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Popular Walking Routes to try in the UK
The UK is not just about urban cities with dizzying nightlife and modern lifestyle. It is also about beautiful landscapes and breathtaking scenery, just waiting to be explored.
Many writers have been inspired by the natural side of UK and penned their experience in poems and texts. Whether it is the magnificent backdrop of Scotland's West Highland or the stunning coastline of Cornwall, there is a lot more to discover about the UK, and one of the best ways to do so is by walking its length and breadth.
There are many popular routes to try and explore while in the UK. However, there are some that are known for their British terrain charm and dramatic hill country. These trails not only offer one a great hiking experience but introduce one to the breathtakingly beautiful countrysides and coastlines in the UK. On the way, you come across scenic towns and dramatic landscapes made of steep hills and sandy beaches.
Here are some top picks for those who want to explore the story<|fim_middle|> It is indeed a fantastic trail to be on, and you must visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.
Priddy, Three Droves, Somerset - 4½ miles
This is an easy walk that begins from the village of Priddy and the Droves. The landscape is steeped in rich history and carries the traces of Roman lead mining. It is as if you are treading in ancient footsteps created centuries ago as you walk the Drove. The route takes you to the Monarch's Way and as far as the Wells Road. You can enjoy plenty of birdwatching on the way and can spot species like great tits, fieldfares, goldfinches, wrens, skylarks, and buzzards. The lichens, mosses, and ferns are home to wildflowers and reptiles.
Causeway Coast Way -33-mile
The two-day route passing through an area of outstanding natural beauty and it is the best way to experience the dramatic, rugged north coast. The two-day route leaves from the seaside resort of Portstewart and goes past the ruins of the Dunluce Castle along the Causeway Coast. Enjoy the sight of the breathtaking Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the Dunluce Castle perched on the crumbling rocky outcrop. Finally, the route ends in a beautiful Ballycastle.
St Cuthbert's Way - 18 miles
The long and leisurely walk starts from Wooler and ends in Holy Island and offer you some great views and picturesque scenery on the way. You go through the rolling arable fields and reach the natural sandstone feature of St Cuthbert's Cave. Later you reach Greensheen hill, from where you can enjoy mesmerizing views of the North Sea coast. However, one should be wary of the tides as the causeway leading to the Farne Islands disappear during high tide.
Coniston Round -11 miles
Lake District National Park is undoubtedly one of the most beloved destinations in the UK and Coniston Round within the park is indeed one of the stunning routes to take. The park is known for its glacial lakes and rugged mountains, and when on the route, you come across several market towns. The circular route begins at the lakeside village of Coniston and leads to the Old Man of Coniston and goes through the most remote peak in the Coniston Fells, the Grey Friar. Finally, you ascend the rocky summit of Dow Crag that offers beautiful views of nature around.
This is a contribution from one of our contributing writers.
Posted on September 23, 2019 Categories: Contributions , United Kingdom | -rich woodland of UK.
Welsh Borders on Kerry Ridgeway – 15 miles
If you want to experience the authentic British countryside, well then do include the delightful ridgeline walk among your UK walking holidays. Ever since centuries, most of the farmers and their flocks and herds have passed this way. The walk begins from the Cider House Farm and ends in Bishop's Castle and will take you across the hill country and woodland.
Trails to Strangford Lough – 7 miles
Most walkers prefer to go on these routes in Northern Ireland along the southern shore of Strangford. You pass through rolling hills and green pastures as well as historic ruins across this landscape. The remaining snow is the Mourne mountains, which are visible from a distance, and the farmers clip their hedgerows in a somewhat sculptural manner. The first signs of spring are already there with the gorse hedgerows that would soon to burst in yellow flowers.
Along the Lizard Peninsula Coast – 14 miles
The Lizard Peninsula is located on the most southerly point in Britain and is made of a scenic stretch of land. The Lizard coastline is connected by the South West Coast Path and is home to picturesque coves, fishing villages, and rare flora and fauna. The trail is indeed a haven for nature lovers and takes one through the charming village of Helford and the cute town of Porthleven.
The Tramway Trail- 11 miles
When you walk the 11-mile Tramway Trail, you start from Portreath and finish at Devoran. The route goes across the west country peninsula and peaceful coastal villages as well as busy industrial ports. It follows the early horse-drawn tramways that were a major network of supply routes in the early days. Get an insight into Cornwall's mining past as you take the coast-to-coast hike.
Dart Valley trail – 6 miles
The dramatic Dart Valley trail is judged as a moderate one as it takes you upward along the steep-sided valley of the river. It starts from the outskirts of Totnes and moves in the into open pasture along the Devon banks. The green hills and mudflats attract abundant birdlife like migrant geese, black-backed gulls, water rail, and little grebes. You might even come across the Sharpham Jersey cows that are well famous across the world for their rich milk and cream.
West Highland Way – 96 miles
The West Highland Way was officially opened in 1980 and ever since has remained popular. It was the first long-distance trail in Scotland and begins at just outside Glasgow at Milngavie. The walk takes you through an awe-inspiring landscape, the tranquil Loch Lomond and the remote wilderness of Rannoch Moor. It ends at the base of Ben Nevis, which is the biggest mountain of UK. The long trail might take about a week to cover and offers one some spectacular scenery of the Highland.
Burns Trail - 12½ miles
The Burns Trail starts and ends at Ayrshire, which is the birthplace of Robert Burns, Alloway, the most significant literary figure of the country. The walk from the historic country town will take you to the country roads and hills as well as the grounds of Newark Castle. Climb up into the Carrick hills and return along the coast. | 692 |
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Die Inszenierung vorgestellt in unserem Theater-Podcast:
Im Interview mit der Autorin Elisabeth Burchhardt: Regisseur Moritz Beichl, Schauspieler Gabriel Kähler und Schauspielerin Katherina Sattler.
02/Thu 19.00 - 20.30 Große ProbeBühne
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"My story is that of a person – not a fictitious, a possible, an ideal, or otherwise nonexistent person, but a real, unique, and living human being." This unique person is called Emil Sinclair and he begins his memoirs with the moment in which he realises that the world consists of two parts: a healing, mild, and bright part, and a dark one, which is home to the forbidden and the violent. Emil, whose home does not appear to know the dark part, is fascinated by this discovery. He is pulled into the dark world by the street boy Kromer and – naive and inexperienced as he is – he is about to become its victim when Max Demian appears and frees him from Kromer's grip. Demian is different from anyone else Sinclair has ever met. The two are connected by a secret band, a mark which can be seen only by those who wear it. Demian knows both the dark and the bright world and makes Sinclair see that neither of the two is preferable to the other. He speaks of free will and explains that everyone can decide for themselves what is permitted and what ought to be forbidden, that times change and thereby also the rules. As a consequence the Absolute can only be found within oneself. Demian is one step ahead of Emil. He seems to understand Emil's dilemma: his awakening sexuality, his inclination to mysticism, and his dissatisfaction with the<|fim_middle|> the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born must destroy a world."
Moritz Beichl, graduate of the directing class of the Theatre Academy in 2017, will bring »Demian« to the stage
With: Hermann Book, Sergej Gößner, Gabriel Kähler, Philipp Kronenberg, Christine Ochsenhofer, Genet Zegay
Directed by: Moritz Beichl Set Design: Ulrich Frommhold Costume Design: Astrid Klein Lightning Design: Jonathan Nacke Dramaturgy: Mathias Wendelin, Nora Khuon Sound: Nicanor Müller van der Haegen, Benjamin Owusu-Sekyere | conformity of bourgeois existence – but at the same time he appears to have already overcome it. Against the background of Europe's decline, their paths separate and unite.
Hermann Hesse published "Demian" shortly after the end of the First World War. Europe's morals and values went down with it in its fall. A new world could now arise. But who is ready to build it? Hesse traces Sinclair's path of individuation. What makes us a person? How flexible and seducible are we? Is there a mystical dimension that determines our existence? How willing are we to adjust to society and not even try to find out who we really are? And when we try to find out, where does this path lead us? Sinclair faces the questions of growing up and the struggles to be a human being.
"The hatchling struggles out of | 171 |
Beyond wins, records, and statistics, a player or group's impact on a sport or school is often measured by the culture they create and the way they affect their teammates.
The Hopkins Class of 2017 not only has found success on the fields, courts, and tracks over their four or six years on The Hill, but also will be leaving behind a culture of hard work, teamwork, and success when their time on The Hill comes to a close. In each athletic season, the footprint left by members of the senior class is monumental and merits recognition.
In the fall, the members of the Senior Class served as the backbones of the field hockey and football teams. Caroline Stanley '17 was a vital cog in the machine that was the Hopkins Varsity Field Hockey Team of 2016. "[Stanley's] irreplaceable skill and dedication to the team over the years will be missed next<|fim_middle|> to the Classes of 2018 and 2019 to provide their leadership and to continue the tradition of success set forth by the departing seniors. | year," said Annie Banks '18.
Earley has been a highly decorated swimmer during her time at Hopkins, winning numerous titles and setting various records over her six years as a member of the Varsity Swimming program.
Over on the hard courts, Alex McCraven drained her last shot for the Hilltoppers Girls Basketball team. "Alex has been an amazing leader since she stepped on the court her sophomore year," said co-captain Galen Smith '18, "She makes those around her better players and never fails to make everyone laugh." Having been on the team since sophomore year, McCraven has provided a presence and skill that Smith says will be "almost irreplaceable" next year.
Without the crucial seniors involved in all the winter sports over the last four to six years, teams in the winter will all have big shoes to fill next year.
Emphasizing the immense impact the seniors had on the dia- mond, Rizzuti said, "Each and every one of them [the seniors] made a valuable and significant contribution to the team and the great season we had this year." As with all the teams losing seniors from this year's graduating class, the baseball team will need to figure out a way to fill the void left by the group of seniors.
As the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end." This especially holds true with groups of athletes, as everyone's time to move on always seems to come too soon.
The impact the Class of 2017 has had throughout the Hopkins Athletic Department is one that will be remembered for years to come. Teams will now look | 331 |
Headlines > News > ULA Successfully Launches NROL-52 Mission
ULA Successfully Launches NROL-52 Mission
Published by Klaus Schmidt on Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:17 pm via: ULA
ULA, NROL-52
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 on Oct<|fim_middle|> | . 15 at 3:28 a.m. EDT. Designated NROL-52, the mission is in support of national security.
"Today's launch is a testament to the tireless dedication of the ULA team, demonstrating why ULA continues to serve as our nation's most dependable and successful launch provider," said Laura Maginnis, ULA vice president of Government Satellite Launch. "After recovering from Hurricane Irma that came through the area last month, and the last week's weather challenges, the team found the right opportunity today to deliver this critical national asset to orbit."
This mission was launched aboard an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 421 configuration vehicle, which includes a 4-meter payload fairing (PLF) and two solid rocket boosters. The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine, and the Centaur upper stage was powered by the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine.
This is ULA's 7th launch in 2017 and the 122nd successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006.
"I want to thank the entire ULA team and our mission partners at the NRO and U.S. Air Force who made this, our 26th NRO launch, successful," said Maginnis.
The EELV program was established by the USAF to provide assured access to space for Department of Defense and other government payloads. The commercially developed EELV program supports the full range of government mission requirements, while delivering on schedule and providing significant cost savings over the legacy launch systems.
ULA's next launch is the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 for NASA and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. The launch is scheduled for Nov. 10 at 1:47 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
This Week On The Space Show
On the Origin of Gold | 417 |
If<|fim_middle|> clients (potential & existing) will love too. | you're thinking about creating a website yourself, here's what I recommend for making things easier, and for an end result that will work for your brand & land you the customers you want.
Quite often people decide on the platform they want to use first (Wix, WordPress, Shopify), then they pick a theme and jump right in with designing out their pages. But that's a mistake.
Its easy to get lost in the function of the theme and all the bells & whistles it brings. Instead of focusing on your brand, its purpose, and how both should be represented in your website, you'll most likely become more fixated on the theme you've selected and work around its function & options – which ultimately waters down your brand and everything you're actually trying to achieve with your new website.
Once you have everything planned out, then move to the technology. Use your sketches as the blueprint to follow as you craft your new website. I guarantee things will run far more quickly and smoothly for you.
Plus you'll end up with a website that you love but, more importantly, one your | 220 |
Tennessee's capital is known not only for its legendary music scene (it's often called the Music City) but also for its cuisine. If you have the pleasure of visiting Nashville you can find everything from Southern staples to foodie fare. But there's one dish you can't leave the 'ville without trying – hot chicken.
Our Nashville Hot Chicken recipe is a Music City speciality. The spicy fried chicken is red in color thanks to the hefty portion of cayenne pepper added to the batter. The dish is customarily served on plain white bread with pickles. The white bread helps soak up the spice in the dish while the tangy pickles help cool the palate.
The Consumer Test Kitchen decided to break out the deep fryer, turn on some honky-tonk, and make our own version of a hot chicken recipe. They coated the chicken in a spicy batter (with plenty of cayenne, of course) and deep fried<|fim_middle|> coated. Dip the coated chicken in egg mixture and repeat with flour.
Place coated chicken in a single layer in deep fryer basket and carefully lower basket into the preheated oil.
Fry chicken until meat thermometer has reached 165°F. and coating is crisp, about 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir butter, brown sugar and onion powder. Brush butter mixture over each piece of fried chicken.
Serve on white bread and dill pickle chips.
The Hamilton Beach Professional-Style Deep Fryer easily feeds a crowd with its 12-cup food capacity. | it until crispy. In true Nashville fashion we served it over plain white bread and speared a few dill pickle chips on top.
To add a little bit of sweetness to this spicy dish, we brushed the fried chicken with a mixture of butter, brown sugar, and onion powder before serving. The glaze adds a nice sheen to the chicken while softening the heat a bit.
If you can't make the trip down to Nashville, heat up some oil and make your own at home. Just make sure you have a few extra pickles and your favorite Johnny Cash record on loop to complete the experience.
In a large mixing bowl, beat milk, 2 tablespoons vinegar based hot sauce, white vinegar, garlic powder, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon paprika and 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper until well blended. Add chicken pieces and toss until chicken is coated. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Heat deep fryer to 350°F. Drain chicken pieces.
In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour, kosher salt, 2 teaspoons paprika, remaining 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper.
In a shallow bowl, mix beaten eggs with remaining 1 tablespoon hot sauce and 1 teaspoon paprika. Place several pieces of chicken at a time in bag of seasoned flour. Seal bag and shake to coat chicken pieces. Repeat until all chicken pieces are | 294 |
Former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa, has called for a holistic and altruistic anti-corruption war in Nigeria and Africa, arguing that graft remains a cankerworm derailing socio-economic and political development in the continent.
Mkapa, made the call while speaking as a guest lecturer at the 7th annual lecture and posthumous birthday of Nigeria foremost nationalist and first president, Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, organized by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state.
Speaking on the topic, "Taming the monster of corruption in Africa", Mkapa, declared that "fight against corruption should be all inclusive" to bear good fruits. He cautioned that "corruption is deadly to good governance, a threat to democracy and rule of law, it diminishes the capacity for development of facilities, erodes trust in the rule of law and a threat in a multi ethnic society like Nigeria.
"The culture of fairness, justice, equity and equality is also affected in a corrupt society", he adds.
The former Tanzanian president who described Nnamdi Azikiwe as icon of African democracy, whose footsteps should be emulated by African leaders, also stressed that greed for power or selfishness was the major cause of corruption. According to him, there is need to develop the right strategies, partnership with relevant ministries and stakeholders as well as operate transparent budget implementation for the anti-corruption war to bear desired fruits.
Mkapa also canvassed for bottom-top institutional reform to ensure that fairness prevails, establishment of a common standard of morality, entrenching integrity, noting that it would help to wipe out corruption, even as he added that corruption was enemy of justice.
In a remark, the chairman of the occasion and Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Bukola Saraki, while recalling Zik's role in securing independence for Nigeria, added that "he fought for our people to be free from the slavery and his contributions cannot be forgotten.
Saraki said that there was need to work together as a nation to<|fim_middle|> described the theme of the lecture as quite germane especially in an era where poverty indices in the nations of Africa have plummeted to alarming proportions, noting that it had resulted from the humongous sums of money lost to corruption. He, who said that the fight against corruption should be total as encapsulated in the programmes of the present Federal Government of Nigeria, added that it was a rare opportunity to learn from distilled experiences in the monumental task of extirpating corruption.
In a vote of thanks, the wife of Zik, Mrs. Uche Azikiwe, said the family always look forward to the day and added that fighting corruption is not good for the country. | strive and lift Nigeria from Her present plight, noting that Zik used his intellectual to power Africans together, adding that it was fitting to follow his footsteps. "Corruption is a problem not just for us as a nation but also as a continent and we have to tackle it with all honesty, sincerity and great sense of purpose", he said.
He identified impunity, lack of rule of law and financial misappropriation as forms of corruption, calling for concerted efforts to curb them.
The benefactor of Zik's lecture series, Sen Ben Obi, while thanking the dignitaries that graced the occasion, said that the lectures was a worthwhile initiative in honour of great Zik of Africa.
The former governor of Anambra state and the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the forthcoming 2019 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, said one cannot discuss any issue in Nigeria and Africa without mentioning corruption, calling for aggressive fight to the disease.
Obi, who said corruption kills hard work, entrepreneurship and professionalism, added that everyone is guilty of the disease of corruption in Nigeria. He said that the present administration was only shouting about corruption without dealing with it, pointing out that Nigeria had risen from 136 to 148 in the corruption index under the current government, a situation, he described as worrisome.
Earlier, the vice chancellor of UNIZIK, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, said Zik played the role of building and galvanizing the bulwark against colonialism in Africa his unrelenting efforts towards restoring the dignity of the blackman.
Ahaneku | 353 |
NCS - National Citizen Service
NCS is an exciting, adventurous and life-enhancing programme for young people currently in years 11 & 12.
As the biggest youth-development programme in England, it gives young people the opportunity to develop new, vital skills and to make new friends whilst having fun during autumn or spring half terms.
Why should I encourage my son/daughter to sign up?
Participants will develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills.
Young people will be engaged in positive activity during the summer.
On completion of NCS, young people will graduate from the programme and receive a signed certificate from the Prime Minister.
NCS is recognised by UCAS and employers across the country.
Participants will make new friends and gain memories that will last a lifetime.
What does NCS cost? The Government will invest more than £1000 in each NCS participant place, this will cover the cost of transport, activities, accommodation, food and for trained DBS (CRB) checked staff. For parents, this means a place on NCS is secured with just a £50 non-refundable deposit. However, if your Son/Daughter received free school meals they are exempt from payment and bursaries are available for circumstances where there maybe financial barriers.
How do I guarantee a place<|fim_middle|> of NCS - National Citizen Service to | on NCS for my son/daughter? Contact us for an application form, complete the form and return it (with the deposit) as soon as possible to the address below. All places are on a first come first served basis, so do it now and don't miss out on this great opportunity.
Need a form? You can call us 01726 226511 or email ncs@cornwall.ac.uk for a sign up form to be sent out by mail.
NCS is a once in a lifetime opportunity for 15 to 17 year olds.
Along with thousands of other people their age, participants enjoy different outdoor activities and develop confidence and skills - especially the teamwork and leadership skills that employers and admission tutors value. They learn lots, help their local community and perhaps most importantly of all, make new friends, developing socially too.
They will take part in two away weeks in the summer (or one in the spring or autumn programme) and be given the opportunity to create a project they really care about and bring it to life in their local area.
NCS is accessible to all, regardless of income, ability, educational attainment or ambition.
Helen Holmes
NCS Co-ordinator
ncs@cornwall.ac.uk
www.ncsyes.co.uk/
NCS - National Citizen Service run by Cornwall College, BF Adventure and Young People Cornwall (YPC)
The NCS programme is delivered in Cornwall by Cornwall College, BF Adventure and Young People Cornwall (YPC). Participants can choose which organisation they would prefer to go with, alternatively, available dates may dictate provider.
Currently recruiting for Summer 2017 Programmes.
NCS runs for during the school holidays and after exams in the summer.
£50 non-refundable deposit to secure a place (Bursaries are available)
Please enter details including what proof is required for the free or reduced rate
Persons over age range will be considered on a case by case basis. Please apply.
From 16 years 0 months to 17 years 11 months
Places available to Cornwall residents fulfilling the selection criteria on first come first served basis.
Contact this service Print
Please enter a mobile number to send details | 454 |
Dining and Drinking
Orlando Restaurants
New Lozada's Café inspired by 'Undercover Boss' episode
By Kyle Arnold
| Orlando Sentinel |
After Efrain Lozada schooled his corporate superior on Undercover Boss in 2010, he put himself on the path to open his own restaurant.
When E<|fim_middle|>4
Valencia College
Five guys arrested after fist fight at Five Guys | frain Lozada appeared on TV's "Undercover Boss" five years ago, Subway exec Don Fertman noted the young Orlando restaurant manager had a bright future in the business.
Lozada ran circles around Fertman, the chief development officer at Subway, and won enough respect to have the company give him money for school, charity and a gift for his mother.
With a few more years of maturity and schooling under his belt, the now-24-year-old Lozada is ready to put that potential to the test. Lozada's Café opened Feb. 13 in downtown Orlando, with a menu of lunch and dinner options such as empanadas, wraps, wings and sandwiches.
"Pretty much is everything baked: empanadas, beef patties, wings," Lozada said. "We want to make everything a little bit healthier than the fried food they serve everywhere."
Lozada's Café is at 223 N. Magnolia Ave. in downtown Orlando just south of the Orange County Courthouse.
Opening his own restaurant is a dream he's had ever since starting at Subway when he was 18, working his way up to manager in just two years and charged with opening an eatery at the Orlando Science Center.
"Undercover Boss" featured Lozada at that location. Lozada thought he was training Fertman as a new employee for a reality-show competition.
Fertman struggled with multitasking, had a hard time making bread and even locked himself in the freezer during one segment.
"He's just not up to par with these things," Lozada said during the episode. "He's just not cutting it."
But Fertman was impressed with Lozada's ability to handle the high-pressure atmosphere of a restaurant.
"Efrain, you ran me ragged," Fertman said on the show after revealing his true identity. "All you kept emphasizing with me was initiative."
Lozada was invited to join the company's "innovation committee" and given $5,000 to pursue his education.
Lozada has been studying at Valencia College, where he is close to earning an associate degree in business administration.
He still works at Subway even while opening the restaurant and said his bosses are on board with the decision.
"They have encouraged me to open my own business," Lozada said.
karnold@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-566 | 509 |
Financial records and ship's papers of two branches of a New Bedford, Massachusetts, family active as whaling agents, merchants, and coal dealers, 1839-1887.
Members of several branches of the Taber family were active as merchants and businessmen at New Bedford, Mass., between 1839-1887. Henry Taber (17<|fim_middle|> agents under the name of Taber, Gordon & Company.
Two of Henry Taber's cousins, Francis Taber (1803-1887) and George Russell Taber (1821-1913), and Francis' son, Robert Holloway Taber (1834-1914), were coal dealers, merchants, and also served as agents to several whaling vessels at New Bedford in the 1850s and 1860s.
Records in this collection reflect the business activities of Henry Taber & Company; Taber, Gordon & Company; and Francis Taber, George Russell Taber, and Robert Holloway Taber between 1839-1887. Henry Taber & Company records include financial records consisting of a journal, 1857-1860, which contains accounts for Henry Taber's new house, payments to New Bedford Port Society subscriptions, and for such vessels as Ocean Wave (Bark), William and Eliza (Ship), and Henry Taber (Bark) as well as those vessels represented in the ship's papers series. Ship's papers, 1839-1861, contain agent/owner accounts, crew accounts, and Sea Letters for such ships as Good Return, Hillman, James Arnold, and Milton. Taber, Gordon & Company records consist of ship's papers, 1868-1887, containing agent/owner accounts, crew accounts, and outfitting books for such vessels as Callao (Bark), Eliza Adams (Ship), Horatio (Ship), James Arnold (Ship), and Niger (Ship). There are also protests and accounts of a court case for damages due to the collision of the ships Eliza Adams and Glenochil.
Francis and George Russell Taber records include financial records and ship's papers. The financial records, 1852-1862, consist of a ledger and a journal which contain accounts for their coal business and for their whalers Afton (Bark), Betsy Williams (Ship), Laetitia (Bark), and Rambler (Ship). The ship's papers consist of a Sea Letter for the Laetitia (Bark). Records for George Russell and Robert Holloway Taber contain financial records, 1856-1862, consisting of a ledger, journals, and a cash book for their coal and mercantile affairs.
A portion of this collection was donated to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by the estate of Andrew Snow Jr., in 1919 and by Shirley Stanley on 15 February 1965. Existing records reveal neither the source nor the accession date for the rest of the collection.
Sub-group 1 contains financial records and ship's papers of the firm Henry Taber & Company.
Sub-group 2 consists of financial records as well as ship's papers of the firm Taber, Gordon & Company.
Sub-group 3 contains financial records and ship's papers pertaining to the firm F. & G.R. Taber (Francis and George Russell Taber).
Sub-group 4 consists of the financial records of the firm G. & R.H. Taber (George Russell and Robert Holloway Taber).
F. & G. R. Taber (Francis and George Russell Taber), New Bedford, Mass.
G. & R. H. Taber (George Russell and Robert Holloway Taber), New Bedford, Mass.
Henry Taber & Company, New Bedford, Mass.
New Bedford Port Society, New Bedford, Mass.
Taber, Gordon & Company, New Bedford, Mass. | 95-1892) went to sea in 1809 and later became a master and part owner of several vessels. In 1832, he went into business as a ship chandler and a grocer, first with David Sherman as a partner, then with his son, William Gordon Taber (1821-1896) and son-in-law, John Hunt (d. ca. 1866). Henry Taber & Company established a packet ship line between New Bedford and New York and owned vessels which took part in whaling and freighting ventures. In addition, the firm acted as whaling agents. When Henry Taber retired in 1866, William G. Taber and William Gordon Jr. (1825-1902) continued the business as commission merchants and whaling | 179 |
What Is a C-Reactive Protein<|fim_middle|>. The test is not helpful for people with a higher or lower risk.
Because your CRP level can vary, the test should be done two times (2 weeks apart) to determine your risk of heart disease. It's also important to remember that you could have a high reading without necessarily having heart disease. So, it's important to check your LDL levels as well to get a full picture of your CVD risk.
Fortunately, the same statin medications that lower LDL have also been shown to lower CRP levels. In addition to any medicine, you should make some lifestyle changes (cut down on fatty foods, stop smoking, and start exercising) at the same time.
American Heart Association: "Good vs. Bad Cholesterol."
Harvard Health Publications: "C-Reactive Protein test to screen for heart disease: Why do we need another test?"
Mayo Clinic: "C-reactive protein test."
Journal of the American College of Cardiology: "High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Cardiovascular Disease." | Test?
If you have high cholesterol, you've probably been told to lower the LDL number from your blood test. LDL is the "bad cholesterol," the type that contributes to plaque that can clog your arteries. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
But that's only part of the story. Research shows that only 50% of people who suffered heart attacks had high LDL levels. So, many doctors use another test called the C-reactive protein test to help figure out who's at risk.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the liver. Its level rises when there is inflammation in your body. LDL cholesterol not only coats the walls of your arteries, but it also damages them. This damage causes inflammation that the body tries to heal by sending a "response team" of proteins called "acute phase reactants." CRP is one of these proteins.
One study found that testing for CRP levels is a better indicator of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the LDL test. But, it's important to know that a CRP test is not a test for heart disease. It's a test for inflammation in the body.
The test is also used for people suffering from autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. They also cause inflammation. A doctor might test someone with either condition to see if anti-inflammatory medication is working, though the CRP test cannot determine where the inflammation is taking place.
A variation of the CRP test, the high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), is used to check for cardiovascular disease.
It's a simple blood test. A sample is drawn from a vein, most likely in your arm. No special preparation is needed (like fasting) and the test is not painful beyond a sting on the arm from where needle is inserted. The test may be affected by medications you take, so ask your doctor if you need to cut back beforehand. The blood sample is tested at a lab.
A high level could also be a sign of cancer, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, or another disease. It could also be high because you're in the second half of your pregnancy or you are using birth control pills.
The hs-CRP test is most useful for people who have a 10%-20% chance of having a heart attack within the next 10 years | 484 |
A-to-Z breakdown of NASCAR Week, Auto Club 400…
A-to-Z breakdown of NASCAR Week, Auto Club 400 in Fontana
NASCAR haulers drive past Bass Pro Shop in Rancho Cucamonga Thursday, March 19, 2015 as they make their way to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for this weekends Auto Club 400. (Will Lester/Daily Bulletin)
Kevin Harvick's crew waves him on after a pit stop at the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Ca on March 22, 2015. (Staff Photo by Sarah Alvarado/ Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole sitter Kurt Busch (front left) leads the field towards turn one to start the Auto Club 400 Sunday March 22, 2015 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana before a sold out crowd. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)
By Louis Brewster | brewspts@gmail.com |
PUBLISHED: March 22, 2015 at 8:33 p.m. | UPDATED: August 30, 2017 at 7:23 a.m.
Many find if difficult to follow NASCAR, and other stock car racing, due to the vocabulary of the sport. The following is an A-B-C primer from Sunday's Auto Club 400 at Fontana's Auto Club Speedway:
A – Attendance. Perhaps the most-asked question after, "Who won?" is "How any people were out there?" On Sunday, the second straight sellout (68,000 grandstand seats) and nearly 80,000 total. For the weekend, about 120,000.
B – Billion. NASCAR is reportedly seeking a billion dollar, 10-year contract for its next entitlement sponsorship. The deal with Sprint will end after the 2016 season.
• PHOTOS: Soldout crowd enjoys NASCAR race in Fontana
• MORE COVERAGE: Check out our Auto Club 400 page
C – Claire B. Lang, hardest-working radio personality. The Sirius XM NASCAR channel personality is constantly on the move race day, arriving at 6:30 a.m. and leaving 15 hours later.
D – Decisions. As the laps dwindled, drivers were all over the widest-track in the circuit, taking any one of five definite lanes, especially on the 2,500-foot backstretch heading into Turn 3.
E – Extra racing. Because of the late caution periods, the scheduled 400-mile race was extended by 18 miles. There were two green-white-checkered overtime periods as NASCAR tried to avoid finishing on a yellow flag.
F – Full racing schedule. In a 60-day period, there are eight major events for Southern California race fans: three NASCAR (Las Vegas, Phoenix, Fontana), three NHRA (Pomona, Phoenix, Las Vegas), IndyCar and Formula E in Long Beach. That's really asking a lot for one market, regardless of size.
G – Grass. Other than the infield camp sites (get the drift?), the only grass between the race walls is in the tri-oval. Reportedly, for safety, it will be removed and paved over (but painted green).
H – Harvick, Kevin. With a second-place finish, the Bakersfield driver and current points leader extended his streak of two top finishes to eight races (four wins and four seconds) over two years. It's second best to Richard Petty's record string of 11 such finishes in 1973.
• WINNER'S CIRCLE: Keselowski wins Auto Club 400
I – Iconic. It's been two years since the iconic Kaiser Steel water tower was torn down, depriving fans of a reference point when giving directions.
J – Jr. ROTC. In keeping with a long-standing tradition, the Valencia High School Air Force JROTC program, 100 strong, earned money by keeping the speedway clean. They camped out Friday and Saturday night.
K – Kendall, Tommy. The great road racer from Pasadena was selected as winner of the prestigious Justice Brothers Shav Glick Award for significant contributions by a SoCal racer. He's the 17th winner in the 16 years of the award (there was a tie in 2006).
L – Left Coast Swing, as the NASCAR garage area refers to three straight races outside the Southeast, rather than the accepted West Coast Swing. Las Vegas and Phoenix preceded Fontana on the schedule.
M – Music. There were plenty of performances throughout the weekend, everything but country. From El Dasa (Mexican rancheras), to Warrant ('80s big-hair) and Atomic Punks (Van Halen cover).
N – NHRA. With an off week in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, personalities from John Force Racing were in the garage area. John Force, daughter Courtney and son-in-law Robert Hight spent the day.
O – Overhead unrestricted view. At one time, the "war wagons" in any pit box was just big enough for the crew chief and an engineer or two to oversee the action. These days, as many as 10 people sit/stand atop the pit box.
P – Postseason, otherwise known as the Chase. By winning the race, Brad Keselowski qualified for the 10-race Chase to the Championship, provided he can finish in the top 30 in points. Teammate Joey Logano is also in.
Q – Quotable: "We hard a great day, a fun, fun racetrack, awesome crowd. Kevin (Harvick) was right about the single-race market. It's really working here in Fontana." – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (sixth-place finisher)
R – Roger Penske. The man who built the track in 1997, patterned after Michigan International Speedway which he also owned, scored his second victory at Fontana. In 2001, Rusty Wallace won the the No. 2, also in Ford.
S – Sig-alert. There was an early indication that crowd<|fim_middle|> writing and breaking news.
brewspts@gmail.com
Follow Louis Brewster @LouBrewsterSpts | was going to be good because of traffic delays entering the track. There was plenty of traffic on Cherry (on the east) and Etiwanda (west) avenues, reminiscent of the first eight races, that were sellouts.
T – Track bar. No, not the part found inside a Sprint Cup car, but the Budweiser Lounge located on the extreme west end of the pit row suites, complete with a two-story slide.
U – Uncontrolled tire. On Sunday, seven drivers were penalized (back of the pack or drive-thru) after their crews were unable to safely handle tires during pit stops.
V – Victory. Just when it looked as though Kurt Busch was going to take the checkered flag, two of the seven caution flags (laps 200 and 204) allowed the field to catch up. It was Busch's second race since being suspended.
W – Wrestling. How many tracks on the NASCAR circuit can boast of Luche Libre exhibitions? The death of a wrestler on Friday made fans more aware of the Mexican style.
X – Xfinity Series. Saturday's support race was won by Kevin Harvick, driving a Chevy owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Y – Yoakum, Dwight. The famed country singer, who is not from Bakersfield as we have been told by equally famous Louis Amestoy, was the honorary starter. A regular at the track, it was his first official involvement.
Z – Zero dropouts. For the first time since the 2013 Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, all 43 entries finished the race. There was only one crash (Sam Hornish Jr. and Trevor Bayne) during the 200-lap race.
Auto Club Speedway
Louis Brewster | Columnist
Lou Brewster is a nationally recognized motorsports journalist who has staffed NASCAR and NHRA events since 1969. Has also staffed high school football, in five different states, since 1967. Has won several national awards in | 420 |
How much does a life coach cost?
