brando did. The legendary teacher, Lee Strasberg got a nod too – ordinarily I would be cynical about this, but his performance is terrific – as is Gazzo’s as the side-switching ‘Five Fingers’. Elsewhere, Jeff Bridges continues his string of early hits with an endearing performance as the petty crook Lightfoot, while Fred Astaire gets the unnecessary veteran nod in The Towering Inferno – thankfully there isn’t much dancing.
My Winner: Robert De Niro
My Nominations: Robert De Niro. Jeff Bridges. Michael V Gazzo. Lee Strasberg. John Cazale. Gastone Moschin. Kris Kristofferson. Christopher Lee. Gene Wilder. Marty Feldman. Peter Boyle.
Four make it over, and a host of others join them. The Godfather Part II is the big winner, with the dastardly duo of Fredo and Don Fanucci joining their comrades, while Wilder gets a nod here for Blazing Saddles as well as a lead nod in the other category. Feldman and Boyle both excel in Young Frankenstein, Christopher Lee makes for one of the most charming and memorable Bond villains, and Kris Kristofferson brings the beard and heart-throbbing in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1974, Best Supporting Actor, Robert De Niro, The Oscars
January 3, 2018 carlosnightman1 Comment
Official Nominations: Joel Grey. Eddie Albert. James Caan. Robert Duvall. Al Pacino.
Part of me is glad that Joel Grey won here – the Buffy part. Buffy fans will know what I’m talking about. However, he’s going up against The Godfather cast so good luck. I’m not sure Robert Duvall does enough here to warrant a nomination, especially when some others from the movie didn’t make it. He’s great, no doubt, but I’d take a few others over him. James Caan is more obviously notable over the understated Duvall, starring as the hot-headed Sonny. Al Pacino is the star of the show, still a little odd that he didn’t get the main actor nod but he’s my winner here regardless in a role that grows and grows from reluctant first scene to crushing last. Finally, Eddie Albert gets his second nomination, this time for The Heartbreak Kid. It’s funny, he’s great, but he has no chance against Pacino here.
My Winner: Al Pacino
My Nominations: Joel Grey. Eddie Albert. James Caan. Robert Duvall. Al Pacino. Jon Voight.
I don’t have any issue with any of the nominations this year. There’s a case for Voight being a lead in Deliverance, but due to the ensemble nature of the film I’m happy to have him here. Out of the four central characters in the movie I feel he gives the most committed and varied performance. There are plenty of other great performances this year, but I don’t think any compete with those above and certainly won’t impact my choice of winner.
Let us know in the comments who you pick as the Best Supporting Actor of 1972!
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1972, Al Pacino, Best Supporting Actor, The Oscars
August 23, 2017 carlosnightman1 Comment
Official Nominations: Ben Johnson. Jeff Bridges. Leonard Frey. Richard Jaeckel. Roy Scheider.
Ben Johnson was reluctant to star in the role that would win him the Oscar originally, the stunt man and rodeo cowboy turned actor a perfect fit for Sam The Lion. His years of experience mark his performance with a realism and poignancy which is hard to come by and difficult to top. Alongside him in The Last Picture Show is Jeff Bridges as Duane, the fiery and energetic kid of the tale and an early sign of Bridges’ talents. Leonard Frey had starred in the stage version of Fiddler On The Roof but takes on a different part for the movie – it’s one of about 80 roles in the film and I don’t see any need for this one to be nominated. Richard Jaekel is the odd one out here – even more so given that it was for Sometimes A Great Notion which came out a year earlier. It’s a good film that no-one remembers and a decent performance. Finally, Roy Scheider is strong alongside Gene Hackman in The French Connection – Buddy is the perfect partner for Doyle and Scheider fills the role so fully you can’t see anyone else doing it.
My Winner: Jeff Bridges
My Nominations: Ben Johnson. Jeff Bridges. Roy Scheider. Timothy Bottoms. Cleavon Little. David Gulpilil. Jack Albertson. Donald Pleasance.
If the other two actors are there, then surely we have to include Timothy Bottoms for The Last Picture Show too? Elsewhere I add David Gulpilil’s breakout performance in Walkabout, Cleavon Little’s commentary in Vanishing Point, Jack Albertson’s energy in Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, and drunk Donald Pleasance for Wake In Fright.
Let us know in the comments who you would give the Best Supporting Acting Award of 1971 to!
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1971, Best Supporting Actor, Jeff Bridges, The Oscars
April 5, 2017 carlosnightman4 Comments
Official Nominations: John Mills. Richard S Castellano. Chief Dan George. Gene Hackman. John Marley.
John Mills was always going to get nominated or be a winner eventually, and this was his year. It’s a bit of an embarrassing performance and it’s an odd one out in any normal year – this year though we have some strange/interesting nominations. Speaking of, Chief Dan George at the ripe old age of 71 got his most famous part alongside Dustin Hoffman in in Little Big Man, opening doors for other Native American performers. Similarly, Castellano hit the big time in Lovers And Other Strangers, while Gene Hackman was on the rise and could do no wrong getting another nomination in I Never Sang For My Father. Finally, John Marley, a veteran of big and small screen ensures another nod for Love Story as Jenny’s dad.
My Winner: Chief Dan George
My Nominations: Chief Dan George. Gene Hackman. George Kennedy. Leonard Frey. Robert Duvall.
Only two from the main list, and I’m struggling to pull over any additional strong supporting performances. Kennedy was in three films this year, but we’ll give him the nomination for Airport. Leonard Frey would find greater success the following year, but he’s very good in The Boys In The Band. This is probably a good place to give MASH it’s acting nomination so we’ll hand it to Robert Duvall for an early, surly performance.
Let us know in the comments who you would pick as the Best Supporting Actor of 1970!
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1970, Best Supporting Actor, Chief Dan George, The Oscars
December 14, 2016 carlosnightman1 Comment
Official Nominations: Gig Young. Rupert Crosse. Elliot Gould. Jack Nicholson. Anthony Quayle.
Gig Young already had almost thirty years of performances and two Oscar nominations before he picked up the win for They Shoot Horses, Don’t They. It’s a suitably reptilian performance, a Cowell before there was a Cowell, as he eggs on competitors for his own amusement becoming the viewer’s focal point for rage, becoming more venomous with each minute. Rupert Crosse was primarily a TV actor before landing the role in The Reivers, and becoming the first African American to be nominated in this category. It’s a fine performance but your focus is always drawn to McQueen so it feels like a strange nomination. Gould picks up a nomination for his straight-laced portrayal and landed him on the map – it would almost become his signature role as he would continue to tow the line between comedy and drama with a straight face. Jack Nicholson makes an impact in Easy Rider, firmly announcing himself to the world in a typically madcap way. For the next few years Nicholson would play straighter characters before eventually going ‘full Nicholson’, and here he manages to shows a little of both sides. He is a minor character and doesn’t have a huge amount of screen time, but uses that time to perfection. Finally, it’s Anne Of The Thousand Days again and Anthony Quayle. It’s… very stagey, Quayle is good at authority but not so good at authority slipping away. It’s fine, just not something I would ever pick.
My Winner: Gig Young.
My Nominations: Gig Young. Jack Nicholson. Noel Coward. Gregory Peck. Robert Duvall. James Cann. Robert Ryan. Richard Thomas.
Only two from the official list make it over to mine. My list sees existing and future legends competing for the crown, with Noel Coward bringing the laughs in The Italian Job. Many would say that Peck’s role in Marooned was as a lead – he was certainly the big name, but I find it more of an ensemble piece so for the sake of argument he’s being included. It’s a tense movie and Peck is his usual commanding self, and is conflicted and at odds with various characters throughout the movie. It’s a good performance and a movie no-one really remembers. Robert Duvall gets a nomination for The Rain People, already a star thanks to a number of previous big hits, but happy to appear in this seemingly minor indie. Again it isn’t a huge role but he garners enough empathy from the viewer and Natalie that he becomes another integral part.
Robert Ryan was notable as Captain Nemo in 1969, but he gets the nomination for his performance as Deke in The Wild Bunch, the Grim Repair stalking the central gang. We see him in flashback and in the present, and though ostensibly the villain we know that his revenge is justified given the circumstances. Ryan is just as cunning as the men he is chasing down and though it seems he is always one point behind he is in fact one step ahead. My final pick is for Richard Thomas, only 18 but already a veteran, very good as the bronzed, snobbish teen who gets his kicks through punishing and humiliating others – a little against type. Burns gets the most admiration in the film, but Thomas is very strong too.
My Winner: Gig Young
Let us know in the comments who is your pick as the Best Supporting Actor of 1969!
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1969, Best Supporting Actor, Gig Young, The Oscars
August 24, 2016 August 24, 2016 carlosnightman2 Comments
Official Nominations: Jack Albertson. Seymour Cassel. Daniel Massey. Jack Wilde. Gene Wilder.
A lot of unusual choices for performances this year, with Jack Albertson doing nothing out of the ordinary in the merely ordinary The Subject Was Roses. In a bleaker look at the falling apart of family and American values, Faces has a number of nominated performers including Seymour Cassel but none of them truly stand out for me while Daniel Massey camps it up memorably as Noel Coward in Star! Jack Wilde does an okay job as The Artful Dodger, and while those accents just grate on me his portrayal is the one I know best. Finally,Gene Wilder announced himself to the world in sterling form in The Producers.
My Winner: Gene Wilder.
My Nominations:Gene Wilder. Jack Wilde. Robert Vaughn. Robert Helpmann. Karl Hardman. Henry Fonda.
Only Wilde and Wilder make it to my list, with four overlooked performances added. Karl Hardman is the opposing force to Duane Jones’s Ben in Night Of The Living Dead – creating one of the most punchable people in horror history yet an utterly human and understandable character, all the more surprising given Hardman was a Producer not an actor. Robert Helpmann likewise crafted an iconic figure in the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitt Bang Bang, while Robert Vaughn is the unlikable politician Chalmers Bullitt. Finally, Henry Fonda is even more unlikable and cast against type brilliantly as the devious killer Frank in Once Upon A Time In The West.
My Winner: Gene Wilder
Who is your pick for the Best Supporting Actor of 1968? Let us know in the comments!
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1968, Best Supporting Actor, Films, Gene Wilder, Movies, The Oscars
April 20, 2016 carlosnightman2 Comments
Official Nominations: George Kennedy. John Cassavetes. Gene Hackman. Cecil Kellaway. Michael J Pollard.
George Kennedy was the surprise winner this year for his memorable turn as the big, brazen friend to Paul Newman’s Luke, against type for his usual bad guy roles. John Cassavetes could almost have been awarded a nomination for the Best Lead Actor category but due to the ensemble nature of The Dirty Dozen he fits into this category better – standing out in the large cast as one of the most memorable characters. Gene Hackman made his first significant impact this year with Bonnie And Clyde, and although he plays second fiddle to Beatty and Dunaway it is clear he has star power of his own. Kellaway feels like a strange choice as he doesn’t have a major role or a huge amount of screen time in Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, but is an affable presence who supports the young lovers unexpectedly. Finally, Michael J Pollard gives Bonnie And Clyde another nomination, giving a respectable performance as the unlikeliest member of the gun-totin’ clan.
My Winner: John Cassavetes.
My Nominations: George Kennedy. John Cassavetes. Alan Arkin. Telly Savalas. Peter Sellers.
Kennedy and Cassavetes make it over to my list and join Alan Arkin for his sinister, over the top performance in Wait Until Dark. Speaking of over the top performances, Telly Savalas turns on the crazy in The Dirty Dozen as the most ill-advised choice of ally to go on a suicide mission. Finally, Peter Sellers does as well as he can in the original Casino Royale, winning most of the laughs that the film has.
Who do you think deserved the Best Supporting Actor award for 1967? Let us know in the comment!
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1967, Best Supporting Actor, John Cassavetes, The Oscars
1966 – Best Supporting Actor
February 17, 2016 February 17, 2016 carlosnightman3 Comments
Official Nominations: Walter Matthau. Mako. James Mason. George Segal. Robert Shaw.
This years nominations don’t hold many surprises, although the shock win of Walter Matthau for The Fortune Cookie may have raised a few eyebrows due it it being light fare. In his first collaboration with Jack Lemmon, Matthau is memorable as the slimy, money-grabbing Whiplash Willie. In a film (The Sand Pebbles) which attempts to portray the racism of the time and situation, Mako makes for a sympathetic and always likable character who befriends some of the US sailors at the cost of creating enemies elsewhere. Mason is, as always, dependable in a role (Georgy Girl) which required him to give his standard cold demeanor shtick and later become more obviously affectionate, while George Segal undergoes similar changes as Nick in Who’s Afraid Fo Virginia Woolf? Robert Shaw picks up the final nomination as Henry VIII in A Man For All Seasons in one of the definitive performances of the big chicken-thigh eater.
My Winner: Mako
My Nominations: Mako. Robert Shaw. Lee Van Cleef. Eli Wallach.
Mako and Robert Shaw make it over to my nominations, and I add to that couple two men who went toe to toe with The Man With No Name in The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. Lee Van Cleef, a man who looks like a veteran of the Wild West through and through, gives a worn, sinister performance as Angel Eyes. The bad guy of the piece, Van Cleef tones down much of the charm which made previous villians so memorable, and accentuated the ruthless, murderous side. My win though goes to Wallach whose performance is largely grounded in comedy, but manages to make the audience both despise him and feel pathos. In a film where most of the performances are marked more by the silence and the internalised, Wallach’s Tuco provides the outlet for the emotion and absurdity of the events.
My Winner: Eli Wallach
Who is your pick for the best Supporting Actor of 1966? Let us know in the comments section!
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1966, Best Supporting Actor, Eli Wallach, Mako, The Oscars
Best Supporting Actor: 1965
October 8, 2015 October 8, 2015 carlosnightmanLeave a comment
Official Nominations: Martin Balsam. Frank Finlay. Tom Courtenay. Michael Dunn. Ian Bannen
Another British invasion this year, with 3 of the 5 nominees hailing from GB. Martin Balsam picked up his only Oscar win this year for his straight-laced portrayal of a conformist clashing with his non-conformist brother. For an actor who appeared in some of the biggest and best films of the 50s, 60s, and 70s (from On The Waterfront to Psycho to Breakfast At Tiffany’s to All The President’s Men) it is interesting that his win came in a film which so few have seen nowadays. Ian Bannen gets a nomination for his performance as Ratbags in Flight Of The Phoebnix, one of a series of performances as the angry Scot. Tom Courtenay was edged out, surprising some thanks to a strong performance as Antipov, but the scope of Doctor Zhivago sent the actor largely back to a stage career. Michael Dunn got his big break away from television in Ship Of Fools which opened the door for a host of actors with dwarfism. Frank Finlay rounded off the list as Iago in Othello, perhaps his most successful role in a career full of action packed films, horror turns, and honest dramatic portrayals.
My Winner: Martin Balsam
My Nominations: Edward G Robinson. Lee Van Cleef. Yul Brynner. Martin Balsam
Not the greatest year for me, with three new choices making my list. Robinson gives his best performance in years and provides the best moments in The Cincincatti Kid while Lee Van Cleef replaces Charles Bronson in For A Few Dollars More bringing a sneering, cynical performance to the military man in search of bounty. Brynner is brilliant in the rarely seen Morituri, starring as a Nazi Captain torn between his sympathetic nature, furthering his career, and preventing his second in command from atrocities.
My Winner: Edward G. Robinson
Let us know in the comments below who is your pick for the Best Supporting Actor of 1965!
Changing The Past- Best Supporting Actor1965, Best Supporting Actor, Edward G Robinson, Martin Balsam, The Oscars | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1071 |
__label__cc | 0.629909 | 0.370091 | Chandor Gardens Newsletter March 2018
Secrets from the Garden
Chandor Gardens Newsletter - March 2018
It's beginning to look like spring! Bulbs are blooming, perennials are emerging from their winter slumber, and we have done quite a bit of landscaping and replanting. It's a perfect time to call and reserve your spot for photography. From bridal portraits to children's photos, the gardens serve as a beautiful backdrop for your special memories.
The ice storm in February did a considerable amount of damage to some of our trees but clean-up has been done and we are taking it as an opportunity to improve upon things and to refresh the Garden. Sadly, we did lose the stately, two-hundred year old, Cedar Elm tree around which Douglas built his Courtyard/Silver Garden so long ago. Our plan is to plant another large tree in the same location; not the easiest or least expensive solution but most definitely one that is in keeping with the history of Chandor Gardens.
The Chandor Gardens Foundation has pledged a portion of the proceeds from their upcoming April 28th Gala event, "A Night in Old Hollywood," to help with the costs of replacing the Courtyard tree. Walk the red carpet, dressed in your finest, for an evening of wonderful music, fabulous food and drink, costumes, paparazzi, prizes, and surprises! Tickets can be purchased at the Gardens or on-line at http://www.chandorgardensfoundation.org/. Remember, proceeds from this event will go a long way in helping to restore the beauty and much needed shade to Douglas' Silver Garden.
Our annual Spring Fling will be held on April 7th from 10a.m. to 3p.m. Once again, admission is only $1 per person and you will have the opportunity to shop directly from local artisans and craftsmen set up throughout the gardens, all the while being serenaded by live musical talent! Shep's Place Food Truck will be here serving up wonderful food and drink as well. There are still a few vendor spots open so if you're interested in sharing your talents with us email .
Keep up with us on Facebook and we’ll keep you posted there too.
See you in the Garden,
The Chandor Gardens Staff
Spring Fling at Chandor Gardens
Saturday, April 7th, 2018
Admission $1 per person
Our annual Spring Fling event is just around the corner! Please join us as we usher in the most beautiful season of the year here at the Gardens. Stroll through the Gardens, lush with blooms, while you are serenaded by live music provided by Anderson's Good Medicine, Love Never Fails Music, and many more talented musicians. Shep's Food Truck will be on hand providing yummy treats throughout the day and J.J. the Clown will entertain the kids with balloon animals and face painting.
The 2018 list of talented artists and craftsmen grows larger each day and includes:
Kent Bean – Bird Houses Unique
Paula Campbell – Glass Art
Catherine Cox – The Silver Importer (Jewelry)
Samantha Wright – Candles
Allyson McBride – Lu La Roe Clothing
Jennifer Dailey – Dailey Chalk by Design
Greg Jones – Custom Crafted Coin Rings
Stephany Loveday – Forget Me Not Jewelry
Brittney Pattillo – Soap Loves Company
Jill Harper – WH Wood Crafts
Deana Cornelson – KD Creations
Samantha Beyl – doTerra Essential Oils
Beverly Freeman – Artwork
Tammie Webster – Tammie Webster Photography
Pamela Jaussi – Paintings, Painted Vases
Shayna Littrell – Watercolors, Oil Paintings
Stephen and Juanita Barry – Paintings
Rachel Allison – Usborne Books and More
Parker County Master Gardeners
Elaine Beachy – Pottery
We're still accepting vendors for the event and, don't forget, booth space is FREE! Vendor's can sign up by emailing or calling 817-613-1700.
Letter from Chandor Gardens Foundation President
Romance! Glamour! Join us for A NIGHT IN OLD HOLLYWOOD! The Chandor Gardens Foundation invites you to a Gala to support Chandor Gardens. This event honors the legacy and times of Douglas and Ina Chandor who lived the high life in New York City during Hollywood's golden era. Come dance to the Big Band music of the 19 piece orchestra, Dynamic Swing Machine. For the adventurous, we urge you to come dressed as Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, or Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin -- be a Star and win the costume contest! Walk the red carpet, be photographed by the Paparazzi, indulge. More information and tickets...
You all know about the recent ice storm and the damage to trees in Parker County. Part of the proceeds for the evening will go towards replacing the iconic, 200 year old Cedar Elm tree in the Silver Garden behind the Chandor home. Alas, it was dealt a fatal blow recalling words in Douglas' journal from a 1939 hail storm: "God! What a disaster!," a comment echoed on other occasions when he was forced to contend with the challenges of gardening in Texas. It is a reminder that Chandor Gardens is an historic treasure that needs and deserves our support.
Elizabeth Lawrence
President Chandor Gardens Foundation, Inc.
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Fee: Donation based
Led by: Loretta Benham
Instructor Loretta Benham offers yoga classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Chandor Gardens. Loretta's mix of energetic sequences incorporated with stillness through breath work and meditation to quiet the mind will provide a healthy addition to any workout regimen.
Bring your mat and wear comfortable clothing. In inclement weather, classes will be held in the Great Room.
For more information call 817-597-1503 or 817-613-1700.
Dragon Fountain Restoration
One of the most iconic features of Chandor Gardens is the beautiful Dragon Fountain, constructed in the 1940's by Douglas Chandor using antique Dragon statues found in New York City, Coke and 7-Up bottles, colored marbles, and his own handmade ceramic tiles. Time and the elements have taken a toll on this important feature of the Gardens. In 2009 Fort Worth artist Michael Pavlovsky restored the original statues, which were placed in the home for preservation, and replaced them with bronze replicas. Since then, the remaining original fountain has continued to deteriorate prompting us to make the decision to reconstruct the entire feature. Once again, we have contracted with Michael Pavlovsky (pictured below) for this important restoration project.
Born in Dover, Delaware, in 1957, Michael began his lifelong pursuit as a student of painting and sculpture under Patrick Carter in 1972. Having earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture from Texas A & M University in 1982, he was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 1990.
Michael's work has been included in over ninety juried and invitational exhibitions. A commission to create a sculpture to serve as the central metaphor for the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of his most notable works. Movement to Overcome (pictured above) was in place for the opening of that museum in 1991, constructed on the site of the Lorraine Motel, site of Martin Luther King, Jr's assassination.
We invite you all to come out to the Gardens and see the restoration as it progresses over the next month. Plans are in the works for a celebration when the work is completed. We'll be posting photos here and on our Facebook page so stay tuned!
Every month, we try to come up with a Plant of the Month, but to be quite honest, March really is a hard month to choose just one with all the beautiful bulbs blooming all over in a sudden explosion of color. How does one choose? Do we bestow that honor on the delicate Narcissus clusters blooming in the shade? Or the sweet and tender Snowdrops that look like tiny bells on the verge of ringing? The happy Daffodils in varying shades of white, yellow, and orange adorning the drive to the Simmons gate? Or do we nominate the Tulips who are the very definition of life in their shocking scarlet blossoms bringing warmth to this burgeoning spring landscape? Honestly, readers, it's probably fair to name them all Plants of the Month as nothing says "spring" quite like a display of blooming bulbs, and there really is no better backdrop for vernal photography. However, Texas springs are fleeting at best, so come see these blooms while you can, because their beauty lies not only in their floral displays, but also in their evanescent qualities they share with this tentative (but short-lived) weather.
"Your happily ever after begins here."
Reserve your special day.
Dates are filling up fast for 2018 & 2019.
Contact us to schedule a tour. 817-613-1700 or
Take the Gardens home with you. There are postcards, note cards, prints, and t-shirts sporting fabulous images of Chandor Gardens in our gift shop. We feature unique handmade items by a variety of local artisans specializing in textiles, stained and fused glass, jewelry, painting, photography and much more.
Ice Damage
These pictures of the courtyard during and after the ice storm show the magnitude of the damage to the tree, and unfortunately it couldn't be saved. Additionally, we lost a few trees at the south end of the property due to their being top heavy from all the ice and the ground being so saturated. However, thanks to our dedicated and hard-working staff, the Parker County Master Gardeners, and Blue Ox Urban Forestry's services, we were able to re-open after just over a week! We are so appreciative of everyone's help and efforts to clean and restore Chandor Gardens to its beautiful glory, and in such a timely manner, too! Ultimately, we did sustain some damage, and lost a few trees, but the courtyard's Cedar Elm will be replaced and as for the rest, well, perhaps we can make lemonade out of these particular lemons and plant flowering perennials where there once was just shade. Perhaps Douglas's wisteria will get a little more sunshine this year.
This really is the nature of life in a garden. Merriam-Webster defines "palimpsest" as "something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form", and truly, no word defines a garden of this age as well as that. Gardens are the epitome of change, whether it's due to the property changing hands, blights of nature, or the unpredictable Texas weather, and while that is the reality of a garden, we can still see and pay homage to Douglas Chandor's artistic vision in everything we do.
below: photo of the cedar elm before the ice storm
Around the Garden
Winter Daphne
There is a small and rather unassuming bush, located between the large waterfall and its smaller counterpart directly to the west, that many likely overlook, but is awaited with great anticipation among Chandor Gardens staff, known as the Winter Daphne. This bush is an evergreen, but its true delight is in its extremely fragrant blooms. Indeed, some have said its blossoms smell like Froot Loops cereal, while others remain staunch in their assertions that it smells similar to Jasmine blossoms, and still others even claim it is similar to Gardenia's sweet scent. While we all agree that these blooms smell amazing, we can't decide what it smells most like! So if you have time, perhaps come give it a sniff and see what you think it smells most like. You certainly won't regret it!
Our Daffodils have been popping up all over Chandor Gardens this last week. They line the picturesque drive to the Simmons Gate at the south end of the property while a secretive cache of them lies almost hidden, tucked away back behind the waterfall, and all throughout, little clusters of them pop up here and there to remind us that spring has sprung!
If you have walked through the gardens recently and wondered, "What is that amazing smell?", the answer is almost certainly "Hyacinths". Hyacinths can range in colors from white to pink to purple and blue, but their scent is universally recognizable. However, as one of the very first bulbs to bloom in spring, they won't be around too much longer, so don't delay!
Spring is not limited to ground cover in the Gardens. Currently, the Bradford and Cleveland pear trees are bringing one's gaze upward to take in the sight of their snowy blossoms, almost reminiscent of a wintry snowdrift. Trees are always a beautiful sight during spring in Texas and it's almost like a coordinated dance between the trees; just as the pear blossoms will start to fade in the next couple of weeks, the Redbud trees will be putting out their spring finery in various shades of pink and purple. We await those with great anticipation, while also enjoying the fluffy pear blooms going strong now in the gardens that signal the start of a Texas spring season.
Chandor Gardens
711 W Lee Avenue
Karen Nantz
Steven Chamblee
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday, noon to 4:00 pm
Closed all City Observed Holidays
Adults: $5
Children 12 and under: Free
(Children must be accompanied by an adult.)
Private Tours and Events
Available year-round by appointment.
Chandor Gardens | 711 West Lee Ave. | Weatherford, Texas 76086 | 817-613-1700
ChandorGardens.com | Newsletter Archive | Follow us on Facebook
Copyright ©2018 Chandor Gardens, City of Weatherford. All rights reserved.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE email newsletter, Secrets from the Garden.
Visit ChandorGardens.com
Visit ChandorGardens.com | 817-613-1700
Chandor Gardens | 711 W Lee St |Weatherford, Texas 76086
email marketing & website by Pro Epic | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1073 |
__label__cc | 0.669342 | 0.330658 | CLAMP in Japan Expo – Day 1
Second day of Japan Expo, first day of CLAMP activities.
Today there was a sign session and the CLAMP Cosplay contest. I left after the contest so I don’t know if there was a second sign session. I heard a rumor that it got canceled but I have to confirm that. The Cosplay Contest did end much later than planned so maybe it’s true. Anyone can confirm that?
The signing rooms at Japan Expo are in an open area, basically anyone can watch the artists doing the signs, even if they haven’t won any tickets, which is pretty cool.
I think the first session had around 50 to 100 people, and CLAMP greeted each one of them and the fans were able to talk to them and ask questions. If anyone here won a ticket or knows someone who has, and if they asked any questions, please let me know the question and answer! ^^
Unlike the signing sessions from the USA and Korea, CLAMP did not give a special signing board do sign on, you could bring anything for CLAMP to sign on.
They were very generous with the fans, Mokona took pictures from two girls with her cellphone camera because of the way they looked.
Later there was the CLAMP Cosplay contest where CLAMP were the judges. Each member chose a winner individually and CLAMP as a group chose another winner.
Satsuki Igarashi chose a CLOVER group with Suu, Kazuhiko and Oruha.
Mokona picked a Code Geass duo with Cornelia and Euphie.
Tsubaki Nekoi chose a Blck and White Mokona duo.
Nanase Ohkawa picked a Sakura Kinomoto.
CLAMP as a group chose a Card Captor Sakura duo made of a Sakura and a Syaoran. I really liked that duo, the performance was so funny and the music was great, it was one of my favorites.
The winners got CLAMP’s autographs and other official goodies such as clearfiles and shitajikis.
However, originally there should have been only one winner picked by CLAMP as a group, but there was a duo from Tsubasa made of a Syaoran and a Sakura that CLAMP liked so much, that they decided to give them a priwe too.
They promised to draw something to them and they also gave to them their Ioryogi plush toy that used to be in CLAMP’s studio and that Nekoi carried around everywhere in their events.
I have a few pictures and videos, but I’m not allowed to share them until monday but please look forward to them!
On other news, CLAMP was featured in today’s edition of the french newspaper Le parisien. They were interviewed in their hotel room just before leaving for the opening of their art exhibition that I mentioned yesterday. There’s a very cool nez picture of CLAMP members sitting on a bed.
Click to enlarge it.
Special thanks goes to flowright for scanning the article!
CLAMP in Paris: first appearances (Updated)
Hi everyone! Yesterday was amazing, I saw CLAMP for the very first time!! It was at the opening of the CLAMP art exposition from Paris. I plan to do a more detailed report, with pictures and videos, not only from yesterday but also the next upcoming events concerning CLAMP in Paris, once I’m settled down because ever since I came here I haven’t got too much “computer time”
In the meantime, please check kei_san77-san’s great report from CLAMP’s appearance at the opening of their exhibition here.
Here’s a video with Mokona shot by me! They were all extremely nice and polite to everyone, as you can see from the video.
I’ve met some few LJers already and it has been great, here’s hoping that I shall meet a few more of you!
EDIT: Here are two more videos. The first one is from CLAMP’s arrival to the place and the second one is after they came out of the building where they were interviewed by three local TV channels, and they kindly spoke to everyone who was waiting outside for them.
CLAMP community
Nanase Ohkawa Interview – Cybozu-shiki (November/2016) | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1078 |
__label__wiki | 0.825167 | 0.825167 | Muti artfully draws parallels between late Mozart and middle Beethoven
Sun Apr 21, 2013 at 1:32 pm
By Dennis Polkow
Riccardo Muti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in this week’s program of Vivaldi, Mozart and Beethoven. Photo: Todd Rosenberg
After the previous week’s Chicago Symphony Orchestra performances of the Bach Mass in B minor that saw Riccardo Muti favoring large forces and slower tempos, it was somewhat of a surprise that his traversal of Vivaldi’s Concerto in A Major for Strings and Continuo, R. 158, which opened Friday afternoon’s Chicago Symphony program, zipped along at a fairly brisk clip with a mere nineteen players.
The string sound was robust and expressively vibratoed, a far cry from the leaner, straight-toned Baroque sound so often employed these days. The middle movement was unusually tranquil and introspective yet never losing its wonderful sense of line. The finale had Muti slightly muting repeats to create a delightful echo effect.
Mozart has been a relative rarity in Muti’s music directorship thus far, with only one previous Mozart symphony having been performed here, in the first weeks of his tenure. In many respects, Mozart’s Symphony No. 38, Prague, K. 504, seems tailor-made for a conductor so associated with opera, foreshadowing Don Giovanni as it does, which would also premiere in Prague. Muti treated it like a symphonic mini-opera with a foreboding opening that sped up and built up dramatic momentum before expanding dynamically.
The Andante spotlighted the wonderful balance between stings and woodwinds, which were by and large treated antiphonally. The finale had touches of wit and Mediterranean sunshine laced in with Sturm und Drang.
Although Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony remains one of the least performed of the Beethoven symphonies, Muti seemed determined to make a fresh case for it and managed to do so admirably.
The introduction was unusually slow, the build-up and long pauses pregnant with a tension that was palpable before the music joyously breaks forth from minor to major.
The Adagio was much faster than expected but featured plenty of rubato to slow things down as needed, particularly as solo winds took the spotlight phrase by phrase in the climax, always with an emphasis on playing in a lyrical manner.
The upsurge to the finale with restless strings riding into a satisfying climax that gave forth to a coda with zany slow downs and a frenzied ending that revealed the Fourth Symphony to be nearly as radical a piece as the far more popular and titanic Fifth Symphony.
By juxtaposing late Mozart with middle period Beethoven, employing only slightly larger forces for the Beethoven and observing all repeats in both and being so flexible with tempos, a fascinating trajectory and continuum began to emerge: some twenty years apart, Mozart’s Prague Symphony represents culminating Classicism while the Beethoven Fourth Symphony signifies expansive Classicism already bursting into early Romanticism.
The program will be repeated 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; 312-294-3000; cso.org. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1079 |
__label__cc | 0.710382 | 0.289618 | Cutler Rader, PL
Kenneth A. Cutler
Andrew J. Rader
Howard J. Weitzner
Transportation & Traffic Accidents
Ride Sharing Accidents
Trip/Slip & Fall
Brain Injury Lawyers
Burn Injury Lawyers
Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
Medical & Nursing Negligence
Assaults and Negligent Security
Accident Injuries
Amputation Injuries
Broken Bones Injuries
Cut and Laceration Injuries
Paraplegia/Quadriplegia Injuries
Reproductive or Fertility Injuries
Legal Videos
Deerfield Beach Office
Coconut Creek Office
Coral Springs Office
Attorney Howard J. Weitzner
Howard Weitzner has spent the majority of his legal career devoted to representing the injured victims of negligence. Over the last 13 years, his zealous pursuit of justice for the injured has earned him the distinction of being named to the Super Lawyers Top Attorneys in Florida-Rising Stars list from 2014-2019. Mr. Weitzner has represented thousands of injured South Florida community members and recovered millions of dollars for them following car accidents, trucking accidents, premises liability accidents (slip/trip and fall), medical malpractice and wrongful deaths.
Prior to joining the firm of Cutler Rader, PL, Mr. Weitzner worked for one of the largest personal injury law firms in the state, where he gained tremendous experience and knowledge in how to effectively represent the interest of his injured clients in front of insurance company, opposing attorney and jury. Mr. Weitzner takes this large firm knowledge and couples it with personalized, individual client attention to give his clients the counsel, advice, advocacy and compassion they deserve.
“When you are injured in accident, hiring an attorney is a very important decision and should be made as soon as possible. You need answers to questions that you may not even know to ask. Our job is to help our clients through this difficult time, and to deal not just with the injuries that face them today, but to also plan for the problems that will plague them in the future. As a personal injury attorney, it is our duty to hold those who caused your injuries responsible for the wrongs they committed. No two clients are the same, so no two cases are the same. We take pride in learning our client’s individual story and helping them to explain it to a jury and recovering fair compensation for their injuries.
Mr. Weitzner lives in Parkland, Florida, with his wife, Melissa, and two sons. The family is involved in numerous local organizations and active members of Kol Tikvah synagogue. Mr. Weitzner was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, and moved to Coral Springs, Florida with his family at the age of nine, where he was raised until college. He is a graduate of the University of Florida, with Bachelors of Science in Public Relations, and obtained his law degree from the University of Miami.
Return To Previous Page >>
1166 W Newport Center Drive, Suite #308 Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442
Interactive Direction Map
6810 North State Rd. 7 Coconut Creek, Florida 33073
9724 West Sample Road Coral Springs, Florida 33065
This website has been prepared by Cutler Rader, P.L. for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. This website contains links to other webpages. The inclusion of such links, however, does not constitute referrals or endorsements of the linked entities.
Copyright © 2016 Cutler Rader PL | All Rights Reserved.
Website Development by Concept International Design | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1089 |
__label__wiki | 0.908279 | 0.908279 | Rydych chi yma: SFO > Eitemau newyddion > Deferred Prosecution Agreement between the SFO and Tesco published
Deferred Prosecution Agreement between the SFO and Tesco published
23 Ionawr, 2019 | Eitemau newyddion
The SFO can now share in full the terms of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) reached with Tesco Stores Ltd after reporting restrictions were lifted today.
Between February and September 2014, instead of working to safeguard the financial interests of the company and its shareholders, a culture existed at Tesco that encouraged illegal practices to meet accounting targets, including improperly recognised income in the UK accounts, by ‘pulling forward’ income from subsequent reporting periods.
Lisa Osofsky, Director of the Serious Fraud Office said:
“Tesco Stores Limited dishonestly created a false account of its financial position by overstating its profits.
“The DPA clearly outlines the extent of this criminal conduct for which the company has accepted full responsibility.”
Under the DPA, Tesco agreed to pay a £129m fine and £3m investigation costs.
The company will also undertake and implement an ongoing compliance programme during the three year term of the DPA.
After discovering issues in their financial statements, Tesco referred itself to enforcement authorities after revealing that revenues had been incorrectly recorded as profit and made an announcement to the market.
The SFO began investigating this case in October 2014. See press releases here.
Tesco Stores Limited’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the SFO was approved by the President of the Queen’s Bench Division, the Right Honourable Sir Brian Leveson at Southwark Crown Court on 10 April 2017. See press release here.
The DPA with Tesco Stores Limited was the fourth ever agreed in the UK.