A life coach helps clients set and reach professional and personal goals, develop positive habits, and deal<|fim_middle|>90-minute sessions cost an average of $650 when purchased as a package. Training and experience can also affect the cost of hiring a life coach. An Associate Certified Coach, who holds a certification that requires only 60 hours of training and 100 hours of coaching experience, will charge less than a Master Certified Coach, who typically has at least 200 hours of training and 2,500 hours of coaching experience.
Ready to hire a Life Coach?
Find a Life Coach near me
What is a life coach?
What is a career coach?
How much does it cost to hire a career coach?
What is a career counselor?
Why is career counseling important? | with stress. Some people meet with a life coach once or twice, while others form an ongoing professional relationship, meeting regularly in person or on the phone. The average national cost to meet with a life coach ranges from $80 to $130 an hour. Some coaches offer per-session pricing, especially for one-time meetings; expect to pay an average of $100-$125. People who want to work with a coach over a period of time to explore life transitions, career growth or lifestyle changes may be able to get discounted pricing in a package. For example, three 60-minute sessions cost an average of $300, four 60-minute sessions cost an average of $350, and four 60- to 90-minute sessions plus unlimited contact between sessions cost an average of $400. Some specific types of coaching, such as relationship or marriage coaching, cost more than standard life coaching. For instance, three 60-minute relationship coaching sessions cost an average of $500, four 60-minute sessions cost an average of $550, and six 60- to | 238 |
Early this year, I appeared in "Neighborhood Hero" with Girls'<|fim_middle|> able to be active as actresses for more than 50 years. Actually, I've chosen Seohyun as my favorite Girls' Generation member before, and I hope I will be able to enjoy acting with Seohyun some tome or other. And these days, I think Sooyoung is doing really good as an actress. If there is a chance, I want to act with Sooyoung too. Well, I think I have to meet all the Girls' Generation members in my drama, haha. | Generation's Yuri, and I could enjoy acting with Yoona through recently ended drama "The K2." I think I'm so lucky, haha. Yuri has a nice personality. Whenever she came to film the drama, she made me really happy. She is more than just a pretty face. And when I met Yoona for the first time, she gave me a hug as if I'm her real father. So I treated her as if she's my real daughter too. She laughs a lot and has a positive energy which makes people happy. Both of them are faithful and always make thorough preparations for their acting. They do their best to do their bit. I'm sure they have a lot of potential and they'll be | 146 |
Vanderbilt's Aaron Nesmith drafted by Boston Celtics with No. 14 pick in NBA Draft
Adam Sparks
Nashville Tennessean
Vanderbilt's Aaron Nesmith was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 14th pick of the NBA Draft on Wednesday.
Nesmith, a 6-foot-6 wing, is one of the top 3-point shooters in the draft. He led the nation with 4.3 3-pointers made per game and shot 52.2% from beyond the arc when his 2019-20 sophomore season was cut short by a foot injury.
Nesmith, through 14 games, averaged <|fim_middle|>16), Damian Jones (30th pick, Golden State, 2016) and Saben Lee (38th pick, Detroit, 2020).
Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. | 23 points per game, which led the SEC and ranked sixth nationally.
Nesmith is the ninth Vanderbilt player drafted in the first round. His former teammate, Darius Garland, went fifth to the Cleveland Cavaliers last year.
Nesmith also is among six Vanderbilt players in the past five years to leave school early to enter the NBA Draft, following Garland (fifth pick, Cleveland, 2019), Simi Shittu (undrafted, 2019), Wade Baldwin (17th pick, Memphis, 20 | 113 |
Early this morning, my bare feet stepped on a strange object in the bedroom! To my surprise, I found my peacock stone bracelet on the floor. And, I didn't even know it was lost! An angel assignment for sure, I<|fim_middle|> afterwards we are grateful that it did. So keep watchful, don't lose your Christ consciousness. Change can be peaceful, if we just stay in the flow and keep having faith. | wondered about the "hidden" message. Knowing peacock is a symbol of watchfulness; their feathered markings appear as many eyes, I was thankful for the heads up. Stay positive.
I looked up the symbolism of a peacock. The keynote for this exotic bird is New Cycle of Death and Resurrection.
"When peacock appears, it is a strong reminder that anything lost will be replaced by something new and more beneficial." (Ted Andrews) I chuckled at the synchronicity and my lost bracelet.
The peacock has large feet, and feet represent dominion, support, and discipleship. So know that whatever you are going through, you are never alone. The angels remind us that we don't always understand why things become difficult, or don't work out as planned, until we've completed the process.
The good news is the resurrection energy brings us into a better place and | 178 |
Bill Peterson
Sports, sports, Texas State University
Juan Carlos Benitez, Juan Diego Plasencia, Justin Newby, MercuryPro, Paul McConnell, Stuart Small<|fim_middle|>10-team meet, which ended Wednesday in Las Vegas. The Bobcats finished with a three-round team score of 918, 25 strokes behind tournament winner New Mexico State.
Stuart Smallwood put up Texas State's best score of the final round with a 74 and led the Bobcats by finishing tied for 20th in the tournament at 229. Torbjorn Johansen had the best round for Texas State, shooting a 72 on the first day. Johansen finished at 238, tied for 42nd. Other Bobcats in the tournament were Juan Carlos Benitez (tied for 28th at 231), Justin Newby (31st at 232) and Juan Diego Plasencia (32nd at 233).
New Mexico State won the meet with a team score of 887, followed by Texas-Arlington (UTA) at 893 and San Jose State at 900.
UTA's Paul McConnell was the tournament medalist with a three-round score of 218.
04/10/2013 Bobcats finish fourth at Jim West
05/28/2013 Bobcats end baseball breaking even
05/20/2013 Bobcats seeded third in WAC baseball tourney
05/15/2013 Two Baker Bobcats named to WAC all-tourney team
05/13/2013 Bobcat baseball loses two of three at UTA | wood, Texas State Bobcats, Torbjorn Johansen, Western Athletic Conference
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Bobcat men finish golf season
Stuart Smallwood led the Texas State men's golf team by tying for 20th at the Western Athletic Conference Championships (Texas State sports information photo).
Texas State was the only men's golf team at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament to play without a senior, and it showed up in the standings.
The Bobcats finished eighth in the | 101 |
Villa Vedas
Home > Villa Vedas<|fim_middle|> an exclusive private villa at Soori Bali. This stunning property sits on the edge of a sparkling black sand beach and offers unrivalled views of the Indian Ocean.
Soori Residences
3 Bedrooms | Boutique Luxury | Tabanan, Bali
Opulent would be one word to describe Soori Estate, a spectacular 10-bedroom beachfront villa located at the prestigious Soori Bali. The single largest residence on the island, Soori Estate is the ultimate luxury Bali villa for large groups.
Soori Estate
10 Bedrooms | Luxury Oceanfront | Tabanan, Bali
The Arsana Estate is one of Bali's true hidden gems. This elegant 4-bedroom luxury Bali villa occupies a gorgeous 2 hectare estate. Perfect for families, large groups and events Sleeps up to 8 Adults and 6 Children.
The Arsana Estate
4 Bedrooms | Rainforest Retreat | Tabanan, Bali |
5 Bedrooms | Absolute Beachfront | Tabanan, Bali
Villa Vedas is an innovative, utterly unique 5-bedroom luxury beachfront hideaway set on a pristine beach just north of Tanah Lot temple on Bali's southwest coast. The setting here is simply sublime, and the villa was meticulously designed to provide unhindered views from every spacious room in the villa, and from the lush tropical gardens and three swimming pools. Guests are also treated to cutting edge technology like the unique Häfele glass sliding wall system, Wi-Fi throughout, and music, lights and a central air-conditioning system that can be controlled via your smartphone. For those who aren't tech savvy, no need to worry because there is a team of professional staff on hand to provide 24-hour butler service any time you need it.
No matter which direction you turn at Villa Vedas, you are rewarded with incredible vistas. To the west you have 45 metres of untouched beachfront and ocean along Bali's famous sunset coast; to the east the peak of Mount Batukaru volcano rises above the jungle; and to the north and south there are lush green rice paddies spreading out before you. The villa itself is a work of art with unique features like floating staircases, three pools including a glass-bottom sky pool, and five stunning bedrooms with huge glass walls that allow you to soak up all of that unforgettable scenery. If it's spectacular architecture, stunning nature, and modern conveniences you're after, then Villa Vedas is your perfect Bali holiday escape.
Special Offer: USD862++ per night for stays from now till 19 December 2020 (minimum 2 nights for midweek stays and minimum 3 nights for Friday and/or Saturday inclusive stays).
Last Minute: 10% off for bookings made less than 30 days prior to check-in date in 2021-2023 (excluding Special Offer dates).
All promotions are subject to availability on request and can be withdrawn at anytime without prior notice. Terms and conditions apply.
01 Jan 2021 to 03 Jan 2021 1,165 ++ 4 nights
04 Jan 2021 to 08 Feb 2021 862 ++ 2 nights
09 Feb 2021 to 15 Feb 2021 1,078 ++ 4 nights
16 Feb 2021 to 31 Mar 2021 862 ++ 2 nights
01 Apr 2021 to 15 Dec 2021 1,165 - 1,184 ++ 2 nights
16 Dec 2021 to 31 Dec 2021 1,641 - 1,857 ++ 4 nights
*Minimum stay 2 nights during Sunday to Thursday nights inclusive during stay dates between 1 April and 15 December 2020/2021.
**Minimum stay 3 nights during if a Friday and/or Saturday night is included during stay dates between 1 April to 15 December 2020/2021.
Finns Club Platinum membership (gym, tennis, bowling, discounted golf, splash park)
The architecture at Villa Vedas is one-of-a-kind with many of the features built by hand on site. On the ground floor you have a large living area with plush sofas, oriental rugs and tasteful wood and stone carvings. This room has Häfele glass sliding walls that can be opened to let in breezes off the ocean or closed to provide a cool air-conditioned space. Then you have contemporary dining spaces, an art gallery, a media room with huge cream sofas and a 60-inch TV, and a stylish bar with a custom-designed brass countertop and plenty of seating overlooking the 40-metre pool. To reach the upper level of the villa there are two stunning floating staircases, one made with hand-carved teak steps supported by brass beams, and another with steps supported by natural crystal rock pillars.
The master suite at Villa Vedas is a destination all in itself, as this huge room has a soaring bamboo ceiling and vast windows that allow for 270-degree views over the ocean and gardens. The built-in bed is cantilevered from the wall, so it seems to hover the smooth stone floors, and it looks out to an entire open wall that frames the horizon over the ocean. The luxurious ensuite bathroom has a large bathtub carved out of a solid slab of marble, twin basins set in a marble countertop, and a rainwater shower.
Each of the five bedrooms at Villa Vedas is similar in size—that is to say, very large with ample storage space and huge ensuite bathrooms. Two of the guest bedrooms are on the upper floor on either side of the sky pool, and two guest bedrooms sit on the ground floor. All of the bedrooms boast king-sized beds, views of either the ocean, garden, or rice paddies through huge windows, and beautiful bathrooms with marble bathtubs and rain showers.
Villa Vedas' prime location next to the ocean makes it the perfect place to enjoy Bali's beautiful tropical weather. From the main building you can follow stone paths through the manicured lawns shaded by coconut trees, or head directly to the 40-metre and 20-metre swimming pools that spread out in front of the villa. There is also a 6-metre sky pool on the upper floor of the villa that sits between the two upper guest rooms and has a glass bottom with nano film technology that can turn the glass from clear to opaque at the flick of a switch. The villa also has a breezy bale next to the ocean with BBQ facilities and a USB connection for DJs to connect to the indoor/outdoor sound system.
LOCATION Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia.
CAPACITY 10 Guests (5 double bedrooms, all with solid stone baths carved from a solid piece of marble and enormous rain showers).
LIVING AREAS Large living area, dining areas, bar, art gallery, media room, ocean front bale offering alfresco dining overlooking the Indian Ocean. The gardens feature a dramatic gazebo area facing the beach with BBQ facilities including gas, water, and USB connection for DJs into the extensive indoor and outdoor sound system.
POOL 3 swimming pools.
ENTERTAINMENT Satellite TV, sound system, pool table, for guests with a taste for the latest technology, lighting, music and air-conditioning can all be controlled through your smartphone.
CHILDREN Baby Cot & High Chair available.
TRANSPORT Car and driver at a special rate of USD 50++/day for 8 hours (excluding petrol). Two scooters and two bicycles available for guest use.
WEDDINGS & EVENTS Offering a spectacular venue for weddings and events, Villa Vedas can seat up to 150 guests throughout the extensive gardens and on the stretch of grass on the beach in front of the villa.
ADDITIONAL Safety deposit boxes, barbecue, Finns Club Platinum membership (gym, tennis, bowling, discounted golf, splash park), 30 kva genset for backup power.
PROPERTY AREA 3500 sqm
Villas Vedas is located approximately 1 kilometre to the north of Tanah Lot, and offers panoramic views of the Indian Ocean to the west, ancient rice paddies to the south and grazing pasture to the north, and Gunung Batukaru (Batukaru Volcano) in the east, featuring 45 metres of absolute beach frontage and private beach access. The villa is a leisurely 45 minute drive from the nightlife and restaurants of Seminyak.
5 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms | Private Pool
Kaba Kaba is one of our most exclusive villas in Bali – a spectacular 8-bedroom Estate spread over more than 3 acres with 3 swimming pools, tennis court, spa, home theatre, library, gym, rooftop terrace and bar in Tabanan.
Kaba Kaba Estate
8 Bedrooms | Regal Splendour | Tabanan, Bali
Soori Residence is a masterfully designed 6-bedroom beachfront villa with unobstructed views of the Indian Ocean. Perfect for an undisturbed luxury getaway, complete with an infinity pool, gourmet kitchen, bar, gym and spa room.
Soori Residence
6 Bedrooms | Luxury Beachfront | Tabanan, Bali
Escape to the pristine wilderness of Bali's southwestern coast at the Soori Three-Bedroom Residence, | 1,784 |
The Empress of Idaho
Paperback / softback Trade paperback (US) - $24.95 CAD
Bestselling and award-winning author Todd Babiak returns with an immersive and affecting story about a teenager's fascination with an enigmatic new woman in town whose past is catching up with her.
Monument, Colorado, July 1989. Fourteen-year-old Adam Lisinski is mesmerized the moment Beatrice Cyr steps into his life. Adam has a lot going for him: he's hoping to be a starter on his high school football team, he has a fiercely protective mom, a girlfriend, and a part-time job<|fim_middle|> Beatrice--whose past is catching up with her--and lying to everyone he cares about. The guilt overwhelms him. And when Beatrice convinces Adam's mom to quit her job and partner in a risky real estate venture, he has to do something before everything spins further out of control. The plan he comes up with tests his courage and leads him to an unshakable truth about loyalty and love.
By turns riveting and tender-hearted, The Empress of Idaho is a story about the vulnerability and confusion of adolescence at the moment when it slams against adulthood. It's an unforgettable portrait of a boy's difficult coming of age. | at Eugene's Gas Stop, where he works with his best friend. But he neglects everything that matters to him after Beatrice, his neighbour's enigmatic new wife, comes to town. Soon he finds himself alone with her--in the change room at Modern You, a clothing store on Second Street; in the back row of the theatre at Chapel Hill Cinema; in the front seat of her truck. He's confused about who she is, what she wants, and where she comes from. Adam is desperate, caught between wanting to spend time with | 111 |
El quiosc de Comillas va ser una construcció realitzada per l'arquitecte modernista Antoni Gaudí el 1881 per a la visita a la localitat càntabra de Comillas del rei Alfons XII, convidat per Antonio López y López, I marquès de Comillas. El 1883 va ser traslladat a la finca Güell, a Les Corts (Barcelona), on va desaparèixer en data incerta.
Història i descripció
Antonio López va ser un empresari que va fer una gran fortuna a Cuba, per a després establir-se a Barcelona, on va fundar diverses empreses, com la Companyia Transatlàntica, el Banc de Crèdit Mercantil, el Banc Hispano Colonial o la Compañía General de Tabacos de Filipinas. El 1878 el rei Alfons XII li va fer marquès de Comillas —localitat natal de l'empresari— i, el 1881, li va atorgar la dignitat de Gran d'Espanya. A Comillas, el marquès va erigir una gran residència, el palau de Sobrellano, el projecte del qual va encarregar a l'arquitecte Joan Martorell. López era sogre de l'empresari català Eusebi Güell, el principal mecenes de Gaudí, al qual havia conegut el 1878 gratament impressionat per la vitrina que aquest havia dissenyat per a la Guantería Esteban Comella de cara a la seva participació en l'Exposició Universal de París de 1878. Per això, el 1880 el marquès de Comillas va encarregar a Gaudí l'elaboració del mobiliari per a la capella-panteó del seu palau.
El 1881 el rei Alfons XII va fer una visita a Comillas<|fim_middle|>èctrica als seus carrers.
Amb motiu de la visita, López va encarregar a Gaudí la construcció d'un quiosc-fumador per al jardí del seu palau. L'obra es va realitzar al taller d'ebenisteria d'Eudald Puntí, un col·laborador habitual de Gaudí a l'inici de la seva carrera. Precisament en aquest taller s'havia fabricat la vitrina Comella, per la qual Güell va conèixer a Gaudí. Les peces del conjunt es van enviar per tren des de Barcelona fins a Comillas, juntament amb uns operaris per a la seva construcció in situ. El quiosc tenia forma de templet d'aspecte oriental, possiblement inspirat en l'arquitectura índia. Era de fusta, ferro i vidre, amb un basament poligonal sobre el qual s'alçaven unes columnes que sostenien una coberta de rient volada, decorat amb múltiples campanetes de cristall que dringaven al vent. En el sostre hi havia diversos fanals de cristall per a la seva il·luminació nocturna. A l'interior, sobre una catifa, es trobava una elegant taula acompanyada de cadirat; aquesta taula era originalment de cristall tallat en la seva superfície, però en la vespra de la visita reial aquest cristall va ser trencat per un operari i es va haver de substituir per una taula de fusta que va ser coberta per un damasc aportat pel marquès.
A la defunció del marquès de Comillas el 1883, el quiosc va ser traslladat als jardins de la finca Güell a Les Corts —llavors municipi i posteriorment agregat a Barcelona— i allí va estar fins que va desaparèixer en data i circumstàncies indeterminades.
Amb motiu dels diversos treballs realitzats per Gaudí a Comillas va rebre també el 1883 l'encàrrec d'un xalet per a Máximo Díaz de Quijano, concunyat d'Antonio López, conegut com El Capricho, una de les principals realitzacions de l'arquitecte en els seus primers anys de carrera, juntament amb la Casa Vicens.
Referències
Bibliografia
Obres d'Antoni Gaudí | convidat per Antonio López. La visita es va produir el 6 d'agost i la localitat es va engalanar especialment per al magne esdeveniment: es van col·locar arcs de benvinguda en els accessos a la població, amb representacions dels diversos oficis de la localitat, i es van instal·lar trenta fanalets de llum el | 93 |
Have you been to Pumpkin Patch Farms? Then share photos of your experience!
Located in Blue Mountain, MS. Join us at Pumpkin Patch Farms to experience hours of outdoor fun and activities that the whole family can enjoy. Board one of our hay-filled covered wagons for a lovely ride to the Pumpkin Patch where you can choose that perfect pumpkin to carry home. Have fun visiting all of our attractions!
Wagon Rides - Enjoy a covered wagon ride to the Pumpkin Patch to pick your own pumpkin.
Pony Rides - n weekends in October only.
Farm Animals - Feed and pet the farm animals at the barn.
Farmer's Market - Pumpkins, Mums, Gourds, Cornstalks, Indian corn and Fall decorations.
<|fim_middle|> accurate at the time it was posted. Please report any inaccuracies here. | Daisy Mae's Deli & Bakery - Serving lunches daily! Panini Sandwiches, Deli Sandwiches, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Chili Pie, and Fresh Baked Breads.
All information on this page was submitted to Mississippi Haunted Houses and was believed to be | 56 |
LeeAnna Muzquiz will pay it forward as associate dean for admissions
By Huddle Editorial Team
Dr. LeeAnna Muzquiz's childhood was a time of adventure and exploration. She was either roaming the woodland areas of Montana's Flathead Reservation where she grew up or reading her way through the elementary school's library. She dreamt of being a teacher or perhaps a rock star.
The sky was the limit, but being<|fim_middle|> who wanted to go to medical school. She wouldn't have believed all this was possible. Then again, she didn't know anything was impossible either!"
Previous articleHeroes outside the hospital
Next articlePat Dawson: Forging a path toward healthcare equity | a doctor was beyond even imagination.
"As a kid, I had no real exposure or idea of what the path was towards becoming a doctor. So pursuing medicine wasn't something I considered," Muzquiz said. "However, what I did have over the years were many people encouraging me to think about it as a career option."
In July 2018, Muzquiz assumed the role of Associate Dean for Admissions for UW School of Medicine (UWSOM) following the retirement of her friend and predecessor, Dr. Carol Teitz.
A 2000 graduate of UWSOM, Muzquiz's personal experiences navigating the educational system bring unique perspectives to the admissions office.
"Dr. Muzquiz's long history with UWSOM will be a significant benefit," said Dr. Suzanne Allen, Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs. "She understands the many benefits of the medical education provided by UWSOM, and those experiences will help her as she is working with potential future students."
A family of helpers
Muzquiz's own path was an organic evolution that often hinged on being "in the right place at the time." In the classroom, she demonstrated an early talent for math and science. At home, she witnessed the value of compassion. Coming from a self-described "family of helpers," she was raised to visit the sick, make meals for caretakers and always offer a helping hand.
Wanting to combine her passions of social and scientific service, she entered college as a premed student, but then drifted from the idea.
"The tipping point was my dad having a heart attack when I was a college freshman. He was 44 years old and ultimately died after a prolonged hospitalization," Muzquiz said. "I realized he shouldn't have died so young from a preventable disease. That became my motivation to get back on track to pursue medicine."
As a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Muzquiz received an undergraduate Indian Health Services Scholarship. It allowed her to attend a career conference where she met students of fellow heritage wishing to pursue medicine. That led to a six-week program hosted by UWSOM offering mentors, resources and admissions guidance.
"It provided the knowledge I needed to help become a successful med-school applicant," Muzquiz explained. "It was also profound because I found a sense of community with people of similar identities and experiences. Going into medicine was a big unknown for me. It's important for students to have a sense of support and understanding as they navigate the process."
She enrolled as a student in WWAMI – Montana and completed her residency with Seattle's Indian Health Board Clinic. She returned to Montana and has since been based with the Polson Tribal Health Clinic.
"Coming from an underserved community herself, LeeAnna understands the importance of having someone care for you who understands your history and culture," Allen said. "Her passion in this area drives her to continue to improve the admissions process at UWSOM."
Muzquiz knowingly and laughingly admits that applying to medical school is a "beast of a process." While it is rightfully extensive and thorough, she looks forward to continuing ongoing efforts to increase efficiency. She also aims to further ensure that matriculating classes reflect regional diversity.
"We want good people who become good students and ultimately good doctors – hopefully even great doctors," Muzquiz said.
"We should always be improving techniques to screen applicants, but we also need to actively reach out to potential students. There is a lot of serendipity in my own story, and I'm thankful for everyone who helped me. However, how can we – as an institution – reach more students like me from underrepresented groups? I look forward to working on policies and strategies to accomplish that in holistic and fair ways."
Weaving a tapestry
Muzquiz will continue to practice in Montana while traveling to Seattle and across the region as associate dean for admissions.
Students, professors, patients and the larger community – for Muzquiz, they are all threads that weave together the tapestry of a successful medical school education. A blanket hangs in her living room as a tangible reminder of that belief.
Students who complete UWSOM's Indian Health Pathway program are honored with a blanket upon graduation and wrapped in it as symbol of protection on their coming journey. Muzquiz's is turquoise and purple, a vibrant connection between those who came before and those yet to come.
She contemplates it as she oversees her first admission season, the weight of guiding and supporting the next generation.
"Being a doctor is a large responsibility, but it gives me tremendous hope to help others," Muzquiz said. "I appreciate that UW took a chance on this little girl from the reservation | 967 |
Select a Page Company — About us — Values —<|fim_middle|>Email Email is not valid | Team Applied research Communication News Contact Us
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O.M.A.R. is a highly innovative and flexible company that ranks among the leading designers, manufacturers and installers of industrial air cleaning and filtration plants made entirely in Italy. The company's ITR Division also manufactures municipal solid waste treatment and selection plants, and ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling plants.
This artisan company first founded in 1978 and which has since evolved on an industrial scale, is structured and managed by Luca and Michele Biscaro, with its very own team of 75 specialised staff members integrated with external contractors, based on programmed work loads and schedules.
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Please join the Department of American Studies for a talk by Dr. Jeff Wilson, also known as Professor Dumpster, who has garnered widespread publicity in the past few weeks for an ongoing project – The Dumpster Project – for which he has been living in a 36-square foot dumpster. For "The Ultimate Conversation Box: A Dumpster," Dr. Wilson will be describing how he links his academic research, teaching, and community activism with issues of sustainability as well as with his role as a dean at Huston-Tillotson University. Wilson will also give a "tour" of his dumpster/home.
The talk will take place Friday,<|fim_middle|> you there.
This entry was posted in Announcements and tagged activism, Austin, dumpster, environment, HBCU, sustainability. | September 26 at 4:30 in Huston-Tillotson University's AL Auditorium at 900 Chicon Street.
This event is co-sponsored by the Department of American Studies, the Graduate Program in Community and Regional Planning, and Plan II Honors. We hope to see | 62 |
A brutal murder in the operating suite of an exclusive Beverly Hills hospital is investigated by obstetrician Hannah Kline and her recent<|fim_middle|> of an exclusive Beverly Hills hospital is investigated by obstetrician Hannah Kline and her recent lover, Los Angeles police detective Daniel Ross. The couple are taking a well-earned, romantic vacation when their idyll is disrupted by an encounter with Dr. Wesley Templeton, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, and ex-husband of Hannah's college roommate Sara. Two weeks later, Templeton is found murdered at West Beverly Hospital. Everyone with opportunity appears to have no motive, and the long list of people with motives, lack opportunity. Sara is definitely on the suspect list, but Hannah knows her old friend isn't capable of murder and decides to do some investigating on her own. In the meantime, an increasingly desperate killer is killing again, and again.
About the Author Paula Bernstein spent her professional career as a practicing obstetrician gynecologist. Now happily retired from her fulltime practice, she writes fiction for pleasure. | lover, Los Angeles police detective Daniel Ross.
A brutal murder in the operating suite | 16 |
The Clowntown Roadshow runs a 24 Hour Race!
and now, Buttonwillow again for the 2012 Arsesweatapalooza.
The Clowntown Roadshow completed our third Lemons race,<|fim_middle|> Lemons Race. Another Track. Another Team. Another Car. | and our very first true 24 Hour event. We did "good" in that we all had two shifts at the wheel, and didn't irreparably break the car. We made a bunch of mistakes, but also did some things right, and all had a ton of fun.
I flew down to the Bay Area last wednesday, and spent Thursday at Facebook HQ attending some meetings before hopping in our team tow vehicle – an un-airconditioned early 90s Ford F250 with utility bed, and driving south for Buttonwillow, which is near Bakersfield in SoCentralCal. Yes, it was HOT. Insult to injury was the 100+ minutes I spent in stop-and-go traffic due to some construction on I-5 about halfway there. I survived (barely) and enjoyed the combination of the best Carne Asada (I've had since La Hacienda in Arlington, WA) and the worst Motel 6 (ever on the planet) in the non-town of Buttonwillow, California. Friday was a practice day, and we had too much fun lapping the track, then put the car through Tech & BS Inspection – passing both easily. We enjoyed a team dinner at a small Italian place in Shafter, CA. Since I noted the place was owned an run by some Thais I ordered a Pad Se Ew off the back page of the menu and was blown away by how good it was. Pro Tip: If you dine at Giovannis in Shafter, go for the Thai!
Saturday at 10 am the race started. We ran the #15 config for the terminally curious. I volunteered to take the first shift to avoid the heat of the afternoon. Unlike previous Lemons races where the start is laps and laps of full-course Yellow the green flag flew on my second or third circuit of the track. At the start I was a few cars behind the infamous Rolling Chicane Limousine, this race in the guise of the Titanic. Thankfully I was able to pass it just past the start-finish line.
Even though we had replaced the instruments after Sears Point, the gauges didn't all function properly – notably the gas gauge. I had no idea how much fuel I had left, so I just kept driving. The gauge never moved for what seemed like hours, and due to the glare of the bright sun I could not see the time on our dash-mounted iPhone that does car-paddock comms and telemetry. It finally started moving but I never trusted it. When it was around halfway, I was involved in a near-collision at the end of the short I-5 straight. A car had stalled and was trying to exit the track on the left side, I was right behind another car who rather than passing it on the right, came to a full stop. The corner workers had the yellow out, but as it was a yellow, not a red, I swerved right around the stopped and stalled cars, as I had no mind to be involved in a pile-up as the rest of the pack behind me rushed in. A few laps later I was black-flagged and went off to the penalty box. Judge Phil told me it was for passing under yellow, and I successfully plead my case – he took away the black flag, but asked me how long I'd been driving. When I answered "What time is it?" he laughed and said "Driver change!" and sent me off to our paddock. Upon arrival I assisted with the driver change, helping Elliot Sims, the next driver up, into the car, and refilling the driver's water bottle, dowsing him with cold water, setting his harness, etc. The rest of the team decided the rear brake pads should be changed, so I kept Elliot company while he sat in the car waiting for the work to finish.
Once Elliot was away on the track Matt informed me that I had worked our team up to 9th place before I came in(!) Sadly, the brakes put us 50-some places back.
Lesson Learned: Start a 24 Hour event with fresh gear!
I spent the rest of the day trying to stay cool, shoot photos, trying to stay cool, get some rest (impossible in the heat) and trying to stay cool. The day went by in 2 to 2.5 hour intervals with people on the track with intense period where drivers were changed. As the sun started coming down we had another driver change and when we discovered two of our four lights would not illuminate. A marathon troubleshooting session began that, if I recall correctly found two faults, but burned over 2 hours of track time.
The lights finally were fixed and the car got back on track. Originally I was scheduled to run again around 12:30 AM, but the delays that had built up pushed my next shift a few hours later, so I climbed into the hammock I had strung up in the truck bed in a moment of sheer genius, and enjoyed a little combat nap amongst the loud buzzing of cars on-track, and the chaotic clamor that is a paddock during an endurance race. My shift came about an hour before sunrise, so it felt like the Dawn Patrol. Racing at night is a bit spooky at first. Even the slightest off-track move by so much as a single tire sends up a cloud of fine Central California dust that completely blinds you, as unlike daytime, the area beyond it is dark, so all you see if a giant brown cloud. Of course the drivers are missing apexes by feet rather than inches, so the dust seems to always be a factor. Some cars have blinding lights, others (especially the Titanic's) are highly entertaining! I can see much better than in the daytime though, as I'm wearing my prescription glasses (I really need to get prescription sunglasses one of these days!) and I'm having a great time. Most of all, a long-running issue with the car – a sort of rev-limiter like cutout at 5100 RPM has cleared up and it can now rev right up to the actual rev-limiter at 7k. Passing cars is now a breeze, and I begin to realize why some many of the other E30s have always blown by us! My lap times are not much better since overall speeds are down in the dark, but it feels like I can go much faster for short bursts.
Eventually the sun comes up, and my fuel light starts blinking on corners, then soon comes on solid. It has only been about 2 hours on-track, so obviously Elliot and I failed to fill it all the way. I signal the paddock that I'm pitting with our iPhone and head in.
Donald is next up and not long into his shift Matt notices on the iPad that he's not moving out on the track.
Back at the paddock Donald reports that the gearbox is broken – can't shift into 1st, or 3rd – and the car stalled and he can't start it. Of course he tries the starter again in the paddock and it fires up. By now the race is almost over and we just let the car sit for a while before Callahan climbs in for the last 10 minutes so that we can be out there for the checkered flag.
We had a blast. We learned a lot. We finished ~55th out of ~150+ cars. Best of all, I didn't spontaneously combust in the central California heat. Now we have a car to fix.
I drove the truck & trailer back up to the Bay Area, worked another full day at HQ, then flew home to Oregon. Can't wait for the next race!
"I hate California" by Jonathan Coulton.
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A free evening of talks, live music and hands-on science will showcase research at the University.
Robotics and automation will form the theme of the public event, Science on a Summer's Evening.
Sethu Vijayakumar, Professor of Robotics and Director of the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics, will look at how humans and robots will work together in the future.
Through live demonstrations and discussion, he will highlight the impact of robots in a range of areas including self-driving cars, shared manufacturing, mining, space exploration, prosthetics and rehabilitation.
Dr Hille Tekotte, Manager of the Edinburgh Genome Foundry, will explain how automation has transformed the creation of almost all consumer products – and is set to do the same for the basic building blocks of life.
The past 30 years have seen enormous progress in reading the genetic information encoded in DNA.
Today, scientists can also write such information, and small DNA fragments can readily be created for use in biological and medical research.
The Edinburgh Genome Foundry is a new facility designed to help carry out large-scale automated DNA assembly – from genes to entire chromosomes.
This will enhance the development of drugs, advanced materials and biofuels and much more.
Music will be provided on the night by the Science Ceilidh Band<|fim_middle|> and the event will run from 6-8:30pm.
Entrance is free, but ticketed. To register, visit http://edin.ac/28LmvGW or call 0131 650 5753. | and refreshments will be available.
Science on a Summer's Evening will be held on Wednesday 6 July at the Michael Swann Building, Max Born Crescent, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF. Doors open 5.30pm | 52 |
Make it! Heat a frying pan, add a little sunflower/veg. oil and add the ginger. Fry for a few minutes. Add the pork mince and cook for a further 5 minutes until starting to colour. Add the garlic, a big pinch of salt, the sugar and the Chinese 5-spice. Cook for a further 10 minutes on a fairly low heat. The meat will start to darken<|fim_middle|> then add a few spring onions before flipping to cook the other side. | and caramelise with the sugar, you want to pork to become almost crunchy.
In the meantime, heat another pan and add the cucumber, dry. This just needs to cook fairly quickly for a few minutes or until it starts to colour. Add the cucumber to the pork and cook for a final minute, finally adding the sesame oil and soy sauce for flavour. Now it's ready to be eaten. I grated frozen chilli over mine. Leftover chillis freeze in no time at all and taste amazing grated over most things. If you want to join me in celebrating pancake 'week' then see below.