Tesco Plc has agreed to a separate £85m statutory compensation scheme for shareholders and bondholders with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Market Abuse Regulations.
The SFO charged three former senior managers over alleged financial misreporting. Sir John Royce ruled that Christopher Bush and John Scouler had no case to answer on Monday 26 November 2018. Full details here.
A third defendant, Carl Rogberg, was severed from the trial. The SFO offered no evidence at a hearing on 23 January 2019 and Mr Rogberg was acquitted of all charges.
Counsel for the Prosecution
Sasha Wass QC
Esther Schutzer-Weissman | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1091 |
__label__wiki | 0.696484 | 0.696484 | GOP Governor Forced To Fact-Check Left-Wing Media’s ‘100 Percent False’ Reporting [VIDEO]
Peter Hasson Senior Reporter
Missouri Republican Gov. Eric Greitens called out by name specific news organizations for spreading what he called “literally fake news” about a Republican bill that established protections for pro-lifers in the state.
Reporters and left-wing activists spread the false claim that the bill allowed employers to discriminate against women who use birth control or had an abortion.
Newsweek, for example, was forced to retract its story about the bill, which was passed during a special legislature session to “protect the lives of the innocent unborn and protect women’s health.”
What the legislation actually did was establish protections for pregnancy care centers and prevented people being forced to “directly or indirectly participate in abortion” if it’s contrary to their religious beliefs or moral convictions.
Greitens was not happy that the media spread false information about the bill and posted a video on Wednesday blasting the shoddy reporting. Greitens called out by name Newsweek, a feminist website and The San Francisco Gate for giving the public information that is “100 percent false.”
“The liberal media is spreading lies about conservatives in Missouri,” he wrote in an accompanying post. “It’s literally fake news.”
Tags : eric greitens fake news missouri
Peter Hasson
Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1095 |
__label__wiki | 0.515517 | 0.515517 | Former College Football Player Charged For Allegedly Killing Teammate
(Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
Jena Greene Reporter
Former Rice University football player Stuart Mouchantaf was arrested this week for allegedly causing the death of his former teammate.
Mouchantaf, 25, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance in the death of his former teammate, junior defensive lineman Blain Padgett. Padgett, who was discovered dead in his apartment in March, was just 21 years old. (RELATED: LSU BASKETBALL PLAYER SHOT AND KILLED. SUSPECT STILL ON THE RUN [VIDEO])
Mouchantaf reportedly gave Padgett a pill he thought was hydrocodone but was actually laced with the synthetic opioid carfentanil. Carfentanil is normally used by veterinarians and can be 100 times more powerful than hydrocodone, Ottawa Public Health claims. It’s commonly used as an elephant tranquilizer.
Giving an unwitting recipient the substance is considered a second-degree felony and can carry anywhere from a 2-to-20-year prison sentence.
A post shared by Rice Football (@riceowlsfb) on Jul 4, 2018 at 10:22am PDT
“Buyers need to understand that when they buy these pills on the streets instead of pharmacies, they are literally playing Russian Roulette,” Assistant District Attorney Paul Fortenberry said after the medical report was released in June. “These pills look like the real deal, but they, in fact, are far more dangerous than even cocaine or heroin and are far less expensive.”
This is a developing story.
Follow Jena on Twitter.
Tags : college football opioids rice university
Jena Greene | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1096 |
__label__cc | 0.620051 | 0.379949 | Label: ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM- atorvastatin calcium tablet, film coated
NDC Code(s): 68071-4472-9
Packager: NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc.
This is a repackaged label.
Source NDC Code(s): 0093-5057
HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
These highlights do not include all the information needed to use ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM TABLETS safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM TABLETS.
ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM tablets, for oral use
Initial U.S. Approval: 1996
Atorvastatin calcium tablets are an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor indicated as an adjunct therapy to diet to:
Reduce the risk of MI, stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina in adult patients without CHD, but with multiple risk factors ( 1.1).
Reduce the risk of MI and stroke in adult patients with type 2 diabetes without CHD, but with multiple risk factors ( 1.1).
Reduce the risk of non-fatal MI, fatal and non-fatal stroke, revascularization procedures, hospitalization for CHF, and angina in adult patients with CHD ( 1.1).
Reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, apo B, and TG levels and increase HDL-C in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia (heterozygous familial and nonfamilial) and mixed dyslipidemia ( 1.2).
Reduce elevated TG in adult patients with hypertriglyceridemia and primary dysbetalipoproteinemia ( 1.2).
Reduce total-C and LDL-C in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) ( 1.2).
Reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, and apo B levels in pediatric patients, 10 years to 17 years of age, with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) after failing an adequate trial of diet therapy ( 1.2).
Limitations of Use
Atorvastatin calcium tablets have not been studied in Fredrickson Types I and V dyslipidemias ( 1.3).
Dose range: 10 to 80 mg once daily ( 2.1).
Recommended start dose: 10 or 20 mg once daily ( 2.1).
Patients requiring large LDL-C reduction (> 45%) may start at 40 mg once daily ( 2.1).
Pediatric patients with HeFH: starting dose: 10 mg once daily; dose range: 10 to 20 mg/day for patients 10 years to 17 years of age ( 2.2).
Tablets: 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg of atorvastatin ( 3).
Active liver disease, which may include unexplained persistent elevations in hepatic transaminase levels ( 4).
Hypersensitivity to any component of this medication ( 4).
Pregnancy ( 4, 8.1, 8.3).
Lactation ( 4, 8.2).
Skeletal muscle effects (e.g., myopathy and rhabdomyolysis): Risks increase when higher doses are used concomitantly with cyclosporine and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, itraconazole, HIV protease inhibitors). Predisposing factors include advanced age (> 65), uncontrolled hypothyroidism, and renal impairment. Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have been reported. Advise patients to promptly report to their physician unexplained and/or persistent muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Atorvastatin calcium therapy should be discontinued if myopathy is diagnosed or suspected ( 5.1, 8.5).
Liver enzyme abnormalities: Persistent elevations in hepatic transaminases can occur. Check liver enzyme tests before initiating therapy and as clinically indicated thereafter ( 5.2).
A higher incidence of hemorrhagic stroke was seen in patients without CHD but with stroke or TIA within the previous 6 months in the atorvastatin 80 mg group vs. placebo ( 5.5).
The most commonly reported adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 2%) in patients treated with atorvastatin calcium in placebo-controlled trials regardless of causality were: nasopharyngitis, arthralgia, diarrhea, pain in extremity, and urinary tract infection ( 6.1).
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact TEVA USA, PHARMACOVIGILANCE at 1-888-838-2872 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Drug Interactions Associated with Increased Risk of Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis ( 2.6, 5.1, 7, 12.3)
Interacting Agents
Prescribing Recommendations
Cyclosporine, HIV protease inhibitors (tipranavir plus ritonavir), hepatitis C protease inhibitor (telaprevir)
Avoid atorvastatin
HIV protease inhibitor (lopinavir plus ritonavir)
Use with caution and lowest dose necessary
Clarithromycin, itraconazole, HIV protease inhibitors (saquinavir plus ritonavir, darunavir plus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, fosamprenavir plus ritonavir)
Do not exceed 20 mg atorvastatin daily
HIV protease inhibitor (nelfinavir)
Hepatitis C protease inhibitor (boceprevir)
Other Lipid-Lowering Medications: Use with fibrate products or lipid-modifying doses (≥ 1 g/day) of niacin increases the risk of adverse skeletal muscle effects. Caution should be used when prescribing with atorvastatin calcium ( 7).
Digoxin: Patients should be monitored appropriately ( 7.8).
Oral Contraceptives: Values for norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol may be increased ( 7.9).
Rifampin should be simultaneously coadministered with atorvastatin calcium ( 7.7).
Hepatic impairment: Plasma concentrations markedly increased in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease (8.6, 12.3).
Females of reproductive potential: Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with atorvastatin calcium ( 8.3)
See 17 for PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION and FDA-approved patient labeling.
Revised: 1/2018
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE
1.1 Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults
1.2 Hyperlipidemia
1.3 Limitations of Use
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
2.1 Hyperlipidemia and Mixed Dyslipidemia
2.2 Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Pediatric Patients (10 Years to 17 Years of Age)
2.3 Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
2.4 Concomitant Lipid-Lowering Therapy
2.5 Dosage in Patients with Renal Impairment
2.6 Dosage in Patients Taking Cyclosporine, Clarithromycin, Itraconazole, or Certain Protease Inhibitors
3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
5.1 Skeletal Muscle
5.2 Liver Dysfunction
5.3 Endocrine Function
5.4 CNS Toxicity
5.5 Use in Patients with Recent Stroke or TIA
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience
6.2 Postmarketing Experience
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS
7.1 Strong Inhibitors of CYP 3A4
7.2 Grapefruit Juice
7.3 Cyclosporine
7.4 Gemfibrozil
7.5 Other Fibrates
7.6 Niacin
7.7 Rifampin or Other Inducers of Cytochrome P450 3A4
7.8 Digoxin
7.9 Oral Contraceptives
7.10 Warfarin
7.11 Colchicine
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
8.1 Pregnancy
8.2 Lactation
8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential
8.4 Pediatric Use
8.5 Geriatric Use
8.6 Hepatic Impairment
10 OVERDOSAGE
12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
12.1 Mechanism of Action
12.2 Pharmacodynamics
12.3 Pharmacokinetics
13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY
13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
14 CLINICAL STUDIES
14.1 Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
14.2 Hyperlipidemia and Mixed Dyslipidemia
14.3 Hypertriglyceridemia
14.4 Dysbetalipoproteinemia
14.5 Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
14.6 Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Pediatric Patients
16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING
17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
17.1 Muscle Pain
17.2 Liver Enzymes
17.3 Embryofetal Toxicity
17.4 Lactation
Sections or subsections omitted from the full prescribing information are not listed.
Therapy with lipid-altering agents should be only one component of multiple risk factor intervention in individuals at significantly increased risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease due to hypercholesterolemia. Drug therapy is recommended as an adjunct to diet when the response to a diet restricted in saturated fat and cholesterol and other nonpharmacologic measures alone has been inadequate. In patients with CHD or multiple risk factors for CHD, atorvastatin calcium tablets can be started simultaneously with diet.
In adult patients without clinically evident coronary heart disease, but with multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease such as age, smoking, hypertension, low HDL-C, or a family history of early coronary heart disease, atorvastatin calcium tablets are indicated to:
Reduce the risk of myocardial infarction
Reduce the risk of stroke
Reduce the risk for revascularization procedures and angina
In adult patients with type 2 diabetes, and without clinically evident coronary heart disease, but with multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease such as retinopathy, albuminuria, smoking, or hypertension, atorvastatin calcium tablets are indicated to:
In adult patients with clinically evident coronary heart disease, atorvastatin calcium tablets are indicated to:
Reduce the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction
Reduce the risk of fatal and non-fatal stroke
Reduce the risk for revascularization procedures
Reduce the risk of hospitalization for CHF
Reduce the risk of angina
Atorvastatin calcium tablets are indicated:
As an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, apo B, and TG levels and to increase HDL-C in adult patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous familial and nonfamilial) and mixed dyslipidemia ( Fredrickson Types IIa and IIb);
As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adult patients with elevated serum TG levels ( Fredrickson Type IV);
For the treatment of adult patients with primary dysbetalipoproteinemia ( Fredrickson Type III) who do not respond adequately to diet;
To reduce total-C and LDL-C in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable;
As an adjunct to diet to reduce total-C, LDL-C, and apo B levels in pediatric patients, 10 years to 17 years of age, with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) if after an adequate trial of diet therapy the following findings are present:
LDL-C remains ≥ 190 mg/dL or
LDL-C remains ≥ 160 mg/dL and:
there is a positive family history of premature cardiovascular disease or
two or more other CVD risk factors are present in the pediatric patient
Atorvastatin calcium tablets have not been studied in conditions where the major lipoprotein abnormality is elevation of chylomicrons ( Fredrickson Types I and V).
The recommended starting dose of atorvastatin calcium tablets is 10 or 20 mg once daily. Patients who require a large reduction in LDL-C (more than 45%) may be started at 40 mg once daily. The dosage range of atorvastatin calcium tablets is 10 to 80 mg once daily. Atorvastatin calcium tablets can be administered as a single dose at any time of the day, with or without food. The starting dose and maintenance doses of atorvastatin calcium tablets should be individualized according to patient characteristics such as goal of therapy and response. After initiation and/or upon titration of atorvastatin calcium tablets, lipid levels should be analyzed within 2 to 4 weeks and dosage adjusted accordingly.
The recommended starting dose of atorvastatin calcium tablets is 10 mg/day; the usual dose range is 10 to 20 mg orally once daily [see Clinical Studies ( 14.6)] . Doses should be individualized according to the recommended goal of therapy [ see Indications and Usage ( 1.2) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12) ]. Adjustments should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more.
The dosage of atorvastatin calcium tablets in patients with HoFH is 10 to 80 mg daily. Atorvastatin calcium tablets should be used as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) in these patients or if such treatments are unavailable.
Atorvastatin calcium tablets may be used with bile acid resins. The combination of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and fibrates should generally be used with caution [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) and Drug Interactions ( 7) ].
Renal disease does not affect the plasma concentrations nor LDL-C reduction of atorvastatin calcium; thus, dosage adjustment in patients with renal dysfunction is not necessary [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ].
In patients taking cyclosporine or the HIV protease inhibitors (tipranavir plus ritonavir) or the hepatitis C protease inhibitor (telaprevir), therapy with atorvastatin calcium tablets should be avoided. In patients with HIV taking lopinavir plus ritonavir, caution should be used when prescribing atorvastatin calcium tablets and the lowest dose necessary employed. In patients taking clarithromycin, itraconazole, or in patients with HIV taking a combination of saquinavir plus ritonavir, darunavir plus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, or fosamprenavir plus ritonavir, therapy with atorvastatin calcium tablets should be limited to 20 mg, and appropriate clinical assessment is recommended to ensure that the lowest dose necessary of atorvastatin calcium tablets is employed. In patients taking the HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir or the hepatitis C protease inhibitor boceprevir, therapy with atorvastatin calcium tablets should be limited to 40 mg, and appropriate clinical assessment is recommended to ensure that the lowest dose necessary of atorvastatin calcium tablets is employed [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) and Drug Interactions ( 7) ].
Atorvastatin calcium tablets are white to off-white, oval shaped, film-coated, and are available in four strengths (see Table 1).
Table 1. Atorvastatin Calcium Tablet Strengths and Identifying Features
Tablet Strength
Identifying Features
10 mg of atorvastatin
Debossed with “TV” on one side and “5056” on the other side
Active Liver Disease, Which May Include Unexplained Persistent Elevations in Hepatic Transaminase Levels
Hypersensitivity to Any Component of This Medication
Pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1)] .
Lactation [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.2)] .
Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have been reported with atorvastatin calcium and with other drugs in this class. A history of renal impairment may be a risk factor for the development of rhabdomyolysis. Such patients merit closer monitoring for skeletal muscle effects.
Atorvastatin, like other statins, occasionally causes myopathy, defined as muscle aches or muscle weakness in conjunction with increases in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values > 10 times ULN. The concomitant use of higher doses of atorvastatin with certain drugs such as cyclosporine and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, itraconazole, and HIV protease inhibitors) increases the risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis.
There have been rare reports of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), an autoimmune myopathy, associated with statin use. IMNM is characterized by: proximal muscle weakness and elevated serum creatine kinase, which persist despite discontinuation of statin treatment; muscle biopsy showing necrotizing myopathy without significant inflammation; improvement with immunosuppressive agents.
Myopathy should be considered in any patient with diffuse myalgias, muscle tenderness or weakness, and/or marked elevation of CPK. Patients should be advised to report promptly unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever or if muscle signs and symptoms persist after discontinuing atorvastatin calcium. Atorvastatin calcium therapy should be discontinued if markedly elevated CPK levels occur or myopathy is diagnosed or suspected.
The risk of myopathy during treatment with drugs in this class is increased with concurrent administration of cyclosporine, fibric acid derivatives, erythromycin, clarithromycin, the hepatitis C protease inhibitor telaprevir, combinations of HIV protease inhibitors, including saquinavir plus ritonavir, lopinavir plus ritonavir, tipranavir plus ritonavir, darunavir plus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, and fosamprenavir plus ritonavir, niacin, or azole antifungals. Physicians considering combined therapy with atorvastatin calcium and fibric acid derivatives, erythromycin, clarithromycin, a combination of saquinavir plus ritonavir, lopinavir plus ritonavir, darunavir plus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, or fosamprenavir plus ritonavir, azole antifungals, or lipid-modifying doses of niacin should carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks and should carefully monitor patients for any signs or symptoms of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly during the initial months of therapy and during any periods of upward dosage titration of either drug. Lower starting and maintenance doses of atorvastatin should be considered when taken concomitantly with the aforementioned drugs [ see Drug Interactions ( 7) ]. Periodic creatine phosphokinase (CPK) determinations may be considered in such situations, but there is no assurance that such monitoring will prevent the occurrence of severe myopathy.
Prescribing recommendations for interacting agents are summarized in Table 2 [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.6), Drug Interactions ( 7), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ].
Table 2. Drug Interactions Associated with Increased Risk of Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis
Use with caution and with the lowest dose necessary ( 12.3)
Interacting Agents Prescribing Recommendations
Cyclosporine, HIV protease inhibitors (tipranavir plus ritonavir), hepatitis C protease inhibitor (telaprevir) Avoid atorvastatin
HIV protease inhibitor (lopinavir plus ritonavir) Use with caution and lowest dose necessary
Clarithromycin, itraconazole, HIV protease inhibitors (saquinavir plus ritonavir *, darunavir plus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, fosamprenavir plus ritonavir) Do not exceed 20 mg atorvastatin daily
HIV protease inhibitor (nelfinavir) Hepatitis C protease inhibitor (boceprevir) Do not exceed 40 mg atorvastatin daily
Cases of myopathy, including rhabdomyolysis, have been reported with atorvastatin coadministered with colchicine, and caution should be exercised when prescribing atorvastatin with colchicine [ see Drug Interactions ( 7.11) ].
Atorvastatin calcium therapy should be temporarily withheld or discontinued in any patient with an acute, serious condition suggestive of a myopathy or having a risk factor predisposing to the development of renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis (e.g., severe acute infection, hypotension, major surgery, trauma, severe metabolic, endocrine and electrolyte disorders, and uncontrolled seizures).
Statins, like some other lipid-lowering therapies, have been associated with biochemical abnormalities of liver function. Persistent elevations (> 3 times the upper limit of normal [ULN] occurring on 2 or more occasions) in serum transaminases occurred in 0.7% of patients who received atorvastatin calcium in clinical trials. The incidence of these abnormalities was 0.2%, 0.2%, 0.6%, and 2.3% for 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg, respectively.
One patient in clinical trials developed jaundice. Increases in liver function tests (LFT) in other patients were not associated with jaundice or other clinical signs or symptoms. Upon dose reduction, drug interruption, or discontinuation, transaminase levels returned to or near pretreatment levels without sequelae. Eighteen of 30 patients with persistent LFT elevations continued treatment with a reduced dose of atorvastatin calcium.
It is recommended that liver enzyme tests be obtained prior to initiating therapy with atorvastatin calcium and repeated as clinically indicated. There have been rare postmarketing reports of fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure in patients taking statins, including atorvastatin. If serious liver injury with clinical symptoms and/or hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice occurs during treatment with atorvastatin calcium, promptly interrupt therapy. If an alternate etiology is not found, do not restart atorvastatin calcium.
Atorvastatin calcium should be used with caution in patients who consume substantial quantities of alcohol and/or have a history of liver disease. Active liver disease or unexplained persistent transaminase elevations are contraindications to the use of atorvastatin calcium [ see Contraindications ( 4) ].
Increases in HbA1c and fasting serum glucose levels have been reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, including atorvastatin calcium.
Statins interfere with cholesterol synthesis and theoretically might blunt adrenal and/or gonadal steroid production. Clinical studies have shown that atorvastatin calcium does not reduce basal plasma cortisol concentration or impair adrenal reserve. The effects of statins on male fertility have not been studied in adequate numbers of patients. The effects, if any, on the pituitary-gonadal axis in premenopausal women are unknown. Caution should be exercised if a statin is administered concomitantly with drugs that may decrease the levels or activity of endogenous steroid hormones, such as ketoconazole, spironolactone, and cimetidine.
Brain hemorrhage was seen in a female dog treated for 3 months at 120 mg/kg/day. Brain hemorrhage and optic nerve vacuolation were seen in another female dog that was sacrificed in moribund condition after 11 weeks of escalating doses up to 280 mg/kg/day. The 120 mg/kg dose resulted in a systemic exposure approximately 16 times the human plasma area-under-the-curve (AUC, 0-24 hours) based on the maximum human dose of 80 mg/day. A single tonic convulsion was seen in each of 2 male dogs (one treated at 10 mg/kg/day and one at 120 mg/kg/day) in a 2-year study. No CNS lesions have been observed in mice after chronic treatment for up to 2 years at doses up to 400 mg/kg/day or in rats at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day. These doses were 6 to 11 times (mouse) and 8 to 16 times (rat) the human AUC (0-24) based on the maximum recommended human dose of 80 mg/day.
CNS vascular lesions, characterized by perivascular hemorrhages, edema, and mononuclear cell infiltration of perivascular spaces, have been observed in dogs treated with other members of this class. A chemically similar drug in this class produced optic nerve degeneration (Wallerian degeneration of retinogeniculate fibers) in clinically normal dogs in a dose-dependent fashion at a dose that produced plasma drug levels about 30 times higher than the mean drug level in humans taking the highest recommended dose.
In a post-hoc analysis of the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) study where atorvastatin 80 mg vs. placebo was administered in 4,731 subjects without CHD who had a stroke or TIA within the preceding 6 months, a higher incidence of hemorrhagic stroke was seen in the atorvastatin 80 mg group compared to placebo (55, 2.3% atorvastatin vs. 33, 1.4% placebo; HR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.59; p = 0.0168). The incidence of fatal hemorrhagic stroke was similar across treatment groups (17 vs. 18 for the atorvastatin and placebo groups, respectively). The incidence of nonfatal hemorrhagic stroke was significantly higher in the atorvastatin group (38, 1.6%) as compared to the placebo group (16, 0.7%). Some baseline characteristics, including hemorrhagic and lacunar stroke on study entry, were associated with a higher incidence of hemorrhagic stroke in the atorvastatin group [ see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1) ].
The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label:
Rhabdomyolysis and myopathy [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ]
Liver enzyme abnormalities [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2) ]
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
In the atorvastatin calcium placebo-controlled clinical trial database of 16,066 patients (8755 atorvastatin calcium vs. 7311 placebo; age range 10 to 93 years, 39% women, 91% Caucasians, 3% Blacks, 2% Asians, 4% other) with a median treatment duration of 53 weeks, 9.7% of patients on atorvastatin calcium and 9.5% of the patients on placebo discontinued due to adverse reactions regardless of causality. The five most common adverse reactions in patients treated with atorvastatin calcium that led to treatment discontinuation and occurred at a rate greater than placebo were: myalgia (0.7%), diarrhea (0.5%), nausea (0.4%), alanine aminotransferase increase (0.4%), and hepatic enzyme increase (0.4%).
The most commonly reported adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 2% and greater than placebo) regardless of causality, in patients treated with atorvastatin calcium in placebo controlled trials (n = 8755) were: nasopharyngitis (8.3%), arthralgia (6.9%), diarrhea (6.8%), pain in extremity (6.0%), and urinary tract infection (5.7%).
Table 3 summarizes the frequency of clinical adverse reactions, regardless of causality, reported in ≥ 2% and at a rate greater than placebo in patients treated with atorvastatin calcium (n = 8755), from seventeen placebo-controlled trials.
Table 3. Clinical Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 2% in Patients Treated with any Dose of Atorvastatin Calcium and at an Incidence Greater Than Placebo Regardless of Causality (% of Patients).
Adverse Reaction ≥ 2% in any dose greater than placebo
Adverse Reaction *
Any dose
Nasopharyngitis
Pharyngolaryngeal pain
Other adverse reactions reported in placebo-controlled studies include:
Body as a whole: malaise, pyrexia; Digestive system: abdominal discomfort, eructation, flatulence, hepatitis, cholestasis; Musculoskeletal system: musculoskeletal pain, muscle fatigue, neck pain, joint swelling; Metabolic and nutritional system: transaminases increase, liver function test abnormal, blood alkaline phosphatase increase, creatine phosphokinase increase, hyperglycemia; Nervous system: nightmare; Respiratory system: epistaxis; Skin and appendages: urticaria; Special senses: vision blurred, tinnitus; Urogenital system: white blood cells urine positive.
Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial (ASCOT)
In ASCOT [ see Clinical Studies ( 14.1) ] involving 10,305 participants (age range 40 to 80 years, 19% women; 94.6% Caucasians, 2.6% Africans, 1.5% South Asians, 1.3% mixed/other) treated with atorvastatin 10 mg daily (n = 5,168) or placebo (n = 5,137), the safety and tolerability profile of the group treated with atorvastatin calcium was comparable to that of the group treated with placebo during a median of 3.3 years of follow-up.
Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study (CARDS)
In CARDS [ see Clinical Studies ( 14.1) ] involving 2,838 subjects (age range 39 to 77 years, 32% women; 94.3% Caucasians, 2.4% South Asians, 2.3% Afro-Caribbean, 1.0% other) with type 2 diabetes treated with atorvastatin 10 mg daily (n = 1,428) or placebo (n = 1,410), there was no difference in the overall frequency of adverse reactions or serious adverse reactions between the treatment groups during a median follow-up of 3.9 years. No cases of rhabdomyolysis were reported.
Treating to New Targets Study (TNT)
In TNT [ see Clinical Studies ( 14.1) ] involving 10,001 subjects (age range 29 to 78 years, 19% women; 94.1% Caucasians, 2.9% Blacks, 1.0% Asians, 2.0% other) with clinically evident CHD treated with atorvastatin 10 mg daily (n = 5006) or atorvastatin 80 mg daily (n = 4995), there were more serious adverse reactions and discontinuations due to adverse reactions in the high-dose atorvastatin group (92, 1.8%; 497, 9.9%, respectively) as compared to the low-dose group (69, 1.4%; 404, 8.1%, respectively) during a median follow-up of 4.9 years. Persistent transaminase elevations (≥ 3 x ULN twice within 4 to 10 days) occurred in 62 (1.3%) individuals with atorvastatin 80 mg and in nine (0.2%) individuals with atorvastatin 10 mg. Elevations of CK (≥ 10 x ULN) were low overall, but were higher in the high-dose atorvastatin treatment group (13, 0.3%) compared to the low-dose atorvastatin group (6, 0.1%).
Incremental Decrease in Endpoints through Aggressive Lipid Lowering Study (IDEAL)
In IDEAL [ see Clinical Studies ( 14.1) ] involving 8,888 subjects (age range 26 to 80 years, 19% women; 99.3% Caucasians, 0.4% Asians, 0.3% Blacks, 0.04% other) treated with atorvastatin 80 mg/day (n = 4439) or simvastatin 20 to 40 mg daily (n = 4449), there was no difference in the overall frequency of adverse reactions or serious adverse reactions between the treatment groups during a median follow-up of 4.8 years.
Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL)
In SPARCL involving 4731 subjects (age range 21 to 92 years, 40% women; 93.3% Caucasians, 3.0% Blacks, 0.6% Asians, 3.1% other) without clinically evident CHD but with a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within the previous 6 months treated with atorvastatin 80 mg (n = 2365) or placebo (n = 2366) for a median follow-up of 4.9 years, there was a higher incidence of persistent hepatic transaminase elevations (≥ 3 x ULN twice within 4 to 10 days) in the atorvastatin group (0.9%) compared to placebo (0.1%). Elevations of CK (> 10 x ULN) were rare, but were higher in the atorvastatin group (0.1%) compared to placebo (0.0%). Diabetes was reported as an adverse reaction in 144 subjects (6.1%) in the atorvastatin group and 89 subjects (3.8%) in the placebo group [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5) ].
In a post-hoc analysis, atorvastatin 80 mg reduced the incidence of ischemic stroke (218/2365, 9.2% vs. 274/2366, 11.6%) and increased the incidence of hemorrhagic stroke (55/2365, 2.3% vs. 33/2366, 1.4%) compared to placebo. The incidence of fatal hemorrhagic stroke was similar between groups (17 atorvastatin calcium vs. 18 placebo). The incidence of non-fatal hemorrhagic strokes was significantly greater in the atorvastatin group (38 non-fatal hemorrhagic strokes) as compared to the placebo group (16 non-fatal hemorrhagic strokes). Subjects who entered the study with a hemorrhagic stroke appeared to be at increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke [7 (16%) atorvastatin calcium vs. 2 (4%) placebo].
There were no significant differences between the treatment groups for all-cause mortality: 216 (9.1%) in the atorvastatin 80 mg/day group vs. 211 (8.9%) in the placebo group. The proportions of subjects who experienced cardiovascular death were numerically smaller in the atorvastatin 80 mg group (3.3%) than in the placebo group (4.1%). The proportions of subjects who experienced non-cardiovascular death were numerically larger in the atorvastatin 80 mg group (5.0%) than in the placebo group (4.0%).
Adverse Reactions from Clinical Studies of Atorvastatin Calcium in Pediatric Patients
In a 26-week controlled study in boys and postmenarchal girls with HeFH (ages 10 years to 17 years) (n = 140, 31% female; 92% Caucasians, 1.6% Blacks, 1.6% Asians, 4.8% other), the safety and tolerability profile of atorvastatin calcium 10 to 20 mg daily, as an adjunct to diet to reduce total cholesterol, LDL-C, and apo B levels, was generally similar to that of placebo [see Use in Special Populations ( 8.4) and Clinical Studies ( 14.6)] .
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of atorvastatin calcium. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Adverse reactions associated with atorvastatin calcium therapy reported since market introduction, that are not listed above, regardless of causality assessment, include the following: anaphylaxis, angioneurotic edema, bullous rashes (including erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis), rhabdomyolysis, myositis, fatigue, tendon rupture, fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure, dizziness, depression, peripheral neuropathy, pancreatitis and interstitial lung disease.
There have been rare reports of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with statin use [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ].
There have been rare postmarketing reports of cognitive impairment (e.g., memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory impairment, confusion) associated with statin use. These cognitive issues have been reported for all statins. The reports are generally nonserious, and reversible upon statin discontinuation, with variable times to symptom onset (1 day to years) and symptom resolution (median of 3 weeks).
The risk of myopathy during treatment with statins is increased with concurrent administration of fibric acid derivatives, lipid-modifying doses of niacin, cyclosporine, or strong CYP 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, and itraconazole) [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ].
Atorvastatin calcium is metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4. Concomitant administration of atorvastatin calcium with strong inhibitors of CYP 3A4 can lead to increases in plasma concentrations of atorvastatin. The extent of interaction and potentiation of effects depend on the variability of effect on CYP 3A4.
Atorvastatin AUC was significantly increased with concomitant administration of atorvastatin 80 mg with clarithromycin (500 mg twice daily) compared to that of atorvastatin calcium alone [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ]. Therefore, in patients taking clarithromycin, caution should be used when the atorvastatin dose exceeds 20 mg [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.6) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ].
Combination of Protease Inhibitors
Atorvastatin AUC was significantly increased with concomitant administration of atorvastatin calcium with several combinations of HIV protease inhibitors, as well as with the hepatitis C protease inhibitor telaprevir, compared to that of atorvastatin calcium alone [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ]. Therefore, in patients taking the HIV protease inhibitor tipranavir plus ritonavir, or the hepatitis C protease inhibitor telaprevir, concomitant use of atorvastatin calcium should be avoided. In patients taking the HIV protease inhibitor lopinavir plus ritonavir, caution should be used when prescribing atorvastatin calcium and the lowest dose necessary should be used. In patients taking the HIV protease inhibitors saquinavir plus ritonavir, darunavir plus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, or fosamprenavir plus ritonavir, the dose of atorvastatin should not exceed 20 mg and should be used with caution [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.6) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ]. In patients taking the HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir or the hepatitis C protease inhibitor boceprevir, the dose of atorvastatin should not exceed 40 mg and close clinical monitoring is recommended.
Atorvastatin AUC was significantly increased with concomitant administration of atorvastatin 40 mg and itraconazole 200 mg [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ]. Therefore, in patients taking itraconazole, caution should be used when the atorvastatin dose exceeds 20 mg [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.6) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ].
Contains one or more components that inhibit CYP 3A4 and can increase plasma concentrations of atorvastatin, especially with excessive grapefruit juice consumption (> 1.2 liters per day).
Atorvastatin and atorvastatin-metabolites are substrates of the OATP1B1 transporter. Inhibitors of the OATP1B1 (e.g., cyclosporine) can increase the bioavailability of atorvastatin. Atorvastatin AUC was significantly increased with concomitant administration of atorvastatin 10 mg and cyclosporine 5.2 mg/kg/day compared to that of atorvastatin calcium alone [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ]. The coadministration of atorvastatin calcium with cyclosporine should be avoided [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ].
Due to an increased risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis when HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are coadministered with gemfibrozil, concomitant administration of atorvastatin calcium with gemfibrozil should be avoided [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ].
Because it is known that the risk of myopathy during treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors is increased with concurrent administration of other fibrates, atorvastatin calcium should be administered with caution when used concomitantly with other fibrates [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ].
The risk of skeletal muscle effects may be enhanced when atorvastatin calcium is used in combination with niacin; a reduction in atorvastatin calcium dosage should be considered in this setting [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ].
Concomitant administration of atorvastatin calcium with inducers of cytochrome P450 3A4 (e.g., efavirenz, rifampin) can lead to variable reductions in plasma concentrations of atorvastatin. Due to the dual interaction mechanism of rifampin, simultaneous coadministration of atorvastatin calcium with rifampin is recommended, as delayed administration of atorvastatin calcium after administration of rifampin has been associated with a significant reduction in atorvastatin plasma concentrations.
When multiple doses of atorvastatin calcium and digoxin were coadministered, steady state plasma digoxin concentrations increased by approximately 20%. Patients taking digoxin should be monitored appropriately.
Coadministration of atorvastatin calcium and an oral contraceptive increased AUC values for norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ]. These increases should be considered when selecting an oral contraceptive for a woman taking atorvastatin calcium.
Atorvastatin calcium had no clinically significant effect on prothrombin time when administered to patients receiving chronic warfarin treatment.
Cases of myopathy, including rhabdomyolysis, have been reported with atorvastatin coadministered with colchicine, and caution should be exercised when prescribing atorvastatin with colchicine.
Atorvastatin calcium is contraindicated for use in pregnant women since safety in pregnant women has not been established and there is no apparent benefit of lipid lowering drugs during pregnancy. Because HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors decrease cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol, atorvastatin calcium may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Atorvastatin calcium should be discontinued as soon as pregnancy is recognized [ see Contraindications ( 4) ]. Limited published data on the use of atorvastatin are insufficient to determine a drug-associated risk of major congenital malformations or miscarriage. In animal reproduction studies in rats and rabbits there was no evidence of embryo-fetal toxicity or congenital malformations at doses up to 30 and 20 times, respectively, the human exposure at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 80 mg, based on body surface area (mg/m 2). In rats administered atorvastatin during gestation and lactation, decreased postnatal growth and development was observed at doses ≥ 6 times the MRHD (see Data) .
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.
Human Data
Limited published data on atorvastatin calcium from observational studies, meta-analyses and case reports have not shown an increased risk of major congenital malformations or miscarriage. Rare reports of congenital anomalies have been received following intrauterine exposure to other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. In a review of approximately 100 prospectively followed pregnancies in women exposed to simvastatin or lovastatin, the incidences of congenital anomalies, spontaneous abortions, and fetal deaths/stillbirths did not exceed what would be expected in the general population. The number of cases is adequate to exclude a ≥ 3 to 4-fold increase in congenital anomalies over the background incidence. In 89% of the prospectively followed pregnancies, drug treatment was initiated prior to pregnancy and was discontinued at some point in the first trimester when pregnancy was identified.
Atorvastatin crosses the rat placenta and reaches a level in fetal liver equivalent to that of maternal plasma. Atorvastatin was administered to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at oral doses up to 300 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively. Atorvastatin was not teratogenic in rats at doses up to 300 mg/kg/day or in rabbits at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day. These doses resulted in multiples of about 30 times (rat) or 20 times (rabbit) the human exposure at the MRHD based on surface area (mg/m 2). In rats, the maternally toxic dose of 300 mg/kg resulted in increased post-implantation loss and decreased fetal body weight. At the maternally toxic doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day in rabbits, there was increased post-implantation loss, and at 100 mg/kg/day fetal body weights were decreased.
In a study in pregnant rats administered 20, 100, or 225 mg/kg/day from gestation day 7 through to lactation day 20 (weaning), there was decreased survival at birth, postnatal day 4, weaning, and post-weaning in pups of mothers dosed with 225 mg/kg/day, a dose at which maternal toxicity was observed. Pup body weight was decreased through postnatal day 21 at 100 mg/kg/day, and through postnatal day 91 at 225 mg/kg/day. Pup development was delayed (rotorod performance at 100 mg/kg/day and acoustic startle at 225 mg/kg/day; pinnae detachment and eye-opening at 225 mg/kg/day). These doses correspond to 6 times (100 mg/kg) and 22 times (225 mg/kg) the human exposure at the MRHD, based on AUC.
Atorvastatin calcium use is contraindicated during breastfeeding [ see Contraindications ( 4) ]. There is no available information on the effects of the drug on the breastfed infant or the effects of the drug on milk production. It is not known whether atorvastatin is present in human milk, but it has been shown that another drug in this class passes into human milk and atorvastatin is present in rat milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed infant, advise women that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with atorvastatin calcium.
Atorvastatin calcium may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with atorvastatin calcium [ see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1) ].
Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HeFH)
The safety and effectiveness of atorvastatin calcium have been established in pediatric patients, 10 years to 17 years of age, with HeFH as an adjunct to diet to reduce total cholesterol, LDL-C, and apo B levels when, after an adequate trial of diet therapy, the following are present:
LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL, or
LDL-C ≥ 160 mg/dL and
a positive family history of FH, or premature CVD in a first, or second-degree relative, or
two or more other CVD risk factors are present.
Use of atorvastatin calcium for this indication is supported by evidence from [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2), Adverse Reactions ( 6.1), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3), and Clinical Studies ( 14.6) ]:
A placebo-controlled clinical trial of 6 months duration in 187 boys and postmenarchal girls, 10 years to 17 years of age. Patients treated with 10 mg or 20 mg daily atorvastatin calcium had an adverse reaction profile generally similar to that of patients treated with placebo. In this limited controlled study, there was no significant effect on growth or sexual maturation in boys or on menstrual cycle length in girls.
Advise postmenarchal girls of contraception recommendations, if appropriate for the patient [ see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1), ( 8.3) ].
The long-term efficacy of atorvastatin calcium therapy initiated in childhood to reduce morbidity and mortality in adulthood has not been established.
The safety and efficacy of atorvastatin calcium have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 10 years of age with HeFH.
Additional pediatric use information is approved for Pfizer’s LIPITOR (atorvastatin calcium) tablets. However, due to Pfizer’s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that pediatric information.
Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoFH)
Clinical efficacy of atorvastatin calcium with dosages up to 80 mg/day for 1 year was evaluated in an uncontrolled study of patients with HoFH including 8 pediatric patients [ see Clinical Studies ( 14.5) ].
Of the 39,828 patients who received atorvastatin calcium in clinical studies, 15,813 (40%) were ≥ 65 years old and 2,800 (7%) were ≥ 75 years old. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older adults cannot be ruled out. Since advanced age (≥ 65 years) is a predisposing factor for myopathy, atorvastatin calcium should be prescribed with caution in the elderly.
Atorvastatin calcium is contraindicated in patients with active liver disease which may include unexplained persistent elevations in hepatic transaminase levels [ see Contraindications ( 4) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ].
There is no specific treatment for atorvastatin calcium overdosage. In the event of an overdose, the patient should be treated symptomatically, and supportive measures instituted as required. Due to extensive drug binding to plasma proteins, hemodialysis is not expected to significantly enhance atorvastatin calcium clearance.
Atorvastatin calcium tablets are a synthetic lipid-lowering agent. Atorvastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early and rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis.
Atorvastatin calcium is (3 R,5 R)-7-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-phenyl-4-(phenylcarbamoyl)-5-(propan-2-yl)-1 H-pyrrol-1-yl]-3,5-dihydroxyheptanoate calcium trihydrate. Its structural formula is:
C 66H 68CaF 2N 4O 10•3H 2O M.W. 1209.42
Atorvastatin calcium trihydrate (Form I) is a white to off-white powder that is insoluble in aqueous solutions of pH 4.5 and below. Atorvastatin calcium is very slightly soluble in distilled water, pH 7.8 phosphate buffer, and acetonitrile; slightly soluble in ethanol; and freely soluble in methanol.
Atorvastatin calcium tablets for oral administration contain 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg of atorvastatin and the following inactive ingredients: calcium carbonate, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate, talc and titanium dioxide.
Atorvastatin calcium is a selective, competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme that converts 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A to mevalonate, a precursor of sterols, including cholesterol. In animal models, atorvastatin calcium lowers plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein levels by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol synthesis in the liver and by increasing the number of hepatic LDL receptors on the cell surface to enhance uptake and catabolism of LDL; atorvastatin calcium also reduces LDL production and the number of LDL particles.
Atorvastatin calcium, as well as some of its metabolites, are pharmacologically active in humans. The liver is the primary site of action and the principal site of cholesterol synthesis and LDL clearance. Drug dosage, rather than systemic drug concentration, correlates better with LDL-C reduction. Individualization of drug dosage should be based on therapeutic response [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2) ].
Absorption: Atorvastatin calcium is rapidly absorbed after oral administration; maximum plasma concentrations occur within 1 to 2 hours. Extent of absorption increases in proportion to atorvastatin calcium dose. The absolute bioavailability of atorvastatin (parent drug) is approximately 14% and the systemic availability of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity is approximately 30%. The low systemic availability is attributed to presystemic clearance in gastrointestinal mucosa and/or hepatic first-pass metabolism. Although food decreases the rate and extent of drug absorption by approximately 25% and 9%, respectively, as assessed by C max and AUC, LDL-C reduction is similar whether atorvastatin calcium is given with or without food. Plasma atorvastatin calcium concentrations are lower (approximately 30% for C max and AUC) following evening drug administration compared with morning. However, LDL-C reduction is the same regardless of the time of day of drug administration [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2) ].
Distribution: Mean volume of distribution of atorvastatin calcium is approximately 381 liters. Atorvastatin calcium is ≥ 98% bound to plasma proteins. A blood/plasma ratio of approximately 0.25 indicates poor drug penetration into red blood cells. Based on observations in rats, atorvastatin calcium is likely to be secreted in human milk [ see Contraindications ( 4) and Use in Specific Populations ( 8.2) ].
Metabolism: Atorvastatin calcium is extensively metabolized to ortho- and parahydroxylated derivatives and various beta-oxidation products. In vitro inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase by ortho- and parahydroxylated metabolites is equivalent to that of atorvastatin calcium. Approximately 70% of circulating inhibitory activity for HMG-CoA reductase is attributed to active metabolites. In vitro studies suggest the importance of atorvastatin calcium metabolism by cytochrome P450 3A4, consistent with increased plasma concentrations of atorvastatin calcium in humans following coadministration with erythromycin, a known inhibitor of this isozyme [ see Drug Interactions ( 7.1) ]. In animals, the ortho-hydroxy metabolite undergoes further glucuronidation.
Excretion: Atorvastatin calcium and its metabolites are eliminated primarily in bile following hepatic and/or extra-hepatic metabolism; however, the drug does not appear to undergo enterohepatic recirculation. Mean plasma elimination half-life of atorvastatin calcium in humans is approximately 14 hours, but the half-life of inhibitory activity for HMG-CoA reductase is 20 to 30 hours due to the contribution of active metabolites. Less than 2% of a dose of atorvastatin calcium is recovered in urine following oral administration.
Geriatric: Plasma concentrations of atorvastatin calcium are higher (approximately 40% for C max and 30% for AUC) in healthy elderly subjects (age ≥ 65 years) than in young adults. Clinical data suggest a greater degree of LDL-lowering at any dose of drug in the elderly patient population compared to younger adults [ see Use in Specific Populations (8.5)].
Pediatric: Apparent oral clearance of atorvastatin in pediatric subjects appeared similar to that of adults when scaled allometrically by body weight as the body weight was the only significant covariate in atorvastatin population PK model with data including pediatric HeFH patients (ages 10 years to 17 years of age, n = 29) in an open-label, 8-week study.
Gender: Plasma concentrations of atorvastatin calcium in women differ from those in men (approximately 20% higher for C max and 10% lower for AUC); however, there is no clinically significant difference in LDL-C reduction with atorvastatin calcium between men and women.
Renal Impairment: Renal disease has no influence on the plasma concentrations or LDL-C reduction of atorvastatin calcium; thus, dose adjustment in patients with renal dysfunction is not necessary [ see Dosage and Administration (2.5) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Hemodialysis: While studies have not been conducted in patients with end-stage renal disease, hemodialysis is not expected to significantly enhance clearance of atorvastatin calcium since the drug is extensively bound to plasma proteins.
Hepatic Impairment: In patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease, plasma concentrations of atorvastatin calcium are markedly increased. C max and AUC are each 4-fold greater in patients with Child-Pugh A disease. C max and AUC are approximately 16-fold and 11-fold increased, respectively, in patients with Child-Pugh B disease [ see Contraindications ( 4) ].
Table 4. Effect of Coadministered Drugs on the Pharmacokinetics of Atorvastatin
Data given as x-fold change represent a simple ratio between coadministration and atorvastatin alone (i.e., 1 fold = no change). Data given as % change represent % difference relative to atorvastatin alone (i.e., 0% = no change).
See Sections 5.1 and 7 for clinical significance.
The dose of saquinavir plus ritonavir in this study is not the clinically used dose. The increase in atorvastatin exposure when used clinically is likely to be higher than what was observed in this study. Therefore, caution should be applied and the lowest dose necessary should be used.
Greater increases in AUC (up to 2.5 fold) and/or C max (up to 71%) have been reported with excessive grapefruit consumption (≥ 750 mL to 1.2 liters per day).
Single sample taken 8 to 16 h post dose.
Due to the dual interaction mechanism of rifampin, simultaneous coadministration of atorvastatin with rifampin is recommended, as delayed administration of atorvastatin after administration of rifampin has been associated with a significant reduction in atorvastatin plasma concentrations.
Coadministered drug and
dosing regimen
Dose (mg)
Change in AUC*
Change in
C max*
†Cyclosporine 5.2 mg/kg/day, stable dose
10 mg QD for 28 days
↑ 8.7 fold
↑ 10.7 fold
†Tipranavir 500 mg BID/ritonavir 200 mg BID, 7 days
10 mg, SD
†Telaprevir 750 mg q8h, 10 days
↑ 7.88 fold
†,‡Saquinavir 400 mg BID/ritonavir 400 mg BID, 15 days
40 mg QD for 4 days
†Clarithromycin 500 mg BID, 9 days
†Darunavir 300 mg BID/ritonavir 100 mg BID, 9 days
†Itraconazole 200 mg QD, 4 days
40 mg SD
↑ 20%
†Fosamprenavir 700 mg BID/ritonavir 100 mg BID, 14 days
†Fosamprenavir 1400 mg BID, 14 days
†Nelfinavir 1250 mg BID, 14 days
†Grapefruit Juice, 240 mL QD §
Diltiazem 240 mg QD, 28 days
Erythromycin 500 mg QID, 7 days
Amlodipine 10 mg, single dose
↓ 12 %
Cimetidine 300 mg QID, 2 weeks
10 mg QD for 2 weeks
↓ Less than 1%
↓ 11%
Colestipol 10 mg BID, 28 weeks
40 mg QD for 28 weeks
Not determined
↓ 26% ¶
Maalox TC ® 30 mL QD, 17 days
Efavirenz 600 mg QD, 14 days
10 mg for 3 days
↓ 1%
†Rifampin 600 mg QD, 7 days (coadministered) #
†Rifampin 600 mg QD, 5 days (doses separated) #
†Gemfibrozil 600 mg BID, 7 days
†Fenofibrate 160 mg QD, 7 days
↑ 3%
Boceprevir 800 mg TID, 7 days
Table 5. Effect of Atorvastatin on the Pharmacokinetics of Coadministered Drugs
See Section 7 for clinical significance.
Coadministered drug and dosing regimen
Drug/Dose (mg)
Change in AUC
Change in C max
Antipyrine, 600 mg SD
*Digoxin 0.25 mg QD, 20 days
↑ 20 %
Oral contraceptive QD, 2 months
- norethindrone 1 mg
- ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg
Tipranavir 500 mg BID/ritonavir 200 mg BID, 7 days
Fosamprenavir 1400 mg BID, 14 days
Fosamprenavir 700 mg BID/ritonavir 100 mg BID, 14 days
In a 2 year carcinogenicity study in rats at dose levels of 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg/day, 2 rare tumors were found in muscle in high-dose females: in one, there was a rhabdomyosarcoma and, in another, there was a fibrosarcoma. This dose represents a plasma AUC (0-24) value of approximately 16 times the mean human plasma drug exposure after an 80 mg oral dose.
A 2 year carcinogenicity study in mice given 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg/day resulted in a significant increase in liver adenomas in high-dose males and liver carcinomas in high-dose females. These findings occurred at plasma AUC (0-24) values of approximately 6 times the mean human plasma drug exposure after an 80 mg oral dose.
In vitro, atorvastatin was not mutagenic or clastogenic in the following tests with and without metabolic activation: the Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, the HGPRT forward mutation assay in Chinese hamster lung cells, and the chromosomal aberration assay in Chinese hamster lung cells. Atorvastatin was negative in the in vivo mouse micronucleus test.
In female rats, atorvastatin at doses up to 225 mg/kg (56 times the human exposure) did not cause adverse effects on fertility. Studies in male rats performed at doses up to 175 mg/kg (15 times the human exposure) produced no changes in fertility. There was aplasia and aspermia in the epididymis of 2 of 10 rats treated with 100 mg/kg/day of atorvastatin for 3 months (16 times the human AUC at the 80 mg dose); testis weights were significantly lower at 30 and 100 mg/kg and epididymal weight was lower at 100 mg/kg. Male rats given 100 mg/kg/day for 11 weeks prior to mating had decreased sperm motility, spermatid head concentration, and increased abnormal sperm. Atorvastatin caused no adverse effects on semen parameters, or reproductive organ histopathology in dogs given doses of 10, 40, or 120 mg/kg for two years.
In the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial (ASCOT), the effect of atorvastatin calcium on fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease was assessed in 10,305 hypertensive patients 40 to 80 years of age (mean of 63 years), without a previous myocardial infarction and with TC levels ≤ 251 mg/dL (6.5 mmol/L). Additionally, all patients had at least 3 of the following cardiovascular risk factors: male gender (81.1%), age > 55 years (84.5%), smoking (33.2%), diabetes (24.3%), history of CHD in a first-degree relative (26%), TC:HDL > 6 (14.3%), peripheral vascular disease (5.1%), left ventricular hypertrophy (14.4%), prior cerebrovascular event (9.8%), specific ECG abnormality (14.3%), proteinuria/albuminuria (62.4%). In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients were treated with anti-hypertensive therapy (Goal BP < 140/90 mm Hg for non-diabetic patients; < 130/80 mm Hg for diabetic patients) and allocated to either atorvastatin 10 mg daily (n = 5168) or placebo (n = 5137), using a covariate adaptive method which took into account the distribution of nine baseline characteristics of patients already enrolled and minimized the imbalance of those characteristics across the groups. Patients were followed for a median duration of 3.3 years.
The effect of 10 mg/day of atorvastatin on lipid levels was similar to that seen in previous clinical trials.
Atorvastatin calcium significantly reduced the rate of coronary events [either fatal coronary heart disease (46 events in the placebo group vs. 40 events in the atorvastatin calcium group) or non-fatal MI (108 events in the placebo group vs. 60 events in the atorvastatin calcium group)] with a relative risk reduction of 36% [(based on incidences of 1.9% for atorvastatin calcium vs. 3.0% for placebo), p = 0.0005 (see Figure 1)]. The risk reduction was consistent regardless of age, smoking status, obesity, or presence of renal dysfunction. The effect of atorvastatin calcium was seen regardless of baseline LDL levels. Due to the small number of events, results for women were inconclusive.
Atorvastatin calcium also significantly decreased the relative risk for revascularization procedures by 42% (incidences of 1.4% for atorvastatin calcium and 2.5% for placebo). Although the reduction of fatal and non-fatal strokes did not reach a pre-defined significance level (p = 0.01), a favorable trend was observed with a 26% relative risk reduction (incidences of 1.7% for atorvastatin calcium and 2.3% for placebo). There was no significant difference between the treatment groups for death due to cardiovascular causes (p = 0.51) or noncardiovascular causes (p = 0.17).
In the Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study (CARDS), the effect of atorvastatin calcium on cardiovascular disease (CVD) endpoints was assessed in 2838 subjects (94% white, 68% male), ages 40 to 75 with type 2 diabetes based on WHO criteria, without prior history of cardiovascular disease and with LDL ≤ 160 mg/dL and TG ≤ 600 mg/dL. In addition to diabetes, subjects had 1 or more of the following risk factors: current smoking (23%), hypertension (80%), retinopathy (30%), or microalbuminuria (9%) or macroalbuminuria (3%). No subjects on hemodialysis were enrolled in the study. In this multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial, subjects were randomly allocated to either atorvastatin 10 mg daily (1429) or placebo (1411) in a 1:1 ratio and were followed for a median duration of 3.9 years. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of any of the major cardiovascular events: myocardial infarction, acute CHD death, unstable angina, coronary revascularization, or stroke. The primary analysis was the time to first occurrence of the primary endpoint.
Baseline characteristics of subjects were: mean age of 62 years, mean HbA 1c 7.7%; median LDL-C 120 mg/dL; median TC 207 mg/dL; median TG 151 mg/dL; median HDL-C 52 mg/dL.
The effect of atorvastatin 10 mg/day on lipid levels was similar to that seen in previous clinical trials.
Atorvastatin calcium significantly reduced the rate of major cardiovascular events (primary endpoint events) (83 events in the atorvastatin calcium group vs. 127 events in the placebo group) with a relative risk reduction of 37%, HR 0.63, 95% CI (0.48, 0.83) (p = 0.001) (see Figure 2). An effect of atorvastatin calcium was seen regardless of age, sex, or baseline lipid levels.
Atorvastatin calcium significantly reduced the risk of stroke by 48% (21 events in the atorvastatin calcium group vs. 39 events in the placebo group), HR 0.52, 95% CI (0.31, 0.89) (p = 0.016) and reduced the risk of MI by 42% (38 events in the atorvastatin calcium group vs. 64 events in the placebo group), HR 0.58, 95.1% CI (0.39, 0.86) (p = 0.007). There was no significant difference between the treatment groups for angina, revascularization procedures, and acute CHD death.
There were 61 deaths in the atorvastatin calcium group vs. 82 deaths in the placebo group (HR 0.73, p = 0.059).
In the Treating to New Targets Study (TNT), the effect of atorvastatin 80 mg/day vs. atorvastatin 10 mg/day on the reduction in cardiovascular events was assessed in 10,001 subjects (94% white, 81% male, 38% ≥ 65 years) with clinically evident coronary heart disease who had achieved a target LDL-C level < 130 mg/dL after completing an 8 week, open-label, run-in period with atorvastatin 10 mg/day. Subjects were randomly assigned to either 10 mg/day or 80 mg/day of atorvastatin and followed for a median duration of 4.9 years. The primary endpoint was the time-to-first occurrence of any of the following major cardiovascular events (MCVE): death due to CHD, non-fatal myocardial infarction, resuscitated cardiac arrest, and fatal and non-fatal stroke. The mean LDL-C, TC, TG, non-HDL, and HDL cholesterol levels at 12 weeks were 73, 145, 128, 98, and 47 mg/dL during treatment with 80 mg of atorvastatin and 99, 177, 152, 129, and 48 mg/dL during treatment with 10 mg of atorvastatin.
Treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg/day significantly reduced the rate of MCVE (434 events in the 80 mg/day group vs. 548 events in the 10 mg/day group) with a relative risk reduction of 22%, HR 0.78, 95% CI (0.69, 0.89), p = 0.0002 (see Figure 3 and Table 6). The overall risk reduction was consistent regardless of age (< 65, ≥ 65) or gender.
Table 6. Overview of Efficacy Results in TNT
HR = hazard ratio; CHD = coronary heart disease; CI = confidence interval; MI = myocardial infarction; CHF = congestive heart failure; CV = cardiovascular; PVD = peripheral vascular disease; CABG = coronary artery bypass graft Confidence intervals for the Secondary Endpoints were not adjusted for multiple comparisons
Atorvastatin 80 mg: atorvastatin 10 mg
Secondary endpoints not included in primary endpoint
Component of other secondary endpoints
(N = 5006)
HR* (95% CI)
PRIMARY ENDPOINT
First major cardiovascular endpoint
0.78 (0.69, 0.89)
Components of the Primary Endpoint
CHD death
Non-fatal, non-procedure related MI
Resuscitated cardiac arrest
Stroke (fatal and non-fatal)
SECONDARY ENDPOINTS†
First CHF with hospitalization
First PVD endpoint
First CABG or other coronary revascularization procedure ‡
First documented angina endpoint ‡
Components of All-Cause Mortality
Cardiovascular death
Noncardiovascular death
Cancer death
Other non-CV death
Suicide, homicide, and other traumatic non-CV death
Of the events that comprised the primary efficacy endpoint, treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg/day significantly reduced the rate of non-fatal, non-procedure related MI and fatal and non-fatal stroke, but not CHD death or resuscitated cardiac arrest (Table 6). Of the predefined secondary endpoints, treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg/day significantly reduced the rate of coronary revascularization, angina, and hospitalization for heart failure, but not peripheral vascular disease. The reduction in the rate of CHF with hospitalization was only observed in the 8% of patients with a prior history of CHF.
There was no significant difference between the treatment groups for all-cause mortality (Table 6). The proportions of subjects who experienced cardiovascular death, including the components of CHD death and fatal stroke, were numerically smaller in the atorvastatin 80 mg group than in the atorvastatin 10 mg treatment group. The proportions of subjects who experienced noncardiovascular death were numerically larger in the atorvastatin 80 mg group than in the atorvastatin 10 mg treatment group.
In the Incremental Decrease in Endpoints Through Aggressive Lipid Lowering Study (IDEAL), treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg/day was compared to treatment with simvastatin 20 to 40 mg/day in 8,888 subjects up to 80 years of age with a history of CHD to assess whether reduction in CV risk could be achieved. Patients were mainly male (81%), white (99%) with an average age of 61.7 years, and an average LDL-C of 121.5 mg/dL at randomization; 76% were on statin therapy. In this prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint (PROBE) trial with no run-in period, subjects were followed for a median duration of 4.8 years. The mean LDL-C, TC, TG, HDL, and non-HDL cholesterol levels at Week 12 were 78, 145, 115, 45, and 100 mg/dL during treatment with 80 mg of atorvastatin and 105, 179, 142, 47, and 132 mg/dL during treatment with 20 to 40 mg of simvastatin.
There was no significant difference between the treatment groups for the primary endpoint, the rate of first major coronary event (fatal CHD, non-fatal MI, and resuscitated cardiac arrest): 411 (9.3%) in the atorvastatin 80 mg/day group vs. 463 (10.4%) in the simvastatin 20 to 40 mg/day group, HR 0.89, 95% CI (0.78, 1.01), p = 0.07.
There were no significant differences between the treatment groups for all-cause mortality: 366 (8.2%) in the atorvastatin 80 mg/day group vs. 374 (8.4%) in the simvastatin 20 to 40 mg/day group. The proportions of subjects who experienced CV or non-CV death were similar for the atorvastatin 80 mg group and the simvastatin 20 to 40 mg group.
Atorvastatin calcium reduces total-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, apo B, and TG, and increases HDL-C in patients with hyperlipidemia (heterozygous familial and nonfamilial) and mixed dyslipidemia ( Fredrickson Types IIa and IIb). Therapeutic response is seen within 2 weeks, and maximum response is usually achieved within 4 weeks and maintained during chronic therapy.
Atorvastatin calcium is effective in a wide variety of patient populations with hyperlipidemia, with and without hypertriglyceridemia, in men and women, and in the elderly.
In two multicenter, placebo-controlled, dose-response studies in patients with hyperlipidemia, atorvastatin calcium given as a single dose over 6 weeks, significantly reduced total-C, LDL-C, apo B, and TG. (Pooled results are provided in Table 7.)
Table 7. Dose Response in Patients with Primary Hyperlipidemia (Adjusted Mean % Change From Baseline) *
Results are pooled from 2 dose-response studies.
LDL-C
Apo B
HDL-C
Non-HDL-
C/HDL-C
In patients with Fredrickson Types IIa and IIb hyperlipoproteinemia pooled from 24 controlled trials, the median (25 th and 75 th percentile) percent changes from baseline in HDL-C for atorvastatin calcium 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg were 6.4 (-1.4, 14), 8.7 (0, 17), 7.8 (0, 16), and 5.1 (-2.7, 15), respectively. Additionally, analysis of the pooled data demonstrated consistent and significant decreases in total-C, LDL-C, TG, total-C/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C.
In three multicenter, double-blind studies in patients with hyperlipidemia, atorvastatin calcium was compared to other statins. After randomization, patients were treated for 16 weeks with either atorvastatin calcium 10 mg per day or a fixed dose of the comparative agent (Table 8).
Table 8. Mean Percentage Change From Baseline at Endpoint (Double-Blind, Randomized, Active-Controlled Trials)
A negative value for the 95% CI for the difference between treatments favors atorvastatin calcium for all except HDL-C, for which a positive value favors atorvastatin calcium. If the range does not include 0, this indicates a statistically significant difference.
Significantly different from lovastatin, ANCOVA, p ≤ 0.05
Significantly different from pravastatin, ANCOVA, p ≤ 0.05
Significantly different from simvastatin, ANCOVA, p ≤ 0.05
(Daily Dose)
Total-C
Non-HDL-C/HDL-C
Lovastatin 20 mg
95% CI for Diff *
-27 †
-9.2, -6.5
-10.7, -7.1
-1.7, 2.0
Pravastatin 20 mg
-25 ‡
Simvastatin 10 mg
-29 §
The impact on clinical outcomes of the differences in lipid-altering effects between treatments shown in Table 8 is not known. Table 8 does not contain data comparing the effects of atorvastatin 10 mg and higher doses of lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin. The drugs compared in the studies summarized in the table are not necessarily interchangeable.
The response to atorvastatin calcium in 64 patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia ( Fredrickson Type IV) treated across several clinical trials is shown in the table below (Table 9). For the atorvastatin calcium-treated patients, median (min, max) baseline TG level was 565 (267 to 1502).
Table 9. Combined Patients with Isolated Elevated TG: Median (min, max) Percentage Change From Baseline
(N = 12)
-12.4 (-36.6, 82.7)
-2.3 (-15.5, 24.4)
-28.2 (-44.9, -6.8)
-34.9 (-49.6, -15.2)
3.6 (-31.3, 31.6)
-26.5 (-57.7, 9.8)
13.8 (-9.7, 61.5)
VLDL-C
non-HDL-C
The results of an open-label crossover study of 16 patients (genotypes: 14 apo E2/E2 and 2 apo E3/E2) with dysbetalipoproteinemia ( Fredrickson Type III) are shown in the table below (Table 10).
Table 10. Open-Label Crossover Study of 16 Patients with Dysbetalipoproteinemia (Fredrickson Type III)
Median % Change (min, max)
Median (min, max) at Baseline (mg/dL)
442 (225, 1320)
-37 (-85, 17)
-58 (-90, -31)
-39 (-92, -8)
IDL-C + VLDL-C
215 (111, 613)
-32 (-76, 9)
In a study without a concurrent control group, 29 patients ages 6 years to 37 years with HoFH received maximum daily doses of 20 to 80 mg of atorvastatin. The mean LDL-C reduction in this study was 18%. Twenty-five patients with a reduction in LDL-C had a mean response of 20% (range of 7% to 53%, median of 24%); the remaining 4 patients had 7% to 24% increases in LDL-C. Five of the 29 patients had absent LDL-receptor function. Of these, 2 patients also had a portacaval shunt and had no significant reduction in LDL-C. The remaining 3 receptor-negative patients had a mean LDL-C reduction of 22%.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study followed by an open-label phase, 187 boys and post-menarchal girls 10 years to 17 years of age (mean age 14.1 years) with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) or severe hypercholesterolemia, were randomized to atorvastatin calcium (n = 140) or placebo (n = 47) for 26 weeks and then all received atorvastatin calcium for 26 weeks. Inclusion in the study required 1) a baseline LDL-C level ≥ 190 mg/dL or 2) a baseline LDL-C level ≥ 160 mg/dL and positive family history of FH or documented premature cardiovascular disease in a first or second-degree relative. The mean baseline LDL-C value was 218.6 mg/dL (range: 138.5 to 385.0 mg/dL) in the atorvastatin group compared to 230.0 mg/dL (range: 160.0 to 324.5 mg/dL) in the placebo group. The dosage of atorvastatin (once daily) was 10 mg for the first 4 weeks and uptitrated to 20 mg if the LDL-C level was > 130 mg/dL. The number of atorvastatin-treated patients who required uptitration to 20 mg after Week 4 during the double-blind phase was 78 (55.7%).
Atorvastatin calcium significantly decreased plasma levels of total-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B during the 26 week double-blind phase (see Table 11).
Table 11. Lipid-Altering Effects of Atorvastatin Calcium in Adolescent Boys and Girls with Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia or Severe Hypercholesterolemia (Mean Percentage Change From Baseline at Endpoint in Intention-to-Treat Population)
Apolipoprotein B
The mean achieved LDL-C value was 130.7 mg/dL (range: 70.0 to 242.0 mg/dL) in the atorvastatin group compared to 228.5 mg/dL (range: 152.0 to 385.0 mg/dL) in the placebo group during the 26 week double-blind phase.
The long-term efficacy of atorvastatin calcium therapy in childhood to reduce morbidity and mortality in adulthood has not been established.
80 mg - White to off-white, oval shaped, film-coated tablet, debossed with TV on one side and 5057 on the other side of the tablet.
NDC 68071-4472-9 BOTTLES OF 90
Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].
Dispense in a tight, light-resistant container as defined in the USP, with a child-resistant closure (as required).
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information).
Patients taking atorvastatin calcium should be advised that cholesterol is a chronic condition and they should adhere to their medication along with their National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-recommended diet, a regular exercise program as appropriate, and periodic testing of a fasting lipid panel to determine goal attainment.
Patients should be advised about substances they should not take concomitantly with atorvastatin [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1) ]. Patients should also be advised to inform other healthcare professionals prescribing a new medication that they are taking atorvastatin calcium.
All patients starting therapy with atorvastatin calcium should be advised of the risk of myopathy and told to report promptly any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever or if these muscle signs or symptoms persist after discontinuing atorvastatin calcium. The risk of this occurring is increased when taking certain types of medication or consuming larger quantities (> 1 liter) of grapefruit juice. They should discuss all medication, both prescription and over the counter, with their healthcare professional.
It is recommended that liver enzyme tests be performed before the initiation of atorvastatin calcium and if signs or symptoms of liver injury occur. All patients treated with atorvastatin calcium should be advised to report promptly any symptoms that may indicate liver injury, including fatigue, anorexia, right upper abdominal discomfort, dark urine, or jaundice.
Advise females of reproductive potential of the risk to a fetus, to use effective contraception during treatment and to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy [see Contraindications ( 4) and Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1, 8.3)] .
Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with atorvastatin calcium [see Contraindications ( 4) and Use in Specific Populations ( 8.2)] .
All brand names listed are the registered trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
Manufactured In Israel By:
Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
Jerusalem, 9777402, Israel
Rev. C 12/2017
Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets
(a TOR va sta tin)
Read the Patient Information that comes with atorvastatin calcium tablets before you start taking them and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This leaflet does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your condition or treatment.
If you have any questions about atorvastatin calcium tablets, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What are Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets?
Atorvastatin calcium tablets are a prescription medicine that lowers cholesterol in your blood. They lower the LDL-C ("bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides in your blood. They can raise your HDL-C ("good" cholesterol) as well. Atorvastatin calcium tablets are for adults and children over 10 whose cholesterol does not come down enough with exercise and a low-fat diet alone.
Atorvastatin calcium tablets can lower the risk for heart attack, stroke, certain types of heart surgery, and chest pain in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease such as:
age, smoking, high blood pressure, low HDL-C, heart disease in the family.
Atorvastatin calcium tablets can lower the risk for heart attack or stroke in patients with diabetes and risk factors such as:
eye problems, kidney problems, smoking, or high blood pressure.
Atorvastatin calcium tablets start to work in about 2 weeks.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol and triglycerides are fats that are made in your body. They are also found in foods. You need some cholesterol for good health, but too much is not good for you. Cholesterol and triglycerides can clog your blood vessels. It is especially important to lower your cholesterol if you have heart disease, smoke, have diabetes or high blood pressure, are older, or if heart disease starts early in your family.
Who Should Not Take Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets?
Do not take atorvastatin calcium tablets if you:
are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. Atorvastatin calcium tablets may harm your unborn baby. If you get pregnant, stop taking atorvastatin calcium tablets and call your doctor right away.
are breast feeding. Atorvastatin can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby.
have liver problems.
are allergic to atorvastatin calcium tablets or any of their ingredients. The active ingredient is atorvastatin. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in atorvastatin calcium tablets.
Atorvastatin calcium tablet dosing has not been established in children under 10 years of age.
Before You Start Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets
Tell your doctor if you:
have muscle aches or weakness
drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol daily
have a thyroid problem
have kidney problems
Some medicines should not be taken with atorvastatin calcium tablets. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Atorvastatin calcium tablets and certain other medicines can interact causing serious side effects. Especially tell your doctor if you take medicines for:
your immune system
HIV or AIDS
Know all the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your doctor and pharmacist.
How Should I Take Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets?
Take atorvastatin calcium tablets exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change your dose or stop atorvastatin calcium tablets without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels during your treatment with atorvastatin calcium tablets. Your dose of atorvastatin calcium tablets may be changed based on these blood test results.
Take atorvastatin calcium tablets each day at any time of day at about the same time each day. Atorvastatin calcium tablets can be taken with or without food.
Don't break atorvastatin calcium tablets before taking.
Your doctor should start you on a low-fat diet before giving you atorvastatin calcium tablets. Stay on this low-fat diet when you take atorvastatin calcium tablets.
If you miss a dose of atorvastatin calcium tablets, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take atorvastatin calcium tablets if it has been more than 12 hours since you missed your last dose. Wait and take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses of atorvastatin calcium tablets at the same time.
If you take too many atorvastatin calcium tablets or overdose, call your doctor or Poison Control Center right away. Or go to the nearest emergency room.
What Should I Avoid While Taking Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets?
Talk to your doctor before you start any new medicines. This includes prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Atorvastatin calcium tablets and certain other medicines can interact causing serious side effects.
Do not get pregnant. If you get pregnant, stop taking atorvastatin calcium tablets right away and call your doctor.
What are the Possible Side Effects of Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets?
Atorvastatin calcium tablets can cause serious side effects. These side effects have happened only to a small number of people. Your doctor can monitor you for them. These side effects usually go away if your dose is lowered or atorvastatin calcium tablets are stopped. These serious side effects include:
Muscle problems. Atorvastatin calcium tablets can cause serious muscle problems that can lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure. You have a higher chance for muscle problems if you are taking certain other medicines with atorvastatin calcium tablets.
Liver problems. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking atorvastatin calcium tablets and if you have symptoms of liver problems while you take atorvastatin calcium tablets. Call your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms of liver problems:
feel tired or weak
upper belly pain
dark amber colored urine
yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
Call your doctor right away if you have:
muscle problems like weakness, tenderness, or pain that happen without a good reason, especially if you also have a fever or feel more tired than usual. This may be an early sign of a rare muscle problem.
muscle problems that do not go away even after your doctor has advised you to stop taking atorvastatin calcium tablets. Your doctor may do further tests to diagnose the cause of your muscle problems.
allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing which may require treatment right away.
nausea and vomiting.
passing brown or dark-colored urine.
you feel more tired than usual
your skin and whites of your eyes get yellow.
stomach pain.
allergic skin reactions.
In clinical studies, patients reported the following common side effects while taking atorvastatin calcium tablets: diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and alterations in some laboratory blood tests.
The following additional side effects have been reported with atorvastatin calcium tablets: tiredness, tendon problems, memory loss, and confusion.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that bother you or that will not go away.
These are not all the side effects of atorvastatin calcium tablets. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list.
How do I store Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets
Store atorvastatin calcium tablets at room temperature, 68º to 77ºF (20º to 25ºC).
Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need.
Keep atorvastatin calcium tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children. Be sure that if you throw medicine away, it is out of the reach of children.
General Information About Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not use atorvastatin calcium tablets for a condition for which they were not prescribed. Do not give atorvastatin calcium tablets to other people, even if they have the same problem you have. They may harm them.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about atorvastatin calcium tablets. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about atorvastatin calcium tablets that is written for health professionals. Or you can call 1-888-838-2872.
What are the Ingredients in Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets?