For the pancakes (this is a standard pancake batter) Sift the flour and salt together in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and crack in the eggs. Whisk the eggs and slowly incorporate the flour until smooth. Whisk in the milk and water in slowly, whisking out any lumps. When ready to cook, heat a fairly small non-stick pan with a little oil and get it really nice and hot. Ladle out a spoonful of batter, | 222 |
V.E. Ulett
Romance, Intrigue, and Elephants
Code Black Book 2
To keep her place aboard the airship Nonesuch, Miriam must complete another mission for Lord Q — persuade the first white rajah of Sarawak back to loyalty to the British Crown. When Nonesuch crash lands on<|fim_middle|> the different communities. I greatly admired the main character, and also the Captain. I'd enjoy learning more about them in the future."
Amazon Review
© 2017 by Eva Ulett. Proudly created with WIX.COM | the coast of Borneo, the mission changes to one of survival. In order to rescue her beloved Captain Maximus Thorpe and the crew of Nonesuch, Miriam must trek through the jungle guided by a team of traveling elephants to the would-be empire-builder's capital. But the jungle has its own laws, wisdom, and lessons, and Miriam may not emerge with her mission and loyalties unchanged.
Follow the adventures of the first feminist aeronaut in White Elephant, Code Black Book 2, a fusion of historical fiction and fantasy.
Praise for White Elephant
"the descriptions and world-building are great. I loved being able to feel the hot, sticky air of the jungle in Borneo and to hear the waves crashing on the beaches. I loved getting more insight into how the crew of the Nonesuch keep getting themselves tied up in so many difficult situations and I loved all of the detail of the characters, both old and new!"
Meg, A Bookish Affair
"I enjoyed getting to know Miriam, Lord Q, Captain Thorpe, and all the rest of the crew of the airship the Nonesuch. They make quite a team and it was a lot of fun to follow their adventures."
Lauren, Always Me
"A charming story well told. As with all Ulett's work, excellent characterisation and narrative. In general a refreshing and satisfying tale."
Alaric Bond, Author
"I really enjoyed this storyline and the feeling of being immersed in a different culture. The cultures that we're introduced to are definitely unique, and the author paints a good picture of | 328 |
The idea of the house or the home as a site of belonging and connection is one that resonates with each of us. This work seeks to unpack attachments associated with an old family-owned house (no longer extant), and the transitory characteristics of memory and change.
The work responds to interpretations of selected oral histories relating to the property (through embroidered text), and reflects the house's uncomplicated and modest attributes (used and weathered materials). Materials that reflect a patina, a history<|fim_middle|> connection, with predecessors.
The use of reclaimed and fragile textile in the work is intended to allude to the processes of making, the personal and the certainty of degeneration. This degeneration may well leave the physical evidence of connection in tatters, but it has little impact on its emotional ones. | , and the simple beauty and mystery of aging are used to reference the house and a selection of its former inhabitants. The installation suggests previous lives having been lived, messages communicated, and something that cannot be recovered. It is an attempt at dialogue, and therefore some trace of | 54 |
Call on Fitness Rush to enjoy amazing health benefits on this BodyCraft CFT Functional Trainer.
We<|fim_middle|>Contact Walter@fitnessrush.com with any questions about this nice functional trainer. We are located in Buford Georgia just north of Atlanta and can provide delivery and installation in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. We look forward to serving you. | know whether the motion is for Strength Training, Sport Specific, or maybe it's a motion you perform at work or during leisure activities, the BodyCraft CFT Functional Trainer allows you to train the way you move. You define the path of motion, strengthening every part of your body, improving your core, balance and coordination.
Compact: only 40" W X 49" D X 82.25" H. Can be placed in any corner of the room.
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| 192 |
Now then, Robertas, I know you have the advantage over me of having seen that Mazda in the flesh – or metal – but "woefully silly"? Come on! It<|fim_middle|> – itself rather missing the point, given its purpose – is that form does not follow function in that one of the points of a rotary engine is its compactness; hence, what's the function of that long bonnet? But then, it's a dream car. If Aston Martin, or Maserati, or Ferrari had created this Vision, I think many of us would have been drooling over it. Because it's a Mazda, somehow it's incongruous. Not in my book – surely it's not just Good, it's bloody gorgeous.
+1. It's a concept/show car and should be judged as such.
+2 in agreement with both SV and Laurent's comments.
I shall pile on as well. Both these "bad" cars look so much nicer than the overstyled boxes presented as "good" earlier. To me. | 's a proper concept, right? Not one of those, tease a new model by first issuing it as a concept! Hence, it's meant as something aspirational, a dream-car? No? As such, isn't it, actually, rather gorgeous? Lithe, sensuous, elegant, stunning? My only objection | 65 |
Jun 13, 2019 eBay for Charity
eBay and Baseball Icon Mariano Rivera Team Up to Offer the Ultimate Fan Experience for Charity
By: eBay News Team
Fans can donate to win a VIP meet-and-greet with "The Closer" and bid on rare baseball memorabilia with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the Mariano Rivera Foundation.
eBay for Charity and Mariano Rivera, retired New York Yankee and baseball legend, are teaming up to raise funds for the Mariano Rivera Foundation and its work with disadvantaged youth. Starting today through June 21, fans can visit eBay.com/MarianoRiveraFoundation to shop exclusive "eBay x Mariano Rivera" merchandise, and donate to enter a sweepstakes for a VIP experience, including a meeting with Rivera himself.
"I know how important it is to have a support system, from friends and family to fans. I created the Mariano Rivera Foundation to empower kids because no one should be without a community that helps them reach their full potential," said Mariano Rivera. "The funds raised from my collaboration with eBay, will support the foundation's Learning Center, which provides a safe and collaborative environment for children and families. eBay shares my passion for giving back in meaningful ways, and together we're bringing that mission to millions of people worldwide."
"There is no platform that combines fandom and purpose like eBay, which is why partnerships with organizations like the Mariano Rivera Foundation are so impactful" said Sam Bright, VP of Goods at eBay. "The world's most devoted collectors and enthusiasts know they can turn to us to find those rare, sought-after items while at the same time doing something positive for the world around them."
The partnership spotlights the honorable work of Rivera's foundation to promote education, health and economic development among children and young adults in underserved communities. It also celebrates his many professional achievements, from being the first player unanimously inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, to his<|fim_middle|> and even a 30 second personalized video from Rivera to the winning bidder. Shop the inventory now.
All funds raised will go to the foundation's Learning Center fund, which provides an array of support services to families and children, which help them lead successful lives.
Shop with an impact at eBay.com/MarianoRivera and enter the VIP experience at eBay.com/MarianoRiveraFoundation. Fans can learn more about the eBay Baseball Card Hall of Fame here.
Topic: Purpose
Previous Story: eBay Announces the Inaugural Class of the eBay Baseball Card Hall of Fame Next Story: eBay Foundation Announces Winners of the 2019 Global Give
Jan 14, 2021 eBay for Charity
eBay for Charity Announces a Record-Breaking Year of Community Support
Jan 12, 2021 eBay
Working Together to Build a Brighter Future Through Food
Dec 15, 2020 eBay Impact
A Spotlight on Our Global Give Nonprofit Partners | recent induction into eBay's Baseball Card Hall of Fame.
Fans and baseball enthusiasts alike can show their support by donating and shopping with an impact:
A Yankee Fan's Dream Sweepstakes for Good: Fans that donate $5, $15, $25 or $50 by June 21 have the chance to win a VIP experience with one guest to meet Mariano Rivera in New York. Three runners up will also win a signed Mariano Rivera jersey, or one of two signed baseballs, respectively. Visit eBay.com/MarianoRiveraFoundation to donate and enter.
Forty-two Special Pieces of Mariano Rivera memorabilia: Through Sunday, June 16, eBay is auctioning 42 one-of-a-kind items for charity in an ode to Rivera's time as #42 and the closing pitcher for the Yankees. The collection includes Rivera's game-worn Yankees jerseys, a signed baseball from the 2013 game against the Toronto Blue Jays, a signed Yankees cap, | 203 |
nicki@theglasshammer.com
Voices of Experience
Men Who "Get It"
Extraordinary Lives
Spotlight on People
Life After Corporate
Career Tip of the Week
Mover and Shaker: Kerry McBride, Director, Application Development, WEX
By Cathie Ericson
Kerry McBride started at WEX on a four-day temp assignment and never left. As she recalls, she was there to do some filing and said "Do you want me to come back?" They did; she did; and after three months, was named an entry-level employee on the credit side.
Her initial reasons for staying were practical: As a recent college graduate in a tough market she was looking for a steady job and health insurance. It was also the beginning of the PC boom and she appreciated the in-depth training WEX was offering. She made the most of the opportunity though, and after five years on the business side, she was a recognized subject matter expert, which she considers to be the pivot point where she shifted her thinking from WEX as a job to a career. She subsequently took on business analyst and project management roles before there were formal teams, then a team lead role and a manager role and eventually was named director of applications development.
A Culture of Acceptance and Support at WEX
Another reason McBride mesh<|fim_middle|> Hutton, Partner, Securities Division, Goldman Sachs | ed so well with WEX's culture was because the nature of the organization was so far from her initial expectation of the corporate world. Her mother had worked in a corporate role and she remembered the cube-filled workplace as conservative, stressful and hierarchical. "I knew I never wanted to work in that sort of environment, so when I started at WEX I was delighted that it was such a different organization with so much flexibility to try different things. I have been very fortunate that the culture promotes stepping out of your comfort zone in a supportive way, with no political backstabbing," she says.
She also noticed immediately that it was more diverse than she had expected — in age, skills and background – which was important to her, as she is able to be out at work. "It's just one aspect of my life, but it's who I am, and I appreciate that I can just be myself without a division of a 'work persona' and a 'home persona.' When you've been somewhere for 22 years, you develop friendships and so I mention my partner frequently," she says, adding that when you're pouring time and energy into a company, you want to make sure that everyone is respected and treated fairly.
She also appreciates that she's had the chance to possibly open the minds of coworkers who might not have known many openly gay people before.
"A diverse and progressive culture is important for all of us"
McBride's tenure and trajectory at WEX has been helpful in her current position as she coaches her current team members in directions they may not have thought about. For example, she had a recent direct report who took on a stretch assignment as a lead; though he was a bit shy by nature she knew he had the right skills and indeed, his contributions to the year-long project were recognized at the company's recent annual awards ceremony. "He was proud of himself, as was I. As I progress in my own career, I find the coaching role highly satisfying," she says.
She considers it a way to pay it forward, based on her own positive experience at the company. Since she herself didn't come in with a clear picture of what she wanted to do or idea of where she was going, she appreciated that her managers were wonderful advocates in helping create positions that suited her skills and helped open her eyes to qualities she had and how they aligned with her skills to create her successful career path.
After spending 21 years on the North American Fleet line of business, McBride was asked to take on an assignment to build a U.S.-based development team to support the International Fleet line of business. Building the team with talented in-house developers and coordinating the transition of two experienced developers from Auckland, New Zealand, provides a great opportunity for WEX to expand U.S.-based development capability.
She knows that while mentors and sponsor can facilitate opportunities, each person has to drive their own career, filling the void when there are leadership gaps and taking full advantage of an opportunity.
Career Lessons Learned From Childhood on Up
She considers her mom, who pulled double duty as a single working mother, to be her role model. "Since she was in the corporate world, that's what I saw, so when my friends played house, I would play office," McBride says. Of course, she also remembers the times her mom came home stressed and so now whenever she feels overwhelmed, she is able to draw on that memory of how her mom persevered.
She also modeled the smart risk-taking behavior McBride brings to her career. "Failure can happen, and I took a risk going over to the international side of the business." Recent leadership changes, a new vision and new requirements mean that McBride will leave the international role behind her, but not without taking away the positives. "Right now, I'm setting the base and supporting the new strategy. Even though I won't get to see the end result, I'm proud of what I started and want the team I put together to be successful."
McBride also makes sure to take time to focus on her mental health. She took up running at the age of 35, gravitating toward longer distance running. She was surprised how much she loved it, and notes many parallels to success at work. "I love having a schedule and getting those runs in," she says.
"Long-distance running is all about mental preparation and being able to visualize the end and coaching yourself through the distance and miles. It's what keeps me sane."'
Voice of Experience: Ruth Punter, Director in Tax PwC UK
Mover and Shaker: Anna Gorga Soderini, Vice President, Investment Management Division, Goldman Sachs
Voice of Experience: Carol Schleif, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Abbot Downing
Voice of Experience: Kim Youngberg, General Counsel of Screenvision Media
Resume Anxiety? Just tell your story.
Voice of Experience: Nell | 1,000 |
April 2<|fim_middle|>0)Comments | 4, 2019 A Bread Factory: An Interview with Filmmaker Patrick Wang
Texas-born, Taiwanese American, supremely talented and overwhelmingly undersung. Filmmaker Patrick Wang has received endless praise by film-goers and critics alike, and though he's been releasing films since 2011 to high praise, it's likely his work has flown beneath your radar.
The Grand Cinema is pleased to not only play Wang's latest but also welcome him back to Tacoma next Tuesday, April 30. The film is called A Bread Factory, named for the bakery-turned-performance-space on which the film centers. Set in a small fictional upstate New York town, The Bread Factory is at threat of losing public funding due to newcomer performance artists.
The film is a love letter to community theater (and communities), and feels more than appropriate to play at Tacoma's own local nonprofit art house cinema. In the following interview, Patrick and marketing manager Tanya talked this, his transition from theater to film, "talkable art," and more!
Visiting Filmmakers ( | 219 |
Someone you know has PTSD. Or perhaps you suspect they have PTSD.
There are no quick answers. Choosing to be around someone with PTSD there are some important points to keep in mind.<|fim_middle|> not alone. What you are experiencing is not unique. Suggestions from others that are trying to cope with second level PTSD.
Something to consider is family counseling or your own separate counseling for keeping mentally healthy. | PTSD symptoms become 'catchy'. Their hyper-vigilance becomes your hyper-vigilance. Their bad nights become your bad nights. Awareness and knowledge help lessen effects of PTSD.
Second Hand Trauma is debated, some people say it happens others deny that it does. Watching those close to me, especially my children, I see the affects of living with my PTSD.
Set boundaries. That's right, it is important to set healthy boundaries. One of the challenges of PTSD is to learn or relearn appropriate boundaries. One of the best ways to learn this is from someone else close to them. I believe that people sometimes in their desire to help, keep their boundaries too lax. True, you need to stay flexible for emergencies, but every day is not an emergency.
Take care of yourself. I know to some people this sounds selfish. Consider the instructions given on every flight, put the air mask on yourself then help someone else. If you deprive yourself care, you won't have the strength and resources to help others.
Take breaks. Give yourself needed breaks, vacations, and Rest & Relaxation. Yes, the person with PTSD will feel peevish and jealous because they don't get breaks, however, friends and family members need breaks to recharge their own mental and spiritual batteries.
Study and learn about PTSD. Explore the resource page or do a internet search on PTSD. There is a lot of information. There are webpages for supporting those touched by PTSD; sometimes it is comforting to know you are | 306 |
<|fim_middle|>.com. | Idaho has become the first state to launch NACo's Network of Care for Public Health (NOCPH), a public health needs assessment tool, in each of its health districts and counties. The NOCPH provides elected policy makers and other community stakeholders with easy-to-use information about where their communities stand regarding key health indicators, using the best population-based health data available.
The Network of Care provides a state-of-the-art set of community health indicators in 170 categories, all customized for each health district and county. It also provides interactive geo-mapping across the state, comparing counties and indicators. The Network of Care was launched in September during the Idaho Association of Counties' annual conference.
County Health Rankings information and Healthy People 2020 goals are integrated into the platform, and heavy use is made of information available in HHS' Health Information Data Warehouse. Data from other state and local sources is also used. The data is matched with suggested interventions and model practices to make it easier for local leaders to effect positive change. GIS technology is used to provide geographic overlays that allow analysis and comparisons to be made within and among jurisdictions. All of the information is then placed into a local Web portal in a format that is easy to use and understand.
NOCPH is a project developed in partnership among NACo, NACCHO and Trilogy Integrated Resources. The concept was refined and improved through comments, ideas and suggestions made via the Community Health Data Initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This program is available to any county and state in the country, and can be quickly and affordably replicated. You can learn more about the Network of Care program by visiting NACo's YouTube page www.youtube.com/user/NACoVideo. To schedule a webcast demonstration, please contact Bruce Bronzan at (415) 458-5900 or bronzan@trilogyir | 391 |
Nixa Education Foundation Receives $11,100 Cooper Grant
The CFO's Julie Leeth (third from left) presents a ceremonial check for $11,100 to members of the Nixa Education Foundation.
The Nixa Education Foundation received $11,100 with a recent ceremonial check presentation successfully completing the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks to build long-term education funding through philanthropy.
The Foundation raised $21,930 to receive the matching funds through the<|fim_middle|> Education Foundation held a number of activities to raise the funds for the matching-grant opportunity. Foundation President Becky Sawyer said the group had a $100 for 100 campaign for Nixa alumni involved while faculty and staff contribute through payroll deductions. She said students and parents made donations to honor people special to them, and students also created and sold Christmas cards to raise money.
"There's no way we could have done it without the support of the entire community – faculty staff, students and alumni, and businesses," Sawyer said. "Everyone had a piece in this and we want to thank everyone. It was truly a combined effort of many.
"We also appreciate the Harry Cooper Company and thank them for this opportunity," she said. "If it had not been for making this grant available to us, I'm certain we would have $30,000 less in our endowment fund."
Cooper Campaign
Prev:CFO Offices Closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Next:Grantmakers Challenge for Children Concludes After Five Years | Cooper Phase II Challenge for members of the CFO's Rural Schools Partnership during 2010. The total of $33,030 is designated for the Foundation's Legacy Fund, which preserves and invests a core amount to create an annual distribution of funds to help stabilize the district's revenue.
Nixa was among 26 southern Missouri rural schools to participate in the year-long challenge grant opportunity, which raised nearly $1 million from generous donors and the Harry Cooper Supply Company to build long-term sustainability for these districts. The other districts are: Alton, Aurora, Ava, Bolivar, Bradleyville, Cassville, Dallas County, Dora, Eminence, Fair Grove, Fairview, Gainesville, Hermann, Hollister, Houston, Lockwood, Logan-Rogersville, Monett, Reeds Spring, Seymour, Valle, Warsaw, Weaubleau, West Plains and Willard.
The Nixa | 190 |
PUSH TO CALL 8364 3811
Clinical Sexology
Anxiety & Depression Psychologists
Stressed – Worked up at Work?
By Mardi Kaye on August 27, 2019 in Uncategorized
How to leave work stress in the office
No matter how energised you are by your work, it's hard to think of a job that doesn't involve at least some level of stress. Even if you are paid to pet puppies and sample new ice cream flavours all day while getting a massage, there's still pressure to succeed. Because we still need to interact with the other humans in our lives after the end of a long workday — like our family and friends it's a good idea to learn how to leave that stress at work.
According to Therapia Psychology Director, Mardi Kaye, several strategies for making sure your work stress doesn't follow you home — beyond declaring an end to our work day and staying off work email after a set time. Here are three of our favourites:
Create your own after work ritual before heading home
Going directly from work mode to home mode can be mentally jarring. One minute you're anxious about making an upcoming deadline, and the next you're expected to thoughtfully listen as your family tells you about their day. A lot of times, that's easier said than done. That's why Mardi recommends adding an extra beat to your commute home<|fim_middle|> someone you trust (who happens not to be related to you) is a good way of getting any pent-up emotions out there, without putting a strain on your family relationships.
Schedule time for out of hours work
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a job that ends at 5 or 6 p.m. every day. The trick for those of us who don't is to be more selective with your time. To do this, Mardi suggests selecting one evening a week as your dedicated night to work late. You can let your family know that you will be home later than normal, but that when you leave the office, you will be fully present at home. Mardi adds that it may be helpful to pick a set day each week to work late — that allows your family to make plans around your schedule, if necessary.
If you're struggling to leave your stress in the office make an appointment with one of our Psychologists today who are not only an excellent sounding board, they can give you tools and tips to help you separate work from home. We look forward to helping you become the best version of you.
About Mardi Kaye
View all posts by Mardi Kaye →
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Please fill out all required fields. | . This could include anything from dropping by a park for a few minutes to quiet your thoughts, or looking at a photo of your family as you leave the train station to bring your focus back to them. This ritual allows you to put work aside (at least for a while) and prepare for the joys and challenges that await you at home.
A problem shared is a problem halved
While you do want to let your family know when you're having a particularly intense period at work, Mardi says it's a good idea to unload your pent-up frustrations on someone else. This could be a colleague (who has firsthand experience with the source of your work stress), friend, mentor or a professional psychologist / corporate coach — just make sure it's someone who is willing to listen to you vent, act as a sounding board, and, when appropriate, offer advice. Talking about what's bothering you with | 181 |
SVCP - Special Fittings and End Plugs Saudi Vetrifies Clay Pipe Co.
In case neither branch line nor house connection allowance are provided into an existing main sewer line, they can still be installed by means of saddle fitting or branch piece. Both require drilling of hole into the main line by the use of a drilling machine.
The plain<|fim_middle|> connection between (SS) Pipe and (ES) Pipe is required, a short So/Sp piece "adaptor" is used. The socket end is of (ES) type and the spigot end is (SS) type.
Available in container of 1 kg.
Recommended to use SVCP Lubricant only. | - ended branch piece is used in connection with the "B" ring. A drilling machine should be used for drilling the hole in the main pipe. All branch pieces come in standard strength.
Due to the different curvature of the collar, the nominal internal diameter of the main pipe should be stated when ordering saddles.
All saddle fittings come in standard strength (Class SS) only.
When a | 78 |
NEW YORK and SEATTLE, Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), and Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that CIT Aerospace placed an order for 38 Next-Generation 737 airplanes and purchase rights for seven additional 737s.
The order, with deliveries into 2017, includes 15 73<|fim_middle|> commercial aircraft. As of Sept. 30, 2010, CIT had 140 Boeing airplanes in its portfolio. With this new order, the company now has a total order book of 111 aircraft, of which 58 are Boeing. | 7-900ER (extended range) and 23 737-800 airplanes. It is the largest order placed by a leasing company for the 737-900ER, the largest and newest member of the Boeing Next-Generation 737 family. This is also the largest order placed by CIT for Boeing airplanes.
"This order of Next-Generation Boeing aircraft reflects our efforts to maintain one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets in the industry," said C. Jeffrey Knittel, president of Transportation Finance at CIT. "As a leading aircraft lessor, it is important that we continue to maintain a portfolio of operationally dependable and fuel-efficient aircraft for our customers."
"CIT's choice of the Next Generation 737 shows its confidence in the product family and especially in its newest member, the 737-900ER, which features incredible economics and operational capability," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales & Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "CIT is one of the leading companies in global transportation finance, and clearly recognizes the value that the Next Generation 737 will bring to its airline customers. CIT will be receiving its 737s with the innovative Boeing Sky Interior and other performance improvements that will keep its airplanes at the leading edge of passenger comfort, efficient operations and reduced fuel consumption."
CIT owns or finances a fleet of more than 300 | 298 |
However, Tewatia returned to scalp the wicket of Mitchell McClenaghan, who was stumped after some sharp work behind the wickets from Pant.
Pant got those runs in only 27 balls and while the relentless onslaught would do his confidence a world of good, Jasprit Bumrah's shoulder injury two months before the ICC showpiece left the Indian cricket fraternity on tenterhooks. This was also his first IPL fifty since scoring 70 not out against the Delhi franchise in the 2017 season. For his fantastic knock, Yuvraj was awarded the "FBB Stylish Player of the Match".<|fim_middle|> doing well in the future also.
Players rushed to check on him as he walked off the field with enormous pain. "So there is a conversation to be made, once we get through that conversation, we will let you know what exactly is happening, but is way too early for us to comment on that. saying he is going to be available or whatever ... we will see that..."
The world-class Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah who suffered a shoulder injury during the second-day IPL clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday, has recovered well. Yuvraj did roll back the years, with his fluent hitting, but his knock went in vain. | In 2012, Dhoni had scored a fifty off 20 balls against Mumbai. "When the time comes, I will be the first one to hang my boots", the 37-year-old said.
Speaking about the new requirements by Sri Lanka Cricket, Malinga said, "So I told them (the board) I'd play in the provincial tournament, and I asked the board to inform Mumbai Indians and IPL, since it was their decision". I've been leading India A as well as my domestic side. I was playing for U-14s and U-16s. Bumrah didn't have the best day with the ball going for 10 runs per over but he executed a ideal Yorker on the last ball dug out by Rishabh Pant.
"I always bat according to the situation all the time".
The youngster has had an incredible run with the national side and the Delhi team will be hoping he delivers the goods.
The MI batsman felt that it was a "180-190" track at Wankhede and Delhi Capitals' 213 was a match-winning total. We are looking forward to him | 241 |
BROOKLYN-BASED ALCHEMICAL DISCO RE-IGNITES THE FIRE OF BLONDIE'S ATOMIC
"Atomic" is the debut release from Brooklyn-based DJ/production duo Alchemical Disco (Ayesha Adamo and Lucius von Wahnfried), as well as the debut release on their new imprint, Newroz Recordings. This revival of Blondie's classic began with a single question: what would it sound like if Giorgio Moroder had produced this song? With that concept as the catalyst, Alchemical Disco set out to reinvent Blondie's punk/new wave hit by adding a late 1970's Italo disco flavor to their all new sonic elements.
Ayesha Adamo: "The thing is, we both first heard "Atomic" in the movie Trainspotting, and then discovered Blondie's original version. This was long before Alchemical Disco—long before I ever met Lucius. I was too young to go to clubs,<|fim_middle|> NEW ALBUM AND UNVEILS ITS 2ND SINGLE
The Beautiful Vocal That Sets Miss Passion Apart! ADDICTED SOUL! → | and dance music was still underground in the US, but that was the movie that introduced me to it and eventually gave me the idea that I could be a DJ. Of course, the Blondie original is a classic, so we wanted to do it justice and go all the way. We've got 30-stack vocals going on at some points. It's pretty epic, which is fitting: Atomic is that explosive love thing that you feel on the dancefloor like it might be the last night of your life. It should go all the way."
Nearly all of the sounds on this release have been created using self-built analog modular synthesizers soldered by Lucius himself, and custom designed to give that fat, organic sound. Additionally, the duo's choirs of polyphonic vocals, guitar, and occasional live drums and bass all help to maintain the live rock feel that the song deserves, as well as confirm Alchemical Disco's unique ability to perform not only as producer/DJs, but also as a band.
Additionally, this release features individual remixes from Ayesha and Lucius. The Ayesha Adamo Remix takes things underground, combining militaristic tech drums, sexy serpentine basslines, and a bit of acid for good measure, all interwoven about stunningly stripped down vocals. The Lucius von Wahnfried Remix matches stadium crushing EDM style with classic analog synth sounds, creating tastefully epic drops that won't exhaust the ears. And you can also thank Mr. von Wahnfried for the impressive cover art. This duo does it all.
Marrying the past with the future, musically and otherwise, Alchemical Disco's emergence in today's climate of male-dominated dance music is not unlike Blondie's presence in the similarly male-dominated punk/new wave scene of the 1970's. By taking a place in the family tree that grew distinctively New York artists like Blondie, Alchemical Disco brings it back to the city that never sleeps, expressing the life, subculture and spirit of their own New York through music.
ALCHEMICAL DISCO – 'ATOMIC'
For press inquiries, please contact Wilf Libgott of www.hammarica.com | wilf@hammarica.com
For remix, booking or other inquiries, please contact bookings@newrozrecordings.com
https://twitter.com/AlchemicalDisco
https://facebook.com/AlchemicalDisco
https://soundcloud.com/AlchemicalDisco
https://www.youtube.com/user/AlchemicalDisco/
https://www.alchemicaldisco.com
https://www.newrozrecordings.com
Tagged on: alchemical disco atomic blondie disco edm news electronica
657 July 26, 2014 October 3, 2014 DANCE, EDM NEWS, EDM OTHER, ELECTRONICA, HOUSE, NEW RELEASES
← TASADI RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL PRAISE FOR | 604 |
Happy New Year from Vanavil!
After almost two months of incessant rains we are now in the new sunny year and we take this opportunity to wish each and every one of our supporters and friends a very very happy new year.
We hope the New Year has started with a bright note for you all. At Vanavil as in many parts of Tamilnadu we had a overdose of the rains and bore the brunt (much less severe than Chennai and Cuddalore though) of the unexpected Floods. The School has suffered some structural damage as in the case of the tiled structures of the Dining hall. The Boys Hostel roof has completely blown away and is in a very bad shape. We are figuring out alternate arrangements and Vanavil really needs a separate Boys hostel now as the government also has been insisting in the past year that any male hostel needs to be in a separate building from the girls' hostel and the School.
The last three months were also the festive season so we had a wonderful Diwali thanks to the many regular donors who help us with donations for buying children their only set of new clothes and sweets and crackers.
And with friends, who came to celebrate the festival with the kids, the rain took a break and the festival of lights was celebrated as beautiful as ever. Sibi Arasu a freelance journalist friend came to celebrate Diwali at Vanavil and wrote a nice note about the school and festival in The Hindu.
Vanavil uses festivals for celebration and also to impart education, life skills and encourage students to perform and develop their confidences.
The 15th of October was an exciting day for the kids with the science fair they conducted. Kids up to 5th standard took up various small projects explaining day to day science to basic physics and chemistry.
The first standard kids learned and told us the health benefits of various vegetables and they also made some beautiful shapes with the vegetables. The second standard students prepared charts explaining the importance of spinach. The third standard kids took up some basic chemistry with playful experiments. They also enjoyed making racket balloons and in the process learned about air density.
The elders of the show, 4th and 5th standard kids took up basic physics. They learned and explained about insulators and conductors. They made paper bridges, making various shaped out of paper and in the process learned of how the shapes give strength to the paper bridges.
The festival mood started with the golu at October 22nd. Golu is a festival where things, dolls, and toys are arranged in lines and exhibited in every home. In Vanavil home we arranged all the tools, equipments and things category wise and made an exhibition for the kids. The month of celebrations continued with children's day (October 17th). Sports events were conducted during the day, the children participated in various events. The winners were appreciated and given prized during end of the day assembly.
Christmas eve was celebrated at the Porakudi centre and Christmas day was celebrated at both our Vanavil School and the Neelapadi centre. The kids took the stage with dramas and dance performances. The little ones of thalir thulir sang rhymes and the 2nd and 3rd standard kids performed a drama on the importance of helping others. The 4th standard students performed a play about plastic and its damages. The program ended with a colorful dance performance by the 5th standard students.
Two after school centers were started to reach out to the aadiyan children of the village, and to work with them in community level. In Neelapadi 55 children attend the evening classes. In the remote village of Porakudi 35 students are attending evening centers. Thanks to Usha our donor who supports the afterschool centre project we have also started from October 5th to give them snacks during the evening and weekend sessions.
We are slowly trying to work with the communities in these two villages to ensure that all children in these locations attend school. In order to bring the dropout children to the centre and also to encourage the school goers we are conducting various extracurricular activities in these centers. Theatre, art and storytelling have been effective tools in bringing Vanavil children to like the school and in the two new centers also these activities are drawing children's creativity and attendance.
Drama artist Vijayakumar came to the neelapadi centre during the last couple of days of the month an d taught them dramas and stories.<|fim_middle|> a visit to the school the next day. Usha our donor who visited us also has bought two pairs of undergarments for all the children which would be a Pongal gift for them. The children are eager and excited about this.
And 31st December, the last day of the year, we changed the tiles in the dining hall and are hoping that with the New Year we will be able to build a new boys hostel and raise the funds for the food expenses of the school along with fresh hopes too.
Vanavil did its bit in Chennai cuddalore flood relief. Vanavil board members along with their friends visited the flood affected areas of North Madras and irular villages around Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram and Vandavasi. They gave flood relief materials like bedsheets, mats and groceries to 1039 irular families and to the people in gummidipoondi refugee camp. At kadampadi a village near mahabalipuram, they are planning to build houses for 28 irular families. | Kumar Shaw, a young and vibrant story teller, visited both our centers during the same time; the children happily participated in his engaging storytelling sessions and he inspired them to draw and involved them in creative expressions.
A parents meeting was organized at Vanavil 20th of November, and parents meetings were arranged at our Neelapadi and Porakudi after school centers 26th of the same month. The month ended with Dramas and stories at the after school centers.
Unfortunately, December started with heavy rains all over Tamilnadu. Schools were closed for the first ten days of the month.
Adding a little more color to the festival season, Kumar passed the SSLC English paper, for which he's been studying in a Private tutorial centre.
On October 18th we fitted two fans in our boys' hostel making it more prepared for the summer that's arriving soon.
On October 18th the school cycles were refitted and on 19th the kids made fences for their vegetable gardens protecting them from the cattle.
On 13th of October we equipped our Vanavil home with a CCTV camera, hopefully increasing the security within the campus.
The month and year ended with visits and events. Board members Matt and Srinath visited the school and the afterschool centers December 21st and the SSA Chief Education officer paid | 278 |
KIELDER WATER RELEASE
Tyne release kielder
This is our dedicated Kielder Water Release Website.
Here you will find information on the current and the next Releases.
Kielder Power Station
**Update for January 2019**
A summary leaflet outlining what is covered in the Kielder Operating Manual and the basics of the way the Kielder scheme operates is now available for download. It includes comprehensive maps covering the components of the scheme across the region and the restrictions and controls on the release of water from Kielder Reservoir and hydropower generation. This update to the leaflet was launched in January 2019<|fim_middle|>6. created with Wix.com | , alongside the updated full Kielder Operating Agreement (v3.0) used by Northumbrian Water and Environment Agency staff to manage the system effectively
Trial review_to end Mar17.pdf
Annual Trial Update. June 2018
The Environment Agency, Northumbrian Water Limited and the hydropower operator, Innogy Renewables UK Limited (formally RWE), have been working together to make changes to the operating arrangements for the release of water from Kielder Reservoir. These arrangements were discussed with the public in October 2016 and were trialed at Kielder from November 2016 to October 2017.
The changes are intended to:
- maintain the security of water supply to the North East;
- better reflect natural changes in river flows which should protect the ecology of the river;
- provide increased flood storage in Kielder reservoir;
- increase the generation of clean, renewable energy;
- take into account the requirements of river and reservoir users.