Active Ingredient: atorvastatin calcium
Inactive Ingredients: calcium carbonate, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate, talc and titanium dioxide
Rev. B 12/2017
Package/Label Display Panel
atorvastatin calcium tablet, film coated
Product Type HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG Item Code (Source) NDC:68071-4472(NDC:0093-5057)
ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM TRIHYDRATE (UNII: 48A5M73Z4Q) (ATORVASTATIN - UNII:A0JWA85V8F) ATORVASTATIN 80 mg
CALCIUM CARBONATE (UNII: H0G9379FGK)
HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE (200000 MW) (UNII: 5Y0974F5PW)
HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) (UNII: 0WZ8WG20P6)
LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE (UNII: EWQ57Q8I5X)
MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE (UNII: OP1R32D61U)
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 6000 (UNII: 30IQX730WE)
Color white (white to off-white) Score no score
Shape OVAL Size 19mm
Flavor Imprint Code TV;5057
NDC:68071-4472-9 90 in 1 BOTTLE; Type 0: Not a Combination Product 06/14/2018
Labeler - NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. (010632300)
NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. 010632300 relabel(68071-4472)
ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM- atorvastatin calcium tablet, film coated
Jun 15, 2018 1 (current) download
1 259255 atorvastatin calcium 80 MG Oral Tablet PSN
2 259255 atorvastatin 80 MG Oral Tablet SCD
3 259255 atorvastatin (as atorvastatin calcium) 80 MG Oral Tablet SY
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/labelrss.cfm?setid=6ea173f8-838d-577c-e053-2991aa0ae680 | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1097 |
__label__cc | 0.551808 | 0.448192 | Home > Cowboys & Ranching > TEXAS - The Place to Live
TEXAS - The Place to Live
Allow two weeks for delivery
The Earliest Book on Texas Ranching
A little while back we came upon a book we had never heard of.
And what a book it was.
The author obviously had extensive experience in raising and driving cattle in Texas. The book was a guide, written for people in the older parts of the country. Its purpose was to tell folks exactly what they would need to know in order to settle in Texas and take up the business of raising cattle.
It was detailed.
It was vivid.
And it was early, published in 1860.
One of the first things that struck us was who the author had been working with. Though he didn't mention the name, it was obvious. When given the facts that his fellow cattle raiser was an Irishman who got his start making saddletrees and was living on the San Antonio River, it could be none other than Thomas O'Connor.
So why was a trove of in-depth information on this important part of our history so rare and little known?
The question was answered by the date of publication, 1860. The author, though he didn't know it, could not have picked a worse time to write a book for Northerners about coming to Texas to make their fortunes.
Very few were sold and therefore very few survive. In fact, we could only locate four copies in libraries worldwide, and not a single copy has been sold at auction in the last fifty years.
That explained the rarity, but who was the anonymous star-crossed author?
We might never have found out had we not found a remainder catalog from 1876. Remainders are books that publishers have been unable to sell and desperately want to be rid of. This book was listed, and the publisher had provided a name.
The voice crying in the wilderness, "Make your way in Texas!" was that of Talcott F. Buck.
We were able to learn that Mr. Buck, originally from New York, had seen the world. He had been to Africa, Central America and even Australia. When he set foot on Texas soil in 1853, he had found his promised land.
After working and living here for six years, he was and evangelist for Texas, screaming to the world:
"Pull up stakes and start for the Lone Star Land!"
Horace Greeley had famously told the youth of that era, "Go West, young man."
Talcott Buck told them what to do and what they would find when they got here.
In TEXAS: The Place to Live he covers:
Cattle Raising
Horse and Mule Raising
Breaking Texas Horses - "A wild and exciting business."
Stock Driving
Camping and Storytelling
Mustanging
Catching Wild Cattle
Hog Raising
Sheep Raising and Wool Growing
Importation and Improvement of Stock
Goats - Alpaca Sheep - Camels - Jacks & Jennets - Dogs - Fowls
The Country (its vegetables, fruits, timber, flowers, dwellings and building materials, cisterns, climate and health, Northers, rivers, seaport and interior towns, etc.)
Fish, Oysters, Shrimp & Turtles
Game Animals Hunted
Game Birds Hunted
Merchants and Planters
Cattle Shipping
Beef Packing
Speculation: Horses, Mules, etc.
Land Speculation
Wool and Sheep Speculation
Teachers, Schools, Churches, Ministers, etc.
Kinds of Labor in Demand
Who and How to Go
The Beauties of Our Land
Different Routes to Texas
How to Find a Location
Emigrants' Camp
There's so much interesting content in this book I can't begin to tell you all about it.
It's the most complete first-hand look at the early days of the cattle industry in Texas ever published.
It was a time when if you worked cattle you were called a driver or a vaquero, because nobody had heard the word "cowboy."
TEXAS - The Place to Live by Talcott Buck
1872 Texas Cattle Trail Map
Kansas Pacific Railway 65.00 49.95
A Texas Cowboy
by Charlie Siringo 39.95 Sold Out
Early Cattle Ranching on the Texas South Plains
by J. A. Rickard 32.95 Sold Out
Guns of Texas
by Carroll C. Holloway 39.95 | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1101 |
__label__wiki | 0.844833 | 0.844833 | Our site uses cookies and other technologies so that we, and our partners, can remember you, understand how you use our site, and serve you communications in line with your interests. To learn more about the use of cookies on this site and the extent to which you can opt-out of cookies click here. By continuing to use this site, you agree to the use of cookies and our Privacy Policy.
You may provide personal information, such as your email address, to us via this website. For more information about how we collect, use, and share such information click here. By providing personal information to us, you agree to our use of that information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Why U.S. Cotton?
Premium Value
For Mills
For Brands & Retailers
News, Events & Reports
Expert Outlooks
COTTON USA Licensees
U.S. Cotton Exporters
Sourcing Program Mills
Licensing Program
Staff & Representatives
Look Closer at the
Cotton the World Trusts
No other cotton has our long history of innovation, transparency, and high quality*.
Trust doesn't just happen. It's the integrity of generations that makes it real. At COTTON USA, you'll find family farmers who are committed to working their fields sustainably and leaving them better for the world. You'll find a long history of innovative harvesting and ginning technology that results in higher-quality cotton. And you'll find a commitment to transparent partnership that is unmatched anywhere. Look closer at COTTON USA. You'll see why we're the Cotton The World Trusts. *Hall & Partners (2017). Global Perceptions of U.S. Cotton
Meet family farmers using innovative technology to create a greener world.
Discover how we deliver cotton that is stronger, higher quality and virtually contamination free.
COTTON USA is virtually 100% tested, for consistency, and 100% traceable, for peace of mind.
Discover all the ways COTTON USA adds value to our business partners and our industry.
INNOVATION: WHAT’S NEW IN COTTON™?
See the latest in research and blended cotton fabric technology.
This booklet provides information to potential buyers of U.S. cotton on everything from varieties and fiber properties to classification and shipping.
U.S. Cotton Facts
Here’s a glimpse at U.S. cotton regions, timelines for production and output information.
Receive quarterly updates on news and events from COTTON USA.
Your email address will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Privacy Site Map Terms of Use Legal Affiliated Sites | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1105 |
__label__wiki | 0.794333 | 0.794333 | These Hysterical Bubba J Bloopers Will Have You Rollin’ On The Floor With Laughter
Jeff Dunham / YouTube
There’s no ignoring Jeff Dunham‘s comedic talent. For years, he’s been making us laugh with his downright hysterical acts, which feature his unique cast of puppets. Achmed, Peanut, and Walter are just a few of Dunham’s most popular characters. But our personal favorite has to be Bubba J.
If you were to look up the defintion of “redneck” in the dictionary, you’d see Bubba J’s picture next to it. He’s as redneck as it gets, with a full-on beer belly and an intense passion for NASCAR. Dunham plays off of other traditional redneck stereotypes in his acts with Bubba J, and has managed to build his character on them.
Since Bubba J isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, his confusion over simple topics results in some hilarious moments. For example, Bubba J didn’t understand the concept of New Year’s resolutions, so he ended up saying that he would stop drinking “all alcohol.” Once he realized his mistake, Bubba J frantically tried to take back his resolution. He eventually declared that he would quit smoking instead. “And since I don’t smoke, I’m good!” he said.
While it seems like Dunham and Bubba J managed to pull of that New Year’s resolution video without a hitch, you have to keep in mind that we’re seeing the finished product. A lot of work goes into making Dunham’s videos, and mistakes and goofs are inevitable. He proved this with a video he shared in April 2016, which shows a series of comical bloopers starring Bubba J.
Dunham wanted to film some short clips to announce his tour dates, and had Bubba J join him for the process. But Dunham kept stumbling over the name of one venue and mixed up several of the tour dates. His mistakes were funny enough, but they became even more so once he actually started yelling at himself through Bubba J!
One time Dunham was a bit too slow to say his line, and Bubba J was quick to correct him. “Too late,” Bubba J said. “I know, we got it backwards,” Dunham replied, to which Bubba J responded with, “Do it again.”
The moment that had us crackin’ up the most came near the end of the video, when Bubba J was trying to describe where their fans could find them at one of their shows.
“We’ll be on stage between the deep fried butter stand and the medical tent,” Bubba J said, before he started spitting out a bunch of jumbled up words. He decided to cover for Dunham, saying, “that was me, not him!”
Oh man, just when we thought that Dunham and Bubba J couldn’t make us laugh any harder. Tune in below to check out their blooper reel, and prepare to laugh your head of! | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1106 |
__label__cc | 0.574889 | 0.425111 | Sy Hersh confirms: Syrian facility bombed by Israel was not nuclear
After Israel bombed a Syrian military facility last September, the United States and Israel both claimed the target had been a Syrian nuclear facility under construction.RAW STORY‘s Larisa Alexandrovna was alone at the time in reporting that the actual target was a cache of North Korean No-Dong missiles, dating back to the 1990’s, which Syria was converting for use as chemical warheads.
In a follow-up report, Alexandrovna added that Vice President Dick Cheney was suspected of being behind leaks to the press of misleading claims of a nuclear basis for the incident.
Categories: Israel, Nuclear weapons, Syria . . Author: Travellerev . Comments: Leave a comment
Russian Warships To Dock In Syria
In an effort to expand its military presence in the international arena and reestablish a naval presence in the Middle East, Russia has dispatched a naval fleet to the region, including a guided missile cruiser, two anti submarine ships and 47 fighter planes. The fleet will dock at the Syrian port of Tartus where Russia maintains a technical base. At the same port, Iranian ships are also docked.
Categories: Iran, Russia, Syria . Tags: Warships . Author: Travellerev . Comments: Leave a comment
Secret raid on Korean shipment
Uzi Mahnaimi in Tel Aviv, Sarah Baxter in Washington and Michael Sheridan
IT was just after midnight when the 69th Squadron of Israeli F15Is crossed the Syrian coast-line. On the ground, Syria’s formidable air defences went dead. An audacious raid on a Syrian target 50 miles from the Iraqi border was under way.
At a rendezvous point on the ground, a Shaldag air force commando team was waiting to direct their laser beams at the target for the approaching jets. The team had arrived a day earlier, taking up position near a large underground depot. Soon the bunkers were in flames.
Ten days after the jets reached home, their mission was the focus of intense speculation this weekend amid claims that Israel believed it had destroyed a cache of nuclear materials from North Korea.
Categories: Airforce, Black ops, Corporate Crime, Corporate greed, False flag operations, Haliburton, Israel, Neo Cons, New world order, Nuclear weapons, Propaganda, Secrecy, Syria, US World domination, War crimes, Weapon industry, World domination, World war III, Zionism . . Author: Travellerev . Comments: Leave a comment
Mystery deepens over Israeli strike on Syria
By Donald Macintyrein Jerusalem
Israel is still maintaining official silence a week after Syria complained that Israeli aircraft invaded its airspace in a mysterious incident which raised tensions and triggered a welter of US media speculation about possible targets for the operation.
Explanations – for what anonymous US officials have said was a strike inside Syria – range from suggesting it was aimed at the shipment of weapons to Hizbollah from Iran, to saying Syria may be building a nuclear facility with North Korean help.
Syria, which has asked for a formal complaint to be “circulated” to the UN Security Council, said last week that Israeli aircraft unloaded ammunition after being spotted and fired on by its air defences but inflicted no damage.
Reuters, The New York Times and CNN have all quoted officials – mainly in the US – as saying that Israel carried out a strike in Syria. Reuters quoted an unnamed US official on Wednesday as saying: “The strike I can confirm. The target I can’t.” The agency quoted another US official as saying that reports on the targets were “confused”.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported this week a US official as saying that recent satellite imagery, mainly provided by Israel, suggested that Syria may building some form of nuclear facility with the help of material unloaded by North Korea.
Categories: 9/11, Airforce, Black ops, Dirty wars, False flag operations, Iran, Israel, Military-Industrial Complex, Neo Cons, New world order, Nuclear weapons, Surveillance, Syria, Terrorism, US World domination, War crimes, World domination, World war III, Zionism . . Author: Travellerev . Comments: Leave a comment
U.S.: Syria on nuclear watch list
By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer
ROME – A senior U.S. nuclear official said Friday that North Koreans were in Syria and that Damascus may have had contacts with “secret suppliers” to obtain nuclear equipment.
Andrew Semmel, acting deputy assistant secretary of state for nuclear nonproliferation policy, did not identify the suppliers, but said North Koreans were in the country and that he could not exclude that the network run by the disgraced Pakistan nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan may have been involved.
He said it was not known if the contacts had produced any results. “Whether anything transpired remains to be seen,” he said.
Syria has never commented publicly on its nuclear program. It has a small research nuclear reactor, as do several other countries in the region, including Egypt. While Israel and the U.S. have expressed concerns in the past, Damascus has not been known to make a serious push to develop a nuclear energy or weapons program.
Categories: 9/11, Big oil, Cheney, CIA, Corporate greed, Dirty wars, Economic meltdown, Iran, Iraq war, Israel, Lies lies and more lies, Military-Industrial Complex, Neo Cons, New world order, Oil, Propaganda, Syria, Terrorism, Torture, US World domination, War crimes, World domination, World war III, Zionism . . Author: Travellerev . Comments: Leave a comment | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1109 |
__label__cc | 0.584375 | 0.415625 | Home Details Wedcetera New and Noteworthy
Wedcetera
From signature scents to the diamonds of the future, what’s new and next in weddings
Elizabeth Swanson
Photograph: Meaghan Hall Photography
Something Old
CARI CUCKSEY laughingly refers to Holly Vault as her “venue empire,” but that description isn’t too far off. Since moving to Holly four years ago (a town she describes as a “Norman Rockwell painting mixed with a Hallmark movie,”) she and her husband, Cash, have acquired quite the eclectic mix of historic buildings, renovating them and turning them into event spaces, a bed and breakfast, and most recently, a wedding chapel. (Her passion for old things isn’t surprising: her HGTV reality show, Cash & Cari, follows her as she organizes estate sales and digs through homes in search of antique treasures.)
The building that started it all was an 1860s-era bank (hence the name Holly Vault), located in the heart of the downtown. They gave it an industrial, rustic vibe, and many couples use it for wedding receptions. The second was a Victorian home, now dubbed the Holly Vault Crossing House. It has eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a lovely garden that’s perfect for hosting intimate wedding ceremonies. The third and most recently opened acquisition is the Holly Vault Chapel, an early 1900s-era church located less than a half-mile from the main event space.
“The bones were already there,” Cucksey says of the chapel. “There are tall ceilings with pressed tin tiles that add a gorgeous vintage feel, and windows that let in a lot of light. I really wanted to create an all-white backdrop — there’s something about a crisp, clean look for a wedding ceremony that’s so beautiful.”
They ripped out the carpet to find a beautiful oak floor underneath and re-stained the pews to match. They brought out the charm of the chapel itself, adding elegant details like white chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. As with every old building, though, it wasn’t without its challenges. “When we found the pressed tin tiles, we realized there must have been a fire in the building at some point, because some of them were stained with soot,” Cucksey says. “There was also a gaping hole in the roof.”
You’d never know that now. The Cuckseys have created a chic, intimate space that can hold about 250 people, and they’re currently adding a bridal suite and renovating the downstairs. But if you think the chapel has completed their empire, you’d be wrong: next up on the list is a former high school that they’re converting into another event venue. “It’s going to be a really cool, Great Gatsby-inspired space with big windows, skylights,” she says. “I love a good before and after story.”
To learn more, visit hollyvault.com.
A Scent to Remember
We love the idea of picking out a new wedding-day perfume, as it will transport you right back to that special event each time you wear it. For a truly memorable scent, Head to Le Labo in Detroit. The perfumery, which recently opened on Woodward Avenue is known not only for unique, luxurious fragrances, but also for custom bottles. They’ll turn your scent into a true keepsake by putting your wedding date and location on the label.
To find your signature scent, go to lelabofragrances.com.
Diamonds of the Future
A study from The Millennials Impact Project found that 70 percent of millennials would consider buying a lab-grown diamond. Whether they’re greener and more environmentally friendly than mined diamonds is something that’s still debated, but even so, this trend seems to be gaining speed each year. We reached out to Michelle Graff, editor-in-chief of Natural Jeweler, to get the low-down on lab-grown. Here, she answers all of our (and probably your) burning questions.
Metro Detroit Weddings: What exactly are lab-grown diamonds?
Michelle Graff: Lab-grown diamonds have the same physical, optical, and chemical properties as mined, or natural, diamonds. In other words, they are diamonds, period. The difference is their origins — lab-grown diamonds are grown in factories, while natural diamonds are mined from the earth.
MDW: Can you detect a physical difference between lab-grown and mined diamonds?
MG: By you, do you mean me, or the average consumer? In both cases, the answer is no. In order to separate mined diamonds from lab-grown diamonds, you have to send them to a grading laboratory that has specialized equipment. There’s no way anyone can tell them apart by sight.
MDW: Where can you buy lab-grown diamonds?
MG: They’re sold both by jewelry stores and online, direct to consumer. In the case of buying any jewelry, I recommend going to a local, reputable jeweler, instead of whatever company comes up first in Google.
Photograph: courtesy of Bouqs Co.
Fashionable Florals
A Monique Lhuillier gown might not be in your bridal budget, but Monique Lhuillier flowers could be. The designer has teamed up with online floral retailer, The Bouqs Co., to create a capsule collection of four beautiful arrangements to fit any bride’s aesthetic. Each one includes bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, centerpieces, corsages, and boutonnieres. There’s Jardin, a vibrant bouquet of pink and peach roses, white aster, blue delphinium, and blush spray roses; Opulence, a glamorous bouquet of calla lilies, deep red photinia, and red roses; Sincere, an understated bouquet of white spray roses, snapdragons, gypsophila, and dusty miller; and Embrace, a timeless bouquet of white hydrangeas, mother of pearl roses, and silver dollar eucalyptus. Prices start at $399.
To find your perfect bouquet, visit bouqs.com.
Sourcing the Experts
Paper Source is a well-known destination for wedding invitations and paper goods, but did you know they also offer free one-on-one wedding consultations? Because they’ve been in the biz for a while (since 1983, to be exact) they know the wedding-planning process can be daunting. Every Saturday, you can stop by your local Paper Source store for a weekly open house, where you’ll get hooked up with a specialist to answer your laundry list of questions. Or maybe you just need someone to help you de-stress — either way; they’re there for you!
For more information, visit papersource.com.
Photograph: courtesy of Table and Teaspoon
For wedding brunches, bridal showers, engagement parties (and the list goes on), try Table + Teaspoon, a new tabletop service based in San Francisco. You can choose from up to six styles of settings, have them delivered to your home or event location, use them, and then send them back. (You don’t even have to wash them before returning!) They ship nationwide, but recommend ordering online at least seven days before the big event.
To set the scene, go to tableandteaspoon.com.
Photograph: courtesy of Senteurs D’Orient
Chic Soap Boxes
Handcrafted in Lebanon with elegant engravings and gorgeous fragrances, the Tasting Box from Senteurs d’Orient is the perfect gift for bridal showers, mothers-in-law, and bridesmaids. Each box includes nine miniature soaps: orange blossom, almond exfoliant, honey, jasmine, amber, tuberose, rose, oriental, and cedar. It comes wrapped in a beautiful ribbon, along with a note you can personalize. Priced at $38.50, it’s a gift with meaning, too: a portion of product sales benefit the brand’s Senteurs Women Initiative, which helps educate women in the Middle East.
To learn more, visit senteursdorient.com.
Photograph: courtesy of Watters
Ready to Wear Boxes
The traditional way to buy a wedding dress is the months-long, made-to-order way: going to a showroom, trying on gowns, selecting “the one” and having it custom created. But for brides who want instant gratification (maybe you’re having a short engagement?) the options for buying gowns on the web are becoming more plentiful. Watters is the latest designer to offer direct-to-consumer dresses. Its new line, By Watters, includes light, breezy dresses for elopements and seaside ceremonies, long-sleeved gowns for weddings in chilly weather, minimalist sheaths for modern brides, strapless A-line dresses for timeless brides, and everything in between. The best part? Prices start at $250.
For your dream dress, go to watters.com.
Previous articleTailor Made
Next articleMeet Your Makers
Well-Crafted Weddings | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1120 |
__label__cc | 0.564866 | 0.435134 | At Sesame Workshop, everything we do serves our nonprofit mission to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Working with best-in-class partners to develop products and experiences that families trust, we translate our whole-child curriculum across educational toys, books, music, themed entertainment, and much more.
Our licensing business provides a vital part of the funding that allows us to carry out our mission, enabling us to help more kids than ever before. Touring live shows bring Sesame Street to communities around the country. Exciting apparel and lifestyle collaborations connect and inspire fans and families across the generations. Classic children’s books like The Monster at the End of This Book—sometimes reinterpreted into games and apps—continue a decades-long legacy of sharing stories. Come and play!
Almost one million kids play with a Sesame Street toy every day.
20 million visitors a year enjoy Sesame theme park fun.
Carousel Created with Sketch.
Sesame Theme Parks
Recreating the Sesame experience in parks around the world
Sesame Street Live
Bringing laughter and learning on the road | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1121 |
__label__wiki | 0.620222 | 0.620222 | Colombia Takes Part in Exercise Red Flag 19-2
The Colombian Air Force 811th Tanker Squadron strengthened its air refueling capacity and led a mission during the exercise.
Salvadoran Special Forces and US Military Practice Air Insertions
The Salvadoran Armed Force’s Special Forces Command increased its helicopter assault and surprise capabilities.
Colombia Trains Guatemalan Marines
Guatemalan service members strengthen their amphibious assault capabilities to conduct operations against criminal organizations in any scenario.
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Promotes Youth Programs
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force promotes youth programs to help young men and women at risk of falling prey to crime, drugs, and radicalization change their lives.
US, Brazil Share Experiences during Exchange
Psychological operations experts from the Brazilian and U.S. Army’s special operations units conducted an exchange to share best practices. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1125 |
__label__cc | 0.532095 | 0.467905 | Darkmatters Review: Thor Ragnarok
Thor: Ragnarok (12a)
Dir. Taika Waititi
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)
“Last time we saw you, you were trying to kill everyone. What are you up to these days?”
It can be tough being a super hero, God of Thunder. One day you’re saving earth from all kinds of threats, the next you’re imprisoned by a crazy dictator and forced to fight one your strongest team mates in a lethal gladiatorial contest… All the while letting your evil older sister who happens to be the goddess of death lay waste to your home world in the prophesied ‘Ragnarok’ Armageddon…
"she's Hela cool"
Yes, Thor the ‘Point Break Avenger’ (Chris Hemsworth) is back and things are looking grim for the blonde demi god. He’s lost his hammer, been dumped by his girl and finds himself trapped on planet Sakaar, which is a hive of scum and villainy governed by Grandmaster (the superb over acting Jeff Goldblum). If you’ve seen any of the posters or trailers it won’t be surprise to know that he finds Hulk ‘The Strongest Avenger’ (Mark Ruffalo) is there too, but so also is Thor’s untrustworthy brother Loki (Tom Hiddlston).
"get ready to rumble"
What follows is a kind superhero buddy movie and it’s a grin inducing riot of quality laugh out loud humour, crunching super smack downs and brilliant sci-fi, feel good heroics.
Directed by Taika ‘The Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ Waititi, takes the Marvel Cinematic Universe and gives it a endorphin boost. Not since Deadpool has a super hero film been such fun and Thor: Ragnarok manages to pack in jaw dropping action, laugh out loud gags (both visual and dialogue) and even keeps it all almost family friendly with a 12a certificate.
"He's a friend from work"
Baddie of the piece is the seemingly unstoppable and very nasty Hela (Cate Blanchett on imperious form). Also on hand is the kick-ass one-time Asgardian Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), faithful gatekeeper Heimdall (Idris Elba), Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and perhaps most fun of all - rock creature Korg (Taika Waititi – who gives himself many of the best lines). There’s another Avenger who shows up too for a class fun meeting with Thor.
I grinned so much watching Thor: Ragnarok that it made my face hurt but man it was worth it. Almost every scene will make any comic book loving soul burst with pleasure as the plot rattles through an upbeat and memorable romp, this is a million miles away from the somber reflective gloom of many superhero tales.
"Sworn to protect"
This is essential viewing, building up next year’s Avengers: Infinity War in fine style.
Out of a potential 5, you have to go with a Darkmatters:
(5 - BEST. THOR. EVER.)
Awesomeness ööööö – Incredible, this is just super...
Laughs öööö – Excellent well judged comedy humour
Horror öö – Comic book violence throughout
Spiritual Enlightenment ööö - The gods aren't all friendly...
Darkmatters Review: Happy Death Day
Happy Death Day (15)
Dir. Christopher Beau Landon
“I know this isn’t going to make any sense. I feel like I’m losing my mind. I’ve already lived through this day…”
Here for Halloween comes a fun new time-looping slasher thriller directed and co-written by Christopher B. ‘Paranormal Activity’ Landon. This is the tale of queen bitch college student, Theresa ‘Tree’ Gelbman (Jessica ‘La La Land’ Rothe), who has to somehow relive the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity and why someone wants her dead.
"chemistry?"
It begins like a normal day for Tree, who wakes up on her birthday in the dorm room of classmate Carter Davis (Israel Broussard) after a drunken romp the previous evening. She spends her day in a self-centred, condescending whirlwind, mean to her classmates, evil to her previous hook-ups, and rudely ignoring her father's invite to take her out for her Birthday. Tree is also having an affair with her professor and generally acts like nobody else matters.
But someone is watching with murderous intent and after a freaky underpass Birthday surprise Tree is brutally killed, only to immediately wakes up again in exactly the same situation as she started the day. Before you can say ‘Groundhog Day’ Tree is living the same events over again – but even though this time she avoids the tunnel of death, the same masked killer manages to murder her again.
"when mascots attack"
The time-loop dynamic is used effectively here both for fun e.g. one day Tree decides to walk through the campus naked just for kicks, but also for some effectively nasty surprises. The violence isn’t extreme but there are many scream out loud moments (if the crowd I saw this with were any indication).
Part of the fun is in guessing how Tree will die each time – but the bad news for her is that each death is starting to weaken her and soon she is hospitalized by her unnatural injuries. Afraid and unable to work out who is killing her, Tree manages to convince Carter of her predicament by showing that she holds knowledge of the day's events.
"When you know someone's out to get you"
Can Tree crack the case of her own murder? Will she learn that she should be a nicer person in the experience? Sure the plot is pretty predictable but Happy Death Day delivers a fun if disposable mildly horrific thrill ride.
ööö1/2
(3.5 - Lots to enjoy, and re-enjoy, and re-enjoy)
Awesomeness öööö – Classier slasher moments than many out there
Laughs ööö – Very funny in places
Horror ööö – Gets nasty too
Spiritual Enlightenment ööö - Karma eh?
Darkmatters Review: The Ritual
The Ritual (15)
Dir. David Bruckner
Read the newspaper version of this review: The Observer
“It wasn’t your fault, mate…”
This is the unhappy tale of what happens following the untimely death of a nice guy called Rob (Paul Reid) whose pal, Luke (Rafe Spall), hid rather than stepped up to try and save him. Ridden with guilt Luke joins his other friends - Hutch (Robert James-Collier), Phil (Arsher Ali) and Dom (Sam Troughton) on a hike in Sweden in memory of Rob. But it’s not long before the group is being hunted through the forest wilderness by something terrifying and the body count starts to rise.
"not a happy shopper"
The Ritual is an effective survival horror which takes tropes from films such as The Blair Witch Project and The Wicker Man, mixes them up with some nasty Nordic mythology. The acting is surprisingly strong for a horror and the build-up works really well. Each of the friends has their own demons but together they are a good bunch of guys who bring some quality believable banter and plenty of laughs before they start to come apart (literally in some cases). Having real empathy with the protagonists makes you care about them when things start to get bad – and the nerve-shredding slow burn build up is expertly handled.
"what could go wrong?"
Director David Bruckner has a great eye for visuals and some of the Swedish landscape cinematography is just stunning. The friends I saw this with were suitably freaked out as the group stumble upon sinister warning signs after taking an ill-advised shortcut through a creepy forest.
When the running and screaming starts it delivers a fascinatingly twisted scenario and the plot shifts from a tense stalk n jump horror to full-on crazy Nordic ‘pagan-em-up’. It’s a shame that the ending – however unsettling feels a bit rushed and silly after the excellent work that has gone before.
"slightly sinister"
Even as the friends find themselves in a horrific life or death situation the chemistry and group dynamics hold firm elevating what could have been a very average horror effort to something that is really worth checking, as long as you have the stomach for grisly goings-on.
The ‘big bad’ in the film is something that hasn’t been seen on film before either which is a plus, but the trim running time means that there isn’t enough bridge from the hidden killer to the ‘well that’s just freaky’ monster mash.
"shock and awe"
If you go down to the woods today, you’ll be both scared and entertained but might not make it out alive…
(3.5 - Beware the woods at night... scary stuff)
Awesomeness öööö – Some very effective chills on offer
Laughs ööö – Nice lads banter
Horror öööö – Icky and grim
Spiritual Enlightenment öö - Would you die for a friend?
Darkmatters Review: Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049 (15)
Dir. Denis Villeneuve
Read the less Voight-Kampff test version of this review which is published in the newspapers: HERE
“I was told you’re special. Your story isn’t over yet. There is still a page left. ”
Welcome, thank you for coming. Please look up and to the left while I examine your eyes. Now answer these questions, please answer quickly as reaction time is a factor…
You're watching TV. Suddenly you realise there's a wasp crawling on your arm. What do you do?
OK, you’re now watching the sequel to one of the most iconic and groundbreaking sci-fi films of all time. It’s incredible near future neo-noir stuff, heartbreaking and thrilling in equal measure. Denis ‘Sicario’ Villeneuve, the director, has packed it with retina burningly cool scenes and a stunning storyline that adds pathos to the events that follow on from thirty years before.
"she wants you"
This is the tale of a new Blade Runner on the block, LAPD Officer K (Ryan ‘Drive’ Gosling). K’s job is to hunt down surviving dangerous old model replicants (robots who look and act human) and when off duty he lives with his virtual girlfriend Joi (Ana ‘Knock Knock’ de Armas). After he has a run in with a rogue replicant K unearths a long-buried secret that he is intimately connected to and could plunge what's left of society into chaos.
Wanted by villainous tycoon Niander Wallace (Jared ‘Suicide Squad’ Leto) and hunted by the seemingly unstoppable replicant enforcer Luv (Sylvia Hoeks), K must find the original Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has been missing for 30 years and who might hold the key to the mystery.
"ask questions later"
Blade Runner 2049 is everything that fans of the original could want in a sequel. Gosling is superb in the lead role and he’s ably backed up by the rest of the cast including Ford who delivers his best performance for many years.
The cinematography is eye-popping too, taking the incredible dystopian near future visuals of the first film and expanding them. The gadgets, vehicles and even the iconic skyscraper-sized adverts all add to the feel that the action takes place in very much the same Blade Runner universe.
At almost 3 hours this is a veritable feast for sci-fi lovers but despite the bum-numbing length it doesn’t drag. The storyline is poignant and moving, raising big questions about what it means to be human and what the value of life (even virtual life) is.
"she looks real enough..."
Blade Runner 2049 is an instant classic and possible film of the year. Make it your mission to hunt it down but be sure to have watched the original first.
"not so subliminal messaging"
(5 - Wake up - time to die happy)
Awesomeness ööööö – Incredible, unforgettable scenes
Laughs öö – some sly humour
Horror ööö – gets violent in places
Spiritual Enlightenment ööö - are we human? or are we dancer?
Darkmatters Review: Flatliners
Flatliners (15)
Dir. Niels Arden Oplev
“You Haven't Lived Until You've Died…”
What happens when a bunch of medical students get obsessed by what lies beyond the confines of this mortal life? Well, in Flatliners (a remake of exactly the same film from 1990) they embark on a risky experiment - stopping their hearts for short periods to ‘die’ and then be resuscitated in order that they can actually experience the afterlife and live to tell the tale. What on earth could go wrong?
"do you like my head gear?"
First to defy death is Courtney (Ellen ‘Juno’ Page) – she’s obsessed with finding out if there is life after death due to the fact that she accidentally caused the death of her young sister. Then there’s Jamie (James ‘Grantchester’ Norton) who plays a womanising cad trying to get by doing the absolute minimum work. Also on this near-death ride is Marlo (Nina ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Dobrev) who is hiding a past fatal mistake and goody goody Sophia (Kiersey ‘Bad Neighbours 2’ Clemons) complete with an overly controlling mother.
Then there’s the more sensible Ray (Diego Luna) who refuses to go under and experience death but is happy to help with the procedure for his friends. Of course, death doesn’t like being tinkered with and the meddling students start to get all sorts of demonic hallucinations – that just might actually kill them!?
"at least it looks like the cast had fun on set"
Oh, there is an obligatory cameo - Kiefer Sutherland from the ‘90s version - who plays one of the medical professors but even he seems a bit bemused to be there. So slowly but surely the lurking dread tries to build up but it all feels a bit forced.
Once the film shifts gear from pseudoscience thriller into limp horror-wannabe, it’s all weak jump scares and unexpected loud noises. Have the sins of the past found a doorway through the near death and come to settle scores? What are the chances that every single one of the students has a sinister secret too huh?
Ala, the film starts to desperately drag despite the competent cinematography and great cast – especially Page who is just awesomely wasted in this role. Director Opley seems determined to slavishly make his version almost but not quite as good as the original (apart from the special effects).
"it's DOA alas"
Some lines shouldn’t be crossed and unfortunately, the line for tickets to see this new Flatliners is one of them.
öö1/2
(2.5 - Life after death shouldn't be this dull...)
Awesomeness öö – not much alas
Laughs ö – very few
Horror öö – not scary enough
Spiritual Enlightenment öö - some lines shouldn't be crossed | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1137 |
__label__cc | 0.507852 | 0.492148 | Tag: Nintendo Entertainment System
The History of Video Games in 64 Objects
August 2, 2018 August 1, 2018 lefranzine
My earliest memories of my first experience with video games comes in the early 90s when I first picked up the controller for the SNES. Around the same time, the Gameboy also resided in our household and I spent hours going between the two consoles playing Mario, Paperboy 2, Donkey Kong, Star Fox and Gremlins… Continue reading The History of Video Games in 64 Objects
Tagged 101 basic computer games, a history of video games in 64 objects, adventureland, asteroids, Atari, book, book review, breakout, call of duty: modern warfare 2, computer space, death race, Densha do Go!, digi-comp computer, donkey kong, doom, dungeons and dragons, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, esports, failchild channel f, grand theft auto 3, halo: combat evolved, harper collins, History, home pong, humpty dumpty, john burgeson's baseball game, john madden football, King's Quest, magnavox mini-theater, magnavox odyssey, mattel football, Microsoft, minecraft, missile command, mortal kombat, myst, nancy drew: tomb of the lost queen, NES, Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment System, nintendo love tester, nintendo virtual boy, one on one, pac-amn, pinball, pinball construction set, Pokemon, pokemon go, pong, prince of persia, PS2, ralph baer's brown box, ralph baer's light anti-tank weapon, Review, river raid, simon, skylanders, sonic the hedgehog, Sony, space invaders, spacewar, speak and spell, street fighter 2, strong national museum of play, sumerian game, super mario bros, tennis for two, tetris, that dragon cancer, the legend of zelda, the oregon trail, the sims, utopia, video game hall of fame, Video Games, wii remote, World of Warcraft, zorkLeave a comment
Retro, Reviews
The Mini NES – Bitesize Nostalgia
November 16, 2016 lefranzine
Every now and again, the kid in me wants to revisit classic games from my childhood which encourages me to dig out the SNES, Gamecube, Megadrive or PS one for a couple of hours and battle with the task of trying to get them to work on a modern day TV. Retro gaming is something… Continue reading The Mini NES – Bitesize Nostalgia
Tagged Mini NES, NES, News, Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment System, Retro, ReviewLeave a comment | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1138 |
__label__wiki | 0.802564 | 0.802564 | Home Locations DC Review: ‘Botticelli in the Fire’ at Woolly Mammoth
Review: ‘Botticelli in the Fire’ at Woolly Mammoth
Elizabeth Ballou
Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” is a painting famous for its youthful beauty and artistic mastery. When I stood in front of it in Florence, I struggled to look away – which is exactly how I felt about Botticelli in the Fire, Woolly Mammoth’s new show about a queer and vivacious painter struggling to make art in a world that’s increasingly hostile. The cast, led by the riveting Jon Hudson Odom as Botticelli, convincingly portrays characters whose struggles mirror our own in 2018.
Jon Hudson Odom as Sandro and James Crichton as Leo in “Botticelli in the Fire.” Photo by Scott Suchman.
Botticelli in the Fire is inspired by historical events, but don’t expect an accurate portrayal of Florence in the 1400s. In this mashup of the real Botticelli’s Florence and the 21st century, characters switch their period-appropriate gowns and doublets with modern leisurewear. Botticelli himself texts and goes to brunch when he’s not painting one of the greatest Renaissance masterpieces.
When the play opens, Botticelli is in his artistic and personal prime. Florence’s leading family, the Medicis, has commissioned a massive painting from him. The suave, bisexual, and hard-partying Botticelli has many lovers, a group that soon includes Clarice (Orsini) di Medici. But three other people complicate Botticelli and Clarice’s affair. One: Lorenzo, Clarice’s husband, doesn’t know that Botticelli is doing more than just painting his wife’s portrait. Two: Girolamo Savonarola, a radical and homophobic preacher, is gaining power in a city stricken by plague and poverty. Three: Botticelli may have feelings for his promising apprentice, Leo (that is, Leonardo da Vinci)–and Leo may return those feelings.
With the stage thus set, Odom as Botticelli takes charge. He’s every bit the bohemian artist, and Odom channels the flamboyant charm of Purple Rain-era Prince in each scene. But Botticelli is layered: he’s also selfish and willfully ignorant of turbulent Florentine politics. Odom’s face is so expressive that each twitch of the lips or the eyebrows signals something. Botticelli frequently breaks the fourth wall to comment on the narrative, so lighting designer Colin K. Bills gives Odom dramatic spotlights that underscore the actor’s talents.
Odom is joined by equally talented supporting actors. Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan is magnetic as witty, hard-to-read socialite Clarice di Medici. Cody Nickell’s demented Lorenzo di Medici reads like a stray Owen Wilson character who’s wandered off the set of a Wes Anderson movie. Earl T. Kim and Dawn Ursula add emotional depth as Botticelli’s best friend (Poggio) and mother, respectively. James Crichton as the young Leo is winningly naïve – until he isn’t. Finally, Craig Wallace as Savonarola is a combination of modern politicians: Wallace’s portrayal combines the fiery delivery of Bernie Sanders with the cruelty and bigotry of Donald Trump.
Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan in Botticelli in the Fire. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Marti Lyons’ direction is sharp and bold, and she keeps the tension as taut as a rope. While the actors do turn to oversized gestures and caricature more often than they should, that’s forgivable given the cast’s talent.
Jordan Tannahill’s script paints portraits as compelling as its protagonist’s art, but it does stumble on occasion. Botticelli and Poggio sometimes crack so many lewd jokes that a few scenes veer into sitcom territory. Additionally, Savonarola only has a few scenes, and the character could have used more stage time – as well as more character depth – to justify his villainy. While Madre Maria (Botticelli’s mother) is both funny and moving, she pops in and out of the narrative like a bizarre guardian angel.
Luckily, the technical aspects of Botticelli in the Fire make up for any places where the script fails to deliver. Ivania Stack’s costumes are a perfect blend of modern and period pieces, and the squash outfits are a particularly nice touch. Christian Frederickson, as sound designer and composer, created choral rounds whose lyrics came out of da Vinci’s anatomical writings. The music heightens scenes that are already sexual into sensuous, artistic expressions of beauty. Misha Kachman’s visually arresting set features thin strips of black reflective plastic that line the three sides of the proscenium theater. The strips not only move organically, but throw back Colin K. Bills’ lighting at the actors and audience. When Savonarola’s Bonfire of the Vanities begins, (the burning of the art and literature of Florence in massive bonfires), orange light glints ominously from the shifting darkness of the set. I did wish that Bills’ lighting took advantage of that backdrop more frequently, though.
Botticelli in the Fire is a play whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts, at least in 2018. As unrest threatens to boil over in Florence, and Savonarola speaks out against “faggots” (a slur I use here because the show artfully deconstructs how violent it is), Botticelli refuses to leave. He believes that things can’t possibly be so terrible, that the Medicis will protect him from Savonarola’s populist base. But one terrifying scene shows that no one is exempt from a hate so fiery, so irrational, that it knows no bounds.
But while Botticelli in the Fire’s Italy is alarmingly close to our United States, it’s also hopeful. The scene with Botticelli and Leo hiding ends with them making love on the floor of Botticelli’s studio in defiance of the fires outside. “From below the chin to the top of the head is one-eighth of the height of a man,” a voice intones from the shadows, quoting from the Vitruvian Man drawing that Leo has yet to make. “From below the foot to below the knee is a quarter of the height of a man.” As the two men memorize each other’s proportions, they find solace in a connection that is creative as well as sexual.
It’s hard to imagine a better show than Botticelli in the Fire to see during Pride Month.
Running Time: Two hours and 15 minutes, with a fifteen-minute intermission.
Botticelli in the Fire plays through June 24, 2018, at Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW, Washington, DC 20004. To purchase tickets, go online.
Previous articleReview: ‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’ at ArtsCentric
Next articleReview: ‘Lea Michele & Darren Criss – the LM/DC Tour’ at the Kennedy Center
Elizabeth Ballou first fell for theater when she saw The Taming of the Shrew at age twelve. Since then, she's mixed her love of the performing arts with her writing obsession. Elizabeth minored in drama at the University of Virginia, where she routinely acted in, directed, and administered student theater. These days, she spends her days as a content developer for Clutch and her evenings taking in books, theater, and video games. You can also catch her writing for Bustle, the Quirk Books blog, and Green Willow Games, an indie video game studio she co-founded. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1142 |
__label__cc | 0.628887 | 0.371113 | Dylan Labbe
With poor production in the ECHL, Labbe has a lot of work to do.
Date of Birth January 9, 1995
September 2017 – With just 33 games played between the AHL/ECHL, Dylan Labbe will need to really make a name for himself with Iowa this year to stay in the eyes of Minnesota management. Managing just two points in the AHL, and just 0.33 points per game in the ECHL, the outlook appears relatively bleak for the 6’2” defenseman from Quebec. Will Scouch
June 2016 – Dylan Labbe managed to skate in 54 games in the debut season of his tenure with the Iowa Wild and understandably went timid in his first time under the bright lights that come with professional hockey. He managed to amass six points in that time with a minus-7 rating and a tidy 50 penalty minutes. He needs to get his defense together in short order to properly earn a plum spot in the rotation that his shutdown capabilities demand. Until then, he projects to at least make a sneaky play for penalty minutes from the back end. Edric Joseph
May 2015- Not that the wild is in dire need on the blueline, Dylan Labbe has signed his entry level contract. He is a year or two away, but he can make for a nice top four addition to the Minnesota Wild core when the time comes. While the Wild has several options a defense, Labbe boasts a left handed shot which is a good competitive advantage to have. He’s come along with his offensive game, finishing sixth among QMJHL defensemen with 51 points this past season for the Shawinigan Cataractes. Edric Joseph
November 2014 – Still in need of seasoning to prepare for fulltime duty patrolling an NHL blue line, Dylan Labbe projects to be a nifty source of defensive stability down the road for Minnesota. Labbe is a stay at home defender that isn’t afraid to get physical for the sake of disrupting the opposition’s offensive advances or standing up for his teammates. His willingness to pursue a gritty style makes him a desirable teammate and a player one loathes to compete against. Due his dominant posture being defense, his gradually improving offensive contributions often go unnoticed. As such, Labbe is capable of sending his team the other way in a hurry with his adept ability to pass out to open teammates while maintaining his composure even when under duress. After completing his tenure with the QMJHL, Dylan Labbe will likely require time at the AHL level to harness his mobility to increase his offensive consistency. This will also allot him needed time to grow into his sizeable 6-2 frame in order for his physical brand of hockey to make the effective transition to the pros. Edric Joseph
2010-2011 Lévis Chevaliers QMAAA 3 0 0 0 4 |
2011-2012 Lévis Chevaliers QMAAA 38 13 11 24 30 | Playoffs 4 0 1 1 0
Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 6 0 0 0 7 | Playoffs 4 0 1 1 0
2012-2013 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 61 7 21 28 57 |
2013-2014 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 63 9 18 27 20 | Playoffs 3 0 0 0 2
2014-2015 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 63 15 36 51 43 | Playoffs 7 1 7 8 15
QMJHL All-Stars Jr Super Series 2 0 1 1 4 |
Iowa Wild AHL 3 0 0 0 0 |
Quad City Mallards ECHL 17 3 3 6 21 | Playoffs 3 1 0 1 2
2017-2018 Rapid City Rush ECHL 42 2 6 8 43 |
2018-2019 Wichita Thunder ECHL 6 0 1 1 2 | | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1143 |
__label__cc | 0.531588 | 0.468412 | Schools and Disciplines
French publications
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2440/81411
Type: Journal article
Title: The narrative interruptions of science: The baudin expedition to australia (1800 - 1804)
Author: Fornasiero, F.
West-Sooby, J.
Citation: Forum for Modern Language Studies, 2013; 49(4):457-471
Publisher: Oxford Univ Press
Responsibility: Jean Fornasiero and John West-Sooby
Abstract: The nature of scientific voyaging evolved considerably during the second half of the eighteenth century, as the focus shifted from speculative explorations aimed at geographical discovery to the more programmatic and methodical collection of data and specimens. Consequently, field work came to occupy an increasingly central place and, as this necessitated breaks in the journey, the notion of interruption became inscribed in the conception and practice of the voyage of discovery. Fresh narrative approaches were required both to reflect this change and to feed the growing public interest in natural history. This, however, posed a dilemma: how could detailed and often specialized scientific reporting be incorporated within travel accounts without interrupting the narrative flow? This essay proposes to address that question by conducting a detailed analysis of the textual records pertaining to the last of the great scientific voyages of this period: Nicolas Baudin's expedition to Australia (1800–1804). It will in particular attempt to explain why, despite the innovative approaches taken by the commander and by his leading scientist to weave the interruptions of science into a coherent narrative, this voyage ultimately failed to impose a new mode of scientific travel writing.
Keywords: Baudin, Nicolas; nineteenth century; scientific exploration; Australia; botanizing; travel writing
Rights: © The Author (2013)
RMID: 0020132144
DOI: 10.1093/fmls/cqt036
Appears in Collections: French publications | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1154 |
__label__cc | 0.662527 | 0.337473 | mountains beyond mountains: field notes from yangshuo 阳朔
I started writing this post last week and it was shaping up to be a neatly-formed essay. Then the 7.8 earthquake hit New Zealand and for a few days after that, I couldn’t concentrate on much else. The stuff I’d started working on before that didn’t seem to make sense. So I looked through the notes I’d written in Yangshuo, mostly half-sentences scribbled on the train. It seemed better and realer to do it this way. This is how I really am when I travel, anyway: scattered and excited, in a daze trying to remember everything.
Li River, Guangxi Province (漓江，广西省）
3/11/2016
This is one of the most beautiful places I know.
I first came here when I was thirteen. I don’t remember much because it was a school trip and we were too preoccupied with stuff like whether we’d get to sit next to our crush on the bus. I do remember fresh mango juice and fierce sunburn on my arms after mountain biking in the sun.
Yangshuo feels different. West Street is no longer a sleepy little pedestrian street; at night you can barely move, squeezed in on all sides by tourists and vendors trying to sell you flying plastic toys and foot massages. West Street now has a wax museum (!) and a virtual reality arcade. The limestone mountains loom above the street like sleeping giants. Yangshuo hasn’t been “ruined” by tourism; it’s just changed, like everywhere else. In China, you can’t hold on to past versions of places you’ve visited or soon you’ll have nothing left.
As our bus rolls into the station, my first thought is: what a relief to be surrounded by hills again, to have something to look at other than skyscrapers, to look around and see green everywhere. The rich green of rice fields and riverbanks and bamboo trees hanging over the river.
We walk just twenty minutes away from the main street and come across a dirt road with no one else on it. Only a few grey birds skimming the river with their wings, just visible through the trees. Sunlight turns to soft gold around four o’clock. No sound except our footsteps.
Today I climbed a mountain and I didn’t die.
I’d read about this particular mountain, Laozhai Shan, and decided it wasn’t for me (“near-vertical climb” and “iron ladders in some places”) but I did it. Even though we passed a middle-aged Chinese couple who warned us “太危险，真的太危险” (it’s too dangerous, srsly). But the path was so quiet. There were graves dotted along the track with pink plastic flowers laid on top. It made me think of Kota Kinabalu, where my mum comes from, where colourful graves are set into the hillside. It could have been eerie but somehow wasn’t, only peaceful, with the soft sound of our breathing and cool wind coming through the trees.
We scrambled over uneven, unstable rocks on our hands and knees to reach the peak. At the peak itself: a red pagoda, wasps the size of dragonflies, butterflies with huge shiny blue wings. Stretching out below us, a sea of mountains beyond mountains. We stood on the rocks and didn’t speak for a while, just looked. Up there in the sky, we got our breath back.
Ever since I was little I’ve always wanted to see a blue butterfly and now I have.
At the foot of the mountain we bought a kilo of tiny mandarins from the ladies selling fruit by the road. For lunch we ate famous Guilin rice noodles 桂林米粉 with crispy pork and coriander while firecrackers exploded in the distance.
Later, another brightly coloured butterfly resting in the sun, this time small, the same size as a cabbage butterfly, with bright orange wings that have black and purple patterns on them. My friend points to the tattoo on my arm (a girl with moth wings) – “the markings are like yours,” she says.
5/11/2016
In Shanghai in November there are crushed leaves on the streets. In Yangshuo there are crushed butterflies.
After a breakfast of mango juice and mini steamed buns (which the locals call xiaolongbao but are really just tiny baozi 包子) we bike along a dusty road that leads out of Yangshuo towards the rice fields. Women in pink hats sell mangoes and persimmons by the side of the road. Moon Hill, a mountain with a giant crescent-shaped hole carved through it, is just visible from the road. I am grateful that there are no earthquakes here.
Chaolong Village, late evening. The dust in the distance is beginning to settle. Yangshuo Cooking School is nestled in a corner of the village next to apricot trees, a veggie patch, and pink bougainvillea flowers climbing over the garden walls. Head chef Sophie teaches us how to cook steamed chicken with goji berries, pork and mint dumplings, and stir-fried eggplant with ginger and garlic. Sophie is the same age as me and is so excited that we can speak her language she conducts the class almost totally in Chinese.
I’d forgotten the joy of crushing fat cloves of garlic, the feel of smashing something to pieces in a single blow. Sophie convinces me to add an entire fresh chopped chilli to my wok. “You can take more than you think,” she laughs. She’s right.
It’s a relief to be back in a kitchen, focusing on nothing but chopping carrots and peeling garlic. The open-air cooking classroom smells like rice wine and ginger, just like my mum’s kitchen. I look up from my wok every few minutes and note how the light has changed. The mountains on the other side of the valley are slowly turning dark blue.
egg-wrapped pork and mint fried dumplings
Yangshuo Cooking School
In the morning, one last trip to the café that sells mango ice cream, mango yoghurt, and mango shaved ice. I sit on the upstairs balcony eating a giant waffle with ice cream and fresh mango on top. I write postcards to people I haven’t spoken to in forever. I buy a giant honey pomelo for the 17-hour train home.
I first bought a pink-flesh honey pomelo a few weeks ago just because it looked pretty and I wanted to write a poem about it. Right now I’m living the kind of life where doing this makes total sense, for which I’m very grateful.
I’ve begun to notice that one way you can tell the seasons apart in Shanghai (other than the colours, the leaves, the rain) is according to the seasonal fruit:
late winter: tiny sweet mandarins
spring: seedless green grapes
late spring: papaya, nashi pears
midsummer: watermelons, watermelons, watermelons
late summer: pineapples, nectarines, black plums
autumn: bright red persimmons, green mandarins
late autumn: honey pomelo
Sitting in my top bunk on the overnight train, I make another list.
places in Shanghai where reality is altered
never-ending escalators with mirrors above them
the weird corridor between the movie theatre and the mall
campus at night, full of animal noises and soft colours
wide avenues surrounded by empty apartment blocks
Walmart at closing time
strange bedrooms just before dawn
empty subway trains full of fluorescent light
empty subway platforms just before the last train leaves
overnight trains
These places used to make me feel lonely but they don’t anymore. They’re all places of temporary existence (of waiting, coming and going) where you aren’t meant to stand still. In the city you’re supposed to keep moving all the time. But I let myself be still. Everything around me is disappearing and reappearing at the same time and I can’t keep up, and that’s fine, because I can write about it.
The peace and quiet (and fresh air) has been good for me, because it’s hard to breathe in the city sometimes. But I’m looking forward to going back home to my room, to season 6 of Gilmore Girls, to my bowl of 葱油拌面, to my city where it’s never dark and it’s never quiet.
Just after nightfall I look out the window and see a ring of fires burning in the middle of a field. The train speeds past but I can still smell smoke.
I'm Nina (明雅). I write poems and make zines and eat dumplings.
Wellington / Shanghai / London
Pan-fried Dumplings
Pineapple Buns
Shanghai Snacks
Spring Onion And Soy Sauce Noodles | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1157 |
__label__cc | 0.607545 | 0.392455 | YSL’s Strick drops music video for “The Loop”
3 months ago by Farah Idrees
North Carolina’s Strick is one of YSL’s promising new artists. He has worked behind the scenes in the music industry for a long time - landing placements on Kanye West and Juicy J’s “Ballin”, as well as Travis Scott’s “Coordinate” and many more. Strick has been building his career for a while, working, making connections and securing genuine relationships.
After being featured on “Slime Language”, Strick recently dropped his EP “See You When I Land”. The EP has features from Gunna, Young Thug and Duke. The project showcases’s Strick’s skill, potential and balance of melodic and rapping ability.
For “The Loop” video Strick is performing on a rooftop, with a breathtaking view of the hills and clear skies. The visual translates as a depiction of Strick’s own rise, as he reaches towards the stardom he yearns and manifests his place at the top.
Connect with Strick: Instagram | Twitter | Spotify
strick · The Loop · ysl
Lil Keed takes us to an anomalous haunted house for “Wop” music video
by Farah Idrees
Future & Young Thug team up for surprise mixtape 'SUPER SLIMEY'
by Scott Randell
Tory Falls' "Parsec [3089]" shows his quirky side
Torrentiiial circles the dancefloor with his "Polyester Poppin'" | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1163 |
__label__cc | 0.734212 | 0.265788 | DestinationsFood & DrinkPlayStayVideo
15 of the most romantic towns in central Europe
Pavlo Fedykovych, CNN • Updated 15th April 2019
(CNN) — With its pastoral landscapes, dramatic mountain peaks and spectacular coastal views, Central Europe has no shortage of picturesque scenery and destinations.
It's also home to a host of secluded towns that are perfect for those keen to immerse themselves in travel romance and adventure -- whether it's wandering through wonderful narrow streets or gazing at historic vistas.
Here are 15 of the most romantic small towns in Central Europe.
Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
Český Krumlov is one of the most picturesque towns in the Czech Republic.
Pixabay / Creative Commons
Located in the southern section of the country, this picture-perfect town is worth a trip for anyone visiting the Czech Republic.
With the impressive Český Krumlov Castle dominating its labyrinth of red rooftops, the medieval gem is home to a magnificent Old Town featuring Renaissance and baroque architecture.
Egon Schiele Art Centrum, a museum and gallery dedicated to Austrian painter Egon Schiele, who once lived in the town, is also a top attraction.
Just outside the crowded streets of its Old Town, lies enchanting coffee shop, Kafírna Na Starém Plešivci, which serves great caffeinated drinks and amazing homemade desserts.
Kafírna Na Starém Plešivci, Plešivecká 130, 381 01 Český Krumlov, Czech Republic; +420 723 741 092
Polish seaside resort Sopot in Eastern Pomerania.
Poland's Baltic coast is a stretch of splendid greenery and beautiful seaside towns, with Sopot being one of the most charming.
With an all-year-round festive atmosphere, this little town in Eastern Pomerania serves as a haven for those seeking romance by the sea.
There are Art Nouveau buildings to explore, as well as the famous Crooked House (or Krzywy Domek), which has a nightclub on its top floor.
Nearby Orłowo, home to Molo Sopotskie -- the longest wooden pier in Europe, is a great place for a day trip.
When it comes to accommodation, Tawerna Rybaki is the ultimate choice, with incredible sea views and a top-notch seafood restaurant.
Tawerna Rybaki, Aleja Wojska Polskiego 26, 81-701 Sopot, Poland; +48 501 741 875
Where to see Europe's best hilltop towns
Kutná Hora, Czech Republic
Ancient silver mining town Kutná Hora is famed for the Gothic St. Barbara's Church.
Pavlo Fedykovych
It's hard to find a central European small town packed with more sights than the ancient silver mining town of Kutná Hora.
One of its must-sees is an impressive Sedlec Ossuary made from more than 50,000 human bones (although not exactly a romantic attraction).
The UNESCO-protected Old Town is also filled with delights like the St. Barbara's Church, with its Gothic architecture, as well as picturesque streets.
Don't miss a chance to try trademark dishes like Svíčková, beef sirloin in a cream sauce served with knedlíky (bread dumplings) as well as Vepřo-knedlo-zelo, made from pork, dumplings and cabbage.
Located in the center of Kutná Hora, Cafe 21 is a great coffee shop stop thanks to its stylish design, welcoming attitude, great coffee and tasty cakes.
Cafe 21, Komenského nám. 40/21, Vnitřní Město, 284 01, Kutná Hora, Czech Republic; +420 607 858 845
Szentendre, Hungary
Szentendre is situated on the Danube River.
Filled with art galleries and workshops, Szentendre is one of the most romantic places in Hungary.
Nestled next to the mighty Danube, this little gem of a town is a great destination for both relaxation and inspiration.
With riverside tours, colorful streets and museums showcasing local artists, there's plenty of activity here.
For those keen on romantic train rides, the journey from Budapest to Esztergom, along the picturesque banks of Danube, is highly recommended.
Once you're there, Esztergom, a former medieval capital of Hungary, holds a grandiose Basilica that's also the country's biggest church.
The best European sleeper trains
Krynica-Zdrój, Poland
Krynica-Zdrój is an ideal romantic break location.
Far less vibrant and touristy than its mountain resort counterpart Zakopane, Krynica-Zdrój remains one of the most scenic of Poland's small towns.
Known for its healing springs, Krynica is perfect for travelers looking for an atmospheric escape.
There are miles of walking paths here, with the magnificent Beskid Mountains as a backdrop, as well as a selection of rustic restaurants and elegant cafés.
For the best view of the remote mountain range, visitors can take a gondola lift up Jaworzyna Krynicka mountain.
At the top, Karczma u Golca restaurant offers fantastic traditional Polish cuisine and amazing views of the surrounding nature.
Karczma u Golca, Szczyt Jaworzyny Krynickiej, Krynica-Zdrój, Poland; +48 601 945 826
Mikulov, Czech Republic
Mikulov boasts a spectacular Renaissance castle.
Home to a spectacular Renaissance castle and endless vineyards, Mikulov is an amazing central European weekend destination.
Set near the border with Austria, the oldest record of this quaint town dates back to 1173.
Visitors can discover all the secrets of local winemaking at viticultural exposition in the Regional Museum, featuring a Chateau Cellar with a giant wine cask dating from 1643.
Family Winery Mikulov, a modern apartment situated just above the museum, gives guests the opportunity to go on a romantic wine tasting date without actually leaving their accommodation.
Regional Museum, Zámek 1/4, 692 01 Mikulov, Czech Republic; +420 519 309 019
Family Winery Mikulov, Vídeňská 237/5, 692 01 Mikulov, Czech Republic; +420 777 922 600
Best places in Europe to visit: A modern-day Grand Tour
Kazimierz Dolny, Poland
Kazimierz Dolny is situated on the bank of the Vistula River.
Situated on the bank of Vistula river, Kazimierz Dolny may well be Poland's best kept secret.
Those who stay in the accommodation available on the hills above the city are rewarded with long river walks, as well as incredible Polish dishes and superb old town views.
The town is also full of great coffee and tea shops.
For the latter, check out Galeria U Dziwisza, which provides the best tea experience around, in a warm historic setting that screams romance.
Galeria u Dziwisza, Krakowska 6, 24-120 Kazimierz Dolny, Poland
Tokaj, Hungary
Tokaj is known for its historic architecture as well as its legendary wine.
Chlaus Lotscher/Photodisc/Getty Images
The Tokaj region is the pride of Hungary when it comes to winemaking, with labels known all around the world.
Its most famous is Tokaji Aszú, the world's oldest botrytized wine (made from grapes affected by a beneficial mold).
Visitors can explore the numerous underground wine vaults here, as well as take in the town's wonderful historic architecture.
Set in a reconstructed 19th century mansion, Castle Hotel Grof Degenfeld is one of Tokaj's most luxurious hotel options, boasting 20 double rooms and a suite, as well as underground wine cellars.
Castle Hotel Grof Degenfeld, Terézia kert 9, 3915, Tarcal, Hungary; +36 47 580 405
Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic
This spa town is famed for its natural healing springs as well as its stunning buildings like the spa colonnade.
Previously visited by the likes of Franz Joseph I Emperor of Austria and composer Frédéric Chopin, Mariánské Lázně is a spa town aimed at those who want to get away from the bustle of the big city life.
Quieter than Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, formerly known as Marienbad, is surrounded by green forests and natural healing springs -- with 40 springs positioned inside the town.
There are also several notable historic buildings in the area, including the stunning spa colonnade, which was built in neo-baroque style back in 1889.
Set in the center of a park, Villa Sant Georg Hotel Garni is one of Mariánské Lázně's most impressive hotels and a great base when it comes to experiencing the best this town has to offer.
Villa Sant Georg Hotel Garni, Anglická 358/4, 353 01 Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic; +420 603 244 914
Eger, Hungary
Eger is positioned on the hills of the Bükk Mountains.
Apart from being one of the most picturesque cities in Hungary, Eger is famous for its locally produced red wines, most notably the Egri Bikavér, and its thermal baths.
But the city most revered attraction is its medieval fortress, where the Turkish army was defeated by a small Hungarian force in the 16th century.
The Ottoman empire persisted nonetheless and the most northern minaret left from its European rule is on display in the Old Town.
There are plenty of eateries to choose from here, but Macok Bisztró és Borbár, which features a well crafted food selection and plenty of local wines, is one of the standouts.
Macok Bisztró és Borbár, Dózsa György tér, régi, Tinódi Sebestyén tér 4, 3300, Eger, Hungary; +36 36 516 180
Which European city is the most affordable to visit?
Trenčín, Slovakia
Trenčín Castle provides a wonderfully romantic backdrop to this beautiful city.
Slovak Tourist Board
This beautiful Slovakian city is defined by an enormous fortress, making it an ideal destination for history lovers.
Trenčín Castle is a stunning feat of medieval engineering that instantly takes your breath away.
The Old Town is equally fascinating, boasting a charming main square and narrow streets leading to the fortress.
Underneath this impressive structure lies the unique Hotel Elizabeth, set in an elegant Art Nouveau building with a 2,000-year-old Roman inscription on its wall.
Hotel Elizabeth, Gen. M. R. Štefánika 2, 911 01 Trenčín, Slovakia; +421 326 506 111
Telč, Czech Republic
Telč is filled with bright, colorful buildings.
UNESCO-protected Telč is great town pick for anyone who's a fan of bright, vibrant colors.
Adorned by rows of arcaded Baroque houses, its historic main square is among the most scenic places in the Czech Republic, as well as an amazing spot to contemplate while sipping coffee or tea.
Be sure to check out the imposing Renaissance chateau on the edge of the Old Town.
Just a short drive from Telč, Třebíč is another wonderful UNESCO-protected small town boasting one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe.
Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia
Banská Štiavnica -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Set among green hills, this harming UNESCO-protected town is based in the center of Slovakia.
Once a mining community, Banská Štiavnica is now a delightful destination with a perfectly-preserved medieval Old Town.
Visitors can explore the Tajchy, old mining water reservoirs that have been transformed into recreational areas, as well as the open-air mining museum.
Meanwhile Divná Pani Caffé offers some of the best coffee in Banska Stiavnica in a beautiful, historic interior.
Divná Pani Caffé, A. Kmeťa 120/8, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia; +421 456 790 94
Sandomierz, Poland
Sandomierz is one of Poland's oldest towns.
This small town on the banks of Vistula River, the longest and largest river in Poland, has all the ingredients for an idyllic romantic getaway.
Its Old Town is stunning, with a mosaic of historic houses as well as well-preserved medieval gates and an ancient castle, automatically adding to its allure.
There are also plenty of parks and green areas to enjoy, as well as the Vistula embankment, perfect for picnics.
Add stars of Polish cuisine like pierogi (filled dumplings) and żurek (sauerkraut soup) -- on offer at many restaurants -- and you have the perfect setting.
As for hotels, former aristocratic manor house Dwór Dwikozy, situated outside the city, is a top choice.
Dwór Dwikozy, Spółdzielcza 12, 27-620 Dwikozy, Sandomierz, Poland; +48 15 834 44 36
Balatonfüred, Hungary
Benedictine monastery Tihany Abbey divides Lake Balaton into two.
With beautiful scenery that can be enjoyed throughout the entire year, Lake Balaton is a much loved Hungarian leisure destination, and Balatonfüred is the ideal place to stay while exploring it.
This spa town has a laid-back atmosphere and a variety of activities, including hiking around the hilly Balaton banks, experiencing amazing Hungarian cuisine in local étterems, hitting the water on a rented yacht or just gallivanting next to the calm lake.
There's also the nearby Benedictine monastery Tihany Abbey, which is an interesting place to explore, offering the finest views over the water.
Pavlo Fedykovych is a creator of svitforyou.com, a travel blog about Central Europe and Ukraine. He's also a freelance contributing writer for Lonely Planet. He tweets at @de_weg_
A year of the world'sBest BeachesThere's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all
Go to the best beaches
© 2019 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyAdChoicesAdvertise with usAbout usNewslettersWork for usHelpTranscriptsLicense FootageCNN Newsource | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1167 |
__label__wiki | 0.909083 | 0.909083 | China locks up Muslims in Xinjiang, opens doors to tourists
STO slashes petrol rates for fourth time
EC greenlights formation of 'Sunrise Party'
Edition Reviews: Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
One dies, hundreds evacuate after 7.3 quake in Indonesia
Maldives to issue 163 student loans
Maldives seeks foreign primary teachers
PG Office presses charges against alleged harasser
World / News
Bomb spreads carnage through much-loved Egypt church
12 December 2016, MVT 10:16
The blast killed at least 25 worshippers during Sunday mass inside the Cairo church near the seat of the Coptic pope who heads Egypt's Christian minority, state media said. / AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI
The Coptic Christians were in mid-prayer Sunday when the ear-splitting blast tore through their church in Egypt's capital, spraying shrapnel into icon-covered walls and blowing out the tiled roof.
Witnesses said the smoke then cleared to reveal a tangle of splintered pews and body parts.
"It was terrifying. Things were falling down on us. I couldn't get down from behind the altar because of the smoke," said church volunteer Tadros Zaki, 63.
"There were too many people. Destroyed, in pieces... people on top of people," said Romany, who rushed to the church to help after the bombing.
The health ministry said 23 people were killed and 49 wounded.
The focal point of the explosion at the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church appeared to have been just inside the entrance, on the side where the women sat.
A woman's scarf, drenched in congealing blood, lay in the wreckage.
The stone recess above the door was peppered with shrapnel which also left holes in the marble floor. A pew that remained upright was soaked in blood.
Two nearby boxes, one that had been filled with written prayers left by worshippers and another that held a saint's relics, were destroyed.
Dazed priests paced the arcaded courtyard, pieces of stained glass from the church's windows crunching underfoot, as guards at the doors blocked a crush of journalists and concerned faithful.
One nun in a grey habit stared pensively at the wreckage.
"God will have a say in this," she decided.
Bishop Angaelos, the General Bishop for the Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain, told AFP by telephone that Saint Peter's church was especially popular with parishioners.
- 'Beyond comprehension' -
It is "deeply loved by many Coptic faithful in Cairo and it has a regular parish presence", he said.
"The fact that they were targeted this way when they were going to pray is beyond comprehension."
Copts have been attacked before in Egypt, most notably in a suicide bombing that killed more than 20 congregants at an Alexandria church in 2011.
But Saturday's attack hit close to the heart of the beleaguered minority's faith.
The church is adjacent to Saint Mark's Cathedral, the seat of the Coptic Christian papacy.
"What are we to do? God will dispense our affairs," said Magdy, a church administrator whose office is at the other end of the courtyard from the blast site.
The explosion shattered his office windows, leaving his desk strewn with shards of glass.
Outside, a growing crowd of Copts began chanting against the government, and there were brief scuffles with riot police who cordoned off the scene.
"The people want the downfall of the regime!" they chanted. "Hey, interior ministry! Where were you when they bombed the cathedral?"
Copts, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 90 million people, have suffered repeated attacks for decades.
They also attracted the wrath of Islamist extremists after the church, along with Muslim religious leaders, supported the military overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Mobs attacked scores of churches and Christian properties in August 2013 after police in Cairo killed hundreds of Islamists protesting against Morsi's overthrow.
Cairo, Egypt | AFP
IS claims deadly Cairo church bombing
Double Istanbul bombings kill 29 after football game
State of emergency in Egypt after IS church bombings kill 44
Bomb Blast Egypt Terrorist Attack
MORE ON WORLD | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1168 |
__label__wiki | 0.66474 | 0.66474 | Home > Study Destination > USA > Claremont Graduate University
Intake: Sep
Campus: Claremont
Location: 150 E 10th St, Claremont, CA 91711
Claremont Graduate University (CGU) is a private Founded in 1925, CGU is a member of the Claremont Colleges which includes five undergraduate (Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Scripps College, Pitzer College) and two graduate (CGU and Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences) institutions of higher education.
Claremont Graduate University (CGU) is a private, all-graduate research university located in Claremont, California, a city 35 miles (56 km) east of downtown Los Angeles.
The university is organized into five separate schools: the School of Arts & Humanities; School of Community & Global Health; Drucker School of Management; School of Educational Studies; and the School of Social Science, Policy, & Evaluation.
Programe Degree Concentrations / Subplans
Politics MS
Applied Women's
Studies MA
Art MFA Digital Media, Drawing, Installation, Painting, Performance, Photography, Sculpture, Studio
Community-Engaged Education
and Social Change MA
Cultural Studies MA, PhD Critical Theory, Media Studies, Museum Studies, Hemispheric and Transnational Studies
Economics MA, PhD Behavioral Economics & NeuroEconomics, Financial Economics, International Economic & Development Policy, International Money & Finance, Political Economy & Public Economics
Education MA, PhD Educational Policy, Evaluation & Reform; Higher Education/Student Affairs; Special Education; Teaching, Learning & Culture; Urban Educational Leadership
English MA, PhD American Studies, Early Modern Studies, Hemispheric and Transnational Studies
Executive Management MA, MS, EMBA
Sciences PhD Biostatistics, Global Health, Health Communications, Neurocognitive Sciences, Public Health
History MA, PhD American Studies, Archival Studies, Early Modern Studies, European History, US History
History and Archival Studies MA
Human Resources Management MS
Information Systems and Technology MS, PhD GIS Solution Development, Management of Information Systems, Data Science and Analytics, Strategy and Innovation
International Political Economy MA
International Studies MA
Management MA, MS, MBA, PhD*
*Not currently accepting applications
Finance, Global Management, Information Technology Management, Leadership, Marketing, Strategy, Supply Chain
Mathematics MA, MS, PhD Operations Research & Statistics, Physical Applied Mathematics, Scientific Computing, Systems & Control Theory
Music MA, DCM,
DMA, PhD Church Music, Composition, Conducting, Historical Performance Practices, Musicology, Performance
Part-Time MBA MBA Customized per student's interests
Philosophy MA Ancient Philosophy, Contemporary Philosophy, Early Modern Studies, Modern Philosophy
Political Science PhD American Politics, Comparative Politics, Methods, Political Philosophy, Public Policy, World Politics
Politics MA American Politics
Psychology MA, PhD Basic and Applied Social Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Positive Organizational Psychology, Positive Developmental Psychology, Applied Cognitive Psychology, Evaluation & Applied Research Methods, Health Behavior Research & Evaluation, Public Policy & Evaluation, Positive Psychology, Psychology & Law
Public Health MPH, DrPh Applied Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Health Informatics, Health Promotion, Education & Evaluation, Leadership & Management
Public Policy MA
Public Policy and Evaluation MA
Religion MA, PhD MA: Islamic Studies, Religion & Politics, Religion for Professionals
MA & PhD: Critical Comparative Scriptures, History of Christianity and Religions of North America, Philosophy of Religion and Theology, Women's Studies in Religion
Tracks of Study: Coptic Studies, Mormon Studies, Zoroastrian Studies
Teacher Education MA, Credential Preliminary and Clear/Induction General Education & Special Education (Multiple-Subject, Single-Subject, English, Spanish, Math, Science, Social Studies, Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities)
Joint Programs (within CGU):
Program Degree Partners
Applied Psychology & Public Health MA, PhD School of Community and Global Health /
School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation
Arts Management MA School of Arts and Humanities /
Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management
Concentrations: Non-Profit; Art Museum Management; Management for Media, Entertainment, and the Performing Arts
Business Administration & Public Health MBA/MPH School of Community and Global Health /
Educational Evaluation MA School of Educational Studies /
Financial Engineering MS (Concentration
in Data Analytics
available),
PhD Institute of Mathematics /
Information Systems & Technology Management MSIST/MBA Center for Information Systems and Technology /
Politics, Economics, and Business MA School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation /
Religion and American Politics MA School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation /
Joint Programs (within affiliated institutions, including Botany):
with Sotheby's Institute of Art
Concentrations: East Asian Art and its Markets; Contemporary Art and its Markets; Latin American Art and its Markets
MS, PhD
with Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
with San Diego State University
Engineering & Industrial Applied Mathematics
with California State University, Long Beach
Innovation Systems Design
MS/MBA
with Art Center College of Design
Juris Doctor/Management
with Southwestern Law School | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1171 |
__label__cc | 0.543013 | 0.456987 | Category: man on white horse syndrome
Reagan, Spencer, and Dutton, Oh My!