The annual trial has now come to an end and a report on its findings is available for download at the bottom of this page.
The monitoring of water temperature, water quality, flow, fish migration and electrofishing surveys will carry on and release information will continue to be published on this site.
In addition, Innogy have completed work on refurbishing the main hydropower turbine which allows for further flexibility in the volume of water that can be released at any time.
Annual Trial Review. June 2018.
Link to Annual Trial Review up to the end of October 2017
© 201 | 335 |
Anicura reduced telephony costs by 30% by switching to the cloud
"We have saved a lot of time as I did not have to drive the projects. Telavox has taken care of that."
Ulf Ståhl, IT manager at Anicura
Anicura
Offers professional care via sustainable animal hospitals.
350 animal clinics in Europe.
1 500 in Sweden
Features used
AniCura consists of prominent animal hospitals and clinics specialised in pets. The company was born from combining resources to create better animal care and was founded in 2011 as the first unification of animal hospitals in the Nordics. The company offers a wide variety of medical and surgical services.
Anicura has 350 animal clinics and hospitals in Europe that provide safety for pet owners through availability and patient security. The company's 7 500 dedicated employees care for 3 million patients each year.
Photographer: Jonatan Fernström
Anicura is an impressive group spread over 45 different locations – from Sundsvall in the north to Malmö in the south. In 2017, they made an IT project where the goal was, among other things, that the receptions could collaborate more effectively.
"Our vision is to be able to help each other between the regions. If we have specialists available in one region but not in another, we should be able to refer to someone there easily", says Ulf Ståhl, IT manager at Anicura.
Different PBX solutions in each region
Anicura had virtually different exchange solutions in each region. During the project, they asked both large and small clinics to produce a requirements specification.
"Our goal was for everyone to come together under one solution. This facilitates collaboration between the clinics and is more cost-effective", says Ulf.
Compared a lot of telephony providers
Before they could launch the grand plan, Anicura made an advanced evaluation of various telephony providers. They had some requirements: Are there integration possibilities to other systems? How's the interface? Is the app intuitive and user-friendly?
Anicura also placed great emphasis on the supplier's commitment during the process – were<|fim_middle|>avox and thus focus on the core business and the strategic work. Photographer: Daniel Nilsson.
"We have saved a lot of time as I did not have to be a driving force in the projects. Telavox has taken care of that. Instead, we have been able to focus on strategy and being good customers. All 45 clinics had to be contacted and onboard. We could only tell our Advisor, Morgan Arnhed, that now is the time for Södertälje. Then he called the head of the clinic, asked the right questions, and reported back to us", says Ulf.
Since Anicura switched to Telavox, Ulf says that they have saved considerable sums of money and time.
"I estimate that we have reduced our telephony costs by about 30 per cent", states Ulf.
There are no intermediaries
Ulf appreciates that Telavox develops everything itself and therefore can be more flexible towards customers.
"It is fantastic that we can have a dialogue with the performer himself without any intermediaries. When I visited Telavox, I got to talk directly with the development department. The possibility of integration is important to us. For example, to be able to integrate with our journal systems with the Telavox app. At present, we do not have any specially built integrations, but I know that it is possible", says Ulf.
Their Advisor also gives them tips on how to meet customer needs.
"I discussed with our Advisor, Morgan. How can we use the statistics tool to plan staffing? Are there many conversations during a long weekend? How long are the calls? We use all this data so that we have the right number of employees on-site who can meet our customers' needs", says Ulf.
Saved both money and time
Ulf can warmly recommend Telavox to other companies.
"We are very satisfied. We have received a tailor-made solution according to our requirements. When we compared suppliers, Telavox was a much smaller investment. Not only in dollars and cents but also in time and effort. The power of innovation is impressive and there is an open interface with great potential. In addition, Telavox is committed to our business and wants us to save as much money as possible through flexible agreements and more."
Morgan Arnhed, Senior Enterprise-Advsior at Telavox.
"The whole AniCura project has been very exciting and above all challenging from day one. After a relatively long process with many clinics and start-ups, it is incredibly satisfying to see that the entire Anicura is gathered under the same solution. All hospitals, clinics and contact persons I have had contact with have been extremely engaging and expectant before finally getting a uniform cloud switch. And now it's finally a reality and it makes me extremely happy because I know that this will make the everyday life of Anicuar's employees much easier." | they available? And what were the supplier's approach and strategy when it came to implementation and training in the system?
"It was an important criterion to receive support during the transition", says Ulf.
The essential thing for Ulf was that the delivery should go as painlessly as possible.
"It creates a sense of security for the employees. The phone must work when worried pet owners call us. The first impression is crucial".
Big savings to switch to cloud PBX
After Anicura's supplier evaluation, the choice fell on one that stood out.
"We developed three typical cases, both small and large clinics, and examined how much they called and so on. We looked at the costs of upgrading the old solutions with new equipment and cloud services. But in the end, we chose Telavox, which was the best in terms of price. We saw the possibility to save big by switching to the cloud, and Telavox's solution gave most value for our money", says Ulf.
"I estimate that we have reduced our telephony costs by about 30 per cent."
Ulf is very satisfied with the work process from the PBX systems to cloud-based services.
"Change is always difficult for people, even if the old thing is not perfect, you still know how it works. We have received a lot of help and support from Telavox. They trained our employees in the system, and there have never been any problems if someone needed a run-through", says Ulf.
Proactive and committed supplier
Ulf says that the project would have been massive if Telavox had not had such proactive and committed Advisors and salespeople who ensured that everyone got what they needed. Mobile phones or even softphones? Which technical solutions are suitable for each clinic? What does the Wi-Fi network look like?
Ulf Ståhl, IT manager at Anicura, says that he has been able to hand over much of the operations to Tel | 393 |
Hello readers, and fellow mechanical pencil people.
Five years old. I'm somewhat surprised I've made it to my fifth birthday. Well anyway, various people have pointed out to me that very few regular 'weekly plus' blogs make it to five years, so this is a significant anniversary and a little contemplation and celebration seem in order.
Around about six years ago I somehow tripped across Pencil Revolution, was hooked, and flushed with revolutionary zeal, I started this blog on 30 January 2006.
I once read somewhere that the secret to long term blogging is to "Blog what you love" and I guess that's worked for me as I have enjoyed publishing this blog. On the technical side, learning the ins and outs of publishing a blog, improving my photography skills, learning a little HTML and so on has kept my interest up. On the pencil side I've certainly dramatically increased the size of my collection, which today stands at about 700 mechanical pencils, plus heaps of other things like leads, catalogues and ephemera. It's fair to say this blog has not helped the focus of my collection, rather the reverse, leading me down all sorts of divergent pencil pathways. Still, I guess that's part of the fun.
Blogs are inherently designed to be read from the most recent entry to the oldest. If you reversed that and read this blog from the first post to the most recent I think you would see the standard of my reviews improve, my aversion to rubber grips decline and my pencil-photography skills improve. There would also be my battles with PAS (Pencil Acquisition Syndrome), NID (Notebook Inferiority Disorder), boozy-sirens and sundry other problems that folk have to watch out for. Of course you would also see me learn lots of things about mechanical pencils and the companies that manufacture and sell them.
Besides all of that, one of the main things I like about this blog is the interaction with you, the readers. I really do enjoy getting comments and emails from you. At the risk of offending some by omission, I must make mention of several long time fellow pencil bloggers who have communicated with and helped me for a large part of this blogs life, so, in alphabetical order – Lexikaliker, Pencil Talk, Pencils11 and The Uncomfortable Chair. Also of course the aforementioned and recently resurrected Pencil Revolution. Thanks guys. There are of course many other bloggers and correspondents I should mention, but there are too many of you to mention individually, especially Henrik, so I hope you won't be offended. Thanks to you all.
Perhaps above all though, I have been very pleasantly surprised at the generosity of so many of you out there. People who I have never otherwise met or corresponded with, just contacting me and saying, "Hey, I've got a couple of pencils I thought you might like. I'll send them to you". I really do appreciate your generosity, and I have tried to keep the cycle going, although I'm sure I've ended up receiving more than I have given.
Right then, some numbers would seem to be appropriate, just for posterity. When I was writing this post about a week ago, this blog contained 476 posts with 6,206 comments. Which is my favourite post? Well that's a tough one, but certainly one of the first that always springs to mind when I think of that sort of thing is The Pencils Of Vice.
I guess though blog readers have a different favourite, because the article that has enticed the most people to actually take the time to comment on it is my review of the classic Pentel Sharp Kerry with 127 comments.
Of course there are "lies, damn lies and statistics" and that's certainly the case with trying to measure anything to do with blogs and websites. I employ numerous reporting packages, and the differences between them is frequently mind boggling, but taking a bit of a statistical average, I can give some ballpark figures. Over the course of this blog there have been about 900,000 visitors who have generated about 2.6 million pageviews, but these days I get about thirty thousand visitors and one hundred thousand pageviews per month. Strange but true, there appears to be a mechanical pencil season, a specific month when the stars, moons, planets, biorhythms and all that stuff align such that mechanical pencil madness breaks out on the internet. The month of MP Madness is October. October 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 each set a new all-time record for the most visitors per month! The most frequently viewed article on this blog is "Lead Size and Hardness". It's then a long way back to second where my reviews of the Pentel Sharp P205 and the Pentel Sharp Kerry continually battle with each other for the silver and bronze medals.
For the static pages of 'My Top 5', 'Top 10 General' and 'Top 10 Drafting', the most frequently viewed is 'My Top 5' with 'Top 10 General' a fair way back in second. As for regular readers, well the blog currently has 201 public Blogger Followers, there are about 850 feed subscribers, and 489 people voted on my reader survey although that was way back in March 2010. Not surprisingly most visitors are from the Anglosphere, with the USA accounting for about 56% of all visits, followed by, in order, the UK (9%), Canada (6%), Australia (3%), Germany (2%), Japan (2%), and then Turkey, Brazil, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan and India all at around 1% each. My Flag Counter has 194 flags, thus recording visitors from 194 different countries/territories around the world. The last flag added was that of Rwanda. ClustrMap makes it clear where the home of mechanical pencildom is…at least as measured by visits to this blog. A big Hello then to Los Angeles, you MP nuts! Your northerly cousins up there in San Francisco follow closely behind, then London and New York. Actually, as a source of American visitors, the state of California is so far ahead, that the next two US states added together (New York<|fim_middle|> for the perfect white lead is a True Quest.
White lead? Yes. Over the course of this blog I have had quite a few contacts from ladies trying to find the ultimate in white lead for material marking. For many, the traditional soap and chalk markers just don't cut the mustard. Strong enough to not break when marking woven fabrics. Thin enough to be accurate. Preferably temporary in that it can be washed off. Definitely non-running or bleed through. These are just some of the desired attributes of the mechanical pencil white lead. I am afraid I haven't been able to offer much help. Sakura have some white leads, but they generally seem to be 0.9mm. The white lead for the Striker mechanical carpenters pencil has some possible uses but requires sharpening. Pergamano offer a 0.5mm lead which many seem to use. These and the others though all seem hard to obtain and not entirely satisfactory. Recently I was contacted by Christine who was looking for some multi-pen and lead assistance for her embroidery hobby. I suggested she might like to do a little blog article about her use of pencils, and she agreed. So, without further todo, I will now hand over to her.
I some times need to mark on the fabric, for example to note the direction of stitches. Depending on the color of the fabric, we use either a white or non-photo blue 0.5 mm pencil lead - whichever will show up better. The blue lead is one which has been tested by the professionals at the Japanese Embroidery Center, and its color will not run during the finishing process, when we apply a wheat starch to the back of the piece and steam it thoroughly. My teacher gave us several leads, it is a Staedtler Mars product per the printing on the container. Historically, the white lead is a Prismacolor Verithin pencil, which can be sharpened to a fine point. For us, the finer the point, the better, as we may stitch with silk threads as thin as 0.1 mm. Recently, I have discovered a 0.5 mm white lead from Pergamano, which provides the fine point we like. I find the Pergamano color to be shiny, sometimes appearing silver/grey, and the lead is soft. The Pergamano white lead is designed for a card-making process called Pergamano, and I've only found it via one supplier. In this photo, I've drawn on white and brown paper with 4 leads - 0.5 mm regular lead, Verithin white lead, Pergamano 0.5 mm white lead, and 0.5 mm Non Photo blue lead.
My other multi pen is for travel use, and is a Uni-ball Style Fit 5 Color Gel Ink Multi Pen Pen Body, containing 2 pen cartridges and 3x0.5mm Mechanical Pencil Components.
Both of these multi pens are super for my needs. I wish I needed more lead colors so I could have more of these multi pen/pencils. They have turned me in to a pencil geek.
If you're interested you're welcome to view my facebook albums (you don't need to be on facebook to view them) here and here. More information is at http://www.japaneseembroidery.com/.
Christine, Washington DC area, USA.
Great stuff. Thanks Christine. The hours of work in those Facebook embroideries….
From The Desk hmmmm, Courtyard Deckchair.
Happy New Year folks. Well I'm back from holiday, melting in the heat. However, whilst I've been away several of you 'up over' northerly folk have sent me pictures and/or stories of yourselves buried beneath mountains of snow and ice so I do spare a thought for you. Also of course my friends and rellies across the ditch in Aussie sitting unhappily in the middle of their muddy lake the size of Germany and France put together.
But this is a pencil blog, so we must move onto pencilicious matters. This Christmas I purchased a little pencil present for myself. A book, which I'm slowly working my way through, from the chair, as it were.
Published 2010, my copy is one of the Limited Edition copies, signed by the author, with gold stamped cover box.
Hmmmm, number 93 of 100....I'm kind of worried that might mean I'm the 93rd biggest Conway Stewart nerd in the world? I don't even collect FP's!!!
It's a history of the company just as much as, perhaps even more than, a history of their writing instruments. Some interesting stories like the difficulties of manufacturing during the wartime. From the amount of vintage Conway Stewarts available locally I've always assumed the Antipodes were an important market for CS and the book confirms this.
Chapter 1939-1948, "Conway Stewart were particularly strong in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa" and "By 1948 60% of Conway Stewart's output went overseas with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa still the major markets".
Chapter 1955-1962, "New Zealand, despite the size of its population (with sheep outnumbering them 100 to one!) was also an important market".
Of course most of the pictures are of inky things, but graphite and mechanical pencils gets it fair share.
Also lots of data like tables of model numbers, copies of old patents, etc.
Clearly a must have for anyone with an interest in Conway Stewart. The book is available as detailed here.
A special thanks to Leigh Reyes (she's a verb not a noun) for alerting me to this book by mentioning it on her blog.
Normal blog transmission will resume in a week or two. | and Texas) still don't get near California.
Well, that seems like enough contemplation and other carry on, so I wish you all well, thanks for reading this blog, please carry on reading and commenting, and maybe I'll see you in another five.
Now, as you know I've never really been one for giveaways, but as part of these birthday celebrations there will be a series of giveaways throughout the month of February. The giveaways are mostly items from my collection, but will culminate in what I think is a real whiz-banger, thanks to some generous sponsorship from Cult Pens. That's the reason for the new headline and sidebar references to Cult Pens. Quid pro quo. So, if you are doing a little writing instrument shopping then I would encourage you to check out their website, and spend your money with them. As a bonus, they are actually nice folk too. Anyway, the first giveaway kicks-off shortly and I hope you will all enter. You gotta be in to win.
So, in closing then, happy pencilling my friends! May your lead stay strong and unbroken.
Only the severity and duration of the celebratory hangover are in question.
PS - Just so you know, the month of February will be mostly giveaways, there won't be much in the way of normal postings.
For general writing mechanical pencils, I guess that effortless automatic lead advance, which the user is unaware of, is one of major goals for the designers. I'm not sure they will actually reach that goal with the current types of auto advance mechanisms as they are activated by physical contact with the writing surface, and thus the alert writer will always be aware of something going on. For perfect automatic lead advance I think we will have to wait for some sort of proximity sensor that knows the tip of the lead sleeve is getting too close to the paper and that it is therefore time to advance some lead.
I feel I should know better, but automatics do have a certain allure to them, and so yet again I found one in my hand. Will this tale of the automatic be the familiar one – long on promise, short on delivery? With pencils like the Super Promecha, Ohto are known for marketing some of the most advanced, customisable, technical, complicated, gimmicky (take your pick) mechanical pencils around. Surely an automatic from them is likely to be better than most?
So then, the Ohto Auto Sharp AP-205 mechanical pencil.
It's a lightweight mostly plastic pencil. The styling and colour scheme are quite nice, although nothing outstanding. The body and the grip are triangular, although the front end of the grip does start to taper down and transition into round where the front tip screws in.
The triangular grip is made from a smooth rubber compound which is quite hard, with a relatively smooth surface. The rubber does improve the grip properties a small amount, but not by much. The grip is an average size so should suit most who like an average sized pencil.
Now, as we know, the Ohto Auto Sharp has an auto-advance lead mechanism. Firstly though it is also a standard push top ratchet mechanism pencil. Ten clicks on the top button will get you a whopping great 14mm of the 0.5mm lead. The lead sleeve is a short plastic cone which is retractable so this is a pocket safe pencil. Right then, how does this pencil perform when you don't click the top button and let the auto-advance mechanism take over? Well, basically it performs as expected. It advances lead when the tip hits the paper and when that happens you can notice some small differences in the feel and lead application to the paper. For me personally the major issue I have with many auto-advancing mechanisms is 'plunging'. That's my name for the phenomenon of suddenly, whilst you are happily writing away, the whole lead sleeve retracts back up into the front tip and you 'plunge' forward. It's really annoying and disconcerting. It sees to affect some pencils far worse than other…although for all I know they all possibly have the same design mechanism. Well, the Ohto Auto Sharp is one of the better performer in this aspect – whilst I did experience some plunging, it was relatively rare and not too dramatic. So, basically as always, I'd suggest you use the pencil in the normal manner, advancing the lead manually and just letting the auto-advance take over for those infrequent occasions when you are 'caught short', as it were.
Hmmm, just thinking about the auto-advance mechanism for a bit longer. It works by having the plastic lead sleeve make contact with, and thus rub on, the paper. I assume the plastic sleeve is made from a decent engineering plastic like acetal or something, but paper is just really compressed wood fibre and any woodworker knows that saws and all their other fine steel tools go blunt when in contact with wood. Really, despite what is feels like, paper is actually reasonably tough and abrasive. Cutting paper with a steel knife will dull the blade over time. So, how about that plastic tip then? Actually, I didn't even need my magnifying glass. After two weeks of use, I could see the edge of the lead sleeve cone had been worn away. Viewing with a magnifying glass just confirmed it. The triangular grip on the Ohto Auto Sharp must actually increase the wear because the pencil can only held at three specific rotations, and because of the pocket clip, many users, like myself, will not even rotate it at all and thus the exact same spot on the lead sleeve will always be making contact with the paper and thus be worn down even quicker. Obviously paper type, amount of hand pressure, amount of use of the auto-advance feature and amount of rotation will all affect the rate of wear on the lead sleeve. Who knows how long it would take before the cone wears down so much as to affect the operation of the auto advance? I imagine though it would be a fairly long time, and most users would have misplaced their pencil before it happened. Still, it's an interesting little thought process.
Carrying on then, as expected there is a small eraser under the push top button, and you remove that to access the lead refill magazine.
The pocket clip is moulded plastic and actually quite stylish and functional.
Markings on the body are "Ohto" printed on the pocket clip, and "Auto Sharp 0.5mm AP-205" on the body. I fail to find the word "Japan" anywhere on the pencil. I imagine that implies something.
So, in closing then, the Ohto Auto Sharp is a nice enough mechanical pencil for its price range, but as usual I am left a little nonplussed with the auto-advance mechanism. Must try harder to resist the allure of the automatic…but hey, down this way the general public can't own handguns…so temptation abounds…automatic pistol…automatic pencil?
• Best Points – The auto-advance works reasonably well.
• Not So Good Points – Considering what this pencil is, and its price range, then nothing much.
• Price Range – Low.
• Does this pencil make it into the Top 5? - No.
Dimensions – Length 141mm, width 11 mm across the face of the body. Balance point about 65mm up from the tip.
This Ohto Auto Sharp AP-205 mechanical pencil was sent to me gratis by Cult Pens. Thanks Cult Pens.
When I first started this blog I thought it would be of interest to a few people from the mechanical pencil using groups like engineers, architects, designers, artists, writers, etc. This has largely turned out to be true, but there is one group of readers that I did not anticipate, and it's rather silly of me to have not anticipated some interest from them, especially because my mother is one of them. The group I am referring to is the one I have come to call "The Crafty Ladies" with a subset of "The Ladies Who Sew". Mechanical pencils and multi-pens find favour with many who scrapbook, make cards, sew and embroider, etc. The search for the ultimate multi-pen is not taken lightly, and the quest | 1,696 |
What happens to a living trust after the settlor (the person who created the trust) dies? The person(s) or entity named in the trust as the successor trustee has certain fiduciary duties or obligations to fulfill. If these actions are not undertaken, or are handled incorrectly, the successor trustee may be liable for any additional<|fim_middle|>ent may trigger a reassessment.
A federal estate tax return is required if the decedent's assets exceed a certain amount. The value is based upon the total gross value of the decedent's estate, whether the assets are in the living trust or not. If the decedent was married, the value is based upon one-half of the decedent's community property assets and all of the decedent's separate property, if any.
The federal estate tax return must be filed within nine months of the date of death. An extension may be granted for up to six months to file the return.
Assets held in a living trust typically avoid probate. However, occasionally someone will pass away holding an interest in an asset which is held outside of the living trust. The asset which is not in the trust may require probate.
Pursuant to California law, assets outside of the living trust which do not exceed $100,000 do not require probate, and may be transferred by affidavit procedure. This $100,000 figure does not include any assets held in joint tenancy, any assets where a beneficiary is named as a life insurance or IRA account, or any vehicles. Property meeting these requirements can be transferred into the living trust, or to whoever is legally entitled to the asset, using a special certification form. The trustee must wait for 40 days to elapse from the decedent's date of death.
If the value of the asset held outside of the trust exceeds $100,000 as of the date of death, or if the asset is an interest in real property which exceeds $20,000 in value, probate will be required before the asset may be transferred into the living trust.
There are many legal requirements for the trustee when a trust becomes irrevocable. Failing to follow these requirements may result in possible litigation and potential liability for the trustee for failing to fulfill their duties as trustee. Improper administration may also result in higher estate taxes or the loss of a property tax exemption. It is important to seek the advice of an attorney who is experienced in the administration of trusts in California and understands the tax implications which are inherent in California trust administration.
The attorneys at the San Diego estate planning firm of Law Offices of Scott C. Soady, APC have extensive experience in California trust administration. We welcome your inquiry and invite you to contact us by e-mail, or call us toll-free at (877) 435-7411 within California, or (858) 618-5510 outside of California to schedule a free in-house consultation. | taxes due or may be liable to the trust beneficiaries for mistakes made, even if the successor trustee's actions were done in good faith. Some of the successor trustee's actions are mandated by the terms set forth in the trust document; other actions are required under California law or federal tax law.
The process which unfolds after the death of the settlor of the trust is often referred to as "trust administration". The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of some of the steps required in the administration of a trust. The steps outlined in this article may apply in any situation where a trust has become irrevocable due to the death of a settlor. Depending on the situation and the complexity of the estate, additional trust administration steps may be required.
Under California law, the original will of the decedent, along with any codicils to the will, must be filed within 30 days of the date of death with the county clerk in the county where the decedent resided at the time or his or her death. If probate is not required, there is no filing fee. A copy of the will must be mailed to the executor named in the will, even if probate proceedings are not required.
Within 60 days of the date of death, a written notice must be sent to all trust beneficiaries and the deceased's heirs at law giving them notice of the irrevocability of the trust and providing them with notice that they are entitled to receive a copy of the trust and all amendments to it if they request it. The notice also advises the recipient of their right to contest the trust and states that any action to contest the trust must be brought within 120 days from the date of mailing. The probate code has specific requirements as to the wording, font size, etc. for this notice. If the notice is not mailed, the beneficiary may have up to four years to contest the trust. There are potential damages, including attorney's fees and costs, if the trustee does not mail the notice or comply with all the requirements under the notice. Any party receiving the notice may legally request a copy of the trust and all amendments to the trust. To view California Probate Code Section 16061.7 governing the requirements of the notice, visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=01548317822+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve.
The trustee will inventory all of the assets of the trust, as well as all assets that the decedent owned at the time of his or her death which were not in the trust. The value which is used is the fair market value as of the date of death. Stocks and bonds are valued by taking the average between the low and high value as of the date of death. If the decedent died on a weekend or holiday, the average between the low and high values on the preceding Friday and following Monday are taken, and are averaged again to determine the value. Mutual funds are valued as of the closing price on the date of death. Other assets, such as an interest in a business, need a written appraisal by a competent appraiser. Real estate is valued using a written appraisal by a real estate agent or broker, or a qualified real estate appraiser. Cars are usually valued using the Kelly Blue Book value. To view the Kelly Blue Book website, visit http://www.kbb.com/.
Once the trust becomes irrevocable, the trustee must invest the funds in accordance with the terms of the trust document and the California Uniform Prudent Investors Act. The trustee must also keep records for the trusts and file annual trust income tax returns.
For trusts created after July 1, 1987, the trustee must also file annual accountings with the trust beneficiaries who receive payments from the trust and provide an accounting upon a change of trustees and upon the termination of the trust. The accounting may be waived in writing if the sole beneficiary of the trust is also the trustee. However, other beneficiaries who may have a future interest in the trust, even though such interest may be remote in time, may demand and receive a trust accounting each year.
Trust beneficiaries have the right to request information regarding the trust from the trustee, including information on sales or purchases of assets and assets on hand.
Once the trust becomes irrevocable, a separate tax identification number must be obtained from the IRS. This is accomplished by completing IRS form SS-4 and submitting it to the IRS for approval and assignment of the tax identification number. This number will be used in lieu of the decedent's social security number for the trust assets and for tax reporting purposes.
A certification of a trust is a statement which lists the current acting trustees of the trust, the tax identification number, powers of the trustee, and other pertinent information regarding the trust. This certification, along with a certified copy of the death certificate, will be required to transfer the trust assets into the name of the successor trustee of the trust. To view California Probate Code Section 18100.5 which specifies what must be included in a trust certification, visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=prob&group=16001-17000&file=16060-16069.
An Affidavit-Death of Trustee should be completed and recorded for each interest in real property held in the trust. The Affidavit must be submitted for recording along with a certified copy of the death certificate. This will effectively change the title to the property into the name of the new trustee.
A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report may be filed with the Affidavit-Death of Trustee. This document notifies the county assessor that a change of ownership has occurred which may subject the property to reassessment for property tax purposes. Real property passing to a surviving spouse or a trust for the surviving spouse's benefit, or to the children of the decedent, or to the children of a deceased child are all exempt from reassessment. Transfers to other relatives or someone not related to the deced | 1,272 |
Tom Brady on fine for attempted trip vs. Cowboys: How do I get docked 'for something that didn't even happen?'
During the NFC wild-card matchup between the Buccaneers and Cowboys, it looked as if Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady tripped Dallas safety Malik Hooker on a play where Dallas recovered a fumble during its 31-14 win. The NFL reviewed the tape and fined Brady $16,444 for an attempted sliding trip, and Brady is less than thrilled.
Brady discussed the fine on his "Let's Go!" podcast, expressing his frustrations with the fine, but admitting that he did try to trip him.
"I'm a little disappointed, though, because I tried to tackle [Hooker] with my right shoulder and missed him," the seven-time Super Bowl champion said. "And I wasn't going to try to stick my arm out, so I was trying to get him on the ground. I missed him completely. I didn't even hit him. I tried to trip him but I didn't."
The 45-year-old does not think he should be fined for something that never ending up taking place.
"So, I don't know how you<|fim_middle|> case. This is why I wish our NFLPA was stronger."
Here is a look at the play:
The play took place in the third quarter after Chris Godwin fumbled and Hooker recovered the ball. The fumble did not end up counting because Godwin was ruled down before the ball came out. So Brady was fined $16,444 for a trip that did not land, on a play involving a fumble that did not count. It would have been a lot cheaper and just as effective for Brady to follow the NFL rules.
The fine is equivalent to about 35% of Brady's playoff paycheck, as each player making the wild-card round gets a check for $46,500.
This article was originally published by Cbssports.com. Read the original article here.
Thank you Sean Johnson | For The City
CLIPPERS at HAWKS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | January 28, 2023
Carter & Chance vs. Fyre & Ruca – NXT Women's Tag Team Championship Match: WWE NXT, Jan. 24, 2023
🚨 DERBY CLASSIC! 🚨 Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid | Copa Del Rey Highlights | ESPN FC | can get fined for something that didn't even happen. Are they fining an intention? It's like targeting and you miss the person you hit, and they still call it targeting. So, I got to figure out and understand why this is the | 50 |
Introducing one of the new members to the Market Dojo Family Sophia Binns. We asked our newest addition a couple of questions to find out what makes her tick.
I found Market Dojo through a sales recruitment agency based in Cheltenham. I've worked in sales since I was 16 years old (much to my displeasure at the time… working in a children's clothes shop on the weekends and during school holidays isn't exactly a teenagers dream.) I knew sales was in my future, being one of the many things I'm good at (modesty being the other) but I wasn't exactly sure how to get there and build a career from it.
When I was told about the opportunity to interview with Market Dojo I jumped at the chance. I had never considered a job in procurement; I didn't really know what it was. Frantically researching the Market Dojo website and stalking the directors on LinkedIn (confessions of a wanna-be super sleuth) I realised that this was a company that would be somewhere I could grow and develop with and ultimately build a career. Market Dojo and I have a lot in common; we are quick to adapt, we maintain good relationships with people, we are resilient, honest and like the colour Red.
It sounds a bit cliche but after meeting the directors in the interview I was excited to work for them. They each spoke with such passion about procurement and a company they had built off their own backs. Nick and Alun saw what the procurement industry was missing and made the leap to fix it. They are inspiring and such great guys it's hard not to get excited about starting a role within a team of people who you could actually be friends with outside of work. I was also looking forward to the chance to make a difference. Market Dojo is growing and I have the opportunity to actually make a difference in something, carve my way and leave my mark. It's something to get out of bed for knowing you're going to make that difference and work with great people.
The company is incredibly honest and actually wants what is best for its clients. There is no up selling for personal gain or offering the world and then not delivering. Market Dojo does what it says on the tin. No ulterior motives. You are investing in a tried and tested software that will give results and will save time and money. It is refreshing to find a company with integrity and passion.
As far as unusual goes, my<|fim_middle|> pocket money, I was like a kid in a candy store. I have watched too many films to count but if I had to pick a few I would say The Lord of the Ring Trilogy or Harry Potter.
Without a doubt the most embarrassing song I have on my phone Enya 'Sail Away'. It isn't embarrassing because the song is bad. On the contrary, the song is amazing. What is embarrassing is my attempt to sing along.
Due to my Dad having a fear of flying, our summer holidays were limited to France. I now have the capability to go anywhere and I have been to France 3 times this year. If it ain't broke? Besides, the French have the best wine, cheese, architecture and scenery. Why would I not go back? I do have a travel book and a few I want to tick off in 2018 is Iceland, Bali and Austria. I would love to see the Northern Lights and the beautiful scenery in Austria.
What is one thing about yourself that you think others would be surprised to know?
I have four brothers and three sisters. It is both manic and loud but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I love photography; my camera feed is full of flowers, landscapes and sunsets. My love of photography is fuelled by my desire to travel. I also love cooking. I come from a very large family and so cooking was something we all had to do to help out. It was also something we did together so for me cooking has always been a sociable time. And who doesn't love food? I am very into fitness and am attempting to do a Tough Mudder in 2018. Watch this space.
A photo I took when I went to Paris in September 2017.
What is your biggest claim to fame?
Growing up my next door neighbour was Princess Anne. If you could be any animal what would you be?
A corgi in Buckingham Palace. I can imagine they live a pretty good life. What actor would you cast to play yourself in a movie?
Morgan Freeman. He might need some prosthetics. | job history is pretty much the expected for a post-graduate who was born and raised in the countryside; babysitting, pub work and shop assistant. A cool job I have done, although I don't remember, was when I was a baby model for Mini Boden. What can I say… I peaked early.
Picking a favourite film would be like picking a favourite child… I don't have children. My siblings and I had a very limited film selection growing up, all of which were Disney. I still love them to this day and can't wait for my Godchild to arrive so I have an excuse to watch them again. When I finally got to have the freedom to buy DVDs with my hard earned | 144 |
About 90% of our driving decisions in the Brooklyn Park area are based solely on what we see. So having a good pair of windshield wipers is extremely important.
Most Brooklyn Park drivers have experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm, or when our vehicle windshield is just dirty. In fact, it's estimated that 46,000,000 drivers across the nation are driving with wipers that can't adequately clear their windshield in a storm.
It seems like our wiper blades are always at their worst when we need them the most. If that sounds like you, you've got plenty of company in the Brooklyn Park area. 78% of drivers only change their wiper blades after the blades function so poorly that they become a safety hazard.
Brooklyn Park drivers need to change their thinking. Instead of blades being something to replace when they fail, we need to consider wiper blades as vehicle safety component. Then we'll stay ahead of the storm.
Brooklyn Park vehicle owners really ought to replace wiper blades twice a year; in the spring and the fall. If you live in the colder parts of MN, you may even want to get special winter blades in the fall.
Winter blades are made to resist freezing. Speaking of winter and freezing Brooklyn Park conditions, if your vehicle has been sitting for a long time and the windshield becomes frozen, don't use your wipers to clear off snow and ice. That can shred your blades and may even damage the wiper motor.
Your wiper blades live outside in the freezing cold and blistering sun. Over time, they become hard and brittle, and then tear. They also lose their flexibility and just don't clear the vehicle windshield effectively. Worn wiper blades aren't just a safety hazard for Brooklyn Park drivers; they can also scratch their windshield. That may require replacing the entire vehicle windshield – that's the consequence for neglecting such a small part.
Affordable Transmissions recommends Brooklyn Park drivers replace worn blades right away. We can provide you with a quality replacement blade. At Affordable Transmissions, they cost about the same as they would at the store – but installation is included.
Of course you also need washer fluid to help your blades do their work. Even though Affordable Transmissions will top off the washer fluid with a full service oil change, it is a good idea to have some extra fluid at home. Take it with you if you're heading out on a road trip.