HBD’s “just so” stories.
This is the reality of HBD.
Watch this. Now, I’ve criticized Reagan as one of the original Man on White Horse frauds, and his domestic policy was a complete betrayal of his voters. Essentially, to the extent he was sincere about any of it (Who knows? Maybe like Trump, the divorced and remarried Hollywood Reagan was as much an insincere fraud as New York values Antifa Don Trump), he sacrificed his domestic agenda to achieve his foreign policy and defense spending goals. Let’s put that aside for the moment, and just concentrate on the ability to fulfill the obligations of being a President of the United States – acting the role (Reagan was an actor, after all), and representing yourself, your nation, and your ideals (even if insincere) before the world. Compare Reagan’s televised address linked to above with the behavior of Trump. How would Trump have responded in a similar situation? Several blustering tweets, written as if by a brain-addled ten year old? Speeches about how George Washington’s army conquered airports? Comments about his “big hands?” What?
Actually, Reagan was the last President who was in any way truly Presidential. Bush Sr. was a whining elitist with no charisma, a man who – despite his war record of physical courage – had no moral courage at all. Clinton was a disgusting pig and a transparent carnival barker. Bush Jr. was almost as big a vulgar retard as Trump. Obama, given a free pass because of his race, was an empty suit, a cipher who thought that reading off of a teleprompter with his chin elevated would compensate for his total lack of substance. What a complete disgrace. Oh, for the days of Milliard Fillmore!
Very cognitive, very elite. Colored is as colored does. If a Negro did this, the HBDers would be up in arms; but as regards this, it is move on, move on, there’s nothing to see here.
Colored is as colored does. Black, Brown, Yellow, Red – what’s the difference?
Is there a point to this, other than Spencer confirming himself as a Type I jackass? I don’t know, me, I’d rather mock someone for a failing they have control over – for example, running the Alt Right into the ground despite all of the opportunities presented by the post-2016 world – rather than for a failing they do not have control over – for example, being short. I could be wrong about this, of course, so perhaps a drunken podcast or two can clear up this issue for me.
Do the HBDers support HR1044?
July 10, 2019 in Der News
This is Counter-Currents:
Nicholas R. Jeelvy
Posted July 9, 2019 at 7:45 am | Permalink
2001: Space Odyssey is like watching paint dry, but the paint is in love with the smell of its own farts.
Erudition for only the highest of the high-IQ “movement” crowd.
We’re not “all the same.”
Racially mixed Amren commentators assert that racial tension occurs only between groups with different average IQs (always IQ with the HBD/race realist crowd). That is of course obviously false. See this. Racially similar East Asian groups, with similar IQs, exhibit tension when brought into proximity, particularly when in the homeland of one of them. Radically different mental traits and abilities can exacerbate tensions, but the tensions exist because of overall racial and ethnic difference, not merely because of IQ. People do not like to be replaced by others, and higher IQ replacers can even be worse as they are more dangerous and more able to control host institutions.
As we know, HBDers are hysterically opposed to pan-Europeanism. Here’s a reason why, demonstrated by an online commentator supporting pan-Europeanism:
Heraclitean Fire
We’re ALL going to need to team up — the entire West — to have a prayer at effectively opposing China.
China is an existential threat like we have never faced before as a country.
China’s size, economic might, military, & technological prowess dwarf the Soviets of yesteryear.
HBD is all about having Whites as a humiliated and degraded slave race to Asians (particularly the Chinese) and Jews. Having the West “team up” against China is literally blasphemy to HBD, and of course, to Silk Road White nationalism as well. Instead, we all need to engage in “measured groveling” to all those Chinese girls with guns who will be “guarding the borders of the West.”
Arrogant Europeans always like to say” “Dumb Americans know nothing about Europe and European politics and should stay out it.” Very well. The opposite is true as well. Excuse me, ”Tommy Robinson,” but you’re delusional if you think the fat wad of shit Trump cares about you and your interests. You’re not Israel, Negro prison reform, or a Big Mac, so why should he pay attention?
Trump is a fraud and always has been.
And I’d like to answer Johnson again with his assertion that it’s not true that Trump was always a fraud. His statement slyly implies to the audience that all the people saying “Trump was always a fraud” are using 20-20 hindsight. No, there are a few of us – Strom and I being two examples – who correctly labelled Trump as a fraud BEFORE the election.
What were the signs obvious to those with a triple digit IQ? Let’s see. Trump was a man with close Jewish family connections and an established history of hobnobbing with both wealthy Jews and with Negro celebrities. He used to be buddies with the Clintons, who attended his (third) wedding. He was well established as having “New York values” and had supported Democratic politicians. The man was a New York real estate mogul and reality TV star. He had no grounding or background whatsoever in any of the issues of importance to “our side.” His campaign, while useful in promoting chaos and balkanization, was nothing more than cheap blustering and a few comments about “Mexican rapists.” The man, as exemplified by his shockingly pathetic, ignorant, and buffoonish debate performances was and is a vulgar clown.
Why would anyone in their right mind believe he was sincere?
Countering the Rancid Current
Some truths.
The worst writer in the history of Counter-Currents strikes again.
Where does Johnson find these people?
…any decision-making under conditions of uncertainty is likely to be the opposite of scientific conclusions: allergic to Type 2 errors and tolerant of Type 1 errors.
Tell that to Johnson and Steadman and their “extreme vetting” of meetings.
Listen to this.
If you don’t have the right staff you don’t get the right policies. Indeed. Meet Der Movement.
Ted Cruz shameful? In the convention, maybe. Today, no – Cruz at least speaks up against Antifa violence and the Portland mayor, unlike the fraud Don Trump.
Johnson doesn’t believe Trump was a fraud from the beginning; after all, that would prove Sallis right and Johnson wrong, and we can’t have that. Johnson promotes the lie that Trump could have “cloned Jeb Bush’s platform” and still have won because of his “personality”- can you believe this? In reality, Trump’s campaign took off only after he started talking about Mexican rapists and started attacking the Bush family and their policies.
What’s laughable is that right after Johnson makes his gaslighting comment, they all admit that people voted for Trump precisely because of his strong talk about immigration (these guys can’t get their stories straight from minute to minute.) – yes, that’s the point. It was NOT Trump’s personality, which was actually a turn-off for many people who voted for him. Does anyone believe that Republican voters, including evangelicals, would support a twice-divorced and thrice-married vulgar New York real estate tycoon and reality TV star who talks about his “big hands” and “grabbing pussies” IF this buffoon was merely a neoconservative clone of Jeb Bush? Does any sane person believe that the enthusiasm that carried Trump to the nomination and then to the Presidency was based on his obnoxious jackass personality, independent of a hardline position on immigration and his America First domestic and foreign policy positions that were articulated during the campaign?
The problem is that these affirmative action “movement leaders” are unable to ever admit that they are wrong. I’m surprised that these types even admit that Hermansson was an infiltrator (although the “leaders” will not take full responsibility for the infiltration) – instead, they could have claimed that Hermansson is actually a double agent burrowing deep into the bowels (no pun intended) of HopeNotHate.
Let’s consider Trump. Let me preface this by saying that we must be careful not to be too Manichean in our view of human nature. It’s not always an orthogonal choice between being a true believer and being a fraud. Some people are a combination of both. Was Hitler a rabid anti-Semite or did he use anti-Semitism as a path to power? Probably both. Did Stalin truly believe in Marxism or did he use Marxism to achieve power. Probably both. Does Trump have any healthy instincts or is he just a political grifter? Probably both, again.
It is entirely possible that Trump has some very vague civic nationalist and populist beliefs. But they are likely not important to him, not crucial to his worldview; he is not serious or sincere about any of it in any hardcore, authentic fashion. He does in fact embody, as Ted Cruz suggested, New York values. He has Jewish family connections, a deep attachment to Israel, and a fondness for Negroes. He is a self-centered narcissist and if he truly cares about anyone other than himself then it likely is his elder daughter Ivanka and no one else. He certainly doesn’t care about his base. If Trump was (and is) sincere, then why does he ignore his base (e.g., Antifa attacks, State of the Union address), lie to his base (e.g., “the Wall is being built!”) and constantly betray his base (e.g., hiring Neocons, shilling for increased legal immigration, an aggressive foreign policy, pro-Negro “criminal justice reform”)? The man cares more about pardoning Jack Johnson than he does about his own supporters being physically attacked in the streets and sent to the hospital. His own DOJ persecutes his followers when they defend themselves and ignores the leftist domestic terrorists running wild in the streets. For Trump to be sincere and commit all his crimes of omission and commission against his base means that the man must be a psychotic retard. However, while he may be vulgar and ignorant, and may be a psychopath, he is not psychotic and he is not retarded.
Trump wanted to run for President for some reason. Ego? To build a rightist media empire after the electoral loss he thought would occur (and very likely desired)? His dislike of Obama and anger at being mocked by Obama? Whatever the reason, he looked at the Republican field, read Coulter, and had enough sense to realize he needed to give the GOP base some “red meat” to distinguish himself from the Neocons and from Ted Cruz. The more he pushed the envelope, the better he did. It worked better than even he imagined. But if he were sincere, he’s had 2.5 years to give some demonstration of it, and he has done the exact opposite. He’s not sincere. He’s a fraud and Johnson was wrong and Sallis was right.
Thus Spoke Costello: Tin Cup Panhandling. Nietzsche weeps.
Hey, fools, send in those “D’Nations” – these guys need their $100,000. It will be put to good use, no doubt!
A Duel of Wits
Between unarmed opponents.
There is some good here, but also considerable nonsense. If the characterization of Richard Spencer’s racial views is correct, then Johnson’s racial views are sounder from an empiricist-materialist standpoint. However, there is much lacking here from a more hardcore scientific standpoint (the wages of “Traditionalism” I suppose).
The whole “transplanted brains” scenario is absurd and meaningless intellectual masturbation. What could one do? There are racial – and subracial (cue Durocher’s heavy breathing) – differences in brain structure that can be identified via imaging methodology. If one were really determined to obtain a definitive identification, a small brain biopsy can yield DNA to assay for genetic ancestry and thus prove whether or not the brain tissue was of Negro origin. As far as the ridiculous question as to why build a community on race instead of other characteristics, I point both interviewer and interviewee to Salter’s On Genetic Interests. Adaptive fitness is the ultimate interest of evolved organisms (such as humans), and any group that promotes their ultimate interests will outcompete and replace those who do not. And, after all, one can always form these narrower communities within your racial group while preserving EGI, but the opposite is not possible. One can form your little group of Tolkien fans among Whites in an all-White ethnostate, but a multi-racial Tolkien group that is not stratified by race (by definition, if it is multiracial and stratified only by Tolkienism, it will not be stratified by race) will constitute a loss of genetic interest. Smaller groups within a White ethnostate will retain the advantages of a concentrated EGI; on the other hand, smaller groups of Whites in, say, a multiracial Tolkien Fanboy state, will suffer as a result of a loss of EGI, itself a consequence of the multiracialism of such a state. In the latter case, the situation can be retrieved only by racial separation – so why not divide on the basis of race to begin with?
Stupidity about gender-specific nations also fails – I remember Bowery writing (correctly) long ago that gender/sex is not a genetic interest. A man has more genetic commonality with female relatives and co-ethnics than with male non-ethnic strangers. One could subdivide a racially pure state by gender (for what purpose?) but the racial stratification must come first if one is concerned with biological fitness. If you are not concerned with fitness, fine, but that’s not an evolutionarily stable situation. You’ll end up in the dustbin of genetic history, replaced by more ethnocentric others. These are reasonably obvious arguments. I would also point out that sexual reproduction has evolutionary advantages via increased genetic diversity. No doubt that a sufficiently advanced technology could artificially impose independent assortment and recombination on a single-sex artificial reproduction regimen, but, again, for what purpose? While eliminating the yeastbucket requirement would no doubt be advantageous in many ways, what would be the sexual outlet for such an all-male society? Widespread homosexuality? I’ll take a pass on that. There are probably some things best left unchanged in human nature and the division between two sexes for reproduction is likely to be one of those.
And what’s with this obsession with Rushton and Lynn? Look, the broad theories of both of them are likely true, but that’s as far as it goes. R-K theory on race (that I independently came up with in the 1980s after reading an ecology textbook) is undoubtedly true on the general level of – Blacks and Browns have more offspring and invest less in them; Whites and Yellows have fewer offspring but invest more in them. And, as well, Blacks and Browns have faster life histories (earlier maturation and reproduction and earlier death) than do Whites and Yellows. If Rushton had stuck with that, instead of trying to shoehorn every racial characteristic (including penis size) into the formulation, he’d be more respected today. Likewise, Lynn is likely correct that there is a general association between national IQ and economic productivity (as measured by GDP) and general accomplishment; the problem occurs when he falls too much in love with his theory (as did Rushton with his ideas) and tries to fit every data point into the pattern, with ludicrous “estimates of IQ,” racial history fairy tales about admixture, and hand waving “just so stories” to explain anomalies. The problem, I suppose, is that the broad theories are a bit too obvious and common sense, plain to any reasonably intelligent and honest observant individual, and so there isn’t much “intellectual prestige” in merely stating the obvious. Therefore, ego-driven “intellectuals” have to build castles of sand to demonstrate how very clever they are.
Counter-Currents commentary:
Yang was a joke who never should have had any support from the Dissident Right in the first place. Those who did have made public fools of themselves.
Craig, meet Greg Johnson. And Richard Spencer. And many more.
Also, what’s the big deal about Gabbard? Oh she’s good on foreign policy. But so is Trump. He not once, but twice, averted war by outmaneuvering the warhawks in DC. First with Syria and now with Iran. He’s the peace candidate you should be voting for.
There’s no reason to pay attention to any of these clowns with a (D) in front of their name.
Craig, meet David Duke. And Richard Spencer.
Then there’s John Morgan:
Rep. Gabbard seems to be the least bad (notice I’m not saying good) of all these people. It’s also worth mentioning her connections to/support of Hindu nationalist groups in India like the BJP and RSS (since she is a practicing Hindu herself). This doesn’t necessarily equate to sympathy for nationalism for white people, but it suggests she may at least have the vision to not be completely averse to it. In practice that may not mean much, however. But as Mr. Hampton wrote, she has no chance of getting the nomination this time around, anyway.
You know she supports reparations for Negroes, right?
A one, a one, a one two three….
Ted Cruz at least spoke up about this. Antifa Don Trump, The God Emperor? Silence.
MAGA! Pepe! Kek!
Readers of this blog know that I am no apologist for homosexuals (of either sex) but I’m no apologist for hypocrisy either. I mean, really…. Apparently, “homophobia” – “vile” or otherwise – is perfectly acceptable in the service of “movement” feuds. Perhaps, Antifa can be critiqued in other ways than their penchant for sending gay Asians to the hospital.
Race, Primer, and Der Movement
Welcome to July.
Primer movie – with subtitles that will get the HBDers and the Silkers all hot and bothered.
How the movie was made; note budget and crew size.
Principal photography took place over five weeks, on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas. The film was produced on a budget of only USD$7,000, and a skeleton crew of five. Carruth acted as writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor, and music composer. He also stars in the film as Aaron, and many of the other characters are played by his friends and family. The small budget required conservative use of the Super 16mm filmstock: the carefully limited number of takes resulted in an extremely low shooting ratio of 2:1. Every shot in the film was meticulously storyboarded on 35mm stills. Carruth created a distinctive flat, overexposed look for the film by using fluorescent lighting, non-neutral color temperatures, high-speed film stock, and filters
Director/actor commentary on how the film was made.
What’s the point of this for Der Movement? A critically acclaimed and thoughtful independent film was produced with $7,000 – a drop in the bucket with respect to “movement” “D’Nations” – with a small film crew and many characters played by friends and family. It would seem that the heroic “movement” should have the resources – certainly the money – to produce low budget quality films that have race-oriented storylines. After all, with all the big-brained, high-trust, superior ubermenschen leading the way, certainly we have the visionaries and drivers in charge to accomplish such goals, right? We have been told that “movement” organizations are “getting things done,” so certainly $7,000 films are just waiting to be released, right? You all just need to spend a bit less on this and you’ll have all the shekels you need to produce a steady stream of quality productions.
And now more general comments on race and Der Movement:
An Asian I can support. Note that the Dalai Lama has also previously made remarks in favor of European preservationism. Is that yet another reason (apart from the Tibet issue) that he is opposed by China (the favorite nation of the HBDers and the Silkers)? After all, White has to decline so Yellow can rise, correct? The Occident must wane so that the Orient can wax. Hail HBD! Hail Silk Road White nationalism! Hail China! Hail!
Quota Queen promotes a fraud. What else is new in Der Movement?
RT, and comment, if you are tired of mendacious Quota Queens who never admit they were wrong about Trump.
Note for the Queenies: Your God Emperor, the “last chance for White America,” is the President, the head of federal law enforcement. It is only a slight exaggeration to say he can end the reign of terror overnight; most accurate to say he can, overnight, take steps definitely leading to ending the terror. Same difference. He does nothing. He either doesn’t care that his own supporters are being attacked in the streets, and sent to the hospital, with impunity; or he actually approves of it.
Can you imagine what Trump’s DOJ would do to any American “Neo-Nazis” that did anything even remotely similar to this? Antifa Don Trump: America’s first Antifa President. The fact that the pathetic losers who have supported Trump in lickspittle fashion for years have not been held to account proves the truth of all I’ve written about Der Movement’s affirmative action policy.
By the way, my question to Kevin Strom yesterday about Der Movement’s affirmative action program still stands. Come on, Kevin, you were on of the few people, like me, who called out Trump as a fraud before the election. You can now have the moral courage to call out the “movement’s” quota system – the sooner you do it, the better for the cause you have dedicated your life to. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1174 |
__label__cc | 0.691176 | 0.308824 | Education in Chemistry is moving
The Royal Society of Chemistry will soon be launching a new website that will bring together all of the support that we offer for chemistry teaching in one place – including Education in Chemistry.
If you have an Education in Chemistry account, please sign in and check your details are up to date so that we can set up your account on our new website when it launches. If you don’t have an account and would like to keep up to date, please register now.
Sign in Register now Close this message
Flaxseed oil and healthy bones
By David Bradley1 March 2010
Should flaxseed oil be added to the diet of women at risk of developing osteoporosis?
Flax seeds - rich in Ω-3 fatty acids
Flaxseed oil could be added to the diet of women at risk of osteoporosis to reduce the incidence of this potentially debilitating disease, according to researchers in Egypt. Osteoporosis is characterised by reduced bone strength and loss of bone density.
Flaxseeds, from the blue flowering plant Linum usitatissimum, produce flaxseed oil (linseed oil), which contains Ω-3 fatty acids. These compounds could have a role to play in the bone mineralisation and the formation of the mineral-protein matrix, which are often compromised in diabetes and menopause, leading to increased risk of fractures.
Mer Harvi and colleagues at the National Research Center, in Cairo, have investigated the effect of diabetes on bone health and evaluated how adding flaxseed oil to the diet might improve it. The team looked at 70 female lab rats of which 30 had no ovaries (ovx), a state that mimics the hormone changes seen in the menopause in women. Others had diabetes. They classified the rats as control, diabetic, diabetic with flaxseed oil in the diet, ovx, ovx-diabetic and ovx-diabetic with flaxseed oil in the diet.
The team fed the rats an appropriate diet for their group for two months and then collected urine and blood samples from the rats and measured levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in their serum and the concentration of the bone-making protein osteocalcin. They found that these two compounds were present at higher levels in the ovx and the diabetic-ovx groups, but much lower in the non-ovx diabetic group. The concentrations of IGF-1 and osteocalcin were normal if flaxseed oil was in the diet.
The team also discovered that the urine concentrations of another compound found in healthy bone, deoxypyridinoline, were higher in the diabetic group. Deoxypyridinoline acts as a marker for bone resorption associated with osteoporosis. Again, the level of this marker compound was lower in lab rats given flaxseed oil in their diet.
The team concludes that having diabetes has a more pronounced effect on the rats' bone health than having no ovaries. This may suggest that diabetes in post-menopausal women may be a bigger risk factor for them developing osteoporosis than the lack of sex hormones associated with the menopause.
The team says that the addition of flaxseed oil to the diet could offset this risk because it improves bone mineral density and reduces the chemical markers associated with osteoporosis. Further studies are needed to confirm the results.
M. Harvi et al, Int. J. Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health, 2009, 2, 189.
You're not signed in. To link your comment to your profile, sign in now.
sujeetComment avatar Commented on: 2 July 2019 12:02
Thanks for expaining the flaxseed oil benifits for healthy bones.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report
Recognition for outstanding contributions to chemistry education
Meet the winners of this year’s RSC awards for chemistry educators
Support for classroom-based research
Are you a teacher aspiring to education research?
Seven simple rules offered to bolster science education
Practical guidance to make evidence-based teaching accessible | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1175 |
__label__wiki | 0.757677 | 0.757677 | The Heavenly Table of the Ghostless American Gothic
Donald Ray Pollock’s latest is a brutal tale full of violence, lust, and broken lives
Gabino Iglesias
Gabino Iglesias is a writer, journalist, and book reviewer living in Austin, TX. He’s the author of ZERO SAINTS. Find him on Twitter at @Gabino_Iglesias.
Talk of the great American novel is an anachronistic waste of time nowadays, but for those insisting on perpetuating that discussion, Donald Ray Pollock’s The Heavenly Table should be a top contender. A brutal tale full of violence, lust, and broken lives, The Heavenly Table belongs to the darkest strain of ghostless American Gothic literature but has been filtered through the nonchalant callousness and deadpan humor of the best Westerns in a way that makes the narrative share DNA with authors as diverse as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Joe Lansdale. Ambitious and sprawling, this novel proves that Pollock is among the best novelists working today.
“Pollock is among the best novelists working today.”
The Heavenly Table takes place in 1917 and mainly revolves around the three Jewett brothers. After the death of their father due to a parasitic worm acquired by eating the flesh of a diseased hog, the three brothers decide to leave their miserable life of poverty and subordination behind and go on a crime spree with plans of robbing a bank and disappearing into Canada with the bounty. However, more than criminals, the Jewett brothers are country boys whose life experiences are mostly limited to backbreaking work done for almost nothing and listening to their father speak of the afterlife. Cane, the eldest, is their intellectual leader and the only literate brother. The middle brother, Cob, is a childish ignoramus who spends most of his time thinking about food. Lastly, Chimney, the youngest, is impulsive, cruel, and lacks Cane’s moral compass. The trio set out with a plan, and what happens to them as they try to accomplish their goal makes from a very entertaining novel that occupies the interstitial space between a ruthless Western with a healthy dose of scatological humor and the kind of literary fiction that delves into the lives of the broken, poor, and deracinated.
While the Jewett brothers are the main characters, The Heavenly Table also follows the narratives of Ellsworth Fiddler, a farmer from southern Ohio who lost his life savings to a scam artist who offered him some cheap cattle; a young classics scholar who struggles with his homosexuality at an Army camp in Meade, Ohio; a pimp running his business and the women who work for him; a hard-drinking African-American womanizing drifter trying to get back home and back on his feet; and a serial-killing bartender, among others.
“The Heavenly Table is a massive narrative in terms of scope, depth, number of characters, descriptions, and back stories.”
The multiple narratives eventually merge, or at least momentarily cross paths, but not before Pollock has given each one enough space that, if published separately, they could be considered novellas. This is one of the novel’s strengths and also its only major flaw. Pollock does too much here, following side narratives and giving every single character a rich back story even when they don’t deserve the time and attention.
Despite the length and plethora of storylines, The Heavenly Table is a quick read. Crackling dialogue and nonstop action propel the narrative forward and the relatively short, alternating chapters manage to sustain the reader’s interest. Another element that makes a statement about Pollock’s talent is the variety and richness of his characters. The Jewett brothers carry most of the novel on their shoulders, and their distinctive personalities and harsh past makes them likeable despite their decisions. Furthermore, their idea of robbing a bank and moving to Canada is the best incarnation of the Quixotic quest in contemporary dark fiction. These three individuals change the course of their lives because of something one of them repeatedly read out loud, and there’s an innate and unreasonable beauty in that:
“Inspired, at least in part, by The Life and Times of Bloody Bill, Chimney and Cob started dressing in cowboy garb, ten-gallon hats and dungarees and hand-tooled pointy-toed boots, while Cane, with the black frock coat and new white shirt, his hair greased back with pomade, took on the same look of shady refinement favored by riverboat gamblers and dissipated men of the cloth.”
The brothers also allow Pollock to explore media in the early 1900s. What the Jewett brothers do and what they get blamed for coalesce into a perennially expanding legend. Pollock uses this legend to show how media works and how narratives develop organically.
“Thus, on the same day that a Socialist weekly in Boston ran an editorial stating that the brothers were just a humble, illiterate sharecroppers who had killed their tyrannical overseer after he refused to allow them time off to bury their dead father, a staunchly right-wing daily out of New York City compare the outlaws to a band of ungodly savages who are possibly even worse than the Huns, going so far as to claim that they had robbed and left for dead a half-dozen good Christians along the highway in Arkansas who were on their way to a revival.”
Ultimately, the greatest accomplishment of The Heavenly Table is the way it mixes tragedy and violence with tenderness and humor. Pollock writes knowing that action, laughter, and brutality will keep the story flowing, but he also demonstrates he is one of the keenest observers of the human condition. This is a novel that could be called a noir in the sense that it deals with bad things happening to both good and bad people, but it is also a very smart narrative about the passage of time, about the “years passing by one after the other, the struggle to make ends meet, the burden of a passel of brats to feed and clothe, the inevitable decline.” That Pollock can dig into the deepest darkness of that reality and offer it to readers in a way that is pleasurable to read is a proof that he is one of our most talented storytellers.
https://medium.com/media/625f0caecae3166519d773992f7ccb98/href
If I Only Had a Leg: Growing Up Gay with Cerebral Palsy
Munchkins, flying monkeys, and gold lamé
Nov 18 - Greg Marshall Read
The Best Thing About Celebrity Novels Is Scathingly Bad Reviews
We’ve rounded up the most blistering pans of actors, singers, and models who moonlight as novelists
Mar 30 - Erin Bartnett
Is There Such a Thing as a Good Book Review?
And how in the world do you write one?
Jan 26 - Elisa Gabbert
Maybe It’s Time to Do Away with Anonymous Reviews
The latest Kirkus fiasco might not have been such a big deal if reviewers signed their names
Oct 20 - Electric Literature | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1178 |
__label__wiki | 0.823978 | 0.823978 | Armenia: Wondering About Russia’s Motives in Karabakh Peace Process
Marianna Grigoryan Aug 14, 2014
Russian President Vladimir Putin (center) tries to mediate a solution to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh with the presidents of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan (right), and Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on Aug. 10 in the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi. Recent deadly clashes that occurred along the frontline featured perhaps the heaviest military fighting since the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 1994. (Photo: Russian Presidential Press Service)
Amid the recent escalation of hostilities surrounding the contested Nagorno-Karabakh territory, authorities and experts in both Armenia and Azerbaijan are engaging in the old Soviet practice of identifying the outside power that most benefits from conflict. For many in Armenia, the answer is straightforward enough – Russia.
Russia has long exerted a high degree of economic and military influence over Yerevan: that influence is underscored by Armenia’s decision to join Moscow’s Customs Union, which the Kremlin hopes will evolve into an alternative for ex-Soviet republics to the European Union. Many Armenians believe the Kremlin’s sway has reached such heights that Yerevan is now vulnerable to potential pressure from Moscow to settle the 26-year-old Karabakh conflict on terms perceived in Yerevan as unfavorable.
Seen as a troublemaker in Ukraine via its support for pro-Russian separatists, Putin’s Russia appears to be trying to style itself a peacemaker in the Caucasus. For this reason, Armenian analysts say, the August 9-10 meetings between Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, did not occur by chance.
Political scientist Ruben Mehrabian from Yerevan’s Center for Political and International Studies made a connection between recent events in eastern Ukraine and the Armenian-Azerbaijani standoff over Karabakh. “Russia’s actions in eastern Ukraine are prompting a tough [Western] response [especially sanctions], so [Russia] attempts to balance this out through its so-called potential for peace,” Mehrabian said. “The escalation of hostilities on the [Karabakh] border was Aliyev’s precious gift to Putin.”
He added that Moscow “did not score a goal” with the Sochi summit. Even so, the situation along the frontline has remained relatively calm since the talks.
Notably, Putin acted alone, convening the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders without the fellow American and French co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group, the entity that ostensibly oversees the Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Russia has long held the advantage of proximity and presence over its fellow mediators, France and the United States,” noted Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan. “Moscow may seek to collude, but no longer cooperate with Western interests in mediating the Karabakh conflict, and a new attempt by Moscow to push out Paris and Washington from equal footing in the mediation effort is more than likely, given the new anti-Western refrain from the Putin camp.”
There has been sniping and occasional firefights all along the so-called Karabakh contact line since the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 1994. But the clashes that occurred from July 28-August 3 featured perhaps the heaviest fighting in 20 years. According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, the recent round of fighting left 25 Azerbaijani soldiers dead and over 30 wounded, while five Armenian servicemen were killed in action and seven wounded.
In recent days, the patriotic mood has swelled in Armenia, stoking sentiment among the general public in for an all-out offensive against Azerbaijan. Some believe that Russia cannot be trusted to uphold Armenian interests in the stalemated peace process and Armenia must remain self-reliant: they argue that volunteers should be recruited and deployed on the frontline; state-aligned Azerbaijani media claims that Azeri volunteers already have started to press the Azerbaijani government in Baku for such a mission.
“Russia is our strategic partner, but it sells weapons to Azerbaijan which kill our soldiers and fires on our villages with those arms,” stressed Ashot Makarian, a 39-year-old Yerevan construction worker. “Despite all this, the spirit of the Armenian army is very strong. We cannot be defeated. Today, it would be better for us to go to the front than send our children there tomorrow.”
Some analysts wonder whether Russia has made a secret deal with Azerbaijan, in which Russia would compel Armenia to accept territorial concessions concerning Karabakh, and in exchange Azerbaijan would join the Kremlin-led Customs Union. Neither Russia nor Azerbaijan has given any hint such a quid-pro-quo has ever been considered; and such speculation does not have wide currency outside Armenia.
“Armenia has to find a way out of this Eurasian Union path, as it is something that Russia wants to sell to Azerbaijan through Armenia,” Mehrabian argued.
Political expert Ara Papian, head of the Modus Vivendi Center, a think-tank, argues that concerns about a Russian sell-out are overblown. Papian added that President Sargsyan – a Karabakhi native who led the territory’s armed forces from 1989 until 1993, and served as Armenian defense minister at the time of the 1994 ceasefire agreement – would backtrack on Karabakh at this time.
“The Russians have already realized that they can dictate many things to Armenia and even gain concessions from it, but they cannot make us give away Karabakh because we’ve paid too dear a price for it,” Papian said in reference to the thousands of ethnic Armenians killed, wounded or made refugees during the 1988-1994 war with Azerbaijan. “Karabakh is not a distribution network or a power plant; it’s much bigger, a part of our homeland.”
Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter based in Yerevan and editor of MediaLab.am.
Russian communists declare war on khachapuri
TV host’s profane anti-Putin diatribe vexes both Georgians and Russians | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1183 |
__label__wiki | 0.867015 | 0.867015 | Alexander Flores's ''Civilization or Barbarism?''
Islam in the Historical Context
In his book, Alexander Flores confidently clears the decks of received wisdom on the Muslim faith. Flores limits his monograph to essential information and in doing so, avoids both apology and polemical discourse in equal measure. By Stefan Weidner
A tabula rasa for books on Islam – now that would be something! In view of the profusion of publications on the subject available these days, only a specialist can separate the wheat from the chaff.
For someone weary of only hearing about the issue from the news and talk show perspective, what kind of material is out there? Someone who wants a halfway complete picture, with no particular focus on headscarves, Koran interpretations or individual Islamic nations? Someone who wants factual information that amounts to a comprehensible appraisal – one that he can refer to and share?
Until recently, such requirements would probably have best been fulfilled by certain publications for children. But now, anyone not put off by the sensational title "Zivilisation oder Barbarei?" (Civilisation or Barbarism?), can also reach for a copy of Alexander Flores' gleaming white paperback, published by Verlag der Weltreligionen.
Analytical and of superior quality: In his book, Flores performs a tricky balancing act and avoids both apology and polemical discourse in equal measure
The superior quality of this compact work on "Islam in the historical context" is revealed when its approach is applied to current affairs. Take Salafism, for example. No one needs to know anymore than what is written here, but one should at least know this: The Salafist ideology previously had reformist qualities and was taken up by intellectuals such as the Egyptian Grand Mufti Mohammed Abduh, who died in 1905, to bring Islam onto an equal footing with Europe through the removal of impediments to modernity, without relinquishing its own identity in the process.
And one should also be aware of how, again in Egypt, Saudi-based forces within the movement opposing ideological opening initially lost in the political game against secular, pan-Arabic forces but later won the upper hand, and who now, stripped of any progressive potential, pursue a totalitarian branding of Islamic ideology.
What beguiled Goethe
On the other hand, the chapter on Islamic law shows just how "ambiguity-tolerant" the mediaeval Islamic world was in particular – an expression Flores borrows from his colleague Thomas Bauer: The historic significance of Sharia has very little to do with contemporary interpretation of the code by Muslim propagandists and those who fear Islam.
In the modern sense, this legal code was only generally applicable in the rarest cases; its draconian punishments were seldom carried out, if at all. Islamic law was low down on the list of rulers' priorities, and contrary to frequent assertions, there was no question of merging religion and state. For the faithful masses, Sharia served as a kind of compass – enabling them to navigate in all possible directions, and absolutely not just to Mecca alone.
The Koran readings of the German professor of Arab-world economics are also convincing: non-polemic, but no less self-assured and enlightened as a result. Flores does not conceal that which previously beguiled and alienated Goethe: the repellent threatening passages, for example – with the author's cleverly annexed reference to Dante's description of hell in his Divine Comedy where the Italian author famously denigrated the prophet Mohammed –, the variety of possible interpretations, the spiritual quality.
In his book, Flores performs a tricky balancing act and avoids both apology and polemical discourse in equal measure. He does not devote any lines to a detailed rebuttal of Islam criticism. This already finds all its motifs in Ernest Renan's notorious lecture on Islam from the year 1883, which is briefly quoted at the start of the volume. All further text is devoted to the facts, not to positive or negative fantasies.
Flores also largely leaves out the Palestine conflict and all political developments in the narrower sense. This is the only correct consequence to be drawn from the insights conveyed in this monograph. After all, as much as the Islam of our modern age is pocketed by politics and permeates it: the two have never really been one and the same.
Stefan Weidner
© Qantara.de 2013
Alexander Flores: "Zivilisation oder Barbarei? Der Islam im historischen Kontext" (Civilisation or Barabarism? Islam in the historical context), published by Suhrkamp Verlag der Weltreligionen, Frankfurt 2011. The book is not yet available in English.
Review translated from the German by Nina Coon
Reza Aslan's "No God but God": Demonstrating the Modernity of IslamThe Koran as a Text from Late Antiquity: Bridging the Gap between Orthodox Interpretation and New ResearchInterview with Gudrun Krämer: Fighting Islamophobia with Rational Arguments
Colonialism, Criticism of Islam, European Islam, History of Islam, History of the Near and Middle East, Islam and democracy, Islam and the West, Islam in Europe, Muslims in the West
Retrospective of Egyptian film director Atteyat al-Abnoudy
Advocate of the people
The Egyptian filmmaker Atteyat al-Abnoudy gave a voice to those people the state had forgotten – and preserved their pride and integrity. Her work provides a picture of social ...More
Previously unpublished work
Naguib Mahfouz' "The Quarter"
Last year, Egyptian critic Mohammed Shoair made an unusual and thrilling announcement: the discovery of never-before-seen stories by Egyptʹs only Nobel laureate for literature, ...More
Military dictatorships in the Middle East
The real enemies of the Arab Spring
For people in the Arab world to be able to throw off the yoke of military rule, a new balance must be struck between political and social forces and the military. Though it is now ...More
Political activism in the Gulf
The UAEʹs policy of zero tolerance
The repression of political dissidents such as Ahmed Mansoor belies the UAEʹs well-publicised attempts to brand itself as a promoter of tolerance, argues Joe Stork. Yet the West's ...More
Social utopia on the Nile?
Sisiʹs new breed of Egyptians
According to the Egyptian government, Egypt is once again experiencing a great civilizational awakening. A campaign aimed at producing a new multicultural identity has been ...More
Book review: Susannah Heschel on "Jewish Islam"
Jewish Orientalism?
In her book Susannah Heschel investigates the role of Islam in the emergence of a Jewish identity and seeks to pay tribute to the academic legacy of Jewish-German scholars of ...More
Egypt, Europe, Iran, Iraq, Maghreb, Mashriq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1191 |
__label__cc | 0.649613 | 0.350387 | For other uses, see Brightness (disambiguation).
Decreasing brightness with depth (underwater photo as example)
Brightness is an attribute of visual perception in which a source appears to be radiating or reflecting light.[1] In other words, brightness is the perception elicited by the luminance of a visual target. It is not necessarily proportional to luminance. This is a subjective attribute/property of an object being observed and one of the color appearance parameters of color appearance models. Brightness refers to an absolute term and should not be confused with Lightness.[2]
The adjective bright derives from an Old English beorht with the same meaning via metathesis giving Middle English briht. The word is from a Common Germanic *berhtaz, ultimately from a PIE root with a closely related meaning, *bhereg- "white, bright". "Brightness" was formerly used as a synonym for the photometric term luminance and (incorrectly) for the radiometric term radiance. As defined by the US Federal Glossary of Telecommunication Terms (FS-1037C), "brightness" should now be used only for non-quantitative references to physiological sensations and perceptions of light.[3]
A given target luminance can elicit different perceptions of brightness in different contexts; see, for example, White's illusion.
In the RGB color space, brightness can be thought of as the arithmetic mean μ of the red, green, and blue color coordinates (although some of the three components make the light seem brighter than others, which, again, may be compensated by some display systems automatically):[4]
μ = R + G + B 3 {\displaystyle \mu ={R+G+B \over 3}}
Brightness is also a color coordinate in HSL color space : hue, saturation, and lightness, meaning here brightness.
With regard to stars, brightness is quantified as apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude.
Brightness is, at least in some respects, the antonym of darkness.
1 New meaning
New meaning[edit]
The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has assigned an unconventional meaning to brightness when applied to lamps. When appearing on light bulb packages, brightness means luminous flux, while in other contexts it means luminance.[5] Luminous flux is the total amount of light coming from a source, such as a lighting device. Luminance, the original meaning of brightness, is the amount of light per solid angle coming from an area, such as the sky. The table below shows the standard ways of indicating the amount of light.
SI photometry quantities
Symbol[nb 1]
Luminous energy Qv[nb 3] lumen second lm⋅s T⋅J The lumen second is sometimes called the talbot.
Luminous flux, luminous power Φv[nb 3] lumen (= candela steradians) lm (= cd⋅sr) J Luminous energy per unit time
Luminous intensity Iv candela (= lumen per steradian) cd (= lm/sr) J Luminous flux per unit solid angle
Luminance Lv candela per square metre cd/m2 L−2⋅J Luminous flux per unit solid angle per unit projected source area. The candela per square metre is sometimes called the nit.
Illuminance Ev lux (= lumen per square metre) lx (= lm/m2) L−2⋅J Luminous flux incident on a surface
Luminous exitance, luminous emittance Mv lux lx L−2⋅J Luminous flux emitted from a surface
Luminous exposure Hv lux second lx⋅s L−2⋅T⋅J Time-integrated illuminance
Luminous energy density ωv lumen second per cubic metre lm⋅s/m3 L−3⋅T⋅J
Luminous efficacy η[nb 3] lumen per watt lm/W M−1⋅L−2⋅T3⋅J Ratio of luminous flux to radiant flux or power consumption, depending on context
Luminous efficiency, luminous coefficient V 1 Luminous efficacy normalized by the maximum possible efficacy
See also: SI · Photometry · Radiometry
^ Standards organizations recommend that photometric quantities be denoted with a suffix "v" (for "visual") to avoid confusion with radiometric or photon quantities. For example: USA Standard Letter Symbols for Illuminating Engineering USAS Z7.1-1967, Y10.18-1967
^ The symbols in this column denote dimensions; "L", "T" and "J" are for length, time and luminous intensity respectively, not the symbols for the units litre, tesla and joule.
^ a b c Alternative symbols sometimes seen: W for luminous energy, P or F for luminous flux, and ρ or K for luminous efficacy.
Brightness (sound)
Luma (video)
Luminance (relative)
^ Merriam-Webster.com Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of bright
^ [1] Brightness vs. Lightness
^ “Brightness” in Federal Standard 1037C, the Federal Glossary of Telecommunication Terms (1996)
^ What are HSB and HLS?, Charles Poynton: "The usual formulation of HSB and HLS compute so-called "lightness" or "brightness" as (R + G + B)/3. This computation conflicts badly with the properties of colour vision, as it computes yellow to be about six times more intense than blue with the same "lightness" value (say L = 50)."
^ "Shopping for Light Bulbs". United States Federal Trade Commission. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
Media related to brightness at Wikimedia Commons
Look up brightness in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Poynton's Color FAQ
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brightness&oldid=904100489"
Articles containing Proto-Germanic-language text | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1192 |
__label__wiki | 0.592942 | 0.592942 | Pukekura Park
The main lake at Pukekura, with Poet's Bridge and Mount Taranaki in the background
Ground information
10 Fillis Street, New Plymouth, Taranaki
-39.0624104, 174.0785908
End names
South Terrace End
North City End
International information
Only ODI
23 February 1992:
Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
As of 8 January 2016
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Pukekura Park is a Garden of National Significance,[1] covering 52ha near the heart of New Plymouth, Taranaki in New Zealand.
2 Sports and music
3 Serenity
4 International Centuries
The park contains a diverse range of native and exotic plants. Various easy walking trails cross the park and meander along the lake sides, taking in the features of the park. Among these are the picturesque Poet's Bridge,[2] which was opened on 11 March 1884.[3] There is also a man-made cascading waterfall and a fountain in the aptly named Fountain Lake. Row boats can be hired for rowing on the main lake.
Sports and music[edit]
Pukekura Park is a popular events venue, with a cricket oval where Central Districts, a competitor in the top levels of New Zealand domestic cricket, play some home matches. The ground has hosted a single international match - a one day game between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the 1992 Cricket World Cup. On the outskirts of the park is New Plymouth Raceway, a horse racing course. Between the racetrack and the park is TSB Stadium, a 4,500 seat multi-purpose indoor stadium which is home to the Taranaki Mountainairs basketball team of the New Zealand NBL.
The park also contains the Bowl of Brooklands amphitheatre, which commonly hosts music events. The annual WOMAD festival is held at Pukekura Park.[4]
Serenity[edit]
Pukekura Park is also home to the popular Tea House on the Lake, which has been situated on the main lake since the 1930s.[5]
Pukekura Park is the venue for the annual Festival of Lights, which runs for free every year from mid-December to early February. It has daytime and night time programmes of events for people of all ages, and the festival itself transforms the park into an illuminated wonderland every evening.[6]
In 2007, Pukekura was winner of the 'Mayfair' spot in a nationwide competition for places on Hasbro's New Zealand edition of monopoly.[7]
International Centuries[edit]
Only a single ODI century has been achieved at the ground.[8]
Inns.
1 115* Andy Flower Zimbabwe 152 1 Sri Lanka 23 February 1992 Lost
^ "Pukekura Park & Brooklands". New Zealand Gardens Trust.
^ "Poet's Bridge". Puke Ariki.
^ "Pukekura Park History". New Plymouth District Council.
^ "WOMAD New Zealand". WOMAD.
^ "Tea House". Wisteria Fudge.
^ Lee, Hannah (7 January 2016). "Pukekura Park 'buzzing' with huge crowds attending Festival of Lights". Taranaki Daily News.
^ Lee, Hannah (8 April 2016). "Another five-star rating for New Plymouth's Pukekura Park". Taranaki Daily News.
^ "Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / Batting records". Retrieved 26 December 2016.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pukekura Park.
New Plymouth District Council website
Friends of Pukekura Park
Potted History of Pukekura Park, at the Puke Ariki website
Pukekura Park at CricketArchive
International cricket grounds in New Zealand
Test grounds:
Basin Reserve
McLean Park
Seddon Park
University Oval
ODI grounds:
Westpac Stadium
Queenstown Events Centre
Saxton Oval
Cobham Oval
Bert Sutcliffe Oval
Bay Oval
Former grounds:
Owen Delany Park
Future grounds:
Western Springs Stadium
World Series Cricket international grounds
Football Park
The Gabba
Gloucester Park
Oxley Oval
RAS Showground
Sydney Cricket Ground
Waverley Park
West Indies:
Albion Sports Complex
Antigua Recreation Ground
Bourda
Kensington Oval
Mindoo Phillip Park
Queen's Park Oval
Sabina Park
Cooks Gardens
Mount Smart Stadium
Nelson Cricket Ground
Tauranga Domain Outer Ground
Te Whiti Park
Coordinates: 39°3′52″S 174°4′46″E / 39.06444°S 174.07944°E / -39.06444; 174.07944
This article about a sports venue in New Zealand is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
This article about a cricket ground is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pukekura_Park&oldid=905993487"
Protected areas of Taranaki
Parks in New Zealand
Sport in New Plymouth
Cricket grounds in New Zealand
Sports venues in Taranaki
New Zealand sports venue stubs
Cricket ground stubs | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1193 |
__label__cc | 0.666351 | 0.333649 | General Data Protection & FAQs
Compliments, Comments, Complaints and Appeals Policy
Website User Data
Excellence in Care
Excellence Squared Announces New Chief Operating Officer to Lead Expansion into the Americas
Excellence Squared announced the appointment of Vicki Hawarden CMP, as its new Chief Operating Officer with the primary function of developing the North American market for the company.
“We are excited to have someone with Vicki’s leadership experience and extensive knowledge of meetings, professional education and associations join our team,” said Paul Bridle, CEO of Excellence Squared, an international company headquartered in the United Kingdom. “She is the right person to help us expand our international business and head up our North American operation. In addition to the tremendous knowledge she brings to the table, she shares our values and our passion for helping businesses improve their performance.”
Ms. Hawarden’s most recent role was as managing partner for Association Resource Consultants (ARC), a company focused on advising and assisting associations with leadership and governance, as well as revenue generation. Before joining ARC, Ms. Hawarden served as President and CEO of the International Association of Venue Managers and the IAVM Foundation. In that role, she was instrumental in nearly doubling the membership and turning the association around from significant deficits to stable contributions to reserves. New initiatives launched under her leadership included the Certified Venue Professional designation and Coherent GovernanceTM. Her past experience also includes senior executive roles for the International Association of Exhibitions and Events and Meeting Professionals International. At MPI, as VP of Events she was instrumental in creating the first meetings and events standards for North America, for which she received a Chair’s Citation.
“I have spent my entire 30-year career in the meetings, exhibition and association communities and I deeply believe they deliver tremendous value to their members, attendees and society as a whole,” said Hawarden. “The work done by Excellence Squared creates a partnership with those we assess, to help them truly understand and improve their business performance. In particular, I am thrilled we will be able to partner with associations on the Leadership and Management Standard, to help CEOs and boards better understand how to work together to deliver value to members, and to partner with venues to ensure they are able to exceed client and guest expectations, every time.”
Excellence Squared has over 20 years of experience as an accredited assessment service, as well as an advisory and consultancy provider. The company holds some prestigious contracts to deliver assessment and advisory services on behalf of government and has been leading the way in developing new approaches that ensure value for the customer.
Excellence Squared offers assessments in Leadership and Management, Venue Standard, Customer Service, Governance, Supply Chain Management, Care Homes and more. Its newest addition is the Quality Venue and Safe Venue Standards which enable venues to undertake an assessment of all aspects of it management, operations and physical attributes, to determine areas of strength and opportunity.
For more information, contact Ms. Hawarden at vicki.hawarden@excellencesquared.com or 972.369.5966.
PrevPreviousEiC Webinar
NextExcellence in Care Standard for Brackenley Care HomeNext
Europe Contact
Grantham,
Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
NG31 0EL
Email: info@excellencesquared.com
Westway Centre, 1735 Kipling Avenue,
Toronto, ON, Canada
M9R 4E2
Excellence Squared Ltd - © 2015 - 2018. All Rights Reserved. Excellence Squared Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales. Company Registration No. 07584183 Registered Offices: 35 Signal Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 9BL United Kingdom. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1205 |
__label__wiki | 0.74774 | 0.74774 | Beware boob job clinics that don’t mention the risks of implant-related cancer
4 months ago / 132 Views
I am in a freezing cold hospital suite, flinching as a cosmetic surgeon prods my naked breasts. It is my first consultation at the Aurora Clinic in Buckinghamshire with Adrian Richards, who is sizing me up for a breast implant operation.
His cheery assistant advises that I should consider the bigger of the two implants I’ve been shown. ‘They’ll be five per cent smaller once they’re inside you. The last thing you want is for them to feel too small,’ she says.
Next, I’m handed a skin-tight sports bra, into which I’m instructed to stuff a pair of rounded silicone sacks. A few pictures are taken and my bust-to-be is advised: roughly a D-cup. ‘Aren’t they too big?’ I ask. At 5ft 4in, a size eight, and naturally a 32B, I feel top-heavy.
Mail On Sunday reporter Eve Simmons (left), and, right, at the Aurora Clinic in Buckinghamshire, showing how she would look after breast implant surgery
Not so, I’m assured. I leave feeling a mixture of exhilaration at the idea of a transformed body and slight panic – as if I’ve just bought a car that’s slightly more expensive than I can afford. In reality, though, I’m being sold surgery. In the best-case scenario, the £5,000 operation will give me a bigger bust but also can cause scarring, loss of nipple sensitivity and difficulty breast-feeding.
Aside from post-op pain, the possibility of infection, and a one-in-ten chance that scar tissue inside my breast could harden, necessitating the need for another operation, my implant could rotate 360 degrees, leaving my chest misshapen.
I could develop a potentially fatal infection and even contract a rare form of cancer estimated to affect as many as one in every 3,000 patients. Not that my doctor verbally warned me about any of this during our discussion, although, according to recently drawn-up ethical guidelines, he should have.
AIDE CAUGHT ON HIDDEN CAMERA: ‘YOU DON’T WANT THEM TOO SMALL’
Persuasive: An assistant at the Aurora Clinic discusses the surgical options with Eve
Size matters: Next, she shows her some of the different implants to boost her appearance
Substantial boost: She points out that implants appear smaller once they are inserted
Seeing my enhanced silhouette was curiously thrilling. But I also breathe a sigh of relief that, in reality, I’m not actually planning to have boob job.
What Mr Richards does not know is that I’m a journalist and my visit is part of an undercover investigation into the practices of British cosmetic surgeons offering breast augmentation.
Although Aurora claims that a second consultation, during which risks of surgery are outlined, is ‘standard protocol’, I was not offered such standards. In fact, two weeks after that initial appointment, a receptionist offers to book my surgery for a fortnight later. If I had taken up the offer, the next time I would have met my surgeon, and been able to ask any medical questions, would be shortly before going under the knife and, importantly, after I’d paid a deposit.
Even more concerning, Aurora informed me after the investigation that I’d signed a form that apparently stated the risks of surgery – something of which I have no recollection. If I, an astute journalist investigating the issue, failed to notice the small print, how on earth would others?
I wonder how anyone could make an informed decision to go ahead without being told clearly in conversation of the potential downsides. At this point, you have already been lured in by the prospect of an enhanced body and it would undoubtedly feel difficult to back out.
A cut-price offer and hard-sell tactics
Of the five clinics we investigated, two were found to be fully adhering to best-practice rules. But alongside my worrying experience, we also uncovered evidence of ‘hard sell’ tactics.
One surgeon suggested a patient enquiring about breast augmentation also have fat-removing liposuction, and another clinic offered a discount if an on-the-spot booking was made.
This kind of approach is prohibited by Government-backed guidelines, published in 2016, that hold the cosmetic surgery industry to account. The reason? These tactics can pressure women to choose a life-changing operation.
You don’t even need to be a surgeon to operate
Perhaps the most surprising fact I discovered is that you do not need to be a qualified cosmetic surgeon to carry out this type of surgery.
Any doctor, even a GP, can legally offer boob jobs, face-lifts and tummy tucks without further credentials or specialist training. They simply have to be on the General Medical Council register as having a licence to practise as a doctor in the UK.
The GMC also has a specialist register – consultant surgeons will be recorded on this – and patient advocates always advise prospective patients to check their surgeon is on this list.
But it’s not a legal requirement for a cosmetic surgeon to be a specialist in Britain. And all of the surgeons we saw were on the specialist register, so it’s clearly not foolproof.
Many practising in the UK receive their medical training elsewhere in the EU.
According to consultant surgeon Tim Goodacre, who is on the specialist register, this is ‘problematic’ as they are not subject to the same ‘checks and balances in place to regulate UK doctors’.
Our enquiries were spurred by growing concerns among doctors that women undergoing breast enhancements are not being properly warned about a new form of blood cancer linked to implants.
And, as my experience at Aurora illustrated, some doctors are not verbally warning women during their discussion with the patient of the risk.
Known as breast-implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or BIA-ALCL, it is rare and usually curable with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
So far, 57 British women have been diagnosed and three have died. The worldwide death toll is 16. The disease is a prime concern for health watchdogs due to the growing number of cases and a lack of firm evidence about why and how it develops.
BIA-ALCL can take anywhere from two to 30 years to cause symptoms, which include swelling and hardness of the breast due to a build-up of fluid around the implant.
Health watchdogs the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) estimates that one in every 24,000 boob-job patients will suffer BIA-ALCL. But in May 2018, this newspaper reported the startling findings of scientists who estimated it could affect up to one in 3,000 patients.
Professor Anand Deva, of the Australian School of Advanced Medicine, claimed the number of reported cases soared by 50 per cent in 2018. BIA-ALCL appears to be associated with a type of silicone implant with a textured, rather than smooth, surface.
The rough shell sticks to the body’s tissues and prevents the implant from moving, making it easier for surgeons to achieve a consistent and pleasing result.
It is thought the microscopic pits in the surface provide a breeding ground for bacteria which may lead to an immune response that triggers the cancer. Others suggest BIA-ALCL could be due to a reaction to the silicone – meaning a ban on textured implants, used in more than 95 per cent of British breast augmentations, would not protect women.
Doctors ‘unethical’ if they don’t outline risks
An estimated 50,000 British women a year have breast implants. In July 2018, the MHRA issued a joint statement with several leading surgeons’ associations, advising it is ‘essential’ all patients considering a breast implant are made aware of the potential risk of BIA-ALCL.
However, Nigel Mercer, the former president of British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), said many are not. Mr Mercer, who advises the Government on breast implant safety, said: ‘I know for certain, because I have seen patients who have not been warned by the clinic or surgeon who performed their operation. Surgeons think the risk is low so they don’t mention it.’
Given these concerns, we approached five of the UK’s biggest providers of cosmetic surgery, requesting information about their standard procedure for new customers. Did they follow the latest industry rules set out by the Royal College of Surgeons? Were clients warned of BIA-ALCL?
Three responded with explanations in line with all recommendations, while two ignored our requests. I was left with no choice but to go undercover. Posing as a prospective patient, I made appointments for breast augmentation consultations at the Harley Medical Group in London and the Aurora Clinic in Stokenchurch.
Meanwhile, two women considering procedures agreed to share detailed accounts of their appointments with a further three firms – Transform, MYA and the Cadogan Clinic, all based in London.
My first appointment is with a ‘client relationship manager’ at the Harley Medical Group. Complications, she says, are ‘very, very unlikely’, but are restricted to rupture and capsular contracture – where the body ‘rejects’ the implant, causing excessive scar tissue. She also examines me and advises that I only need something small to ‘add a feminine touch’ to my look.
A week later, I pay £100 for an appointment with surgeon Wail Al Sarakbi. He conducts a full examination, and is armed with a PowerPoint presentation, detailing information of every risk and complication, including BIA-ALCL.
Despite some of the inappropriate comments of the client relationship manager, the protocol adhered to industry standards.
He prodded her midriff and pointed out her fat
So how did our two ‘real life’ patients fare? At the Cadogan, our patients paid £150 for an hour-long consultation with a surgeon and female chaperone. A clear explanation of all risks and complications, including BIA-ALCL, was delivered within the first half of the appointment.
A two-week wait was encouraged before booking a follow-up appointment with the same surgeon, when the patient could decide whether to proceed. It appeared as though the Cadogan was compliant with all industry guidelines.
At MYA, the patient’s first appointment began with a brief background chat with a clinic assistant before she was shown to the office of surgeon Dr Anastasios Tsekouras. During the examination, he prodded her midriff. ‘A bit of liposuction would improve your results,’ he said. ‘You have localised fat which is easily targeted with this treatment.’ Worryingly, when we approached MYA for comment, they told us Mr Tsekouras had never carried out liposuction and a breast enlargement on the same patient.
The patient asked towards the end of the consultation about downsides. Dr Tsekouras answered ‘Well, there aren’t really any risks…’, before continuing to explain about capsular contraction and BIA-ALCL. ‘It is very rare, maybe in around one in 30,000 patients,’ he says, not entirely correctly.
Two weeks later, the patient returned for a follow-up, this time with a different surgeon, who did warn explicitly of all risks and supplied take-home leaflets with the same information.
Meanwhile, Transform provided an initial consultation with a ‘patient co-ordinator’, who was not medically trained, and did not talk about risks. Later, when the patient called to book in for a consultation with a surgeon, another patient co-ordinator offered to book her in for the operation. ‘If you have your surgery in the next two weeks, we can offer you a discount,’ she said.
The patient declined, and later during an appointment with the surgeon, Manish Sinha, he outlined all the risks.
More women will get implant-related cancer
Afterwards, we shared details of all the appointments with Mr Mercer. ‘Using financial incentives to pressure patients to proceed is very dubious,’ he said. However, his greatest concern was for the poor explanation of BIA-ALCL. ‘For clinicians not to disclose all risks in detail, front and centre of the appointment, is unacceptable. Surgeons are required by industry guidelines to also follow up the risks in writing.’
Dr Suzanne Turner, of Cambridge University, who has researched the condition, estimates that hundreds of British women with breast implants could unknowingly have BIA-ALCL. ‘The average time for development is eight to ten years, and there seems to be a strong association with textured implants which have only been used since the late 1990s. So we expect numbers to increase now that we are looking for the disease.
‘Women considering an implant need to be aware that it exists and be able to identify the symptoms.’
So who is legally responsible for overseeing the ethical standards of private cosmetic surgery clinics? The answer is no one.
NHS surgeons are subject to scrutiny by NHS England, but private cosmetic surgeons are not.
Professional bodies such as the Royal College of Surgeons, BAPRAS, and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), which represent the bulk of cosmetic surgeons also working in the NHS, require members to attend training days, have extra qualifications and report their surgical outcomes. However, membership is voluntary.
BAAPS and BAPRAS have around 800 UK surgeons, but hundreds more operate at private clinics. A certification scheme, introduced by the Royal College of Surgeons in 2015 and intended to indicate that a surgeon is well qualified, boasts just 23 members.
The Care Quality Commission, which inspects healthcare facilities, said inspectors were not privy to patient consultations. The General Medical Council – responsible for patient safety – conducts checks on every British cosmetic surgery clinic only once every five years.
Lee Martin, consultant breast surgeon and chairman of the aesthetic group of the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS), believes the surge in awareness of implant-related disease means the industry can no longer turn a blind eye to the inadequacies. ‘BIA-ALCL has sparked enthusiasm for tighter regulations and better training and education.’
But Tim Goodacre, cosmetic surgery lead at the Royal College of Surgeons, said patients will remain at risk until the Government takes action. ‘We are desperately concerned about what is happening. There’s an open door to poor practice. It’s now up to the Government to legislate and protect the public.’
In a statement, MYA said: ‘We have no experience of surgeons upselling [liposuction]. At various stages, information is provided to the client about BIA-ALCL. Only ten per cent of people who contact us ever proceed to surgery.’
A Transform spokesman said: ‘Neither Transform nor any of our surgeons would allow surgery to take place without a 14-day cooling off period and after they are fully informed of the risks.’
Aurora said: ‘We provide all patients with a comprehensive guide that details all, including the risks related to BIA-ALCL. Following the request for surgery, the patient was offered a potential date 25 days after her initial consultation, and not before a pre-operative assessment had taken place. Aurora clinics do not offer financial incentives for any surgeries.’
I got second tumour with implant
In 2012, Rachael Ferguson was declared cancer-free following two years of aggressive treatment for stage three breast cancer, including the removal of her left breast.
Within a year, she had undergone a reconstruction, with a textured silicone breast implant. ‘I was so happy with the results – the NHS surgeons did a great job,’ says the 58-year-old, right, from Bathgate, West Lothian.
Yet just five years later, her oncologist delivered a new life-shattering blow.
In 2012, Rachael Ferguson was declared cancer-free following two years of aggressive treatment for stage three breast cancer, including the removal of her left breast. Within a year, she had undergone a reconstruction, with a textured silicone breast implant – but she would later be dealt a new life-shattering blow
Rachael says: ‘My breast was increasingly firm and red so my oncologist replaced the implant, but the pain continued and something didn’t feel right.
Tests revealed tumours in the tissue around the left breast and I was told it was caused by my original implant.’
Neither Rachael nor her oncologist had ever heard of BIA-ALCL.
‘I wasn’t warned about the risks back in 2013 because no one knew much about it,’ she says. ‘But had I known, I would never have chosen a reconstruction.’
Thankfully, Rachael’s condition was detected early and hadn’t spread. It was curable with the removal of the implant and the tissue where her left breast would have been.
She says: ‘The thought that I had done something to make me ill again was horrible. I lost 2st in two months because I was sick with worry. I felt like I was back to square one.’
Rachael has been left with a ‘sagging pouch’ on her chest and attends screenings every three months. Despite the trauma, she doesn’t blame the NHS surgeon for neglecting to tell her the risks.
She says: ‘The implant companies should pay for what they’ve done to us.’ | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1206 |
__label__cc | 0.617493 | 0.382507 | BusinessNews-FhF
Aroostook Partnership narrows field to 10 for top entrepreneur
Contributed • May 14, 2018
Judges have selected the 10 finalists for the Aroostook Partnership’s Entrepreneur of the Year competition, and AP officials will reveal the top three at the annual dinner and awards ceremony in Presque Isle on Thursday, May 24.
CARIBOU, Maine — Judges have selected the 10 finalists for the Aroostook Partnership’s Entrepreneur of the Year competition, and AP officials will reveal the top three at the annual dinner and awards ceremony in Presque Isle on Thursday, May 24.
An eight-member panel of judges, representing post-secondary education, business and economic development officials narrowed the field of 13 nominees down to 10.
The Aroostook Entrepreneur of the Year dinner will take place at the Edmunds Conference Center at Northern Maine Community College. A social hour will begin the evening at 5:30 p.m.
The finalists are, in alphabetical order of business name: Michelle Hersey, County Environmental Engineering in Caribou; Pierre and Donna Dubay, Cove Corner Kennels, St. Agatha; Paul Morgan, Dodos/Access 89 Bar and Grill, Caribou; Traus Jandreau, David Saucier, Travis Guy, Rod Lahren and Matt Deprey, First Mile Brewing, Fort Kent; Michelle Hanson, Frederick’s Southside/Mascoto’s, Caribou; Loryn Moran, House of Handsome, Presque Isle; Tina Boucher, Interior Accents, Madawaska; Scott Nash and Alan Nash-Pelletier, Orchids, Madawaska; Rick and Cassie Daigle, Too Far North Fitness, Fort Kent; and Jim Bell, Wired Houlton.
The winner will receive a plaque and a check for $1,000. Second and third runners-up will receive $500 and $250, respectively.
Aroostook Partnership President and CEO Robert Dorsey said the finalists represent businesses from the St. John Valley to Houlton and include long-time business people and relative newcomers to the business world.
“It’s always amazing to see the variety of nominees each year, and this year was no exception,” said Dorsey. “It is wonderful to see the number of new business starts and new ideas that are happening in The County.”
Previous winners include David Harbison of Bison Pumps in Houlton, Matt Bell of Northeast Pellets in Ashland, Northern Maine Distilling’s Jessica Jewell and Scott Galbiati (formerly of Houlton), Troy Haney of Haney Building Specialties in Caribou, Corey LaPlante of Northern Prosthetics in Presque Isle, Josh McLaughlin of J. McLaughlin Construction in Houlton, the Buck Family of Mapleton for the Maine Malt House, and Josh Rich of JL Rich Timber Harvesting.
The dinner will feature local products and highlight the cultural diversity of the region. There will be a vegetarian option. The price per person is $45. Electronic pre-registration is required by 3 p.m. May 21. The registration link is at www.aroostookpartnership.org.
For more information, contact Dorsey at 498-9103 or by email at rdorsey@aroostookpartnership.org. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1208 |
__label__cc | 0.53181 | 0.46819 | Why Israel?
About FIRM Membership
Members A–Z
Resource & Training
Worship & Prayer
Jerusalem Encounter
Jerusalem Praise Experience
Take The 1% Challenge
Browse by Category ›
Yuval School of Music and the Arts
Training a new generation of worshippers
About Yuval School of Music and the Arts
Yuval School of Music and the Arts is training this generation of believers to use the gifts that God has given them in music and other forms of art in order to build the Kingdom and the Body of Jesus in the land of Israel.
Read about the ministry ›
Irit Iffert
Founder and Director
Read bio ›
God has given each of us unique gifts, but in the areas of music and the arts, the focus is often on individuals and their talent, not on the Giver of the gift.
Yuval School of Music and the Arts is teaching believers of all ages how to be vessels of worship in their everyday lives. They have over 170 students taking weekly classes in piano, guitar, bass, violin, percussion, brass, vocal training, choir, drama, dance, and art. In addition to their seminars and conferences for song writing, sound, music production, and more, Yuval School of Music and the Arts co-produces many of the worship and musical events held in Israel.
Impact Israel through music and the arts
100% of your gift goes directly to Yuval School of Music and the Arts.
Stories from Yuval School of Music and the Arts
Member Highlight: Yuval Messianic School of Music and Arts Inspires Creativity For God’s Glory
Yuval School of Music and the Arts is a non-profit organization founded in October 2010 and is currently the only worship center in Israel. They are passionate about creating safe space to teach, equip, and train students in skill, biblical values, and faith in Jesus so they can utilize their talent as a tool to impact the community and nation with the love of God. Yuval School of Music and the Arts aspires to be a worship center that unifies believers from all denominations, backgrounds, and nationalities.
About the Founder and Director
Irit Iffert is the Founder and Director of Yuval School of Music and the Arts.
Connect with FIRM
Get info on international events, inspiring articles from Israel, and be the first to know about the latest with FIRM.
FIRM Members
View FIRM Members
Learn About Israel
The 1% Challenge
1-800-532-0706 • 97 Jaffa Street, Jerusalem, Israel 91003 • Contact
© 2019 Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries • Privacy Policy • Site by Ink Blot Media Group | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1225 |
__label__wiki | 0.57054 | 0.57054 | Five Hungry Joes – A pictorial archive of the Trashcan Sinatras. Legendary Scottish Band
1990-1991 Cake
1992-1993 I've Seen Everything
1995-1996 A Happy Pocket
2004-2006 Weightlifting
2008-2010 In The Music
2015-2016 Wild Pendulum
2017-2018 All Night in America
45 Cat
Bollocks or Brilliance!
Cathedrals of Sound
Eddi Reader
Fusion On Air
Groove is in the Art
Handcooked Posters
Nobody's Diary
Plain or Pan?
Project Thirty-Three
Rainmates Forever
Record Envelopes
Songs to Learn and Sing
The (new) Vinyl Villain
Trashcan Facebook
Trashcan Instagram
Trashcan Official
Trashcan Spotify
Trashcan Twitter
Subterranean Blues!
Filed under: Press | Tags: Concert, Gig, Magazine, Music, Press, Sounds Magazine, Trashcan Sinatras
Ladbroke Grove Subterania is now a bar/club specialising in dance and hip hop music. In a previous incarnation, however, it was a hip and happening live music venue.
Situated in London’s Notting Hill, the venue played host to number of bands from the surrounding area. Psychedelic rock band Hawkwind formed here in 1969. The Deviants and Pink Fairies were groups out of the Ladbroke Grove UK underground movement, from which a number of bands would later emerge. The most famous of these being punk group The Clash who formed locally in 1976. The Westway – which is mentioned in their song ‘London’s Burning’ – runs across Ladbroke Grove Road.
In 1990, the Trashcans – fresh from their summer tour with labelmates The La’s – had the pleasure of playing the venue supporting The Perfect Disaster – an alternative rock band from London. Formed by Phil Parfitt in 1980, they released four albums before splitting up in 1991, with other members going on to form or join bands such as Fields of the Nephilim, The Breeders, and Ultra Vivid Scene.
Here’s what Andy Stout from Sounds had to say…
17 February 1990 Sounds Magazine | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1231 |
__label__wiki | 0.811929 | 0.811929 | RetailAnimal Welfare
Nestle vows to improve animal welfare after dairy cow abuse
Ben Geier
The Nestle logo is displayed on the company's headquarters in Switzerland.Photograph by Harold Cunningham—Getty Images
Your chocolate milk may be getting a little bit more humane.
Following an investigation into its dairy farms by the group Mercy for Animals (MFA), Nestle has announced big changes to its supplier policies. Nestle is working with World Animal Protection to implement what it calls the “highest possible standards” for animal welfare.
According to Mercy For Animals investigations director Matt Rice, the initial investigation in Wisconsin uncovered a farm worker kicking, beating and even stabbing cows at a farm that provided dairy for DiGiorno Pizza, a Nestle company. That investigation led to arrests, and to Nestle meeting with the MFA representatives.
Rice said this “may be the single largest corporate animal welfare policy change in history.”
“They’re doing away with some of the cruelest forms of institutional animal abuse in the factory farming industry,” he said, citing practices such as the use of cages so small that animals can’t turn around, and “painful mutilation” of animals without anesthesia.
Nestle announced it has hired independent auditor SGS to check that these new standards are being followed at the farms it works with. Nestle also noted that it will work with suppliers to fix any violations, and that farms that refuse to improve “will no longer supply Nestle.”
Rice thinks that, given Nestle’s prominent role in the food industry, this could mark a sea change for other food manufacturers.
“Nestle’s announcement signifies a new era in corporate responsibility,” he said. It’s never been clearer that the days are numbered for factory farms.”
He specifically mentioned McDonald’s (MCD) and Wal-Mart (WMT) as corporations he hopes follow Nestle’s lead. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1239 |
__label__cc | 0.734281 | 0.265719 | Let's repair mojibakes/add key info in original languages
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 11 Next Moderator: Site moderators
Forum Index » Site Feedback » Suggestions and Complaints » Site-Related Tasks
sofeshue
So finally we have v2! Thanks to the site owners and for all contributing users.
I just noticed that oneyoudontknow has proposed this problem and give a list of pages with deformed letters. That list can be become huge if we inspect the Russian bands. Anyway, I want to give a slightly more systematic look at this issue. Hope the mod won't regard my article as a duplicate.
Edit: I think making of list of pages with messed up letters is helpful, but currently I don't have time to look up each band from Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia, say. So I will not touch the task. Also, users can report messed up letters.
Also, I suggest to the mods to open the right of editing album titles to metal demons, i.e. users with more than 10,000 points. (Currently there are only 62 of them.) So I don't have to report messed up album titles to the mod. I don't know if opening this right could be potentially dangerous to the site. If this is inapplicable, I suggest that we recruit some users who have specific knowledge about a language and let them deal with reports on this issue.
New Edit (2011/11/15): The following is a (highly incomplete) list of albums with mojibakes in tracklists, titles and lyrics. This list will keep growing (big or small) as I compile more such releases and as users repair the mojibakes. If I add the tag "(lyrics)" after the release, then it means that lyrics is among the things deformed. If you try to repair an album, make sure that you repair everything, including the lyrics; if you cannot repair the lyrics, please do not modify it.