High gas prices in Brooklyn Park increase the cost of living for MN drivers. You've probably budgeted a certain amount for vehicle related expenses. Increased fuel costs now consume a larger portion of our incomes, causing some Brooklyn Park vehicle owners to skimp in other areas – like scheduled maintenance.
In this area, we can take a lesson from professional Brooklyn Park vehicle owners. I'm talking about fleet owners and operators. You know, Brooklyn Park folks like the trucking companies and delivery services. Because their livelihood depends on it, they have gotten scheduled maintenance down to a science. And the last thing they skimp on is regular maintenance.
Why is that? Well, for one thing they know that routine maintenance prevents expensive repairs and costly breakdowns. They also know that a well-maintained vehicle uses less fuel. For them, even a small decrease in fuel efficiency may put their Brooklyn Park business in the red.
Ring any bells? Can most Brooklyn Park vehicle owners honestly say that there isn't at least one thing on the list that hasn't been done?
Let's suppose you chose to spend $150 and get caught up on some of these services at Affordable Transmissions. Figure that they combine to improve your fuel efficiency by 15 percent. What would that mean to your pocketbook?
Well, the average personal vehicle in Brooklyn Park is driven about 12,000 a year. If you get 20 miles per gallon in your vehicle, over the course of one year you would pay for the $150 worth of service and save an additional $165 dollars if gas is at t$3.50. If gas is $4.50, you would save $255. And you'd rack up savings of $345 dollars with gas at $5.50.
From this you can see that the more fuel costs, the more it pays to keep up on scheduled maintenance. Some of us drive trucks in Brooklyn Park for work or recreation – or want a large SUV for family needs. A 15 percent improvement in fuel economy can generate huge savings – $650 a year if gas is $4.50 a gallon in Brooklyn Park. Take a look at this table to see where your savings could lie.
So catch up on those services you've been neglecting at Affordable Transmissions. Get a couple done now and a couple next time. Chances are you'll save a lot of money at Brooklyn Park gas pumps this year – and a lot more on repairs in years to come.
Your vehicle is important to you, and keeping it running properly is important to your lifestyle. That's why you're smart enough to have it serviced regularly at Affordable Transmissions in Brooklyn Park. And even though it may just be routine maintenance, you want it done right by automotive professionals.
It's also very important to your Brooklyn Park service center to keep you happy and on the road. You might be surprised at the amount of money our Brooklyn Park auto service center spends annually to make sure our friendly and knowledgeable technicians are properly trained.
Affordable Transmissions offers a variety of automotive services for many kinds of vehicles. We need to be current on the latest techniques and parts so that we can give you quality service. Our Brooklyn Park service centers subscribe to data services that list the high quality parts and fluids recommended by your manufacturer.
And each service has a checklist of standard procedures. Affordable Transmissions technicians follow these procedures so they can safely deliver a consistent level of high-quality service.
Some services at Affordable Transmissions require the use of specialized equipment. Affordable Transmissions technicians are trained extensively on this equipment so that they can service your car quickly and efficiently.
MN folks may be interested to know that service technicians (including those at Affordable Transmissions) are trained in compliance with federal and local Brooklyn Park laws and regulations, including environmental regulations regarding the disposal of used parts and fluids.
It's the goal of Affordable Transmissions to provide fast, courteous service. You should feel free to ask your friendly and knowledgeable technician or one of the managers about your service or for more information about their recommendations.
At Affordable Transmissions, well-trained service providers, established procedures, industry standards and, of course, great people, combine to give you the best auto service in Brooklyn Park.
Hey Brooklyn Park Drivers; What Is the Most Distracting Food?
So what is the most distracting food to have in the car while driving around Brooklyn Park?
Well, you may be surprised<|fim_middle|> Affordable Transmissions service advisor which is best wiper blade for your driving conditions. Replace your blades on schedule so you never have to struggle with your vision when you switch on your wipers.
The government mandates a lot of equipment on cars in Brooklyn Park, MN: emission devices and control computers, safety equipment like airbags and crash worthiness requirements. All of this is great for the Brooklyn Park motoring public, but it does add quite a bit to the price of a new vehicle.
Because new vehicles are more expensive, people in the Brooklyn Park area are driving their old vehicles longer. The average vehicle is now over nine years old. Two thirds of vehicles on the road in MN have more than 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on them. As cars age, their performance drops, they have difficulty idling for long periods and are more sensitive to weather extremes. Fortunately today's cars are up to the challenge – but they need a little help to keep on goin'.
Give Affordable Transmissions a call at (763) 533-1169 to schedule your next maintenance.
It's also time to make sure you have a good technician, like those here at Affordable Transmissions. There are some services and replacements that are scheduled after you put on some clicks, like timing belts, valve train adjustments, suspension, anti-lock brake service, air bags, etc. And unexpected repairs down the road are just par for the course. Check for unusual sounds, smells or the way your car feels. These could be hints that trouble's brewing. Better to catch it early before it turns into a costly repair.
A lot of Brooklyn Park drivers have asked whether or not they should use their severe service maintenance schedule, which is listed in their vehicle's owner's manual. It can be somewhat confusing, so we decided to consult an expert. Cricket Killingsworth is from QMI/Heartland, a manufacturer of automotive products and fluids. She's been in the automotive business for over 30 years and is a speaker, a trainer and a writer.
Foreign and domestic vehicle manufacturers create a specific schedule for each vehicle they manufacture. So there isn't one generic schedule that applies to all vehicles. In addition to your owner's manual, Brooklyn Park automotive repair centers (including Affordable Transmissions) subscribe to information services that provide the auto maintenance schedules for every vehicle - so they can help Brooklyn Park drivers know when to take care of needed services. Below is a typical definition for severe service.
It's common sense for Brooklyn Park drivers: Just a few minutes at higher speeds allows the moisture in the oil to evaporate. Very short trips, or trips of less than 10 miles when it's very cold, don't allow the engine to heat up enough to get rid of the water. And water in the oil leads to damaging sludge. Also, towing and heavy loads raise operating temperatures and cause fluids to break down faster. Dusty and muddy driving around Brooklyn Park means that more dirt will get past the air filter to contaminate the fuel system and engine oil.
The bottom line is that you need to decide for yourself if the regular or severe service schedule is right for you, based on your driving habits. Look at your owner's manual or talk with your Affordable Transmissions service advisor who can help you know which schedule to follow.
Make an honest evaluation of your driving habits. Unless you do mostly MN highway driving in moderate weather, you'll likely have a fairly good amount of severe service mixed in. Some Brooklyn Park drivers just want to play it safe and follow the severe service recommendations, rather than analyzing how they drive each month. | to learn that all but the gummy bears are in the top ten most distracting foods when you are driving. But if you chose 'coffee,' then give yourself an extra two points. Coffee is the number one food distraction for drivers in Brooklyn Park and around the country.
You'll notice that all of the top ten distracting food items are messy. Messy foods are the types of food you might spill (very distracting!), then try to clean up (a safe-driving impossibility!). If you gotta eat on the run, take five-then drive. You'll thank yourself later for two reasons: one, that you can actually relax for just a moment in our fast-paced world, and two, you won't have to worry about getting that cinnamon roll frosting out of your dashboard after that near miss.
Keep drinks in spill-proof containers, too, so you can keep your eyes on the Brooklyn Park road without worrying about where that spill is headed.
So, taking a food break… or filling out accident reports. We don't have to ask you which you prefer; it's a no brainer.
Because 90% of our driving decisions are based on visual information, unobscured vision is paramount. Which brings us to the topic of today's Affordable Transmissions article: wiper blades. While this isn't the most exciting automotive subject, it's important. You wouldn't drive at night in Brooklyn Park with your headlights off, but a dirty or streaked vehicle windshield can catch the glare of the sun or on-coming headlights and make it just as difficult to see.
Most of us in Brooklyn Park replace our wiper blades when they no longer do the job. They are so worn, hard or brittle that they can't clean the windshield. They may even be falling apart. In other words, we deal with our wiper blades from a failure perspective. We address them when they no longer function. The theory, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," doesn't apply here. Instead, we should think about wipers blades as an important safety system that we should maintain rather than repair.
MN automotive experts recommend that we change our wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and fall. That way you have functional blades for those Brooklyn Park spring showers and winter storms.
When we use our wipers a lot, they get worn from the Brooklyn Park road grime and bug juice. Even if we don't use them very often, they're exposed to the sun, heat and cold, and air which cause them to dry out, become brittle and break.
And of course, you need a good windshield washer fluid in your vehicle to help the wipers do their job. Always use washer fluid because plain water doesn't work as well and it can freeze in the reservoir. If you're driving where there are a lot of bugs in MN, you can pay a little more and get fluid that does a better job of clearing them. If you live where you have extremely cold winters, you can get fluid that resists freezing.
Like everything else in the automotive world, there've been some big advancements in wiper blades, both in terms of the design and the materials from which the blade is made. If you are a local Brooklyn Park driver that has a need for better than average windshield wipers, you can pay some more for an upgraded wiper. And if you live where there's a lot of snow and ice in MN, they make special winter blades that don't clog up and freeze like standard blades.
At one of your fall and spring oil changes, ask your | 727 |
Talking about Europen breakfasts in the previous article, a chain reaction seems to have<|fim_middle|> them everywhere. The best restaurants in the city are scattered all over that one does not need to go too far to find something from his/her wishlist. | started. We were wondering what could be the best brunch to put an excellent working day on full steam.
We have the perfect answer; Lasagnas.
You all know what they are. Considered as the oldest form of pasta, Lasagne are layered pasta with rich stuffing between the layers. Its origin is ascribed to the Italian city of Naples sometime during the middle ages. Unlike the ones, you encounter now, traditional lasagne filled with rich sausages and meatballs cooked to perfection using a variety of sauces. On the top of all that, three prominent types of cheese were also used to spike up the spices.
Now, if you got TO go out for some proper lasagna in Hyderabad, where would you go?
Quattro Ristorante in Jubilee Hills is one place that can provide a Lasagne that can load you up like anything.
The Rustic Slow Roasted Lamb Lasagna from Olive Bistro certainly can be on the top of your wishlist just because it is a great hit and will take a very strong foodie to finish.
CIBO House has Chicken Lasagna that can make your day.
More than the fact that Hyderabad has got all the prominent cuisines of the world covered, what should make us foodies happy is that fact that we have got | 259 |
Carl LEWIS | Olympic Channel
EventsSwimming
Team Open Water 5km Relay | Swimming - FINA World Championships - Gwangju
Carl LEWIS
– Athletics
1 Jul 1961 Birmingham, United States of America
188 cm / 80 kg 6'2'' / 176 pounds
Carl Lewis is considered by many to be the greatest track & field athlete of all time and, with nine Olympic gold medals, 10 Olympic medals, and eight gold medals at the World Championships, it is a justifiable claim. His Olympic gold medals came in 1984 (100 metres, 200 metres, 4×100 metres relay, long jump), 1988 (100 metres, long jump), 1992 (4×100 metres relay, long jump), and 1996 (long jump). His four victories in 1984 matched the record set by Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympic Games. In 1996 at Atlanta, Lewis ended his Olympic career by equalling Al Oerter's...
Carl Lewis is considered by many to be the greatest track & field athlete of all time and, with nine Olympic gold medals, 10 Olympic medals, and eight gold medals at the World Championships, it is a justifiable claim. His Olympic gold medals came in 1984 (100 metres, 200 metres, 4×100 metres relay, long jump), 1988 (100 metres, long jump), 1992 (4×100 metres relay, long jump), and 1996 (long jump). His four victories in 1984 matched the record set by Jesse Owens at the <|fim_middle|>OriginalsTake the Mic
Carl Lewis | LA 1984, Seoul 1988 & Atlanta 1996 | Take the Mic
OriginalsOn The Line
Los Angeles 1984 - The story of when Carl Lewis met Jesse Owens
Johnson on Bolt's sprint technique
Los Angeles 1984 - Lewis wins the 100m final
Barcelona 1992 - USA win the 4x100 relay men and break the world record
Seoul 1988 - Lewis awarded with the 100m gold after Johnson disqualification
OriginalsRoad to Glory
Road to Glory - Athletics - The Sprinters
Other athletes | 1936 Olympic Games. In 1996 at Atlanta, Lewis ended his Olympic career by equalling Al Oerter's record of winning the same Olympic event four times consecutively, with Lewis's feat occurring in the long jump.
At the World Athletics Championships, Lewis won the 100 metres, long jump and ran on the winning 4×100 relay team in 1983 and 1987. In 1991, he repeated in the 100 and the relay, but finished second to Mike Powell in the greatest long jump duel in history. In that event, Lewis set his lifetime personal best of 8.87 (29-1¼), but lost out to Powell, who with a mark of 8.95 (29-4), broke the legendary world record set by Bob Beamon at the 1968 Olympics. Lewis also competed at the 1993 World Championships, finishing third in the 200. At the Pan American Games he won bronze (1979) and gold (1987) in long jump and was also a member of the gold medal winning 4×100 relay team (with Lee McNeill, Harvey Glance, and the non-Olympian Lee McRae) in 1987.
Lewis twice set individual world records at 100 metres (1988, 1991), although his 1988 world record came at the Seoul Olympics when he initially finished second behind Ben Johnson's presumed world record, although Johnson was disqualified for doping the next day. In relays he was a member of teams that posted world records at 4×100 metres six times and 4×200 metres three times. Although almost universally considered the greatest long jumper ever, he never set a world record in that event. In addition to his 1991 World Championships personal best, Lewis was denied that record in 1982, when he won the USOC National Sports Festival. Lewis had a jump estimated by most knowledgeable observers to be beyond 30 feet (9.14), but it was controversially ruled a foul, although no mark was found on the plasticine beyond the take-off mark.
Despite his performances, Lewis never achieved great popularity among fans in the United States, and even world-wide his ability outstripped his appeal. He made some attempts to start a pop singing career, but with almost disastrous results, although he has appeared in a few movies. He did become wealthy from his athletics career and many athletes credit Lewis with increasing performance fees in the sport.
Personal Bests: 100 – 9.86 (1991); 200 – 19.75 (1983); LJ – 8.87 (29-1¼) (1991).
Carl in numbers
Gold medal:9 Silver medal:1 Bronze medal:
1 Gold medal
4 x 100 metres Relay
2 Silver medal
Turn it up! Hanyu's hits, Bolt's beats, and much, much more: When Olympians and music combine...
Carl Lewis pushing for athletics shake-up
OriginalsOlympic Channel Podcast
NewsAthletics
Lewis: 'A super bowl win is good, but Olympic gold is better.'
The Revenge of the Son of the Wind | Barcelona 1992
Men's Long Jump Final | Barcelona 1992
| 739 |
Lactase Plus [Digestive]. The lactase and protease enzymes in Lactase Plus help many people who have difficulty digesting dairy products by aiding the breakdown of milk sugar and milk protein.
Adults: Take one or two capsules up to 3 times daily before consuming foods and beverages containing lactose.
Take 1 or 2 capsules up to three times daily before consuming foods and bevergages containing lactose.
Lactase Plus provides the necessary enzymes to make milk and dairy products more digestible. This is an effective and convenient solution for people with a lactose intolerance<|fim_middle|> Relaxes and soothes the stomach.
3. Buffers and stabilizes the enzymes. | . For many people it's not just the lactose (milk sugar) in dairy products that causes the bloating, gas, and other discomfort, but also the protein and fat. Lactase Plus combines lactase, lipase, and protease for maximum digestion to eliminate the discomfort.
1. | 62 |
IT managers find that they can take advantage of new technologies and techniques to reduce the huge costs of powering and cooling their facilities.
Data centers are notorious power burners. They need electricity to fuel servers, storage systems, networking gear and all of the other associated IT gear.
But that's just the beginning. In fact, it's only half of the story.
Keeping the environment cool enough to run reliably is even more costly. Temperature management systems represent as much as half of most data center utility costs, says Steve Carlini, global director of<|fim_middle|> | data center solution marketing at Schneider Electric, a provider of data center power and cooling products.
The challenge will only increase as demand grows for additional IT resources and data center managers struggle to find the power to support them. A study released last year by a Stanford University professor estimated that energy usage grew 36 percent in U.S. data centers from 2005 to 2010.
But there's good news: New power-saving and measurement technologies, along with maturing best practices, can help IT managers implement comprehensive strategies to better rein in energy costs.
A growing number of IT leaders realize that to cut costs, they must focus on their data centers' energy bills. For example, 54 percent of IT professionals say they have or are developing programs to manage power demands in their data centers, according to the CDW 2012 Energy Efficient IT Report.
In addition, an impressive 75 percent of the organizations with implemented programs have seen reductions in IT energy costs. This helps explain why survey respondents reported that 32 percent of data center purchasing in the past few months can be classified as energy-efficient or environmentally oriented in some way.
Where is the money going? The survey showed that the most common energy-efficient solutions are virtualization for servers or storage, server consolidation, low-power/low-wattage processors, devices that qualify for the U.S. government's ENERGY STAR program, power-efficient networking equipment and energy-efficient/load-shedding uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
In time, cloud computing could play a significant role in cutting the energy costs of organizations. Sixty-two percent of the IT professionals surveyed consider cloud computing an energy-efficient approach to data center consolidation — up from 47 percent in 2010.
The survey also identified some lingering roadblocks to greener data centers. In particular, respondents noted that they need information and measurement tools to help assess energy use, potential savings and the results of their investments.
What else can IT managers do to squeeze more power savings out of today's data centers? Industry experts advise taking a three-phase approach for greater power and cooling efficiency.
For ongoing insight, many IT managers are installing tools for real-time power monitoring. They can provide better information than what's in monthly utility bill summaries, which at best provide only a "rearview mirror" look at usage patterns.
"Data center managers can start by looking at power usage rates at the UPS level as a benchmark," Pouchet says.
This type of comprehensive data lets IT administrators and facilities managers coordinate energy strategies. The data also give administrators a broader picture of their energy needs for budget-planning purposes.
In addition, the information can serve as an early warning to alert IT managers that server racks are approaching the limits of their power-supply threshold. For example, as virtualization and blade servers enable IT departments to more densely pack servers into racks, available kilowatt capacities must keep pace, or organizations face expensive downtime.
Accurate consumption statistics can also identify whether data centers are paying for "captive power" — excess resources misallocated to one location in a facility while another is starved for electricity. One common example is a server rack that's being fed by multiple 3-kilowatt power lines, but monitoring equipment shows the unit never pulls more than 6 kilowatts. Armed with such information, administrators could redirect one of the lines to give a second rack additional capacity without increasing the overall utility bill.
Finally, real-time monitoring can help IT managers spot underutilized servers that continue to draw high percentages of power. Decisions can then be made to decommission them or expand their workloads.
Additional benefits come from replacing legacy hardware with servers that meet the specifications of the U.S. government's ENERGY STAR program, which has continually lowered power allowances. Previously, a 1U rack server could get by using 100 watts while idle.
Under today's ENERGY STAR guidelines, it must draw only 55 watts. Therefore, replacing servers with newer models that use about half the power would quickly pay back the capital costs and then produce cost avoidance for the life of the servers.
Because cooling systems represent a large share of the energy budget, many data center managers are rethinking their cooling strategies. The traditional approach is to use air handlers that pump cold air under raised floors or into rooms at large. The problem? Cooling systems need to be set to cool entire data centers based on the temperature of the hottest rack. Obviously, that's overkill.
Spot cooling is an option that works well with densely spaced server racks. New options combine fans and coils of piping that contain refrigerant. Together, they work to bring cool air as close as possible to heat-generating sources. IT managers can mount them wherever they're needed most — on the tops, sides or backs of racks or above a row of servers.
Modularity is another selling point for these systems. Organizations can quickly reconfigure refrigerant piping to accommodate new equipment or redirect cooling to racks that experience heat spikes due to heavy usage.
Targeted cooling also relieves some of the energy demands associated with large under-floor fans that distribute cool air throughout data centers. The fans themselves draw high amounts of power. Instead, spot-cooling techniques use smaller fans that sit directly above racks. Because they don't have to push air as far, they require less energy.
Modular cooling systems are especially effective when they're paired with cold-aisle containment strategies. These containment systems enclose a row of server racks to seal in cold air and keep it where the potential for hot spots is highest rather than letting the conditioned air float off into the room at large.
"Containment prevents the mixing of air within the data center, and that significantly increases the effectiveness and the performance of whatever cooling techniques are in use," Carlini says.
Another option is to position servers so that the hot sides of two racks face each other. Fans or containment systems can then direct the combined hot air to chimneys, where it is vented outside or passed through chillers that cool the air and recycle it back to the server rack.
Although there are many power-saving innovations becoming available to data centers, don't overlook some simple and low-cost ways to reduce expenses, advises Craig Watkins, product manager for racks and cooling systems at Tripp Lite.
Another strategy is to raise the maximum temperature settings in the data center. Conventional wisdom previously called for setting the thermostat at 64 degrees, which consultants say no longer applies when concentrated cooling methods are in play.
The right setting for each data center depends on a number of factors, such as the cooling methodology in place and the average outside air temperatures.
With the right real-time monitors, cooling techniques, containment systems and best practices, IT managers can not only identify the right temperature but also achieve it at the right price. | 1,383 |
You are here: Home » Sports » Football » News
Three points on Manuel Diaz's mind as SC East Bengal take on Od<|fim_middle|>.
Read our full coverage on Manchester United
First Published: Mon, November 29 2021. 18:34 IST | isha FC
Not worried about Ajinkya's form but would like him to score more: Dravid
Manchester United hires Rangnick as manager until end of season
Revered German coach Ralf Rangnick was hired Monday to lead United until the end of the season, an appointment that will shake up the playing style and management structure of the Premier League team
Manchester United | English Premier League
AP | London Last Updated at November 29, 2021 18:34 IST
https://mybs.in/2Zj7qUc
Ralf Rangnick: Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United's new boss
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MATCHDAY: Chelsea hosts slumping Manchester United, Real Madrid vs Sevilla
OnePlus Nord 2 x PAC-MAN is everything limited-edition smartphone should be
Man United, Chelsea advance in Champions League; Barcelona made to wait
Revered German coach Ralf Rangnick was hired Monday to lead Manchester United until the end of the season, an appointment that will shake up the playing style and management structure of the Premier League team in its bid to return to the top of the English game.
The 63-year-old Rangnick has left his role as head of sports and development at Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow to take charge of United, which has been managed by former player Michael Carrick since the firing of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Nov. 21.
United is planning to hire a permanent manager in the offseason, at which time Rangnick will take up a consultancy role for a further two years, the club said.
Rangnick is a pioneer of the high-intensity pressing game developed in Germany and increasingly dominant across the world over the last decade, so his arrival at Old Trafford for his first job in English soccer should shake up the playing style of United as the record 20-time English champions looks to rescue their season.
United is in eighth place in the Premier League, 12 points off leader Chelsea after 13 games, with Solskjaer unable to develop a coherent game plan to challenge its biggest rivals in England.
Rangnick should provide that, though how some players in particular 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo adapt will be fascinating to see.
The squad is full of talent and has a great balance of youth and experience, Rangnick said.
All my efforts for the next six months will be on helping these players fulfil their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team.
Rangnick's first match in charge will be against Arsenal on Thursday if he is able to secure a working visa by then. If not, Carrick will continue in his interim role.
United director John Murtough described Rangnick as one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football.
He was our No. 1 candidate for interim manager, reflecting the invaluable leadership and technical skills he will bring from almost four decades of experience in management and coaching, Murtough said.
United has gone from the relative inexperience of Solskjaer, who was in charge for three years and didn't win a trophy despite improving the make-up of the squad, to a coach in Rangnick who has been an influence on managers like Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich's Julian Nagelsmann and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp.
He has experience as a sporting director and first-team manager particularly within Red Bull's network of clubs with roles at Salzburg and Leipzig. Before then, he won the German Cup with Schalke in 2011 when he also reached the semifinals of the Champions League.
Rangnick has been in an executive role at Lokomotiv since July | 779 |
Announcing Winner of the 2017 MLD Wealth Management Scholarship
Aug 1, 2017 | Business
MLD Wealth Management is Excited to Announce that the Winner of its Annual Scholastic Scholarship is Manbir Grewal.
CALGARY, AB, August 01, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ — It is with great pleasure that we announce that this year's MLD scholarship for $3000 has been awarded to Manbir Grewal, a freshman at the University of Western Ontario. There were over 457 applicants across the US and Canada that applied for the MLD scholarship, with the final 20 who were shortlisted having exceptional grades, extracurricular commitments, leadership experiences, and motivating stories about overcoming hardships and adversities.
Mr. Grewal (recipient of the award) stated, "There is no combination of words that fully embody the respect I have for this scholarship, and how sincerely it provides students, such as myself, with the opportunity to make a change in this world."
Chad Larson of MLD Wealth Management and co-founder of the scholarship, noted that this scholarship was created because "we believe that by supporting the development of students who possess vision, drive, compassion and a thirst for knowledge, we can improve society and drive industry. Selecting Manbir as the winner out of the pool applicants was incredibly difficult because there were so many highly qualified and exemplary students, but he showed that despite adversities, he could set clear goals, accomplish them, and lift up others while in the process."
The MLD Annual Scholastic Scholarship is about celebrating and supporting such students with these attributes. We commend all the amazing applicants that applied and wish all of them the best in their academic endeavors and life pursuits. To learn more about this scholarship go to http://mywealthmanagement.ca/scholarship2017
About MLD: Founded in 2004, the MLD Wealth Management Group is a team of expert wealth advisors and portfolio managers based in Calgary, Alberta that manage over 700 million dollars<|fim_middle|> Love (and Art)! Broadway Dreams Demonstrates The Unifying Power of the Arts With a Landmark Collaboration in Russia The Internationally Renowned Arts Education Program Pre...
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Information panels reinvented, learning to talk is just the beginning WoodTalk interactive eco-panel will interpret the envir... | in assets. The team members are nationally nominated and recognized for their excellence, including such awards as the Top Under 40 Investment Professionals in Canada, and Discretionary Portfolio Manager of the Year. MLD Wealth Management Group is a Multi-Family office focused on working with quality people and their families in helping them protect, manage and grow their wealth for generations to come.
Contact Chris Hilliard at [email protected] for further inquires.
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<|fim_middle|>30/2008 | Alien in a Strange Land
Habitation of God
Unrighteous Mammon
Darkness That One Can Feel
Vessels of Mercy
I AM YHWH
When Heat Comes
Whom Do You Seek?
I Wait for You
You May Have Life
Only Sovereign
Kingdom Warfare
You May Have Peace
Greater Works
Troubled in Spirit
Reverent Submission
Now I See
Unworthy Servants
Knowledge of the Truth
Fellow Servants and Brothers
I have been an alien in a strange land. (Exodus 18:3 KJV)
There are many whose lives make them enemies of Christ's death on the cross. They are going to end up in hell, because their god is their bodily desires. They are proud of what they should be ashamed of, and they think only of things that belong to this world. We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. (Philippians 3:18-20 GNB)
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalms 42:2 NKJV)
If one visits a strange place, it's enjoyable to stay in an upscale hotel which caters to every need. Yet there's no place like home, and it's easy to leave behind the pleasant little amenities that were fully available for use but never owned.
Whether"stuff" of this world compares more closely to amenities of a five-star inn or of a cheap motel, it's not ours, but only available while we visit a strange land. Our citizenship is of another place, and we will one day go home and leave this all behind.
Wealth, health, talent, status, accomplishment—if it's of this world, it's temporary. It's purpose (beyond sustaining life) is to test of what sort of citizens of heaven we are. When the exam is finished, heaven will measure us according to whether resources were squandered on the foreign or faithfully used with an eye on our true home.
Father, You are abundantly generous with us. You give us so much more than we actually need. Please show us how You wish it used. Please grant us endurance for the brief test that reveals our heart. Please draw our hearts to value the eternal.
"Wealth consists not in the abundance of our possessions, but in the fewness of our wants." — Unknown
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Labels Accountability, Blessings from God, The Kingdom Published 9/ | 565 |
Enjoy a park in Bangalore, India
When we were kids, we were taken down to the Richmond Town park to play for a few hours by the ?baby ayah?. We held her hands which were as rough as stone and were dragged across the road when there was a break in traffic.
The park was filled with flowers planted in orderly beds and in the centre of the park was a pond over which we hung and watched the tiny guppies dart about with their colourful tails.
Later when the boys were tiny, I did the same, taking them down to the park when we visited Mum and Dad. The park was still lovely, though beginning to go to seed and in one corner lived the maali and his family. No one was allowed to run around on the lawns, but the boys enjoyed chasing one another on the paths between the flower beds and they too enjoyed the<|fim_middle|> into a lush paradise. The trees are grown and kept trim and there is a lot of sunlight coming into the park. The Puravankara group are builders and seem to have unleashed a great set of maalis to transform the park into a green, manicured jewel. Finally it is civil society which will turn our beloved Bangalore back to what it once was. | guppies in the pond.
Later we took my grand daughter down to the park and lo and behold a whole section had been turned into a great kiddy playground with swings and slides installed, with little ones having a wonderful time, on them. Squealing and racing up the wrong way on colourful slides. Swinging high in the air on bucket swings, the merry go round looked broken so we did not attempt it with the little one. But she spent a whole hour having a whale of a time, which was wonderful as it matched her spiffy park in London, that she is used to.
Then we walked down to the Nandini kiosk round the corner and bought milk and icecreams and chomped our way home. Not diabetic me ofcourse, but there was a lovely low sugar, iced, badam (almond) milk for me. And the little one was very happy with her cup of vanilla icecream which she is partial to, and skipped all the way home.
We also took her to Cubbon Park where the Independence day flower show was closing down. There were a few exhibits left, but most of it was sadly spent and the exhibits taken away by the exhibitors. What she was thrilled about was being able to eat a Polly Mango there which was semi ripe. She loved it, minus any spice of course. So we scoured the place for a second one before we got into the car. And she sat on the carved bull infront of the glass house just like we did as kids and Mum did as a young bride.
She was happy to walk around the edge of the Cubbon Park lake which seems to have been turned into a sort of soup bowl, with a high walking path around it. How rain water can flow in is anyone?s guess. A troupe of monkeys were running around, and she stood and watched their antics for a while. I am nervous of monkeys as they are unpredictable and bite.
But the whole idea of this story is the Rest House Road park. As kids it was known as Murder Park as someone had been murdered there.Now the Puravankara group has taken over and turned it | 439 |
Well, I cannot believe it, but a whole year as passed since our little surprise baby was born!
9th July saw Marley's 1st birthday. I was awake at 4am and saying to Paul (hubby) that this time last year, we both had no idea I was pregnant, yet around 35 minutes later at that time last year, I was giving birth!
Obviously, by now, we are long adjust to having our little man around - he's such a personality now. Me, Paul & David all agree that now we can't even remember what it was like before Marley. We love our little family of four.
Quite an eventful 11 months leading up to his first birthday. He's doing exceptionally well. He was so strong, even as a newborn - wanting to lift that little head and he could as well, his neck muscles were so strong. He was smiling from 2 months old. Wanting to sit up at 3 months old (but needing lots of support). By 6 months old, he was sitting mostly unsupported. And his personality was really beginning to show already. Such a cheeky little devil. At 9 months, he was sitting up, beginning to crawl, cut his first 2 teeth at once (bottom front), playing hide & seek, able to put balls into his toy and take them out again. Really doing exceptionally well.
We started weaning him at 4 months as he seemed more than ready for food, and he took to it so naturally, started feeding from a spoon right away and doing really well. However, at about 7 months, he started to show signs of teething, always chewing down on stuff (even though his teeth did not appear until he was 9 months) and he gradually started to go off his milk. Refusing it more and more which was problematic, but we had to start giving it to him with baby porridge etc. to get him to have it. Once his teeth began to cut, he decisively did want want milk full stop, so we always had to try and give him his daily milk requirement in the form of baby porridge or similar. I made him rice pudding a lot which helped too. He still hates milk now, he has normal cows milk now, but he still won't just drink some. So he has it on his weetabix, eats plenty of yoghurt and cheese to get his calcium. When he stopped wanting his milk, we felt quite distraught, not knowing how to get him to have what he needed, but we just had to look at other ways of getting him to have some. I'm not sure we<|fim_middle|> day, but all we could do was try. It helped once he could have yoghurts and cheese aplenty. He loves cheese triangles and cheese spread on bread. And loves fromage frais which is quite fortunate. Plus, rather bizarrely, he doesn't mind drinking milk leftover from his cereal, just not on its own from a cup!
He's also a bit like the incredible hulk... He is so unbelievably strong for toddler and has been for quite some time. When he's angry, he is more than capable of knocking something from your hand in protest, no matter how tight a grip you have on it. He also throws balls and other toys (even less light ones) at least half way across the living room (and we have quite a big living room)! He also pulls off his dummy holders - he has two different types - one with a plastic round clip on bit which he pulls off (without opening) and the other with a very strong metal clasp which he also pulls off! Sometimes I expect him to turn green and burst out of his clothes!!
Marley enjoyed his 1st Birthday and his Charlie & The Numbers cake!
He enjoyed it, but I think he was a little overwhelmed as well. And totally knackered, he didn't have a nap all day (as everything was just far too interesting) and was so worked up by the end of the day as he was so worn out. Now we have more milestones to look forward too. He's just cut one of his top front teeth and the one next to it looks like it's about to as well, I feel so sorry for him, he seems to get teeth through in twos - twice the pain at once :( Also, he's getting good with his balance on his feet, so I shouldn't think it'll be too long before he's walking around (and falling on his bum a lot!). He also has the most amazing co-ordination - one of his little birthday ballons, David throws it to him and 9/10 times, he actually catches it!! He also manages to grab at (and hold on to) moving targets!! When you hold his hands and walk around with him, he finds anything he can to kick and he does that really well too - something tells me we have a mini footballer in the making!
Ahh, such lovely pictures! It's so nice to see Marley with his caring big brother. You are VERY lucky!
Wow, so you didn't know you were pregnant until you gave birth? That's amazing! | always managed to get him as much as he needed in a | 12 |
One Ring
(Redirected from Ring-bearer)
"Ring-bearer" and "The One Ring" redirect here. For the attendant in a wedding ceremony, see Page boy (wedding attendant). For the role-playing game, see The One Ring Roleplaying Game. For the missed telephone call scam, see Phone fraud § Fraud against customers by third parties.
This Middle-earth-related article describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. Please help rewrite it to explain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective. (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
The One Ring is an artefact that appears as the central plot element in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1954–55). It is described in an earlier story, The Hobbit (1937), as a magic ring of invisibility. In the sequel, The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien ascribes to the Ring a darker character, with malevolent power going far beyond conferring invisibility: it was created by Sauron the Dark Lord as part of his design to win dominion over Middle-earth. The Lord of the Rings concerns the quest to destroy the Ring to keep Sauron from fulfilling his design.