An easy way to repair mojibakes: go to v1 of that page (you can find the v1 link at the bottom of each page), change the encoding to the corresponding language, then chances are, the correct text come back. This method is useful, but does not guarantee satisfactory result in every case! Example: For deformed Polish texts, choose the encoding Central European (Windows), and see if the correct texts return. Please confirm your results (e.g. by googling) before pasting them here.
NOTE: you do not need to know the specific language (of course it's better if you do), but you need to know how it looks like. For example, in Polish, there is no such letter "ê", it shows up very often because it is deformed from the letter "ę". Similarly, the strange thing ³ is deformed from ł (l slash).
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Ar ... ange/47712 (lyrics)
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cl ... onie/39369 (lyrics)
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Cr ... 93ci/14883 (lyrics)
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/De ... mes/110960 (lyrics)
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Dr ... Angel/8674
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/He ... veto/25059
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/He ... ream/31742 (the lyrics is NOT deformed)
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/He ... ony/102494
http://www.metal-archives.com/albums/He ... ania/74685
A particular annoying thing in v1 is the deformation of non-Latin characters into unreadable mojibakes (see below). As a consequence, a lot of valuable information about the band name, album title, tracklist, lyrics is thus lost. I have been spending a lot effort for years to repair the deformed characters on the pages of Chinese/Japanese bands. And it is heart-breaking to see them deformed again after some time. The tracklists of small/obscure bands are really difficult to find, and I often need to refer to my own CD collection. But now I am abroad and my CDs are not with me, so once some tracklist got deformed, I may never be able to repair it. Since the site serves as an encyclopedia, the key information in original language is valuable and helpful to the native speakers, and since v2 uses UFT-8 encoding, the letter deformation will not be a problem anymore, so let us repair the mojibakes that already existed from v1 and add key information in original language.
The following is my little guideline. Any suggestions, opinions are welcome.
What are mojibakes?
Mojibakes are deformed letters that occur when the default encoding system of a website is incompatible with the input language. For example, if I type Рассвет (in Cyrillic) in v1 metal archives, it would likely be deformed into Ðàññâåò, which is totally unreadable. This phenomenon is widespread in band pages that contain non-Latin characters, e.g. German, Finnish, Czech, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, etc.
UTF-8 solution
v2 uses UTF-8 as its encoding system, which incorporates every character in the Unicode character set. So this should produce no more mojibakes. But the mojibakes that already existed in v1 will not automatically be fixed in v2. So I suggest that if the users see any mojibakes, report them or fixed them if he has the power.
HTML entities:
Some words were written in HTML entities, and could represent normally in v1. For example, Kurazh has a song called “Дождь” and was written as Дождь When you read the page, everything is represented fine. But if you search the song “Дождь”, it will return nothing. The user can use the edit tool to see if the letters are written in HTML or just letters themselves.
Note: Please never switch the encoding system away from the default UTF-8. I guess if you try to edit a page under another encoding system, it will still cause trouble.
What is key information?
IMO, the band name, label name, band members’ names, album title, tracklist, lyrics are key information.
When should the original language accompany the key information?
The only key information that should come with original language is the official thing. For example, Seikima-II is officially known as 聖飢魔 II in Japan, Tang Dynasty is officially (and only) known as 唐朝 in China. So we should add the original band names. Ritual Day has two official names (look at the logo), one in English, and one in Chinese (施教日); the Chinese name should also be added. On the other hand, Dark Mirror ov Tragedy from Korea has no Korean name, so there is no need to add any Korean translation.
Some bands give the tracklist in more than one language. The tracklist in each language should be recorded, and the one in “Main language” should appear in the tracklist in Metallum and the other may go to additional notes (the user should also mark that the translation is official), or both tracklists appear in tracklist in Metallum. However, if the band only gives one tracklist, then the original one should go to tracklist in Metallum. The user may give an English translation, or Romanization, if the original one is not English, but the translation should go to the additional notes. In the past, to avoid mojibakes, some information is translated/transliterated, and the original one is ignored.
Example: Forest (Rus) – In the Flame of Glory. The information is provided by the band in both Russian and English (look at the cover). Its Russian title is “В Пламени Славы”. Some song titles are also in Russian. So the Russian version should appear as main language and English info should also be added and marked as official.
Example: Tang Dynasty (唐朝) - A Dream Return to Tang Dynasty. As far as I know, this album never had an official English translation; it is only known as "梦回唐朝". So I stubbornly think that the title should at least be "梦回唐朝 (A Dream Return to Tang Dynasty)" in the discography, or the English translation should go to the additional notes. Agree?
Special languages
Serbian. This is the only European language that is in active digraphia; it can be written in both Cyrillic and Latin Script. What script should be provided depends on the band. Example, Dažd - Naživo!, on this album, everything is written in Cyrillic, so the title is “Наживо!”, and the tracklist on the back cover is also in Cyrillic script. So we should provide the information in Cyrillic, and may add the corresponding Latin script to additional notes.
Chinese. There are two ways to write it, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. The former is widely used in Mainland China, and the later is standard in Taiwan. Some bands from Mainland write the tracklist in traditional way. But IMO, the writings are interchangeable so it suffices to provide the info in one way.
Translation or Transliteration?
This is a tricky problem. Transliteration does not help the reader understand the language. It only represents the approximate pronunciation, which, in some cases, may become quite misleading. For Japanese, there is an observable trend in transliteration rather than translation. Example, Japan’s 伝承歌劇団 is known as Densyou-Kagekidan, rather than “Traditional Opera” (translation). On the other hand, the Chinese people tend to translate things because words written in the standard transliteration system, the pinyin system, would appear a little weird. Example, the original name of The Dark Prison Massacre is 暗狱戮尸, which, if transliterated, would be “An Yu Lu Shi”.
In my opinion, band members’ names should always be transliterated. As for band name and tracklist, it depends on the users predilection.
Half-width or Full-width?
Since the eastern Asian languages are written in blocks, the characters are wide than letters; they are called full-width form. It is possible to write English in full-width form, so one can get “Ｍｅｔａｌ ａｒｃｈｉｖｅｓ”, so ugly. Also, in Japanese, it is possible to write hiragana and katakana in half-width form, but this is very rare. So the rule is: for letter-based languages, use half-width form. For Eastern Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese and Korean), use full-width form. In most cases, the users need not to worry about the correct form because the correct form for a language is also the default form, unless it is changed manually.
Last edited by sofeshue on Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:40 pm, edited 5 times in total.
Very good post, thank you.
I suspect it's going to be a lot of effort to repair the broken "mojibakes" and htmlentities. Feel free to use the read-only v1 as a reference to copy/paste some htmlentitized titles that might have gotten truncated or garbled in the v2 conversion somehow.
Catachthonian
This will surely take a lot of time for bands from Russia / Ukraine / Belarus and so on... By the way, should I always use UTF-8 when entering Cyrillic symbols (even if I do it via copy-pasting them from another page)?
Noctem ferimus.
YES, do not change your browser's encoding, it should always always be utf-8.
Morrigan wrote:
Evenfiel
Heavy Metal Hunter
Btw, you can always check the name of an album / song title in v1 in case it broke during the migration process.
sofeshue wrote:
All I did was create a short list that is by no means complete and it is a daunting task to do this alone. The thing with the splits was already quite time consuming back then.
create a taskforce that goes through all releases of all bands of those countries in which such issues can occur or some other way.
Scenes that have this problem are:
China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Russia, East Europe
Maybe:
India and some other SE-Asian countries as well ...
OneRodeToAsaBay
Blue Örtab Cult
This kind of nitpicky issue is exactly why I joined MA in the first place--it always bothered me seeing broken Cyrillic and incorrect encoding on the site. Glad we will have good support for this now. I have a few issues I'd like to discuss as well that may help improve searching of the site for users:
Simplification -- It is customary for serbian (and other related slavic balkan languages) speakers to simplify typing of words that use diacritics. The letters 'c' and 'ć' are entirely distinct but online it is not uncommon to see, for example, the word 'voće' substituted with the simplified version 'voce'. The pronunciation doesn't change but those who understand the language usually can easily tell from context that 'voce' actually means 'voće'. I think bands/albums/songs with diacritics like Dažd should consistently include the simplified version as well for ease of use in the search, much like 'Motorhead' returns 'Motörhead'. For the most part balkan bands with such issues seem to be taken care of but this should apply more broadly to all languages in which such simplification is customary.
A related issue is the problem of 'dj' versus 'đ' in serbian--these are the same letter but for whatever reason in latinate there are two available versions that are both regularly used. I tend to prefer the đ version in my own writing but both versions are grammatically valid and should both be included to aid searching.
To be clear, I do not think that simplifications like 'zh' for 'ž' should be used since they are not part of the standard latinate characters taught in the education system.
Interpretation -- Before the launch of V2, I noticed that a number of bands with cyrillic names had latinate interpretations of the letters that I found absolutely unacceptable for inclusion in this database. For example, 'Аркона' was written as 'Apkoha' which I consider completely junk information. I removed this kind of data from a number of bands and I feel that this should be consistent policy over the entire database. I doubt people cleaning mojibakes would enter this kind of data themselves but this is just something to be aware of.
This is all I can think of for now. I think there was one more nitpicky issue I had thought of but it's slipping my mind now. If I recall it, I'll post it here. I'm quite keen to clean up this annoyance with the database and I'll be happy to contribute as much as I can.
So if this is to become the 'task force thread' containing a list of all albums with broken characters, let me open it with Raventale's first album which is completely messed up. Link.
Collect first and fix then or how? Not that this thread becomes too confusing. By the way, even the first review of the release posted by Catachthonian is messed up.
I think it'd be better to make a list first, because not everyone here knows respective languages and/or alphabets -> such releases are better off first reported, then fixed by someone with appropriate knowledge than fixed right away in a half-assed manner.
I might fix Raventale's album when I'm done with splits for today. By the way, the album title is "На Хрустальных Качелях" ("Na Khrustal'nykh Kachelyakh", if somebody wants to add a transliterated title as well), and it happens to be the phrase that's messed up in the first review.
I agree with making a list first, perhaps after V2 has moved to the metal-archives.com domain so we don't have a bunch of broken links. I think I'd be able to figure out russian/ukrainian/polish/etc. reasonably well but I'd rather a native or well-educated speaker correct them instead.
Perhaps people can report errors on the main site in addition to listing them here? Catachthonian, I noticed you'd been reporting things as 'typos' and I'm already taking care of the ones you'd mention. Perhaps those involved in this task force can do this as well for any fields they cannot edit.
OneRodeToAsaBay wrote:
Or maybe ask certain other mods (Witcher, PiotrB, Fulgurius...) to proofread if they're not too busy with the queue(s).
Good idea, but in this case they should probably report it both here and on the main site.
By the way, mind fixing the title of Raventale's album I posted above? I've fixed the track titles (and I'll fix the lyrics too as soon as I find them on the net).
Sorry, I missed your request the first time. Fixed.
Thanks! I've fixed the lyrics and added the line-up, so there's nothing more to do with this album, it seems.
yentass
Fixed all the HTML entities I was aware of / was responsible for (those I can recall at least). Have to say that the idea to auto-convert HTML-written lyrics upon import was great and it saved me a lot of work.
Voidal, Doom/Death Metulz.
DoomMetalAlchemist wrote:
I know nothing of hair care, so bare with me.
Metal dudes, assemble in the shower!
I think bands/albums/songs with diacritics like Dažd should consistently include the simplified version as well for ease of use in the search, much like 'Motorhead' returns 'Motörhead'. For the most part balkan bands with such issues seem to be taken care of but this should apply more broadly to all languages in which such simplification is customary.
Actually, the search can now find diacritics even if you don't use them, so there is no need to write "Dazd" or "Motorhead".
Nice, I didn't realize that! I'll go ahead and get rid of diacritic-free band names in the ANS fields as I see them since they're now redundant.
I just had a quick glance over a few regional bands and noticed a lot of stuff that needs cleaning. Hopefully I'll have more constant free time soon rather than just sniping things here and there for a few minutes between blocks of 'working'...
Alhadis
Madder Max
This topic is my dream come true.
OKAY GUYS, based on my prior experience, this is what I've found to be helpful (links in bold):
Cyrillic Decoder - My own script
Still a work-in-progress, but it works great with straight Russian (not Ukrainian, I think). Anybody using it should let me know if there's any errors and I'll fix the script. If the results look a bit funny (or if they don't translate well in Google, for example), compare them against the results from the next encoder:
Cyrillic Decoder
Works good for a variety of Cyrillic-based alphabets, but has been known to give odd corrections from time-to-time.
Bunch of Polish Letters:
These are letters that I've seen stick out of people's surnames (and sometimes place names). Best source is often to check Google's cached version of the page back when the letters were still intact (apparently, editing a page that had these characters in the fields could break them after submission. Don't ask...)
¹ ą
³ ł
± ą
¿ ż
ã ă
Ÿ ź
ñ ń
œ ś
£ Ł
¶ ś
æ ć
ê ę
Much as I'd loooove to help out with that, I'm afraid opening those sort of rights to users is just going to encourage point-whoredom. There's a whole lot of other tasks I'd love to help out with, too: removing duplicate artists, fixing artist names (formerly known as "Display names"), capitalising titles properly... Still, if any of the mods are willing, I'd be all too eager to help out. I'm just afraid of sounding like I'm trying to weasel my way into power.
In either case, I'm happy continuing to file reports if that's the case.
Last edited by Alhadis on Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
SwarteHeap
Evenfiel wrote:
Actually... when adding band members, if you search WITH diacritics, you won't find anything. You have to omit them...
(e.g. search for artist "Kiełtyka", nothing comes up. Search for "Kieltyka" and you get it.)
Alhadis wrote:
I'm just afraid of sounding like I'm trying to weasel my way into power.
SwarteHeap wrote:
That's not good. Reported.
Actually, it seems to be working. I've found Kiełtyka.
Yeah, seems to work now.
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:39 pm
Hey, Metal Freaks / Demons: check out the latest news. I think you'll be pretty happy about it.
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:29 pm
I just started to go through every band from China and try to repair the deformed words. However, the first band, 206 and Thinkers posed me a big problem: their lyrics are completely fucked up. Does anyone know some professional decoding software that I can use to recover the deformed lyrics? (I've tried a few, including CodeView, but with no luck.) I remember clearly that these lyrics were transcribed by myself from the inner sleeve. But now I am abroad and there is nowhere to find the lyrics online or anywhere. What a pain in the ass!
Also, the right of deleting tracks does not work for me. I deleted the "intro" / "outro" (checked various sources, none of them ever mentioned them) from the following album; after I saved it, they appear again. I tried again, same result.
http://v2.metal-archives.com/albums/Aga ... s%29/88509
Sorry about that, it was my bad. Please try again now?
It works now.
Cleared mojibakes of Chinese bands up to letter C. Unable to restore some deformed lyrics. Other updates also need to be done.
It's better to keep the updates in your OP. That will help make things more organized.
Alhadis, there's at least one thing wrong with your Cyrillic decoding script. It doesn't get the "ё" (yo) character right.
What I use is Notepad++, a free text editor. If you open it up, make sure encoding (Encoding menu) is set to ANSI, then paste in the borked cyrillic (e.g. "Ëÿçã Êëèíêîâ"). Then change the encoding to (menu) "Character sets > Cyrillic > Windows-1251". Then copy and paste back into metal-archives.
That's because it's testing it against the Russian character set, not Ukrainian (to my knowledge, the Russians don't use the 'ё' character in their alphabet... or something to that effect.)
Actually it is used in Russian. It distinguishes "ye" from "yo". Apparently in common usage (e.g. newspapers) the diacritic is sometimes left out, but pedantically it should be used. If you don't believe me, browse the Russian wikipedia for a bit, it won't take long to find one...
Do you actually speak any of these languages yourself?
Fulgurius
He is right, there is no letter ё in Ukrainian, but there is such a letter in Russian language, although it is often replaced by е. That's not a mistake when you write е instead of ё, but "officially" those are two different letters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_alphabet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_alphabet
I recalled it incorrectly then... I only remember hearing "ё" wasn't used in all Cyrillic alphabets...
Blugh, it'd help to actually learn Cyrillic someday.
false_icon
HTML entities
When searching the following string : *&*;* in the various fields (band name, album title, etc), it is easy to get the list of html entities.
I'll try to correct those I can (accentuated characters in song titles for instance).
Searching *&* in Label name seems also a good way to get rid of non-existent automatically generated labels, like this one : Asphyxiate Rec & GoatowaRex.
(edited for better search string getting rid of legitimate "&" in field).
Ishida Ira wrote:
To separate art from entertainment doesn't make sense anymore.
my trade list
Anybody repairing broken Korean characters would do well to check ManiaDB:
http://www.maniadb.com/
It's proven to be insanely helpful... assuming you're able to navigate it (since it's entirely in Korean).
Bumgat2
I've been fixing Ukranian, Belarusian, Russian album / song titles and lyrics.
Maybe a new category can be added in reports, as mojibakes or encoding problems? So it's easier to sort reports and not look through four hundred of them.
Also I'm entering cyrilic track titles for albums that were released like that, and placing english translations in additional notes (I omit transliterations).
User kluseba has removed the cyrilic and leaved only english translations on a few albums of band Aria before I was finished with them, (example: Aria - Герой Асфальта: XX Лет) if somebody could leave him a note about that.
And this also: http://www.metal-archives.com/report/view/id/321162
Corimngul
Freddled Gruntbuggly
I sent him an e-mail when I saw that he had changed things back to English. It's an unfortunate misunderstanding on his part I guess.
EDIT: Related reports dealt with. I hope kluseba comes around.
Wra1th1s wrote:
When I meant EVERY black metal band of course I don't mean EVERY black metal band.
Montmirail wrote:
Because I hate ID 100369. Numbers 19, 29, 39, 49, 59 are incomplete and I hate it!
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 11 Next
Page 1 of 11 [ 436 posts ]
Users browsing this forum: GreogianChant and 0 guests | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1243 |
__label__wiki | 0.650519 | 0.650519 | Watch Now: Fox 5 News at 4 p.m. FOX 5 TV Schedule
fox5sandiego.com
Seen on FOX 5
The 15:17 to Paris
Posted 12:06 AM, February 12, 2018, by Josh Board
The first movie Clint Eastwood directed was Play Misty For Me in 1971. It was great. I loved his movies Unforgiven and Mystic River. I even enjoyed the mixed-reviewed Absolute Power.
Lately the director (who is now 88-years-old) hasn’t been impressing me. Okay, American Sniper was good, but J. Edgar, Jersey Boys, and Hereafter were bad. And just like in Hereafter, it felt like a first script where we’re watching characters meander around not doing much.
Casting the real heroes to play themselves was an interesting decision. It has been done before, though (Act of Valor six years ago used real Navy SEALs).
In case you’re not familiar with the story from 2015, three Americans were on a train in France when a terrorist attacked and was promptly beat up and detained by the guys. They also helped save the life of a passenger that was shot.
The terrorist had an AK-47 and 300 rounds of ammunition, so it’s safe to say, may lives were saved.
As bad as Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler’s acting was, part of the blame goes to first time screenwriter Dorothy Blystak. More of the blame goes to Eastwood, though. It’s ultimate him making the decisions, and aside from the actually attack, which was well done — this is one series of failures after another. Starting with the flashback that showed the guys as kids. They were awkward and unconvincing. I was wondering if a kid would have a collection of 10 fake guns, and spend time cleaning them with a rag; or when one is moving away, they salute each other. Oh, and can somebody explain to me why we never saw the African-American kids family? I didn’t even realize he had parents until the final scene when they’re awarded their medals.
The two kids mothers that are shown (Jenna Fischer and Judy Greer) also had horrible, clunky lines, and…we’re supposed to believe that the schools are filled with teachers and principals that are the bad guys, and not that these kids are trouble makers (despite the fact that they get into trouble at every school they’re at).
It’s strange because I have been bothered by Eastwood fictionalizing parts of a real story (as he did in Sully and American Sniper), but those elements also made for more interesting drama (for example in Sully, the movie made it seem like the pilot actually had multiple days wondering if he’d lose his job after being grilled mercilessly by the investigators, which never really happened). Yet since these guys don’t have interesting backstories, perhaps a movie being made about them wasn’t the way to go. Heck, maybe show a quick 5 or 10 minute backstory on each person on the train, and then show the attack. I don’t know, I’m not a filmmaker. Eastwood is, although you wonder if he was sitting in that directors chair, or perhaps that was one of those empty chairs he’s fond of talking to.
When we were leaving, my wife said, “It’s so strange because I’ve seen these guys on talk shows and they’re sweet, funny…they rib each other, and sound interesting telling this story. In the movie, though…they were awful. Their acting was so bad I felt sorry for them.”
It’s an unfocused movie that’s also boring.
This gets 1 ½ stars out of 5.
Filed in: At the Movies Blog
Like FOX 5 on Facebook
Join the conversation with the FOX 5 community.
1 dead, 1 injured in San Carlos home invasion
1 dead, 15 injured in house explosion in Murrieta
YouTube star Emily Hartridge dies in electric scooter crash
MS-13 used machetes, cut out victim’s heart in L.A. killings, officials say
Coronado house destroyed in fire
Nestle introduces a new kind of refined sugar-free chocolate
Optometrist pulls out tick from man’s eye
At the Movies Blog
Best Director of a Cocktail Goes to…
Writing About YESTERDAY…Today
Debating the Best Year in Movies — 1939 vs 1999
Doris Day, America’s box-office sweetheart of the 1950s and ’60s, dead at 97
Jon Stewart rips lawmakers for not showing up to 9/11 responders hearing
• 7191 Engineer Rd. San Diego, CA 92111
• Copyright © 2019, KSWB | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1244 |
__label__cc | 0.710183 | 0.289817 | Home Reviews TRADING TICKERS DVD REVIEW
TRADING TICKERS DVD REVIEW
WHO IS TIM GRITTANI?
HOW DID HE BECOME SO SUCCESSFUL THEN?
TRADING TICKERS
WHAT DOES THE DVD COVER?
THE BENEFITS OF BUYING THE DVD
WHY IS THIS THE BEST DVD YOU CAN BUY TO LEARN HOW TO DAY TRADE?
BONUS TIP
Imagine being broke, studying a University degree you are not really sure why you started in the first place, failing small ventures you thought were going to make you the big bucks in the form of “easy money”, and then suddenly discovering a way to turn $1,500 into over $4 million dollars in the space of just 5 years! Meet Tim Grittani who did just that – finding massive success in day trading and the release of his groundbreaking Tim Grittani DVD .
PS! In the end of the review I’ll reveal a bonus code to get the DVD at a major discount 🙂
Within the space of just 4 short years, Tim Grittani, now a legend within trading circles, turned less than $2,000 into more than $2.7 million. Within 5 years, that figure had grown massively to over $4 million dollars!
Tim Grittani’s profit chart, taken from profit.ly
Raised in a middle-class neighborhood of Chicago, Tim was fortunate enough to develop the entrepreneurial mindset from a very early age. Growing up watching his father run his own business, a seed was planted in his mind that one day he too would work for himself. Despite the fact that his father’s business performed well and allowed his family to live a reasonably comfortable life, this did not give Tim access to the capital he would need to start a business of his own.
Going out on his own would require both knowledge and money he did not yet have access to, so he would have to ask himself what was the best way to make easy money? Most people who ask themselves this question find the answer in the form of gambling, or the golden potential of making a large fortune through a little research and luck. Unfortunately though, every lucky streak eventually ends.
Tim initially found that he did possess some ability into seducing Lady Luck across everything from sports betting to poker – anything where luck and a little skill could produce very healthy results. However, despite one big sports win of $9,000, his dream of getting rich through gambling quickly ended and he was back to square one.
While studying a finance major at Marquette University, Tim realised that there is not really much he actually liked about finance except for the fact that knowledge in this field allows you to turn some money into more money. He was obviously still hungry for money from his gambling days so looked into the direction of the next best thing – the stock market.
The stock market had similar rules to gambling, except more calculated and informed decisions can be made in order to be successful, so was the perfect choice for a young man who was tired of his sheep clothing and was ready to become a wolf. After spending time on his own and countless hours learning everything that he could about trading in the market, he convinced himself that he was finally ready to take the plunge.
It was around this point that Tim came across two people whom he credits his success and became highly influential mentors for him – Timothy Sykes and Nathan
“Nate” Michaud. After learning everything that they had to offer including their key strategies and powerful trading mindsets, Tim started trading.
Still short of the capital he would need to achieve the level of success he so quickly desired, Tim was forced to borrow $12,000 from his parents to trade with. However, the initial frustration that all traders encounter when they start their journey soon faced Tim too. Strict pattern day trader rules and being limited to trading with just $1,500 at a time, he quickly came to realise that trading regular stocks was not going to cut it. This was where the gates opened and Tim discovered penny stocks.
Discovering penny stocks was like discovering oil for time. No longer would he be restricted to trading expensive stocks like Apple and Microsoft – he could now trade penny stocks for a tiny fraction of the price of regular stocks. In fact, one of his most memorable highlights from his trading career was back in May 2013 where he was able to take advantage of the price swings of a penny stock trading between $1 and $5 to make $215,000 in a single day!
Being a modest man and following in the path of his mentors, Tim decided that the right thing to do was to share both his success story and the exact strategies that he currently uses to make a full=time living with those whom want to learn with the release of Trading Tickers – an educational goldmine for those wanting to emulate his success. Packed with more than 16 hours of live trades, trading techniques and immensely valuable information straight from the man himself.
Most importantly, the opportunity to learn from somebody who has stood in the shoes that most of us have stood in before – wandering through life aimlessly searching for something that can dramatically change our lives. For most of us, money is king and Tim Grittani has developed a no-expenses spared tool to help those whom both crave it and need it most.
Tim definitely delivers in this no-BS guide to successfully trading the penny stock market, and with over 4,000 trades to his name, he should know! Tim shares everything from his journey to massive success, including the strict rules and mindset he adheres to himself, risk management practices, and even shares his EXACT trading formula which has transformed a young man into dreaming about financial success to a powerhouse who is living his dream today.
A 20 minute clip from the DVD
Consistent profits are key here, and you will quickly learn that despite the inevitable losses you will make (which show themselves in every business venture), Tim’s bullet proof strategies ensure that your wins will always be on the heavier end of the scale. And these aren’t profits you make weekly – these are specific strategies which you can use to consistently make money on a daily basis!
In addition, you will be run through the most open and comprehensive trading strategies Tim uses on a daily basis across the last 8 of the 12 chapters of Trading Tickers, seeing first hand through live examples every entry, exit, loss and win he makes. Most other traders who present this information leave out the hiccups, but Tim makes sure in this DVD to be as transparent as possible so you walk away with proven facts, not hearsay.
Most importantly however, is that Tim shares in Trading Tickers all of his rookie mistakes which he made in his early trading years and led him to the realisation of the importance of having a mentor to guide you through the ups and downs of trading the stock market. Tim will tell you that despite his wins, there will also be losses but it is how you react and adapt to those losses that will determine whether you ultimately lose or succeed.
Probably the best feature on Trading Tickers though, is that Tim guides you through 35 live trade examples where you can watch step-by-step every single little thing that he does when trading. From laying the groundwork in preparation to making a trade, to seeing exactly why he makes some of the trading decisions that he does.
That all sounds awesome, but what exactly do you get aside from learning a specific skill set to make more money than you could ever possibly dream of? And how is Trading Tickers going to change that? Sure, you have probably come across hundreds of these types of trading DVDs in the past, some you may have watched and not really got anything of real substance out of them, and others you have probably outright ignored because you don’t believe the financial claims are possible. Tim doesn’t just tell you what he does, he shows you!
Firstly, he teaches you that you need to come to the realisation that there is no such thing as becoming an overnight millionaire. Great success takes time, and Tim’s journey up until this point started off with many failures before he finally discovered something which actually works. It comes down to being both highly disciplined and incredibly realistic – this is not a path for lazy people to take, but rather if you are able to be 100% committed to your financial goals, you too can share in on Tim’s success.
Secondly, learning that you do not need a massive bank to delve into a highly success and incredibly rewarding trading career. Tim started with almost nothing and now makes an income of a level that most lazy people can only and will only ever dream about. How did he turn a few thousand dollars into several million dollars? By consistently testing new ideas, learning from his an others failures, and adhering to the age-old saying, “Never Give Up”!
Thirdly, and this is probably the most powerful thing you can learn, is discovering that you can work anywhere in the world provided that you have an Internet connection! You definitely do not need expensive clothes or a fancy office like those Wall Street guys in order to be a successful trader, and this is what draws so many people to the trading world – setting your own rules and living life on your own terms.
In all honesty, where else can you learn the trading secrets of a multi-millionaire in the space of just 16 hours? Tim learnt from the absolute best in his field and then learnt so much more on his own so you are getting the best of both worlds from a single mouth. You cannot put price on something like that which delivers so much value to those whom want to learn.
Tim’s approach is friendly yet direct and he truly wants to teach people about how they can hit the ground running and not spend years trying to figure it all out like he and countless others did. Trading Tickers points you immediately in the right direction and gives you the incredibly valuable insight into how a millionaire trader’s mind thinks and acts behind the scenes. Looking at his journey up to this point, Tim has always thought outside of the box which has become key to his incredible success.
Most importantly, Trading Tickers teaches you to take action. There are many “experts” out there who give people advice on how to make money, but rarely have anything to prove that it works. Tim has a proven track record that his strategies actually work. How else would he manage to get CNN to run a story on him called “Trader turns $1,500 into $1 million in 3 years”? Trading Tickers will teach you to stop following the sheep and to start walking with the wolves!
There is no point spending countless hours searching through message boards and forums, buying other trading DVDs that leave you with more questions than answers, or attending countless “free” trading seminars which are anything but. Tim Grittani has discovered what some would call the golden ticket to day trading. He has ended your search for financial fulfillment because he has found what actually works and wants to show you to prove it.
Always dream big, but be patient. Success of any form, massive or small, takes time. You need to be highly disciplined, motivated and develop the skill set to stay focused on what is most important. Tim didn’t become a multi-millionaire overnight, nor was the journey to a million dollars an easy accomplishment for him, but her got there because he put in the time, effort and hard work to realise and accomplish his dreams.
Trading Tickers is the number one guide and tool for any aspiring day trader who is tired of hearing promises from “experts” who over promise and under deliver. Tim pursued this lifestyle as aggressive as a hungry lion, and he knows just how badly you crave that success too. If you really want those millions, stop dreaming and start doing!
If you enter the coupon code “next100”, you’ll get the DVD at a major discount.
Click here to learn more about it
Previous articleThe (TOP 3) Best Stock Scanners for Active Day Traders
Next articleJason Bond Picks Review – Will He Scam You or Make You Money?
Robert September 3, 2018 at 9:28 am
Thanks for the overview.
I decided to purchase it with the sale link that you provided.
So far so good, I really enjoyed that the DVD is filled with real life examples, which I love to see.
He goes over theory and then he shows the theory put into practice through real life examples. + he also includes fails, which is awesome.
This is my second trading related DVD that I’ve bought, and I think it’s worth the price (even the full price).
Paul Koger September 4, 2018 at 6:30 am
If you could share your progress with us, that would be awesome! 🙂
Dan November 22, 2018 at 6:02 am
Great 25 min video but the video doesn’t really show how he put in his orders. it shows yea 50k but the Montage steady showed 20,000. I need a video where I could see him type the numbers, use the drop down (limit or market ) and click. Simple
Paul Koger November 22, 2018 at 7:54 am
Theres plenty of that in the actual DVD 🙂
Good luck, man!
Paul Koger - April 16, 2018
100 Trading and Investing Quotes From the Best in Business
Top 30 Trading Blogs of 2017/2018
Paul Koger - November 19, 2017
3 Awesome Day Trading Success Stories [+STRATEGIES]
The Best Forex Trading Strategies of 2019 | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1245 |
__label__cc | 0.681854 | 0.318146 | It’s personal: why I want to give up Ryanair.
frankarmstrong in Ireland, Travel, Uncategorized November 9, 2017 November 9, 2017 1,041 Words
Most of us have a Ryanair horror story to recount. My own version occurred at the end of a trip to my then Czech girlfriend in Prague. I blame Ryanair for the end of that affair. Though it was also my own fault for getting into a post-modern, long-distance relationship.
Anyway, we’d just spent a week together before Christmas in wintertime Czech Republic, taking in a memorable cross-country ski trip and a few days in Prague, which is sprinkled with magic over Christmas: outdoor markets with steaming hot wine and trinkets, interspersed with happy burghers, in a toy town setting.
On the last night, however, relations were strained. “Where are we going with this?”, we both wondered. Some space after the heady immersion would do us no harm.
The following morning I set off for the airport with a sense of coming up for air, notwithstanding my deep affection for her; she too was looking forward to getting her routines back, away from the maniac Irishman.
It was a bitterly cold morning, a frost hung in the air under a marble-glassy-sky. A portentous gloom was apparent as I caught the smoothly-efficient, and cheap, public transport to Prague Airport, arriving in good time for my Ryanair flight.
I proceeded through the baggage checks and passport control without incident, and found the gate for Dublin listed for 8:30, settling into my book before boarding. But the gods were not smiling on me that day. In a flash of awareness I realised the flight I was awaiting began with the prefix EI, rather than FR.
This was an Aer Lingus flight! I swiftly discovered that Ryanair was leaving at 8:15, which gave me a few minutes still. I took off as fast as my legs could carry me to the Ryanair gate. There, I found two attendants waiting at the glass door to the runway, and could see the aircraft nearby outside with people still boarding. Saved! Or so I thought.
When I presented my boarding pass I received a shock. “I am sorry the gate is closed”, was the stony response from a lady, who, in another era, might have denied bread to someone with the wrong ration card.
“But the plane hasn’t left, I can see people boarding”, I cried in rising consternation. Her programmed response suggested I was not the first to be confused by the proximity in departure times, and that this was part of her job: “You can purchase a ticket for tomorrow morning for €150”.
I pleaded with her, told her I was broke, brought every emotional ruse to bear, including summoning tears. But she was an immovable stone to my emotional wave, and kept repeating the mantra of the price of the ticket for the following morning.
Then an older Czech woman arrived who may have made the same mistake, or just been late. She was given the same stock response in Czech. She put on a really impressive show, wailing like a banshee before a lady who, alas, was not for turning. We watched on in horror as the last of the passengers snaked on to the aircraft, a mere fifty paces away.
I then went to the Aer Lingus desk seeking another flight for that day, but was quoted an astronomical figure. When I got to the Ryanair desk they immediately presented me with a bill of €150 for the following day’s flight. They seemed quite familiar with this routine.
So I scuttled back into Prague that grim morning, filled with foreboding. In hindsight I should have booked a hotel but I’d already taken a significant financial hit. The day went as badly as might have been expected. It was never the same afterwards.
Ryanair’s success is built on people making mistakes, such as mine. Of course they brought down the cost of flying considerably, but profitability depends on inflicting misery on an unlucky minority.
It’s as ruthless a form of capitalism as can be imagined, inducing a stress the like of which never existed before Michael O’Leary got involved in aviation.
Of course other airlines aren’t much better anymore, and also treat their passengers with all the warmth we extend to numbers on a spreadsheet. But O’Leary is the dark prince who re-wrote the rule book, and consumers should recall what kind of character we are dealing with.
There is a story – apocryphal perhaps – about him from a period when he ran a newsagent in the Dublin suburbs. It was Christmas day and the ever-vigilant O’Leary stayed open when other shops were closed.
Sniffing an easy buck, the arch-opportunist quadrupled the price of batteries and lay in wait for the kiddies to come in search of them for their Christmas toys. He knew they would beseech their unfortunate parents to pay over the odds.
The story conjures an image of O’Leary dressed as Santa Clause for one of his giveaways. But really the big bad wolf lies underneath.
To become a multi-billionaire probably takes a degree of ruthlessness akin to that of a war lord of yore. What could drive a man (it seems to be a Y-chromosome thing) to seek such extraordinary wealth and power? There are only so many cars to drive and mistresses you can keep. Why do we allow unaccountable wealth like this to accumulate, while millions are still malnourished?
O’Leary masquerades as a country squire on his cattle farm and conveniently denies human responsibility Climate Change. He also refuses to recognise or negotiate with unions. He’s a decidedly sinister role model.
The recent cancellations of hundreds of Ryanair flights shows that his pilots are mustering opposition against him. Let us support them by boycotting Ryanair, where possible. For motivation just remember the stress he has probably already caused you.
We should really be reducing our carbon footprints by taking longer holidays, rather than short breaks according to the Ryanair model. Also, there is a ferry and rail deal that takes one anywhere in the UK for just over €50, and you don’t have to book it long in advance. Be the change you want to see in the world, and hurt this guy in the one place he feels it.
frankarmstrong I am an Irish writer and journalist, currently based in Dublin.
Ireland: a failing state. 10 reasons why.
After a name change, it’s politics as usual in Czechia. | cc/2019-30/en_middle_0014.json.gz/line1250 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.