Artist's representation of the One Ring
In-story information
Magical ring
Power augmentation
Will domination
Control over other Rings of Power
Specific traits and abilities
Plain gold ring; glowing inscription appears when ring is placed in flames. can change in size by its own will
Déagol
Sméagol / Gollum
LiteratureEdit
In The Lord of the Rings and the posthumously published The Silmarillion, Tolkien provides a detailed internal development from the forging of the Ring to its destruction. In the fictional context of Middle-earth, these events take place during several thousand years in the Second and Third Age of Arda.
The One Ring was forged by the Dark Lord Sauron during the Second Age to gain dominion over the free peoples of Middle-earth. In disguise as Annatar, or "Lord of Gifts", he aided the Elven smiths of Eregion and their leader Celebrimbor in the making of the Rings of Power. He then forged the One Ring himself in the fires of Mount Doom.[1]
Sauron intended it to be the most powerful of all Rings, able to rule and control those who wore the others. Since the other Rings were themselves powerful, Sauron was obliged to place much of his own power into the One to achieve his purpose.[2]
Creating the Ring simultaneously strengthened and weakened Sauron's power. On the one hand, as long as Sauron had the Ring, he could control the power of all the other Rings, and thus he was significantly more powerful after its creation than before;[3] and putting such a great portion of his own power into the Ring ensured Sauron's continued existence so long as the Ring existed. On the other hand, by binding his power within the Ring, Sauron became dependent on it—without it, his power was significantly diminished.[1][3]
AppearanceEdit
The Ring seemed to be made simply of gold, but it was impervious to damage. It could be destroyed only by throwing it into the pit of the volcanic Mount Doom where it was originally forged. Unlike other rings, the One Ring was not susceptible to dragon fire[4], but it could still be heated to some extent, as Isildur's hand was burnt when he took the Ring for the first time, because it was hot. Like some lesser rings forged by the Elves as "essays in the craft"—but unlike the other Rings<|fim_middle|>2001. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
^ "Project MUSE – Tolkien Studies – Roots and Branches: Selected Papers on Tolkien (review)". Muse.jhu.edu. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
^ Roots and Branches
Carpenter, Humphrey, ed. (1981), The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, ISBN 0-395-31555-7
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=One_Ring&oldid=906251937#Ring-bearers" | of Power—the One Ring bore no gem. Its identity could be determined by a little-known but simple test: when placed in a fire, it displayed a fiery Tengwar inscription in the Black Speech of Mordor, with two lines from a rhyme of lore describing the Rings:
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
The lines inscribed on the Ring (in boldface above) were pronounced by Sauron when he forged the Ring. The Elven smiths heard him chanting them, and thereupon became aware of his purpose and took off their own Rings to foil his plan.
A person wearing the Ring would enter a shadowy world revealing the physical world from a different aspect, from which physical objects were harder to see. The wearer was mostly invisible to ordinary beings, such as Men, but visible to the Nazgûl. The Ring dimmed the wearer's sight, while at the same time sharpening the other senses.
The enigmatic Tom Bombadil appeared to be unaffected by the Ring; when he wore the Ring, he did not become invisible, nor did Frodo wearing the Ring become invisible to Bombadil. Tom played with the Ring like a conjurer borrowing someone's watch for a trick, seemingly making it disappear and reappear. But Gandalf maintained that while the Ring had no effect on Bombadil, Bombadil could not unmake it or alter its power on others.
The Ring slowly but inevitably corrupted its bearer, regardless of the bearer's initial intent. This corrupting power was apparently stronger on individuals more inclined to evil and selfishness: it took almost immediate hold of the greedy Sméagol as soon as he saw it, and corrupted Boromir after a few months of near proximity, while its effects were only starting to be seen in the well-meaning Bilbo after his sixty years' possession. Even the Wise such as Gandalf, Elrond, and Galadriel were not immune; Gandalf refused Frodo's offer of the Ring for fear that he would succumb to its influence. Rather than wielding it, therefore, the Wise determined that it should be destroyed.
The Ring had the ability to change size, and perhaps its weight too. As well as adapting to fingers of varying size, from Sauron's to Frodo's, it sometimes suddenly expanded to escape from its wearer.[5] For this reason, Frodo attached the Ring to a chain around his neck to avoid unwillingly losing it.
InscriptionEdit
The words of the ring-inscription are in Black Speech, a language devised by Sauron and used in the land of Mordor. The inscription reflects the One Ring's power to control the other Rings of Power. The writing uses Elvish letters (tengwar), in a mode (i.e. orthography) adapted to the Black Speech.
Normally the One Ring appeared perfectly plain and featureless, but when heated its inscription appeared in fiery letters. A drawing of the inscription and a translation provided by Gandalf appears in Book I, Chapter 2 of The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past".
Gandalf speaks the words in Black Speech in Book II, Chapter 2, "The Council of Elrond":
Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,
Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.
Translated, the words mean:
One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
When Isildur took the Ring from Sauron's hand, it was burning hot, so the letters were legible. Isildur was able to transcribe the inscription before it faded as the Ring cooled. This transcription survived in a document Isildur left in Gondor before marching north to the Gladden Fields, where he was killed and the Ring lost.
Gandalf learned of the Ring's inscription when he read Isildur's account. When Gandalf subsequently heated the ring that Bilbo Baggins had left to Frodo, the inscription reappeared. The wizard then had no doubt that Frodo's ring was the One Ring. When Gandalf recited the inscription in Black Speech at the Council of Elrond, everyone trembled:
The change in the wizard's voice was astounding. Suddenly it became menacing, powerful, harsh as stone. A shadow seemed to pass over the high sun, and the porch for a moment grew dark. All trembled, and the Elves stopped their ears.
The first Ballantine paperback edition of The Fellowship of the Ring printed the inscription upside-down. Some recent editions[6] accidentally omit the first half of the translation in Book I, Chapter 2. This error was corrected in the 50th Anniversary edition.
Ring-bearersEdit
The term Ring-bearer is used in The Lord of the Rings to describe a person who has possessed the One Ring. The term is also used to refer to bearers of other Rings of Power.
In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins was appointed Ring-bearer by the Council of Elrond in Rivendell. His task was to carry the One Ring from Rivendell to the Crack of Doom in Mordor and to destroy it before Sauron or his servants could recover it. During this journey, Frodo's companion Samwise Gamgee also carried the ring briefly while Frodo was held captive in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Near the onset of this journey the Ring was handled also by Tom Bombadil, upon whom the Ring had no apparent effect, and by Gandalf, who cast it into Frodo's fireplace to verify that it was the One Ring.
Frodo inherited the Ring from his uncle Bilbo Baggins. In Tolkien's earlier novel, The Hobbit, Bilbo found the Ring in the caverns beneath the Misty Mountains. It had been lost in the caverns by Gollum, who used the invisibility it conferred to hunt orcs to eat. Gollum, a hobbit previously known as Sméagol, had kept the Ring for hundreds of years. He had murdered his friend Déagol to get the Ring shortly after Déagol found it in the river Anduin. Many centuries earlier the Ring had betrayed Isildur and fallen from his finger into the Anduin as he was eluding orcs—who killed him when he became visible. Isildur in turn had cut the Ring from the hand of Sauron, who had made the Ring and let much of his power flow into it. Sauron was the Ring's true master, and the only being who could bend it completely to his will.
Though Déagol and Gandalf had handled the Ring, the only individuals ever to wear it were Sauron, Isildur, Sméagol/Gollum, Bilbo, Frodo, Tom Bombadil, and Samwise. None but Bilbo, Frodo, and Samwise are actually called "Ring-bearers" in any of Tolkien's works. As Ring-bearers, they were granted passage to the Undying Lands, though Sam lived in the Shire for many years after the departure of Bilbo and Frodo before making the journey himself.
Internal historyEdit
Further information: Timeline of Arda
After its original forging (about S.A. 1600) Sauron waged the War of the Elves and Sauron against the Elves and all who opposed him. Sauron invaded and destroyed Eregion, and killed Celebrimbor, the maker of the three rings of the Elves. However, King Tar-Minastir of Númenor sent a great fleet to Middle-earth, and with this aid Gil-galad destroyed Sauron's army and forced Sauron to return to Mordor.
In S.A. 3261, Ar-Pharazôn, the last and most powerful king of Númenor, landed at Umbar at the head of an immense army to do battle with Sauron. The sheer size and might of the Númenórean army was enough to force Sauron's armies to flee. Sauron surrendered to Ar-Pharazôn and was taken back to Númenor as a prisoner. Tolkien, in a letter written in 1958 (#211) wrote that the surrender was both "voluntary and cunning" so he could gain access to Númenor. Sauron was able to use the Númenóreans' fear of death as a way to turn them against the Valar, and manipulate them into worshipping his master, Morgoth, and performing human sacrifice.
Although Sauron's body was destroyed in the Fall of Númenor, his spirit was able to travel back to Middle-earth and wield the One Ring in his renewed war against the Last Alliance of Elves and Men between S.A. 3429 and 3441. Tolkien emphasized that Sauron used his ring in Númenor to gain complete control over its people; and while Sauron's body perished in the Fall, the Ring somehow made it back to Middle-earth. Tolkien wrote, "I do not think one need boggle at this spirit carrying off the One Ring, upon which his power of dominating minds now largely depended." (letter #211).
Sauron was killed again by Gil-galad and Elendil at the end of the Last Alliance. The Ring was cut from Sauron's hand by Elendil's son, Isildur, on the slopes of Mount Doom. Though counselled to destroy the Ring, he was swayed by its power and kept it safe instead, "as weregild for my father, and my brother". A few years later, Isildur was ambushed by orcs by the River Anduin near the Gladden Fields; he put on the Ring to escape, but it slipped from his finger as he swam across the river, and, suddenly visible, he was killed by the orcs. Since the Ring indirectly caused Isildur's death, it was known in Gondorian lore as "Isildur's Bane".
The Ring remained hidden on the river bed for almost two and a half millennia, until it was discovered on a fishing trip by a Stoor hobbit named Déagol. His friend and relative Sméagol, who had gone fishing with him, was immediately ensnared by the Ring's power and demanded that Déagol give it to him as a "birthday present"; when Déagol refused, Sméagol strangled him and took it for himself. The Ring corrupted his body and mind, turning him into the creature known as Gollum. The Ring, which Sauron had endowed with a will of its own, manipulated Gollum into hiding in a cave under the Misty Mountains near Mirkwood, where Sauron was beginning to resurface. There Gollum remained for nearly 500 years, until the Ring tired of him and fell off his finger as he was hunting an orc.
As is told in The Hobbit, Bilbo found the Ring shortly afterward while lost in the tunnels near Gollum's lair. When The Hobbit was written, Tolkien had not yet conceived of the Ring's sinister history. Thus, in the first edition of The Hobbit, Gollum offers to surrender the Ring to Bilbo as a reward for winning the Riddle Game. When Tolkien revised the nature of the Ring for The Lord of the Rings, he realized that the Ring's grip on Gollum would never permit him to give it up willingly. Tolkien therefore revised the second edition of The Hobbit: after losing the Riddle Game to Bilbo, Gollum went to get his "Precious" (as he always called it) so he could kill and eat Bilbo, but flew into a rage when he found the Ring missing. Deducing from Bilbo's last question—"What have I got in my pocket?"—that Bilbo had found the Ring, Gollum chased him through the caves, not realizing that the hobbit had discovered the Ring's powers of invisibility and was following him to the cave's exit. Bilbo escaped Gollum and the goblins by remaining invisible, but when he rejoined Gandalf and the dwarves he was travelling with, he decided not to tell them that the Ring had made him invisible. In fact he told them a story that closely followed the first edition of The Hobbit: that Gollum had given him the Ring and showed him the way out. Gandalf was not convinced and later forced the real story from Bilbo; he was thus immediately suspicious of the Ring.
Gollum eventually left the Misty Mountains to track down and reclaim the Ring. He wandered for decades, and was drawn to Mordor, where he was captured by Sauron's forces. He was interrogated by Sauron himself, who learned that the Ring had been found and was currently held by one "Baggins" in the land of "Shire".
In T.A. 3001, the Ring was beginning to strain Bilbo, leaving him feeling "stretched-out and thin", and so he decided to leave the Shire, intending to pass the Ring to his adopted heir Frodo Baggins. He briefly gave in to the Ring's power, even calling it "my precious"; alarmed, Gandalf spoke harshly to his old friend to persuade him to give it up, which Bilbo eventually did, becoming the first Ringbearer to surrender it willingly.
By this time Sauron had regained much of his power, and the Dark Tower in Mordor had been rebuilt. Gollum, released from Mordor, was captured by Gandalf and Aragorn, and from him Gandalf learned that Sauron now knew where to find the Ring. To prevent Sauron from reclaiming his Ring, Frodo and eight other companions set out from Rivendell for Mordor in an attempt to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. During the quest, Frodo gradually became more and more susceptible to the Ring's power, and feared that it was going to corrupt him. When he and his faithful companion Samwise Gamgee discovered Gollum on their trail and "tamed" him into guiding them to Mordor, Frodo began to feel a strange bond with the wretched, treacherous creature, while Gollum warmed to Frodo's kindness and made at least some effort to keep his promise. Gollum eventually gave in to the Ring's temptation, however, and betrayed them to the spider Shelob. Believing Frodo to be dead, Sam bore the Ring himself for a short time and experienced the temptation it induced; he wore it briefly twice, but never succumbed to it.
Sam rescued Frodo from a band of orcs at the Tower of Cirith Ungol. The hobbits, followed by Gollum, eventually arrived at Mount Doom, where Frodo was overcome by the Ring's power and claimed it for himself. At that moment, however, Gollum attacked him and bit off his finger, taking back the Ring. Gollum was too close to the edge: as he gloated over his prize he fell into the fires of Mount Doom, taking the Ring with him, thus destroying it and Sauron's power.
PowersEdit
The Ring's primary power was control of the other Rings of Power and domination of the wills of their users.[7] The Ring also conferred power to dominate the wills of other beings whether they were wearing Rings or not—but only in proportion to the user's native capacity. In the same way, it amplified any inherent power its owner possessed.[7]
A mortal wearing the Ring became effectively invisible except to those able to perceive the non-physical world, with only a thin, shaky shadow discernible in the brightest sunlight.[7] The Ring would also extend the life of a mortal possessor indefinitely by preventing natural aging. Gandalf explained that it does not "grant new life", but that the possessor merely "continues" until life becomes unbearably wearisome. However, the Ring could not protect its bearer from destruction; Gollum perished in the Crack of Doom while in possession of the Ring, and even Sauron himself could not preserve his body from destruction during the downfall of Númenor. Likewise, the Ring could not protect its bearer from physical harm; Frodo was seriously injured by the Witch-king on Weathertop, and lost a finger when Gollum bit it off—on both occasions while wearing the Ring. Sauron himself suffered the death of his physical body at the hands of Gil-galad and Elendil while wearing the Ring. Like the Nine Rings, the One Ring could physically corrupt mortals who wore it for extended periods of time, eventually transforming them into wraiths. Hobbits were more resistant to this process than Men: Gollum, who possessed the ring for five hundred years did not become wraith-like because he did not wear the ring often after taking it to the tunnels of the Misty Mountains.[8]
The Ring might also have given its wielder the ability to read minds, as Galadriel suggested to Frodo when he wondered why he could not read the thoughts of others as she did.
Within the land of Mordor where it was forged, the Ring's power increased so significantly that even without wearing it the bearer could draw upon it, and could acquire an aura of terrible power. When Sam encountered an orc in the Tower of Cirith Ungol while holding the Ring, he appeared to the orc as a powerful warrior cloaked in shadow "[holding] some nameless menace of power and doom". The orc was so terrified that it fled. Similarly at Mount Doom, when Frodo and Sam were attacked by Gollum, Frodo grabbed the Ring and appeared as "a figure robed in white... [that] held a wheel of fire". Frodo told Gollum "in a commanding voice" that "If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom", a statement fulfilled when Gollum fell into Mount Doom with the Ring. Although the Ring was certainly invoked with this statement, it is unclear whether Frodo was prophesying (Frodo had previously seen less sinister visions while in possession of the Ring), or if Frodo was actively laying a curse upon Gollum.
As the Ring contained a large part of Sauron's power, it was endowed with a malevolent sentience of sorts. While separated from Sauron, the Ring would strive to return to him by manipulating its bearer to claim ownership of it, or by abandoning the bearer at an opportune moment.[9] For example, it slipped from Isildur's finger during the ambush at Gladden Fields; moments later he was killed by orcs, leaving the Ring's whereabouts unknown to Sauron's enemies. It also slipped off Gollum's finger when the time was right for it to be brought back into the world at large. Warned by Bilbo of the Ring's tendency to slip off, Frodo carried the Ring on a chain.
To master all of the Ring's capabilities, a Ring wielder would need a disciplined and well-trained mind, a strong will, and great native power. Those with weaker minds, such as Hobbits and lesser Men, would gain little benefit from the Ring, let alone realize its full potential. Even for someone with the necessary strength, it would have taken time to master the Ring's power to the point where he was strong enough to overthrow Sauron.[9] The prospect of mastery is the main appeal that the Ring holds for those who come in contact with it. The Ring appears as a symbol of hope, offering the power to defeat Sauron and bring peace to the world. Yet in the end, its inherent malevolence would twist its bearer into another Dark Lord as evil as Sauron, regardless of one's intentions at the outset.
Despite its power, the Ring did not render its bearer omnipotent. Three times Sauron suffered military defeat while bearing the Ring, first by Gil-galad in the War of Sauron and the Elves, again by Ar-Pharazôn when Númenórean power so overawed his armies that they deserted him, and again at the end of the Second Age with his personal defeat by Gil-galad and Elendil. Tolkien indicates, however, that such a defeat would not have been possible in the waning years of the Third Age, when the strength of the free peoples was greatly diminished. There were no remaining heroes of the stature of Gil-galad, Elendil, or Isildur; the strength of the Elves was fading and they were departing to the Blessed Realm; the Dwarves had been driven out of Moria and would have been unwilling to concentrate their strength in any event; and the Númenórean kingdoms had either declined or been destroyed, and had few allies.
Fate of the Ring-bearersEdit
Of the several bearers of the One Ring, three were still alive following the Ring's destruction, the hobbits Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, and Samwise Gamgee. Bilbo, having borne the Ring longest of the three, had reached a very advanced age for a hobbit. Frodo suffered both physical and psychological scars from his strenuous quest to destroy the Ring. Samwise, having only briefly kept the Ring, was affected the least and simply carried on a normal life following the Ring's destruction.
In consideration of the trials the Ring-bearers had endured, special dispensation was granted them by the Valar to travel to the Undying Lands, where it was hoped they could find rest and healing. At the close of The Return of the King, Bilbo and Frodo embark for the voyage to the West along with Galadriel, Elrond, and many of their folk, as well as Gandalf. Near the end of his life, Samwise is also said to have been taken to the Undying Lands, after living in the Shire for many years and raising a large family.
Tolkien emphasized that the restorative sojourn of the Ring-bearers in the Undying Lands would not have been permanent. As mortals, subject to the Gift of Men, they would eventually die and leave the world of Eä.[10]
SymbolismEdit
Tolkien wrote the following about the idea behind the One Ring: "I should say that it was a mythical way of representing the truth that potency (or perhaps potentiality) if it is to be exercised, and produce results, has to be externalized and so as it were passes, to a greater or lesser degree, out of one's direct control." (Letter #211, 1958).
Tolkien always strongly held that The Lord of the Rings was not allegorical, particularly in reference to political events of his time such as World War II or the Cold War. At the same time he conceded "applicability" as being within the "freedom" of the reader,[11] and indeed many people have been inclined to view the One Ring as a symbol or metaphor. The notion of a power too great for humans to safely possess is an evocative one, and already in the 1930s there were technologies available to suggest the idea. By the time the work was published, though not when most of it was written, the existence of nuclear power and nuclear weapons were common knowledge, and the Ring was often taken as symbolic of them.[12] However, Tolkien specifically rejected the idea of the One Ring being an allegory of nuclear weapons and noted that, had that been his intention, the book would not have ended with the Ring being destroyed but rather with an arms race in which various powers would try to obtain such a Ring for themselves – creating a bleak world in which such creatures as the Hobbits would be trampled underfoot and have little hope of survival.
The effect of the Ring and its physical and spiritual after-effects on Bilbo and Frodo are obsessions that have been compared with drug addiction; actor Andy Serkis who played Gollum in the film trilogy cited drug addiction as an inspiration for his performance.[13]
Parallels have been drawn between the literary device of Tolkien's Cursed Ring and the titular ring in Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen.[14] Tolkien dismissed critics' direct comparisons to Wagner, telling his publisher, "Both rings were round, and there the resemblance ceases."[15] According to Humphrey Carpenter's biography of Tolkien, the author held Wagner's interpretation of the relevant Germanic myths in contempt.[16] In the contrary sense, some critics hold that Tolkien's work borrows so liberally from Wagner that Tolkien's work exists in the shadow of Wagner's.[14] Others, such as Tom Shippey[17] and Gloriana St. Clair,[18] attribute the resemblances to the fact that Tolkien and Wagner have created homologue works based in the same sources. However, Shippey and other researchers have written on an intermediary position, stating that both the authors, indeed, used the same source materials but that Tolkien was, in fact, indebted to some of the original developments, insights and artistic uses made upon those sources that first appeared in Wagner, and sought to improve upon them.[19][20]
The One Ring in Peter Jackson's films.
In the 1981 BBC Radio serial of The Lord of the Rings, the Nazgûl chant the Ring-inscription; it is also recited by them in part during Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, specifically during the film The Battle of the Five Armies.
In The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, the wearer of the Ring is always portrayed as moving through a shadowy realm where everything is distorted. In the book, neither Bilbo Baggins nor Frodo Baggins ever mentioned anything about this while using the Ring, but when Sam puts on the Ring at the end of The Two Towers he does experience something similar to this. Sam never wore the Ring on screen in Jackson's films. The actual Ring for the movies was designed and created by Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith in Nelson, New Zealand, and was based on a simple wedding ring.
Middle-earth portal
Ring of Gyges
Ring of the Nibelung
^ a b Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954), The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings, Boston: Houghton Mifflin (published 1987), "The Shadow of the Past", ISBN 0-395-08254-4
^ Tolkien, J. R. R. (1977), Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age", p. 287–288, ISBN 0-395-25730-1
^ a b Carpenter, Humphrey, ed. (1981), The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, "Letter 131", p. 153, ISBN 0-395-31555-7
^ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "The Shadow of the Past", p. 61 (Houghton Mifflin, 50th Anniversary Edition, Boston & New York, 2004)
^ J R R Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings. George Allen & Unwin, London, 1968. ISBN 0-04-823087-1. p. 60.
^ For example, The Fellowship of the Ring, ISBN 0-618-00222-7, from the Houghton-Mifflin boxed paperback set of 1999.
^ a b c Carpenter 1981, #131 p. 152.
^ Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings. p. 57.
^ a b Carpenter 1981, #246 p. 332.
^ Carpenter 1981, #246, p. 328.
^ Carpenter 1981, #203.
^ "Andy Serkis BBC interview". BBC News. 21 March 2003. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
^ a b Alex Ross, "The Ring and the Rings: Wagner vs Tolkien", The New Yorker, December 22, 2003
^ Carpenter, Humphrey (1977), Tolkien: A Biography, New York: Ballantine Books, ISBN 0-04-928037-6
^ Tom Shippey, The Road to Middle-earth, p. 296.
^ "CMU Libraries: Book: Tolkien's Cauldron". Shelf1.library.cmu.edu. 11 October | 6,172 |
The DTE Energy Foundation and the Downtown Detroit Partnership are excited to announce that Downtown Detroit's newest public space will kick off a spectacular and innovative season of winter programming with Light Up Beacon Park on Nov. 17 from 5 p.m. to midnight.
The holiday party marks the first time in Detroit Tree Lighting history that the family-favorite tradition will expand its entertainment to two separate Downtown parks, which includes free shuttles from 4:30 p.m. to midnight, running every fifteen minutes between first and Plaza at Beacon Park to Griswold and Michigan, just west of Campus Martius Park. It also kicks off the beginning of Beacon Park's winter programming schedule filled with silent discos, a beer and wine festival, visits with Santa and much more.
On Nov. 17, Light Up Beacon Park visitors will be treated to a live show by "Queen of Blues" Thornetta Davis at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. inside a festively decorated and heated Winter Lodge tent where they can enjoy a live stream of the tree lighting at Campus Martius Park or take selfies with Santa. Food truck fare, coffee, hot cocoa and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
A must-see attraction, Beacon Park welcomes interactive holiday light displays from Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles. The Iceberg and Island of Warmth installations will make their U.S. debut and light up Beacon Park with a stunning, modern twist on traditional holiday lighting.
Not long after the November 17 festivities, Beacon Park will host a lineup of free winter programming for all ages. Back by popular demand, the silent disco returns with two holiday editions on November 25 and December 9. Beginning at 7 p.m. partygoers donning headphones will gather in the Winter Lodge tent where DJs from iHeart Detroit radio stations will simultaneously spin three genres of music on separate channels. Full bars and food trucks will offer dinner and drinks for purchase.
The Detroit Beer and Wine Festival arrives at Beacon Park on December 15 and will feature over 100 international and local favorite beverages for tasting. The 21 and up event runs from 3:30 to 11 p.m. with ticket prices ranging from $20 to $65. Guests can stay warm in the heated Winter Lodge tent and snap selfies with Santa or bundle up and head out to one of the many<|fim_middle|>.2 million electric customers in Southeast Michigan and 1.2 million natural gas customers in Michigan. In 2015, the DTE Energy Foundation provided $15 million in grant support to nonprofits throughout the company's service territories. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 450 Michigan communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. http://www.dteenergy.com/foundation. | fire pits offering warmth and light throughout the park. Food truck fare will be available for purchase.
Rounding out the inaugural winter season at Beacon Park are two family friendly Lions tailgate parties. The popular events offer a safe and fun environment to play lawn games, enjoy tailgate fare and get hyped up for the big game. The Nov. 12 edition kicks off at 1:30 p.m. ahead of the Lions matchup with the Cleveland Browns and will offer free American Coney Island coney dogs to the first 250 patrons. The final tailgate party is set for Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m. before the Lions take on the Chicago Bears and will give tailgators the chance to take selfies with Santa.
Come Play Detroit will again host a season of recreational leagues at Beacon Park. For more information please visit Beacon Park's website.
The DTE Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy, continuing the legacy of community support and involvement of its electric and natural gas utilities, which serve 2 | 217 |
One World Wellness & Yoga hosts our annual summer program... YogaArt Kids! for ages 7-12.
It is a fun-filled time for all children regardless of artistic or physical ability. Kids will have fun, make new friends, and let their imaginations soar. In addition, they can also play games and learn how to relax with guided imagery and breathing.
Art making focuses on summer themes through drawing, painting and paper arts. Create an undersea fantasy fish land, draw the summer sky and learn to paint clouds, make a pinwheel shape mobile and get wild with patterns of your favorite furry animal friends.
Yoga and art programs at One World are dedicated to promoting kindness, mindfulness and peace towards ourselves, each other and the world around us. We believe that by introducing these concepts to children at a very young age we can create a brighter future.
Would you like to learn more about YogArt Kids!?
Christine Ucich is the director of One World Wellness and the founder of YogArt Kids! She holds a BFA in Art Education and a Master's in Instructional Design.
As<|fim_middle|> also trained with Childlight Yoga.
or make a one-time payment with a credit card. | an art teacher, she has worked in New Haven, Meriden and East Haven Public Schools. Christine combines her love of art with yoga in this dynamic and inspiring program. She has enjoyed teaching young people in grades pre-K through tenth, and has also led an elementary school yoga program in New Haven sponsored by LEAP and the Performing Arts Academy of CT.
She currently teaches kids yoga classes in pre-schools through Full of Joy Yoga. Christine holds a children's yoga teacher certificate with Full of Joy and has | 101 |
The High Tatras or High Tatra Mountains are the smallest alpine type mountain range on the planet with a unique endemic fauna. Among these, one of the most prominent example is Tatra alpine marmot.
The Tatra al<|fim_middle|>ANAP's nature.
Important notifications and conditions: Participants undertake the trip at their own risk. Tour operator does not provide participants with specific tourist insurance. Tour operator provides professional guiding and gear to observe marmots and others. Marmots will be observed only from, or close to, footpaths. Because of their conservation status (endangered species), it is very important NOT to disturb them beyond a very limited level. We do not recommend participants to be accompanied by children below 10 and/or dogs. | pine marmot (Marmota marmota latirostris) is an endemic subspecies of the Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota). This rodent lives mostly in the area of high altitude clearings and open alpine meadows with rock debris above dwarf mountain pine zone. Their colonies consist of 5 to 15 individuals. It is a stocky rodent of 42 to 84 cm (without tail) in length and weighs up to 8 kg (especially in late autumn when preparing for hibernation). Marmots live in dens excavated using their powerful legs with strong claws. Their senses are well developed, especially sight, hearing, and smell. In case of danger, marmots warn their neighbouring area by their typical piercing whistles. Their diet consists of alpine vegetation. Among their predators, there are eagles, foxes and lynxes. Marmots can live up to 15 years.
characteristics: Our trip will take us to Tatra National Park (TANAP). The oldes national park in Slovakia, established in 1949, protects the area or Slovakia's highest mountain range – High Tatra Mountains, which is also the highest part of Carpathian Mountain Range. We will be situated at the altitude of approx. 1250 m, walking in spruce tree, alpine pine and alpine meadow level. Because many parts of the Park suffered from 2004 tempest, we will, between marmot observation, talk also about broader ecological relations of T | 328 |
South Asian History Month: Dr Fabida Aria
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion blog, South Asian History Month
One of the regular statements my father made to my siblings and me was to 'never forget our roots'. As children we wanted to grow up and do many things and at the time we never really understood how much meaning this statement had until many, many years later.
If anything I, like many other children from South Asian countries, have had periods where I have felt embarrassed about some of the stories that make up the 'roots' of our lives…until I was able to realise the remarkable journey in life and transitions my parents had made. Today I would like to share some of these with you.
My parents were both born in different villages in Kerala. We have heard many stories of how they lived with kerosene lamps before electricity became available, the traditional methods of cooking, the traditional roles where women did the housework and looked after children, men did various jobs, the major role that religions played in the community.
Kerala is a state in India where there is 100% literacy so my parents were both fortunate to go to school. However, they both had major life events in their teenage years which disrupted their education. My father lost his father when he was only 15; my grandfather had diabetes and also contracted Tuberculosis.
Following his death, my father decided to work to feed the large family and for this he migrated to Mumbai and then to the UAE in his late teens, doing various jobs, and learning English by reading vociferously. He moved to Oman, continued working and moved up the ranks over the next several years from a hotel waiter to a manager.
Around this time his mother decided to get him married to my mother, who was then in her teens, and at the tender age of 13 she was married to my dad who was around 10 years older. The impact of this only came truly came home to me when my daughter was 13 and I simply could not imagine how on earth anyone could even consider anyone so young to be married! I recall my mother saying she was luckier than others who were even younger!
She left school, became a wife and six years later a mother. My father moved jobs, was successful and we were privileged to live in lovely homes and I studied at an Indian school in Oman. We were exposed to many cultures and I remember doing an 'Omani dance ' in my one my school concerts. My parents also wore some of the traditional clothes as the Omani's wore and we had some lovely neighbours.
I still recall his stories from his travels around the world and he told us once how shocked he was in the early 1980s when he came to London and an Englishman took his suitcase. As a young person in India under the British Raj this was something he would have never imagined in his lifetime.
As children, we spent our holidays in Kerala between both parents' homes. The wonderful memories of climbing mango and cashew trees, eating custard apples, jackfruit and mangoes from the garden; putting henna on our hands,and having kitchens with wood burning stoves.
My parents tried to get us to have lessons for Malayalam the mother tongue and my knowledge of this is basic which I am very grateful for. This is a language you have to twist your tongue in so many ways that unless you heard and tried it one cannot imagine. It was my shock when many years later when I was working at a medical school that I heard a gap year student from UK talking it beautifully and she had learnt it over a period of months that she lived there.
After my GCSE I went back to India, to another place called Bangalore in the state of Karnatake which is a place always close to my heart where I made lifelong friends from around the world. I did my A levels and then went to medical school. Having left at 16, I used to go to Oman every six months as I missed my parents and home so much. I made some lifelong friends, a close one from Sri Lanka and we were both awed by the fact that we had quite a few aspects in common in terms of food and even some of the words in our languages.
In 2002 I came to England and, following the course of Plab exams etc, I took up a psychiatry training scheme after doing a clinical attachment and having realised I have found my place.
I am the first doctor in my family. I know of many people from similar backgrounds to me, whose parents had the money but did not choose to educate their daughters as mine had, and they followed the lives their parents did. My mother, despite her stopping school at a young age had drilled into my brain the value of<|fim_middle|> the table a rich experience that will be of benefit. I want another person like me to believe they can achieve anything and encourage anyone doubting themselves to take the step towards making a difference and that if I could, you certainly can.
I also know the importance of never forgetting my roots and keep in touch with family and friends around the world and have passed on these stories to my children, and hope they continue to do the same.
Dr Fabida Aria
Chair of Transcultural Psychiatry Special Interest Group | education, the need to stand on my own feet and not depend on anyone.
What attracted me to psychiatry were the stories behind the person we see; especially the stories we cannot see, that are only shared with a huge degree of trust. We should not underestimate how much it means to be trusted.
Working in Leicester I am lucky to hear many stories of people, and I try to understand how different generations have sacrificed so much.
Today as the chair of the Transcultural psychiatry Special Interest Group, I want these stories to be understood by health professionals around the world. I want to share the richness in diversity, to abolish the shame and embarrassment felt by people who are victims to circumstances and life events and for the privileged to pull up the underprivileged, irrespective of colour or race.
The executive committee members and I share many stories of people's lives, of hope and inspiration, and also discrimination and despair. We want people around the world to join us and together achieve the best mental health for people across the world.
I am fortunate enough to have taken on the opportunities that came to me today I am a senior leader in my organisation, and have heard a friend say to me that I am a woman of colour and how difficult a journey this is for me. In my view, this makes me an essential addition to any leadership team and I will bring to | 274 |
The $699 TR-8S contians component-level models of TR drum machine sounds—the 808, 909, 707, 727, and 606—as well as internal samples and support for external samples.
Los Angeles, CA, March 5, 2018 — Roland announces the TR-8S Rhythm Performer, an innovative new instrument that fuses Roland's renowned rhythm machine legacy with modern sound design features tuned for live performance.
The TR-8S is filled with the most iconic TR drum sounds of all time, plus an extensive selection of samples from Roland's vast library. The instrument also supports both mono and stereo user samples, and comes packed with hands-on controls and production tools that make patterns move and groove. Dynamic and inspiring, the TR-8S takes the rhythm machine to a new level of creative power.
Roland's famous "TR-REC" step sequencer has been at the heart of electronic music production for decades. In the TR-8S, it's been enhanced and modernized to be better than ever. Via the 16 TR-REC buttons and velocity-sensitive performance pad, users can develop intricate grooves and build detailed fills with velocity, accents, flams, and adjustable sub-steps.
The TR-8S is<|fim_middle|> as well, enabling users to connect and mix external sound sources. The TR-8S also functions as a multi-channel USB audio/MIDI interface and supports AIRA Link for interfacing with other AIRA gear.
Roland Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical instruments, including keyboards and synthesizers, guitar products, electronic percussion, digital recording equipment, amplifiers, audio processors, and multimedia products. With more than 40 years of musical instrument development, Roland sets the standard in music technology for the world to follow. | equipped with connection options to seamlessly integrate with any setup. A stereo mix output is provided, plus six assignable audio outputs that allow individual drum sounds to be processed and mixed externally. There's also a dedicated trigger output with its own sequencer track, and the assignable outputs can be reconfigured to output trigger signals if desired. Stereo audio inputs are provided | 69 |
Accreditied Adviser in Insurance, a designation awarded by the Insurance Institute of America to people who have completed a three-semester educational program designed for insurance producers.
Account selling is trying to handle all of a client's insurance needs, rather than providing for only a portion of those needs.
When people with a very high probability of loss purchase insurance to a greater extent that people with average or below average probabilities of loss. Underwriters' major goal is to avoid adverse selection.
"All Risks" property policies, often called "special" policies, cover any loss unless it is caused by an excluded peril listed in the policy.
Annuities are contracts sold by life insurance companies (the seller must be a licensed insurance entity in your state). In their simplest form, you pay<|fim_middle|> is paid at the end of the term period. In many cases the partial endowment can be applied toward the purchase of a new term policy or, perhaps, a whole life policy.
A form of health insurance that pays the policyholder in place of his or her usual income if the policyholder can't work because of illness or accident. Usually, policies begin paying after a waiting period stipulated in the policy, and pay a certain percentage of the policyholder's usual income. Sometimes this is provided by employers, but it's also available as a separate coverage.
Earthquake policies are similar to regular homeowner's policies but without the liability coverage. You choose a dollar ceiling for the dwelling coverage, and a percentage of this ceiling is then applied to coverages for personal property and additional living expenses (hotel expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable). Premiums for these policies are usually rather steep in the places where you would need to buy one. Until recently, the only place Californians could buy the coverage was from the California Earthquake Authority, which offered skimpy coverage. But the market is opening up again and some other companies are offering old-fashioned policies with better coverage (at higher rates, of course).
Document signed by an eligible person indicating a desire to participate in a group insurance plan. The document or card authorizes an employer to deduct contributions from an employee's pay. If life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage are involved, the card usually includes the beneficiary's name and relationship.
A statement or proof of physical condition and/or other factual information affecting a person's eligibility for insurance. In group insurance, evidence of insurability is required only in specific situations: when a person fails to enroll during the open enrollment period; when a person applies for reinstatement after having previously withdrawn from the plan when receiving an overall maximum benefit; or when a person applies for excess amounts of group life or disability insurance.
Process of determining the premium rate for a group based wholly or partially on that risk's experience.
A regular homeowner's policy will not pay for damages caused by flooding. In order to get the coverage, you'll have to go to some outfit that writes for the National Flood Insurance Program. Outside of fire, flooding is the most widespread natural disaster. If your community participates in NFIP's floodplain management program, you should be eligible to buy the coverage. The only people who may have trouble finding flood coverage are residents of "coastal barrier resource system" areas and communities that do not participate in NFIP's programs. Flood insurance is also available to renters, condominium owners, and co-op owners.
A broad type of insurance, generally covering articles that may be transported from one place to another as well as bridges, tunnels and other means of transportation. It includes goods in transit (generally excepting transoceanic) as well as numerous "floater" policies such as personal effects, personal property, jewelry, furs, fine arts and other such items.
A provision making benefits payable for an insured's lifetime as long as the insured person is totally disabled.
Premium for a group developed from the insurer's standard rate tables; it is the cost usually quoted in an insurer's underwriting manual.
Medicare is a federal insurance program which primarily serves those over 65 years old and younger, disabled people and dialysis patients. It currently covers about 37 million Americans. Medicare is divided into Part A, which covers inpatient hospital services, nursing home care, home health care and hospice care; and Part B, which helps pay the cost of doctors' services, outpatient hospital services, medical equipment and supplies, and other health services and supplies. Recipients pay some part of the costs through deductibles. Since Medicare doesn't cover all expenses, recipients often supplement their coverage through separate Medigap policies.
A statistical table showing the death rate (probability of death) at each age.
There are actually two types of mortgage insurance. Usually, people mean private mortgage insurance, or PMI, which protects a mortgage company against a defaulted loan. PMI does not benefit the homeowner. If you bought your home with a down payment of less than 20 percent of its value, your bank probably made you take out PMI. At some point, you won't have to pay for PMI any more, but don't expect the bank to let you know when that is. Mortgage insurance can also mean a type of life insurance, which pays off the balance of a mortgage when the policyholder dies or, in some cases, becomes disabled. As a homeowner, you want to get rid of the first type as soon as you can. You might want to consider the second type.
A life insurance company owned by policyholders who share in the company's surplus earnings.
Policy that covers only non-job-related accidents or sicknesses not covered under any workers' compensation law.
Factors inherent in the insured person's occupation that expose him or her to greater-than-normal physical danger.
Coverage that provides benefits toward the cost of doctor's fees - for surgical care in the hospital, at home, or in a physician's office, and for x-rays or laboratory tests performed outside of a hospital. (Also called Regular Medical Expense Insurance).
Modification of policy benefits because of changes in the insured's occupation or the purchase of other insurance.
A form of substandard or special class insurance that restricts benefits for an insured person's particular condition.
Process and goal of restoring disabled persons to maximum physical, mental, and vocational independence and productivity (commensurate with their limitations). Rehabilitation is achieved by identifying and developing residual capabilities, job modification, or retraining. A "rehabilitation provision" appears in some long-term disability policies; this provides for continuation of benefits or other financial assistance during the rehabilitation period.
The actual cash value of an item can be depressingly small after only a brief period of ownership. And, if your homeowner's coverage entitles you to only the actual cash value of any damaged property, you could be out of luck when you go to replace the property with only your claim check as payment. Replacement-cost coverage permits you to claim the cost of replacing an insured item. Its most important use is on your home and, secondly, the personal property in your home.
Maintenance of all records and assumption of responsibility, by a group policyholder, for those covered under its insurance plan. Responsibilities include preparing the premium statement for each payment date and submitting it with a check to the insurer. The insurance company, in most instances, has the contractual prerogative to audit the policyholder's records.
A whole life policy that provides protection for the duration of the insured's life in exchange for the payment of the total premium in one lump sum at the time of application.
The complexity and cost variations of insurance stems directly from state regulation of the industry. Unlike the securities and banking industries, the insurance industry does not have a strong federal oversight role. Instead, through the 1945 McCarran-Ferguson Act, the domestic industry faces 55 sets of overseers (the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa). With so many different sites of regulation, and so many sources of local sales outlets for insurance policies, it's not surprising that insurance policies are hardly the standardized commodities that you find when trading stocks or opening a bank account. This is particularly true in property/casualty coverage and less so in life insurance. Added to the maze of different products is the fact that state-based regulation means that insurers may base their rates in each state on their business profile in that state. Auto rates, for example, reflect accident and theft trends in local territories. The upshot is that there is great pricing variation along with lots of different types of policies. Lastly, insurers have increasing freedom to price their policies for whatever the market will bear. Even if an insurer has to file its rates in your state, you shouldn't assume that state regulators are poring over the rates to review their fairness.
Person who, according to an insurer's underwriting standards, is entitled to purchase insurance without paying an extra premium or special restrictions.
A life insurance company owned by stockholders who share in the company's surplus earnings.
Insurance policies that provide benefits toward physicians' or surgeons' operating fees. Benefits may consist of scheduled amounts for each procedure.
The death benefits of a life insurance policy are exempt from taxes. Even with recent tax-rate reductions and a phased-in increase in the amount of a person's estate that is exempt from estate taxes, the tax-free nature of life insurance benefits makes them a powerful financial planning and wealth-preservation tool. Annuity payments are not tax exempt, although these products may include insurance "wrappers" with exempt benefits.
Title insurance protects against the various financial losses associated with having the title on your home challenged, including court costs and loss of the property. For a one-time fee, most title insurers will investigate public records to make sure that your property is free of title defects. This coverage can benefit either the homeowner or the mortgage company, so you should know which kind you're paying for.
If your auto and home are insured with the same carrier, you probably can get supplemental liability coverage from your insurer. This is generally a very good and affordable idea, but only if you have underlying wealth that needs to be shielded from lawsuits. By insuring your car and home, it is cost-effective for your insurer to extend bigger-dollar liability coverage to both areas (hence the "umbrella" concept). If, for example, you have 100/300 auto liability ($100,000 liability for each person insured in an accident; $300,000 total liability for the accident) and $100,000 liability on your homeowner's insurance, you can extend this to $1 million for a few hundred bucks a year.
The underwriting process evaluates the likelihood an insured event will occur, determines its likely cost and develops an appropriate premium for the coverage that is competitive in the marketplace and remunerative to the insurance company writing the policy. For some standardized coverages that are highly competitive, underwriting may be somewhat besides the point -- the policy has to be priced according to marketplace pressures if the insurer wishes to remain in that line of coverage. Underwriting still plays a substantial role for many coverages, however, even those in the increasingly competitive businesses of auto, home and term life insurance. Insurance companies don't all target the same slice of the market in the same states, and thus often have different objectives in their underwriting efforts as well as different cost structures that determine operating profit margins in their underwriting calculations. Underwriting differences account in part for the substantial differences in insurance premiums for comparable coverages.
In the best of all possible worlds, everyone would have adequate auto liability coverage. But there are people who drive around (often illegally) with no insurance or not enough insurance. If one of these folks happens to cause an accident, you might not be able to collect damages. Uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage -- usually called UM/UIM coverage -- will pay bodily injury costs caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. It's a required coverage in some states, and a prudent coverage anywhere. Usually, the limits are the same as the bodily injury portion of your auto liability coverage. UM/UIM coverage can supplement the benefits you can receive under a no-fault system.
Unlike traditional cash-value policies (known as "whole life"), universal life policy returns were freed from long-term, fixed-rate contracts and replaced with policies whose returns were tied to short-term interest rates and periodically adjusted. In addition, premiums and death benefits can be changed by the policyholder.
A plan of insurance for life, with premiums payable for a person's entire life.
Windstorm coverage pays for losses to your property that result from a windstorm. The coverage acts like a flood or earthquake policy in that it pays for damage to the dwelling, and, in some cases, for damage to your personal property and for living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable. If you live in a coastal area, you'll probably need to purchase separate windstorm coverage on your house. In areas where coverage is scarce, states sometime offer market assistance programs or joint underwriting associations to help homeowners find a carrier. | a sum of money (either a lump sum or a series of payments) and the insurance company makes periodic payments to you, beginning on the date in your contract and continuing for the rest of your life. The earnings on your annuity payments are not taxable during the accumulation phase of your agreement; the annuity payments are taxable as income when you receive them. Variable annuities permit you to place your payments in professionally managed funds, similar to mutual funds, and to control how these payments are invested during the life of your contract. Unlike mutual funds, variable annuities have insurance provisions and guarantees to preserve the value of the principal you pay into the annuity. They also generally carry higher fees than mutual funds. Annuities may entail extensive taxation and estate issues, and annuity buyers should make sure they're aware of such issues.
Pays for damages that you cause to other people and their property. If you cause an accident and you bang up your car or yourself, your auto liability insurance will not pay for your medical bills or the repairs to your car. (Auto medical payments coverage would.) But it will pay for the other guy's, up to the limits of your policy. Without the coverage, your assets would be subject to seizure to pay the medical bills, car repairs and other damages that you caused in an accident. Once the insurance company pays out the limits of your policy, you're liable for the rest, which is why it's advisable to purchase higher limits than what your state requires. Auto liability coverage has three parts: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage. Limits for liability are usually written like "20/40/10." That means a policy will pay bodily injury losses up to $20,000 per person, and up to $40,000 per accident (if more than one person was hurt). It will also pay property damage losses up to $10,000 per accident.
Formerly known as assigned risk plans--are residual market programs providing auto insurance. See Residual Market.
The person or financial instrument (for example, a trust fund), named in the policy as the recipient of insurance money in the event of the policyholder's death.
A receipt given for the payment which accompanies an application for insurance. If the policy is approved, the payment "binds" the company to make the policy effective from date of receipt.
Contract for health insurance that coves a class of persons. It is used for groups such as athletic teams and for employee travel.
A very narrow form of health insurance that covers the policyholder in the event he or she contracts cancer. Policies often exclude skin cancer. Some policies won't pay for cancer treatments until several years after the policy was purchased. Consumer groups and insurance regulators have said cancer insurance policies are more expensive than they're worth, since the insurance companies pay out a rather small percentage of the premiums they collect.
Covers computer equipment and peripherals beyond the normal coverage provided in homeowner's insurance policies. Usually, homeowner's policies only cover up to between $1,000 and $3,000 in computer equipment. With more people owning expensive computers and peripherals, and even using them for home-based businesses, riders and separate policies are becoming more popular. Some policies are also designed to cover damage and/or theft of portable equipment, such as laptop computers, and even the costs of data recovery.
Requires employers with more than 20 employees to make group health care coverage available for 18 months, at the employee's expense, to employees who leave the employer for any reason other than gross misconduct.
Plan that provides all benefits and issues certificates containing the insurance company's guarantees.
Method of integrating benefits payable under more than one health insurance plan so that the insured's benefits from all sources do not exceed 100 percent of allowable medical expenses or eliminate incentives to contain costs.
A variation of universal life insurance, this product involves fixed premiums and fixed death benefits. Its cash value growth depends on market conditions. If they are favorable and if premiums paid in the policy's first year are large enough, premiums for one or more years may be reduced to zero.
A form of term insurance, not really involving a "deposit," in which the first-year premium is larger than subsequent premiums. Typically, a partial endowment | 881 |
It's nowhere near over yet!!
The festivities<|fim_middle|> busy four days including their excursion to Bern to take in the abnormal sight of bears in the centre of the city and of course do some shopping! A relaxed day on Tuesday preceded the Bern trip. Multi-crafts started bright and early with the Guides making pin-bead badges and leather woggles. The group took a trip to Our Chalet, the International Guiding centre and to Adelboden to take a look at another traditional Swiss village.
Congratulations to the Scouts from 1st London Colney who were winners of the International Sports Afternoon on Sunday. The Scouts get split up into teams with people from other groups from all over the world allowing them to meet people from a variety of different cultures and many nationalities. The patrol challenge on Mondays requires Scouts to take on different tasks and find out lots of information from around the campsite and Kandersteg village. On Tuesday the group went up to Oeschinensee to have a go at the tobogganing and swimming in the freezing mountain lake.
The evening activities this week have included the barbecue and international evening which featured food, games and displays from right around the globe. Sunday was the pioneering competition where teams were challenged to build a catapult to fire at a human target as well as a free standing bridge to withhold the weight of the team! Race the World takes place every Tuesday night, with this weeks event seeing the scouts take part in relay races from all over the world including the elephant race from Africa, the horse race from Canada, the water race from Switzerland and the dizzy race from the land down under!!
The last couple of days are absolutely packed with activities and I'm sure this week being the last week will be just as great if not better than the rest! | have maintained their frenetic pace at Kisc over the past few days. Each group has been taking part in a variety of activities and campsite challenges as part of working towards the Kisc badges and having a really fun time.
1st Camborne Scouts completed the hike to the Ueshinenhut as part of the overnight expedition to the high alpine hut. This included the scouts cooking for themselves (which apparently didn't taste that bad) as well as getting to experience sleeping high in the mountains and experiencing the fantastic sunrise. That was followed on Monday afternoon by the high ropes course in Kandersteg with the three different levels providing challenges and excitement for all the Scouts and Explorers.
The Aare Float trip takes the group from Thun to Bern in a 10-person raft allowing them to experience the natural wildlife as well as enjoying a refreshing float in the flow of the river and chilling on the upside down raft in the sunshine. This was followed by a visit to the Bear Park in Bern to see the Grizzlies before taking a shopping trip to buy souvenirs.
10th York Guides have had a super | 229 |
The Crystal Caves has added to its already sensory visitor experience with theme music composed by Australian band<|fim_middle|>-precious gems. | Kallidad.
Just how Kallidad, a band known for their trademark 'Day of the Dead' facepaint, flamenco guitars and mariachi style music was commissed to write music for The Crystal Caves is a journey that began last September when band member, Jacinko visited the attraction.
The Crystal Caves manager, Ghislaine Gallo, a fan of Kallidad for many years, said band member Jacinko's visit provided a serendipitous opportunity to start talking about creating a piece of music for the museum.
"Following our initial meeting we continued discussions a few weeks later with the band, campside, at Wallaby Creek Festival," Ms Gallo said.
According to Ms Gallo, after an intense few months of correspondence, emailing ideas and music back and forth, the final recording was completed in a studio in Sydney last month and has since been introduced to the museum with great acclaim from visitors.
"While Kallidad is renowned for upbeat and highly energetic mariachi style music, they embraced the challenge of creating a peaceful and inspiring 20 minute piece this is designed to enhance visitors' self-guided tour of the crystal museum.
"While I love the Spanish influence of Kallidad, I also wanted a strong Australian cultural feel to the music and the boys have beautifully blended a didgeridoo into the piece," she said.
Since 1987 The Crystal Caves attraction in the Tablelands' town of Atherton has immersed visitors into its thrilling and fascinating underworld of minerology and semi | 312 |
The Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Care Education Program (FAKCE) is a unique initiative of Grossmont Community College. Their goal is to provide quality workshops and classes to assist foster, adoptive and Kinship parents. Unlike similar programs in other cities, these classes and workshops are centralized at an office on the College campus.
Class information was traditionally provided through a quarterly catalog, affectionately known as "the pink book." Sign-ups were encouraged via phone and class enrollees were managed manually. The previous website was built some time ago and did not take advantage of newer tech.
BrainShine redesigned and built the FAKCE website creating an easy-to-use CMS,<|fim_middle|> download of sign-ups. | a robust class scheduling tool with a user sign-up option, and a tracking system for sign-ups through the admin. Additionally, future classes can be added at any time and past classes automatically archive. The new site and system automates the workflow of managing 800+ classes at any given time and allows for instant tracking and | 66 |
Apple releases iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1
By News89 Team on 13 January 2022 Comments Off on Apple releases iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1
Today Apple has a new update for its mobile devices going out, labeled as iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1. As the minor incrementation in versioning implies, it's a bug fixer, this one, although it does come in at a pretty hefty <|fim_middle|> and iPads. In fact, you may have already received a notification about it.
Apple releases iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1 added by News89 Team on 13 January 2022 | 970MB to download, which is weird considering the changelog is incredibly short, noting that the update contains bug fixes including "Messages may not load photos sent using an iCloud Link" and "Third-party CarPlay apps may not respond to input".
That's the extent of what Apple has acknowledged about this update. The second bug mentioned does seem like it could be a real problem for people who use CarPlay, and it's been reported quite a bit already in online forums. The Messages bug also sounds quite annoying if you have it, so it's probably best to update to this latest version of Apple's software as soon as you can.
As usual, it should already be available through Settings for all supported iPhones | 144 |
Posts Tagged 'Nora Ephron'
Laugh-Inducing Essay Collections
Raise your hand if<|fim_middle|> unflinching, riotous, and relatable.
Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant by Joel Golby
"You're about to ungraciously snort with laughter in a public place…. Every paragraph is like doing a shot with a friend. A double." —Caitlin Moran, New York Times bestselling author of How to Be a Woman
Joel Golby's writing for Vice and The Guardian, with its wry observation and naked self-reflection, has brought him a wide and devoted following. Now, in his first book, he presents a blistering collection of new and newly expanded essays–including the achingly funny viral hit "Things You Only Know When Both Your Parents Are Dead." In these pages, he travels to Saudi Arabia, where he acts as a perplexed bystander at a camel pageant; offers a survival guide for the modern dinner party (i.e. how to tactfully escape at the first sign of an adult board game); and gets pitted head-to-head, again and again, with an unpredictable, unpitying subspecies of Londoner: the landlord. Through it all, he shows that no matter how cruel the misfortune, how absurd the circumstance, there's always the soft punch of a lesson tucked within. This is a book for anyone who overshares, overthinks, has ever felt lost or confused–and who wants to have a good laugh about it.
Tags: Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant, Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light, CJ Hauser, Crazy Salad, Crazy Salad and Scribble Scribble, dark humor, essay collection, essay collections, Helen Ellis, Humor, humor books, humorous essays, Joel Golby, Lauren Hough, Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing, Listicle, Nora Ephron, Rax King, Sam Irby, Samantha Irby, Scribble Scribble, Tacky, The Crane Wife, Wow No Thank You.
Posted in Not on Homepage, Reading Group Center | Comments Off on Laugh-Inducing Essay Collections | you need a laugh right now. Guess what, if your hand is up, you're in the right place! We have plenty of laugh-inducing material in the following essay collections. Dive into one and let the giggles, guffaws, snorts, and uncontrollable belly laughs commence!
The Crane Wife by CJ Hauser
"Funny, exciting, vulnerable—truly visionary." —Alexander Chee, author of Edinburgh and Queen of the Night
In this intimate, frank, and funny memoir-in-essays, Hauser releases herself from traditional narratives of happiness and goes looking for ways of living that leave room for the unexpected, making plenty of mistakes along the way. Told with the late-night barstool directness of your wisest, most bighearted friend, The Crane Wife is a book for everyone whose life doesn't look the way they thought it would; for everyone learning to find joy in the not-knowing; for everyone trying, if sometimes failing, to build a new sort of life story, a new sort of family, a new sort of home, to live in.
Read an excerpt | Buy the book
Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light by Helen Ellis
"Despite how often I type the letters 'LOL,' it actually takes a lot for me to laugh out loud. But I found myself doing so at least once a chapter… Hilarious." —Amanda Heckert, Garden and Gun
In these twelve gloriously comic and moving essays, Helen Ellis dishes on married middle-age sex, sobs with a theater full of women as a psychic exorcises their sorrows, gets twenty shots of stomach bile to the neck to get rid of her double chin, and gathers up the courage to ask, "Are you there, Menopause? It's Me, Helen." A book that reads like the best cocktail party of your life, Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light is alive with the sensational humor and ferocious love for her friends that won Helen Ellis legions of fans. This book has a raw vulnerability and an emotional generosity that takes this acclaimed author to a whole new level of accomplishment.
Read an excerpt | Get the reader's guide | Buy the book
Tacky by Rax King
"Tacky is a very funny book. Not just funny, I mean, SERIOUSLY FUNNY. King has the power to trick you into thinking you've got the joke all figured out, then suddenly reveals that you're going to experience a wealth of tender, thought-provoking emotions and guess what? You're gonna like it!" —Kristen Arnett, author of Mostly Dead Things
Tacky is about the power of pop culture—like any art—to imprint itself on our lives and shape our experiences, no matter one's commitment to "good" taste. These fourteen essays are a nostalgia-soaked antidote to the millennial generation's obsession with irony, putting the aesthetics we hate to love—snakeskin pants, Sex and the City, Cheesecake Factory's gargantuan menu—into kinder and sharper perspective. Each essay revolves around a different maligned (and yet, Rax would argue, vital) cultural artifact, providing thoughtful, even romantic meditations on desire, love, and the power of nostalgia. The result is a collection that captures the personal and generational experience of finding joy in caring just a little too much with clarity, heartfelt honesty, and Rax King's trademark humor.
Crazy Salad and Scribble Scribble by Nora Ephron
"Truly funny and wonderfully wise." —Chicago Tribune
This edition brings together two collections of Nora Ephron's uproarious essays on a generation of women (and men) who helped shape the way we live now, and on events ranging from the Watergate scandal to the Pillsbury Bake-Off. In these sharp, hilariously entertaining, and vividly observed pieces, Ephron illuminates an era with wicked honesty and insight. From the famous "A Few Words About Breasts" to important pieces on her time working for the New York Post and Gourmet Magazine, these essays show Ephron at her very best.
Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough
"Stark and riveting . . . searingly honest and often painfully funny." —Leah Mirakhor, The New York Times Book Review
As an adult, Lauren Hough has had many identities: an airman in the U.S. Air Force, a cable guy, a bouncer at a gay club. As a child, however, she had none. Growing up as a member of the infamous cult The Children of God, Hough had her own self robbed from her. It wasn't until she finally left for good that Lauren understood she could have a life beyond "The Family." Along the way, she's loaded up her car and started over, trading one life for the next. As she sweeps through the underbelly of America, she begins to excavate a new identity even as her past continues to trail her and color her world, relationships, and perceptions of self. At once razor-sharp, profoundly brave, and often very, very funny, the essays in Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing interrogate our notions of ecstasy, queerness, and what it means to live freely. Each piece is a reckoning: of survival, identity, and how to reclaim one's past when carving out a future.
Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby
"Stay-up-all-night, miss-your-subway-stop, spit-out-your-beverage funny." —Jia Tolentino
Irby is forty, and increasingly uncomfortable in her own skin despite what Inspirational Instagram Infographics have promised her. She has left her job as a receptionist at a veterinary clinic, has published successful books and has been friendzoned by Hollywood, left Chicago, and moved into a house with a garden that requires repairs and know-how with her wife in a Blue town in the middle of a Red state where she now hosts book clubs and makes mason jar salads. This is the bourgeois life of a Hallmark Channel dream. She goes on bad dates with new friends, spends weeks in Los Angeles taking meetings with "tv executives slash amateur astrologers" while being a "cheese fry-eating slightly damp Midwest person," "with neck pain and no cartilage in [her] knees," who still hides past due bills under her pillow. The essays in this collection draw on the raw, hilarious particulars of Irby's new life. s is Irby at her most | 1,343 |
LongJump Releases Standards-Based Developer Suite
Rapidly Design, Develop and Deploy Custom Enterprise Applications, Lower Development Costs and Accelerate Time-to-Value
Sunnyvale, CA, Monday, September 22, 2008 – LongJump, a leading Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) provider, today unveiled its LongJump Development Suite for developers eager to exploit the business opportunities and advantages of Internet-based application development and delivery. LongJump's developer suite reflects the growing interest in cloud computing<|fim_middle|> a service of Relationals Inc., a privately-held, proven provider of on-demand CRM and SFA business applications to more than 150 enterprise companies. LongJump's Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and catalog of highly customizable, business applications help companies reduces the time and cost of developing and delivering data-driven applications. Its business building blocks let developers and corporate IT teams gain significant time-to-value, since they can bypass the need to repeatedly recreate common business processes and functions. LongJump is the first platform-as-a-service provider to bring robust customization, integration, and powerful functionality to businesses of all sizes, enabling them to quickly design, implement and do further customization in an easy, affordable way. For more information, visit www.longjump.com or call 800.886.9028.
A Future Without Programming?
Rollbase Integration with Google Apps
Am I an Enterprise?
Coghead's PaaSing
LongJump Named a Gartner Cool Vendor in Cloud Computing
Using Mashups to Create a More Efficient Government?
Service Providers See Huge Promise in Delivering Services in the Cloud
CRM Helps Harvest Low Hanging Fruit | , which Gartner named one of the top ten strategic technologies for 2008, noting that web platforms are emerging to provide service-based access to infrastructure services, information, applications, and business processes through cloud computing environments. Merrill Lynch predicts that within the next five years, the annual global market for cloud computing will swell to $95 billion.
While LongJump has already enabled businesses to harness a feature-rich platform to rapidly prototype and run multiple new applications without coding, this new offering provides advanced capabilities for developers with a Java-based set of tools to develop applications at the code level, allowing almost limitless enhancements and extensibility — all within a PaaS environment.
"Platform-as-a-Service is not only real; it is inevitable. For LongJump, capturing the hearts of developers and businesses alike means incorporating industry standard tools, building a full-featured enterprise-level platform, and reducing the time it takes to complete application projects," stated Pankaj Malviya, LongJump's founder and CEO. "LongJump's PaaS offering brings a unique approach to eliminating the costs, complexity and repetition inherent in developing and deploying business applications."
Platform-as-a-Service Emerging as Cost-Effective Cloud Computing
Traditionally, businesses that needed flexible applications would need to buy, build, and maintain a complex architecture of servers, databases, application frameworks and solution design. The PaaS model provides developers and enterprise IT teams with a more cost-effective way to extend or build custom applications. With LongJump, businesses can benefit from significant "time-to-value" and ongoing adaptability since they can bypass the need to recreate common business data models, processes and functions. That, coupled with an on-demand, web-based platform, makes PaaS the ideal platform for a range of business critical applications and situational applications that often exceed the budgets and commitment businesses can provide.
Standards-Based Approach Shortens Time to Market
Unlike most PaaS providers offering platforms that rely on proprietary code and languages to build hosted applications in the cloud, LongJump has opted for a standards-based approach by leveraging a Java-based development environment complete with a plug-in to the Eclipse IDE (Integrated Development Environment), used by 69% of Java developers, according to BZ Research.
"Many have tried to distill the definition of PaaS to its most essential elements, but nearly everyone emphasizes flexibility and customizability relative to SaaS and ease of deployment relative to custom-built software. End-users prize SaaS applications for their universal accessibility, high degree of reliability and convenient pricing. These applications, however, are still packaged functions at their core and cannot always be fully customized for an enterprise's internal purposes. PaaS products attempt to win on customizability by providing users with a hosted palette of components that can be assembled as needed into business applications." noted enterprise software analyst Vishwanath Venugopalan, of The 451 Group, a technology industry analyst firm, in a recent report. "Relative to custom software built and deployed in-house, PaaS offerings attract user interest for ease of deployment and reduced time to market."
LongJump's PaaS offering enables the use of customizable, reusable application "Building Blocks" including objects, scripts, component extensions, business logic, data policies, and workflows that greatly improve the speed of application development and sharing of data across applications. Once data models and processes are created by either clicking or coding, these building blocks can be reused across the platform to serve a variety of business needs. For example, a single contract object and its records can be created and reused by business teams such as sales, business development, compliance, legal, and finance by simply modifying data policies and workflows.
The new LongJump Development Suite includes a visual browser-based UI for data and process modeling as well as advanced coding and scripting features for developers who are familiar with Java, so they can enhance and extend applications or completely create new data models and processes from scratch. Additionally, LongJump provides a set of web service integration points using SOAP and RESTful APIs to seamlessly connect to external systems or platforms. When LongJump Objects are extended, those fields are immediately available for integration with SOAP and REST APIs, workflow processes, and the built-in report creation wizard.
Key features in LongJump's Development Suite include:
Industry Standard Tools and Plug-Ins
All coding is done in Java, JSP and HTML-based code
AJAX library and data model definitions and usage enable developers to reuse existing LongJump functions and UI
Plug-in available for Eclipse IDE
Extensive Customization to Business Building Blocks
Custom actionable data definitions provide the ability to manipulate data as needed or launch custom processes
Custom component definitions provide the ability to define reusable components
Custom Java class definitions enable defining and reusing classes across the platform
Custom page definitions make completely unique UI experiences available to use within internal web tabs and via custom actions
Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and RESTful Web Services
APIs support both SOAP message responses over HTTP/HTTPS and custom Java-bean scripting
APIs can trigger workflow processes using SOAP and RESTful web services
Inbound and outbound SOAP messaging support to connect to external systems
Update of existing RESTful web services API for data integration with external systems
Free to Existing Customers / Free Trial Usage Available
The LongJump Development Suite is available immediately and is a free upgrade for existing users of the platform. LongJump is currently offering a free 30-day evaluation here: www.longjump.com/devsuite.
About LongJump
Based in Sunnyvale, California, LongJump is | 1,116 |
Shoes are a bit like weeds—they tend to get out of control before you know it. But fortunately, shoes are a lot easier to tame. And as the saying goes (sort of), shoes make the man. Or the woman. So, now that we've justified the need to hang on to all of our shoes, how do we keep them organized? While there are plenty of prefab shoe racks on the market, making one of your own seems more—well, footloose and fancy-free. Here are 8 simple DIY ideas that will help keep your shoe collection in perfect order.
Give basic crown molding new purpose as a clever storage solution that puts heeled shoes on display. Simply paint or stain unfinished trim, and mount it on the wall. Drill holes the same size as your screw heads, so you can countersink the screws for a more put-together look.
Almost any wall shelving unit can be remade as an off-the-floor shoe rack—a case in point, these tire-tread shelves. As a bonus, elevated shoe storage gives you easy access to sweep underneath.
This simple, narrow-profile shoe rack relies on boards of alternating widths to keep shoes in place. Leaving about two inches between each upper and lower plank will let most shoes fit snugly without getting crushed. Use small L-brackets to attach the rack to an entryway or interior closet wall.
Here's another perfect solution for high-heeled shoes. In a closet or small alcove, space thin tension rods about a foot apart. Save your paint job by adding strips of masking tape behind your shoes to avoid scuff marks where the heels meet the wall.
Is there anything that can't be done with a<|fim_middle|>, while adding boards to the inside creates spots for flats and sneakers.
An empty paint can is the perfect size to hold a pair of shoes, and when mounted to the wall it makes a handy cubby. To re-create this idea with an old can, remove the labels with household ammonia. Or, go to almost any home improvement store and round up some empty cans for a few dollars apiece.
Keep chaos at bay with just four 1x4 wood strips. This simple yet functional shoe rack is perfect for any small area. For an extra touch, paint the wood to coordinate with the room's color palette.
Instead of stowing them away, why not let your shoes make a design statement? Industrial pipe is easy to install, and its modular design lets you create twists and turns above and below wood-plank shelves. | wooden crate? Apparently not. This stained crate offers a space to hang heels effortlessly | 16 |
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The Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland
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Jewell Lab Explores Techniques to Tailor MS...
Jewell Lab Explores Techniques to Tailor MS Therapy Design
Minta Martin Professor of Engineering Christopher Jewell
University of Maryland bioengineers are taking a closer look at how changes to the biophysical properties of candidate nanotherapeutics might be leveraged to create more precision immunotherapies to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). In particular, Minta Martin Professor of Engineering Christopher Jewell and members of his Immune Engineering Lab are building immunotherapeutics entirely from immune signals, and carefully designing the sequence of these signals to change properties such as size and charge. The team has shown how these properties – not just the actual immune signals – alter how immune cells respond to the therapeutics and the outcomes. Their findings are now available in American Chemical Society journal, Nano Letters.
Nearly 2.5 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with MS, an autoimmune disease that causes the body's immune system to wrongfully attack myelin, the insulation that surrounds and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. When this happens, nerve fibers and cells are damaged, leading to a loss of motor function and other neurological complications that greatly impact the patient's quality of life.
Current therapies for MS non-specifically decrease the activity of the immune system to restrain the detrimental "attack," but at a cost that leaves MS patients vulnerable to certain infections or illnesses, including some cancers.
Recently, Jewell and his team have been working with specially designed nanomaterials built entirely from immune signals; they hope this unique design can be used to reprogram how the immune system responds to the body's own healthy cells – or, "self" cells – in the brain and spinal cord during MS.
Studies have shown that some of the body's typical defense mechanisms against infection – such as those known as toll-like receptors (TLRs) – go haywire during autoimmune disease and are, in fact, overactive in MS. Jewell and his team decided to target these pathways to block inflammation. Their hope is that, by eliminating harmful cues while delivering helpful myelin self-molecules, they might create an opportunity to retrain self-reactive T cells that attack myelin to instead become regulatory T cells. These special immune cells could enable more specific control of the cells that do damage during MS or other autoimmune diseases, without suppressing the function of normal cells.
In the human body, the immune system detects antigens – molecules that are present on all cells and vary according to the type of cell – to distinguish the body's own "self cells" from foreign cells. When functioning properly, the body's immune system recognizes self cells by their self-antigens; this, in turn, means that foreign substances — such as bacteria, toxins, or a virus — stick out like a sore thumb, enabling the immune system to wage a specific attack and elimination.
Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) play a significant role in mediating immune response by recognizing and processing antigens. Realizing this, Jewell and his team have investigated ways to deliver both self-antigens and modulatory immune<|fim_middle|> represent a new milestone for autoimmune therapies.
The key is recognizing that outcomes during immunotherapy are impacted not only by the specific therapeutic signals, but also by the biophysical forms in which signals are delivered. Unfortunately, the links between nanomaterial design, biophysical properties, and immune regulation are poorly defined.
"This goal will be enabled by deeper understanding of not just the role of the signals in immunotherapies, but also the role of how the signals are displayed," Jewell said. "Properties such as nanoparticle size, charge, and strength of interaction are all important in immune signals integration. Here, we've been able to study these biophysical properties more directly since we are building nanoparticles entirely from immune signals, without other conventional polymer or lipid carriers."
In this new paper – led by Eugene Froimchuk, Clark Doctoral Fellow and National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow in the Jewell Lab – the team made some exciting findings along these lines. In particular, they showed that the charge designed into myelin antigens used in their therapeutics controlled how tightly the components binded tolerizing immune cues. As a result, the interactions with immune cells were altered, leading to control over the type of immune cells generated. In particular, the best designs efficiently controlled myelin-specific regulatory immune cells important in combating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The team's belief is that this granular understanding of nanomaterial-immune interactions will contribute to rational design rules for immunotherapies that selectively promote tolerance without impacting normal immune function needed to combat infection.
In addition to graduate fellow Eugene Froimchuk, other authors on the team include BIOE postdoctoral researcher Robert "Smitty" Oakes, BIOE Assistant Research Scientist Senta Kapnick, and BIOE Faculty Specialist Alexis Yanes.
In addition to his BIOE appointment, Jewell is a research biologist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a faculty member with the University of Maryland's Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices.
This work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Institutes of Health. In addition, Froimchuk's work was supported in part by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Grant and the A. James Clark School of Engineering's Clark Doctoral Fellowship.
University of Maryland BioWorkshop core facility manager Sijie Hao contributed training and technical assistance.
Full text of the paper titled "Biophysical Properties of Self-Assembled Immune Signals Impact Signal Processing and the Nature of Regulatory Immune Function" is available online.
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Oakes Receives BIOE Postdoctoral Achievement Award
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Jewell Named 2021 Miegunyah Distinguished Visiting Fellow at...
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New MS Treatment Approach Taps Skin's Immune Cells
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Jewell Lab Project Selected for NIH Concept to Clinic Program
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Jewell Named Presidential Early Career Award Recipient
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Four BIOE Students Named NSF Graduate Research Fellows
Jewell Named AIChE 2018 NSEF Young Investigator, Owens Corning...
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Jewell Lab Research Featured as Transplantation Cover Story
© 2022 University of Maryland | cues to APCs to help teach the immune system to halt the attack on myelin.
While this approach offers promise, antigen-specific therapies have not yet been successful in patients, in part due to the difficulty of targeting immune cues to spatially restricted receptors on and within immune cells. Whether the immune system triggers an inflammatory response or a tolerant response against a self-antigen depends on how it perceives the self-antigens. Because of this, technologies that enable more precise control over immune signal integration would | 102 |
If you are interested in seeing what went on at the market, watch this video here. Follow me on Twitter at @umarjourno for all things news and journalism related.
This time of year may feel a bit grim, but it throws up the opportunity for crisp, sun drenched walks to put a smile back on your freezing face. The largest national nature reserve in the Midlands, Sandwell Valley has it all. Its 660 acres are home to an RSPB reserve, a working Victorian Farm complete with tea rooms, a cycle route, woodland, meadows, open countryside and some nice lakes to boot. There's even a high ropes aerial adventure course, for those feeling brave after all those Bloody Marys.
The 74 and 75 bus routes stop a few minutes walk from Bar Opus at Colmore Circus, and take you into the centre of West Bromwich.
The Valley is a ten-minute walk from West Bromwich centre.
This comfy, Grade II listed proper boozer is the perfect place to kick back with a pint of cask ale and fall out with loved ones, as you take advantage of the pub's generous selection of board games. They're barmy for sausages here, and the rest of the food offering isn't bad either - comfort guaranteed. If you're seriously into your games there's a very popular quiz night here, every Thursday.
Tips: You can mix and match your choice of sausages at The Queens, and you get three - go for it!
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Challenge Gemma to a Brum for…? Trail: Got a theme or unsuspecting audience in mind? Make your challenge!
Words by Gemma Corden – writer, unashamedly banging on about Birmingham. Contact via @gemma_corden or find out more about her here or even more here.
Terrain: practically all of Birmingham!
Culture is king in my world. See where all the magic happens on one of the REP Theatre's brilliantly immersive backstage tours. You get to feel the pressure of standing on stage, watch sets, costumes and props being made and who knows, you may even meet one of your favourite actors.
Broad Street, city centre. Website.
Public transport is free - the perfect excuse to board what was until recently the longest urban bus route in Europe (Coventry stole that crown). The famous number 11 traverses the city's outer circle - that's 26 miles, 40 pubs and six hospitals. Phew! You can jump off at Cadbury World if the smell of all that chocolate gets too much.
In a world ruled by me, British crime dramas are prescribed as medicine. There's nothing like a bit of Frost to provide a healthy distraction from the stress of real life. To get the old grey cells whirring you could visit the West Midlands Police Museum - it's curious and sometimes chilling collection that shows how policing has evolved, from the days of the watchman's lamp to modern-day forensics. Fascinating stuff.
Sparkhill Police Station, 639 Stratford Road. Website.
Tips: Remember your Ps and Qs - in my world, rudeness is punishable by banishment. To Mars or somewhere. But hey, at least you could get there on a free bus.
Yep, bus with a z - because that's just how we like to pronounce it in this neck of the woods. And what understatedly fascinating woods they are. This most charming of bus tours guides passengers beyond the usual 'more canals than Venice' mantra and takes us off the beaten track, picking up the Tolkien trail in leafy Edgbaston and exploring the urban glamour of East Side alongside the perennially popular Jewellery Quarter and the Golden Mile (yes, apparently we have one). Jam-packed with interesting facts that will surprise even the most veteran of Brummies, this memorable tour will uncover Birmingham as you've never seen it before. Warts and all.
£12 for an adult ticket, concession and group tickets available. Here's the website.
Steel yourselves for more facts! This brilliant (and massive) exhibition is a great deal more interesting than it may sound on paper. Innovative displays, films and interactives tell the story of Birmingham in chronological order - travelling right back in time to the city's medieval beginnings, journeying through the grandeur and squalor of Victorian Birmingham and uncovering the role the city played in the two world wars. It really is an epic tale - expect to be chilled, disgusted, moved and, ultimately, very proud.
Where better to bore people to tears with your newfound facts than over a locally brewed ale down at the pub...or industrial estate. The Two Towers Brewery has been providing Birmingham and beyond with delicious and brilliantly-named craft beers since 2009 (a half of Complete Muppetry, anyone?). They currently operate from the rather incongruous setting of a Hockley industrial unit, but don't let that put you off. The site has the feel of someone's garden shed - cosy, charming and welcoming, just like the hosts. Get down to one of their lively Music and Ale Nights and expect to leave with your Brummie pride well and truly in tact.
What will Big Enn, an art curator who has a keen interest in architecture and of course he's our resident food writer, make of Resort World?
After all the publicity in the lead up to the recent opening of Resort World at the NEC site I thought I would like to go and have a look. From what I could understand, there should be a major architecturally significant building housing a casino, restaurants, IMAX cinemas, conference centre, and an outlet shopping mall to rival Bicester Village.
From the centre of Birmingham the sensible option seemed to be to take the train and, after a twelve-minute ride, I alighted at International. It was pretty straightforward to follow the signs and walk along that great soul less corridor which I have trudged so many times in the past to attend the annual Spring Fair and other events. It has been tidied up considerably since I last traversed it but it is still just a long metal tube, I suppose. Once down into the NEC complex, signage was a bit less obvious and it took a few minutes to be certain quite where to go. Slightly to my surprise I found myself being routed outside again and faced with a walk of not much less than a quarter of a mile to the actual Resort World building. On a fine day this was perfectly pleasant but would be a bit daunting I think in the middle of winter.
Having seen pictures of the building I was not entirely expecting an architectural masterpiece but the reality is, frankly, even worse than my already rather low expectations. It is certainly new, large, shiny, and asymmetrical but those qualities do not necessarily constitute architectural value. I was somewhat, shall we say, underwhelmed.
The day I went, preparations were underway for the local premiere of the new Bond film Spectre and so the main entrance was partially blocked by the workmen labouring to lay the Red Carpet.
Once in, I found to my left what looked like a decent enough bar with food, and a high street restaurant branch straight ahead at the beginning of the mall. What was particularly noticeable was the small numbers of visitors at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. My experience of indoor shopping malls is that they are often complex and confusing to negotiate my way around but not this one: it is very straightforward, being laid out in a simple oval plan. It is also pretty small, with most of the standard high street names you would expect, a number of units bearing Open Soon messages and others which still seem to be available to rent. Some of the shops are pretty decent, others somewhat scantily stocked, and one well-known High Street name looking not unlike a charity shop with all its surplus sale items laid out on what appears to be a Pile Em High Sell Em Cheap basis.
I did enjoy the ProCook store, however, and found some small items to take home from there and elsewhere. Staff in a number of the shops were at pains to tell me that they were expecting more stock in soon. I guess it would be unfair to judge the place too harshly on the basis of the first week of operation but normally that would be when traders would especially want to meet the expectations of customers as fully as possible in order to encourage repeat visits.
So, what of the rest? I glanced in to the casino which looked glitzy and respectable, not dowdy and slightly seedy like some others encountered. Not being a gambler, I had no reason to stray too far beyond the threshold. The spa on the top floor looked like it might be quite inviting, were I in the mood for pampering. It was the wrong time of day for watching a film, so I cannot say anything about the IMAX experience but RW staff to whom I spoke were very upbeat about it and absolutely certain that they have a winning combination out there. I mentioned my disappointment with the shopping experience and suggested that Bicester had nothing to fear from the RW offering. It appears that what RW wants to do is offer the whole experience, concentrating on the casino, cinema, and food and drink "offers" (don't you hate that word?), with shopping being an additional benefit rather than the main reason for going.
Well, fair enough. I take that at face value but overall it was a disappointing experience for me. Perhaps I will return when it has become more established but I think I can find much better places to eat and drink, to shop, and to relax in the city centre without troubling myself to go out to the edge. As for cinema, I still find it hard to better the Electric Experience (admittedly a slightly odd acquired taste).
Birmingham is a brilliant city. It caters for the most diverse of tastes and softens the stoniest of cynics. There really is something for everyone. Our resident trail finder, Gemma Corden, is here to prove it. Challenge her if you dare.
Why not round the adventure off with some frighteningly cheap spirits at this atmospheric rock metal club, housed under a railway arch. Warning: there will be a lot of Metallica t shirts.
September 13th saw the biggest half marathon take place in Newcastle, with top athletes including Mo Farah, David Weir and Shelly Woods - all who won their respective races - were joined by 57,000 other runners.
Whilst Newcastle and the North of England were able to bask in the glory of the Great North Run, on October 18th 2015 Birmingham will be able to show what it can do, as the Great Run series comes to town, with the biggest half marathon in the Midlands.
The Birmingham Half Marathon is, in my opinion, the best half marathon - even beating the half marathon which is held in my hometown of Leicester a week later. And this year will be the 3rd year I've taken part in this particular race - and my fifth half marathon!
If you've never laced up your trainers and stood on the start line of a half marathon race with thousands of other runners, and you've never ran the grueling, yet enjoyable, 13.1 miles then you are missing out.
I would love to be able to paint you a picture of how much fun and how rewarding running a half marathon for charity is, but I don't think my words would do it justice. The excitement and anticipation, not just from the runners who are gearing up for the race but also from the spectators is electric.
There's a buzz in the air which cannot be replicated anywhere else, strangers bonding over a common goal of looking to tackle the 13.1 miles which lay ahead - many runners tackling the course for a charity close to their hearts, and with family and friends cheering them on.
During the race the streets are lined with spectators, even streets where you may not necessarily expect to see them, they are there - cheering on and encouraging people that they've never met before and are unlikely to meet again. People come out of their houses just to applaud the runners, people stop whatever it was they were doing in the streets to clap, local church congregations come out and support - literally anyone you can think of will be out and about cheering on the thousands of runners as they put themselves through pain and a rollercoaster of emotions.
As for the final mile, which takes in Middleway and ends on Broad Street, this is something else altogether. Writing about it now, as I sit in the comfort of my lounge, brings goosebumps as well as tears to the eyes. It is the last mile where the body is hurting everywhere and all you want to see is the finish line, which seems to never come, where the crowd are extra special.
The bridges over Middleway are always packed, Broad Street is always 3 or 4 people deep on the pavement and it's a wall of noise, euphoric cheers and unwavering support which as a runner, I can tell you, really does make a huge difference and mean a lot. If it wasn't for aiming for a PB every time I take on the Birmingham Half Marathon, I would stop on Broad Street and film the experience (perhaps I need to borrow a GoPro for this year's race).
For me, the Birmingham Half Marathon is when Birmingham really truly shines as a great city, full of compassionate, supportive and wonderful people. I cannot recommend the experience enough, even if you're not a runner, on October 18th 2015 why not come out and support those (like myself) who are tackling the 13.1 miles and experience it for yourselves - particularly Broad Street?!
As much as I love running the Birmingham Half Marathon, I do take part for a serious reason - and that is to raise money for a charity which is close my heart, John Taylor Hospice.
Everyone at John Taylor Hospice does an incredible, amazing job - they truly are fantastic, but they can only do it with the support of sponsorship. In fact it costs £14,000 a day for John Taylor Hospice to run all the services they do - and these services make a huge difference to their patients and families.
I'm truly humbled to put on the John Taylor Hospice vest, as I know by running 13.1 miles for them in October, with the help of everyone who sponsors me, I'll be making a massive difference.
As John Taylor Hospice say "Every Moment Matters" - and whilst I've written this piece to give you a flavour of what the Birmingham Half Marathon is like, to promote yet another great event in this great city, I would love it if you could all spare whatever it is you can to sponsor me - either via justgiving.com/mjyounger14 (where you can read more about why I'm running for JTH) or by texting JTMY86 £2 to 70070 - thank you!
By Michael Younger, Copywriter by nature, Twitter user (@myounger14) & chief owl spotter.
The number 80 bus stops nearby (a 7-minute walk), boarding at Smallbrook Queensway in the city centre and alighting at Osler Street. You'll need a taxi on the way back.
After a character building night on the skates you should be feeling suitably brave come Saturday morning, and with 1000 metres of track and 13 corners (unlucky for some) Teamsport indoor go karting is the perfect hangover cure.
The nearest train station is Langley Green -15 mins from Birmingham Moor Street station.
If your skate-legs are a little dusty, Birmingham Wheels Roller Speed Club do roller skating lessons on Saturdays.
Lunch at Le Monde is a great deal at £12.50 for two courses.
Challenge Gemma to a Brum for...? Trail: Got a theme or unsuspecting audience in mind? Make your challenge!
Words by Gemma Corden - writer, unashamedly banging on about Birmingham. Contact via @gemma_corden or find out more about her here or even more here.
Photos kindly supplied by the venues.
This year, is the Year of the Sheep (or Goat) - but it would seem someone forgot to tell Birmingham - as in Birmingham, it appears to be the Year of the Owl.
Not just one owl either, 89 giant owls which have been dotted around Birmingham (with one being slightly further afield at Twycross Zoo) - from outside the new library to Gracechurch in Sutton Coldfield, and from Ward End Park to Kings Heath.
Each of the 89 giant owls have been individually created by artists from Birmingham and beyond, whilst many schools and local community groups have had a hand in designing the small owls which have also been dotted around Birmingham. And every single one of the owls which landed in Birmingham on July 20th and fly off again on September 27th are part of The Big Hoot 2015.
The Big Hoot 2015 has been presented by creative producers Wild in Art who are working in partnership with Birmingham Children's Hospital to create a trail of fantastically designed owls, each with their own individual QR codes which provide more information about the owls and their creators, along with offering some special awards.
The aim of The Big Hoot 2015, along with providing beautiful owl sculptures in various locations throughout Birmingham which people can explore at their own leisure, is to raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity - and more information can be found here.
By now, if you've been anywhere in or around Birmingham you will have seen groups of people around the owls, having their pictures taken next to them - something which I like to refer to as an "owlfie" - or bending down at peculiar angles to read information available.
And the owl spotting as part of The Big Hoot 2015 isn't just for little kids either, big kids (aka mums, dads, aunts, uncles & grandparents) can and should get involved too....and this is from experience.
During the August Bank Holiday weekend, armed with The Big Hoot 2015 app (which I highly recommend you download if you're off owl spotting), the car - myself and my fiancée set off with the task of finding all 89 owls as quickly as we could. Once we found each owl, one of us would scan the QR code using The Big Hoot app, whilst the other took a picture - we even took a few "owlfies".
For the early stages of the owl spotting it was fairly relaxed, and we saw lots of other families also taking part - everyone was friendly, waiting their turn to scan the code or take a picture. Strangers who'd never met each other had quick conversations about their favourite owls so far or pointed out where some of the trickier to spot owls were.
We were making great strides into spotting all 89 too, with our plan being to start on Broad Street/Brindley Place, and work our way through the City Centre and down to Digbeth.
As the day wore on, more conversations with people we'd never met and more owl spotting took place. By this time, I'd learnt that Dr Whoot (in Snow Hill) was one of the more popular owls, not only within the City Centre but out of all 89 too - and then before we knew it, all owls located in the City Centre/Jewellery Quarter had been spotted, scanned and photo taken.
A quick check of the inbuilt map on the app and a plan was formed to drive to Kings Heath, Handsworth and Perry Barr to spot the owls there, before heading home and finding those at Fort Dunlop.
By the end of Day 1, we had made great in-roads into spotting as many owls as possible, although we were hindered slightly as we arrived at Soho House after the gates had locked so couldn't scan the owl.
Undeterred and adamant to find all 89 owls, we made a plan of action for the following day - which would involve driving to Twycross Zoo first to find the owl there, before heading back to Soho House to scan the owl we were unable to get to the night before.
We still had to find the owls in Sutton Coldfield, Blakesley Hall, Aston, Nechells and Erdington - and despite the rain, we knew we could do it.
It may have become tiring come the last couple of owls (this may also have something to do with walking over 10 miles on day 1), we may have got very wet due to the rain and we may have got a little lost coming out of Twycross Zoo...BUT we scanned all 89 owls, with the last one being Love Owl situated at Moore Hall - and I cannot tell you what a relief it was to do.
Finding all 89 owls also felt somewhat rewarding - and it paid off, as Satnam Rana of BBC news fame, contacted me via Twitter to see if I would meet her to discuss our owl spotting adventures. Whilst I wasn't able to, my fiancée did and featured on the news.
Honestly, if you have time to spot the owls go and do it. I'm not saying go crazy and spot all 89 in 2 days, nor am I saying you'll get on the news - but you will have a great time and you will see some great artwork which highlights how great Birmingham is.
The Big Hoot 2015 is more than the owls though, it's about seeing parts of Birmingham you wouldn't necessarily see or visit - places until I started the owl hunt I knew existed, such as Soho House and Sheldon Country Park.
But it's even more than that still. It's about charity, and helping Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity - whether this be by taking part in the auction to buy one of the owls after September 27th 2015 or by texting HOOT to 70099 to donate £2 today to Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.
The "L" word, it sparks fear into a lot of us - particularly males. Our palms become sweaty, our minds race and we begin to panic, often fumbling around hoping that we're doing it right.
Of course, I'm talking about laundry. It's something which I'll hold my hands up to not being very good at. I understand and can do the basics, such as splitting up dark clothing from the white clothing and I know never to add a red item to white laundry. I'm also fairly nifty at hanging the washing out once it has been done. But that bit in the middle, involving the strange white contraption in the kitchen (also known as the washing machine) has me bamboozled.
Thankfully there's now an app to help with the laundry, known as Laundrapp.
You may remember last month we had a competition for one lucky reader to win the chance to get their laundry done for free. The good people behind Laundrapp also offered Birmingham Favourites the chance to review the service - and I snapped up the chance.
After receiving a special code as part of the review, I began to flick through the app (which I'd downloaded onto my smart phone), in the hope of making a decision on which of the laundry we had should be sent off to be washed.
The list of packages on offer, combined with the great prices offered, made it hard to decide. For example, an 8kg bag of laundry (excluding bedding and towels), which is washed on a 30 degree wash and tumble dried, can be done for £14.50, whilst a two-piece suit can be washed for as little as £11.
After some careful consideration, I opted to get a tie washed (okay, I'd just spilt something on it, leaving a greasy mark) and a blanket which is used as part of Tilly's (our pooches) bed. As you can imagine, Tilly's blanket had a bit of a doggy whiff to it, so it seemed a bit of a challenge as to how clean they could get it.
Before completing the order, Tilly tweeted Laundrapp to see if her blanket was classed as a blanket by them - and they were quick to respond, with a nice personal tweet too. So far, so good!
Confirmation received that the blanket was good to go, the process continued. First selecting a collection day and time, followed by a delivery day and time. Laundrapp has a range of options available with hour time slots, making it easier to arrange for your laundry to be collected and delivered to fit in with a busy schedule.
Navigating throughout the app was easy to do, as was adding the payment details - without having to click on lots of boxes which many sites require making them almost impossible to use on a phone.
With the order placed, a confirmation email was quickly sent from Laundrapp confirming details of order - with the collection of the laundry coming a few days later.
Although the collection of our laundry was slightly later than we'd requested, the service cannot be faulted. And with the items back with us, there are no complains.
The tie is as clean as the day I purchased it, whilst Tilly's blanket is spotless, smelling fresh and extremely soft. Tilly seems to approve too.
Overall, a top service from Laundrapp - and a service I would highly recommend for anyone who wants to take the chore of laundry out of their lives!
By Michael Younger, Copywriter by nature, Twitter user (@myounger14) & laundry novice.
We are mightily grateful to Keith Bracey, local history buff for putting this stunning and informative feature together. This is part two - please see part one here.
In 1940, just after the start of the Second World War, Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory started production of the Spitfire fighter plane and became the largest Spitfire factory in the UK, producing up to 320 aircraft per month. When production ended at Castle Bromwich in June 1945, a total of 12,129 Spitfires had been built - more than half of the 20,000 ever produced.
Sir Francis Galton, born in Birmingham in 1822, is credited as the first to apply statistical methods to science. In doing so, he gave birth to the science of meteorology by creating the first weather map, compiled using data from all of Britain's weather stations in October 1861. A half-cousin to Charles Darwin, whose grandfather Erasmus Darwin from Lichfield near Birmingham had been a prominent member of Birmingham's Lunar Society, Galton also coined the term Eugenics (improving human genetics through controlled breeding), devised a method for classifying fingerprints and introduced the use of questionnaires and surveys for collecting data on human communities.
The Mini, an icon of the swinging Sixties, was manufactured at Birmingham's Longbridge plant from 1959 to 2000. In 1999 the Mini was voted the most influential car of the 20th century, and in 2014 it was named Britain's favourite car of all time in a survey by motoring magazine Autocar. By the late 1960s, Longbridge was the biggest car plant in the world and employed around 250,000 workers.
And it all started here in Brum. It was in 1895 in Birmingham that Frederick William Lanchester built the first petrol-driven four-wheeled car in Britain. He also invented the accelerator pedal.
Lanchester, who had been working at the Forward Gas Engine Company in Saltley, Birmingham, had first devised an engine that ran on petrol rather than gas. As part of that, he invented the carburettor to get the correct mix of air and fuel.
Having tried the new engine in a boat and created Britain's first motorboat, he decided to design a four-wheeled vehicle that would run on petrol. He worked on the car at workshops in Ladywood Road, Fiveways, and then he and his brothers set up a factory in Montgomery Street, Sparkbrook, to make the cars so they could be sold to the public.
Birmingham's Gun Quarter was for many years the centre of the world's gun manufacturing industry. In 1865 nearly 10,000 people were employed in the city's gun industry.
During the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), production soared as more than three million guns were made in the city, with Birmingham supplying two thirds of the guns used by the British army.
Hercules Cycle and Motor Company, founded in 1910 in Aston, had become the world's biggest manufacturer of bicycles by the end of the 1930s, when six million had been made.
Evolving out of Birmingham's bicycle industry, firms such as Norton and BSA made Birmingham an international centre for motorbike manufacture.
BSA - the Birmingham Small Arms Company - began as a gun-maker founded in Birmingham's Gun Quarter in 1861 before venturing into bicycles, motorbikes and cars. BSA was at one time the largest motorcycle producer in the world and Birmingham bikes won many awards for speed and quality. The BSA Bantam was a popular small motorcycle made in Birmingham which is still produced under licence in India today.
Birmingham firm Arthur Price was the first company to make spoons and forks from chromium plate, the forerunner of stainless steel. By the 1950s, it had become the largest manufacturer of stainless steel cutlery in the UK.
In April 1912, A. Price & Co. Ltd, as the company was then known, was based in a small factory in Conybere Street, Birmingham. The firm was celebrating its 10th anniversary with a commission to supply premium cutlery for use on the world's newest and most luxurious ocean liner, the S.S. Titanic.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's tragic maiden voyage, Arthur Price recreated the Panel Reed cutlery that was used in the ship's First Class accommodation. In 1976, the firm was commissioned to design and produce the cutlery for Concorde.
Famous novelist Charles Dickens gave the first public performance of A Christmas Carol in Birmingham Town Hall in December 1853, 10 years after its publication. He performed it over three hours 15 minutes in front of a crowd of 2,000 local people - taking only a 10-minute break for a quick swig of beef tea.
Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, lived and worked in Aston for several months each year from 1879 to 1882. He was working as a pharmacy assistant in the breaks between his studies at Edinburgh University.
Birmingham's Sherlock Street - where Doyle is said to have bought a violin - and the surname of Birmingham printer John Baskerville were obvious influences on his later literary works, with the first Sherlock Holmes story (A Study in Scarlet) published in 1886 and The Hound of the Baskervilles appearing in 1901. Doyle's time here is commemorated by a blue plaque on the building on the site of his former home at 63 Aston Road North.
The Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry, creator of The Railway Series about Thomas the Tank Engine, was a curate at King's Norton, Birmingham, from 1940 to 1946. While living there in 1943, he invented stories featuring trains - based on his experiences hearing the engines puffing along the railway line at Kings Norton - to entertain his son during a bout of measles.
In 1945, Awdry wrote his first book featuring his locomotive characters. He made a model train for his son and decided to call it Thomas. His son wanted to hear stories about Thomas, and these were published in his book Thomas the Tank Engine in 1947.
The American-born author of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' which was made into a film starring Johnny Depp and 'Rip Van Winkle' lived and wrote for a time in Birmingham during the early 18th century.
The incredibly prolific author of romantic novels was born in Edgbaston in Birmingham. She wrote hundreds of books, mostly of the romantic fiction variety.
The former King Edward's School Edgbaston schoolboy lost his job with Granada TV in Manchester in 1994 and became an author. His books about his hero Jack Reacher, the 6 feet 5 inch and 250 pounds one-man war machine have sold over 100 million copies. The books have become a film franchise with the diminutive Tom Cruise playing the giant Reacher.
A spell in a Young Offenders Institution with his brother for stealing a chicken from a convent convinced Roger Ellory to turn his life around and become a writer. He gleaned most of his knowledge about America, which plays host to his crime novels from 1970's TV shows like Starsky & Hutch, The Rockford Files, Cannon and Cagney & Lacey. His most famous crime thriller is 'A Quiet Belief in Angels' and he has written 21 books.
Another former King Edward's School Edgbaston pupil, albeit somewhat older than Lee Child, Coe's novel of growing up in 1970's Birmingham: 'The Rotter's Club' with its background of the Birmingham pub bombings and the strikes at the Austin Rover car plant at Longbridge struck a chord with readers and was turned into a successful BBC TV series. Other novels such as 'The Closed Circle' have been equally successful.
Moseley author Jim Crace has enjoyed great literary success and has been nominated for The Booker Prize, the best known literary prize in the UK.
Four wheel drive vehicles began with the great Land Rover Defender in the 1950's and the success of the company continues today now it is owned by Indian conglomerate TATA with premium products like The Range Rover Sport and The Range Rover Evoque.
Handsworth-born Kash Gill was the very first Asian fighter to become a World Champion in a Contact sport in his chosen discipline of kick-boxing where he is a four-time World Champion. Kash's titles pre-date those of British-born Asian World Boxing Champions Naseem Hamed and Amir Khan.
Birmingham's 'Film Triumvirate' is made up of Sir Michael Balcon, Brummie Grammar Schoolboy and Britain's first 'Film Mogul' who at one point worked for Louis B. Mayer at MGM, Victor Savile, who bankrolled Balcon and Oscar Deutsche who founded the ODEON Cinema Chain in Birmingham in the 1930's were Brum's three film 'movers and shakers' All three could at one time be found on a ride on the Inner Circle number 8 'Corporation Buzz' in Birmingham's inner city!
Birmingham Grammar School Boy Sir Michael Balcon founded The Ealing Studios which gave us those great 'Ealing Comedies': 'Kind Hearts and Coronets', 'The Lavender Hill Mob', 'Passport to Pimlico', 'The Ladykillers' and 'Whiskey Galore' should be more celebrated in Birmingham as possibly Britain's greatest film maker, the man who discovered Alfred Hitchcock, whom many think is Britain's best film maker…..?
Balcon also named his 'Everyman Copper Hero' and most enduring character PC George Dixon of 'Dixon of Dock Green' after his old school which was named after Education Reformer and the founder of Edgbaston High School for Girls: George Dixon MP, a direct contemporary of Joseph Chamberlain MP the founder of municipal Birmingham.
PC George Dixon first appeared in the 1949 Ealing Studios film: 'The Blue Lamp' where he was shot in a bungled cinema robbery by a young Rank Starlet on loan to the Ealing Studios Dirk Bogarde....remember him?
PC Dixon's cheery Saturday evening greeting: 'Evening All' has gone down in TV folklore.
'Dixon of Dock Green' ran from 1952 until 1976 when Jack Warner, the actor who played PC Dixon for all those years became too old for the role.
Sir Michael Balcon would premiere his Ealing Films to the Cinema Club at his old school.
There are also links to Hollywood as his Grandson is possibly the greatest ever screen actor the three-time Oscar winner for 'Best Actor' Daniel Day-Lewis.
George Dixon was a former Lord Mayor of Birmingham of the 1870's and a renowned educational pioneer in the city. He founded Edgbaston High School for Girls in Westbourne Road to educate young women, the daughters of artisans and craftsmen in Birmingham.
The George Dixon Grammar Schools were built in 1906 to honour his memory on the mile-long City Road, built at the turn of the 20th century during the municipal boom in Birmingham inspired by Joseph Chamberlain who at that time founded the University of Birmingham also in Edgbaston.
George Dixon to those 'Baby Boomers' who grew up in 1960's Britain meant a kindly, avuncular copper who pounded the beat in Dock Green in East London on black and white TV on BBC1 on Saturday evenings.
Did you know how PC George Dixon got his name...?
Sir Michael Balcon, then Head of the Ealing Studios was a former pupil of the George Dixon Grammar School for Boys in City Road, Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Ealing Studios released a film called: 'The Blue Lamp' in the early 1950's starring Jack Warner as PC George Dixon. PC Dixon was shot dead by a very young actor named Dirk Bogarde (remember him...?) who played a petty villain on PC Dixon's beat in bomb-damaged London.
PC George Dixon's name was inspired by Sir Michael Balcon's former school George Dixon Grammar in Birmingham.
PC Dixon was reincarnated for the very successful 'Police Procedural' TV show of the 60's and 70's on BBC1, still played by the original actor from 'The Blue Lamp': Jack Warner.
Sir Michael Balcon's daughter Jill Balcon established links with her father's old school in Birmingham some years ago. Jill was part of an acting dynasty and married into the Day-Lewis theatrical family which includes Jill Balcon's double-Oscar winner son Daniel Day-Lewis whose grandfather is Birmingham-born Sir Michael Balcon.
Daniel Day-Lewis has also been nominated for a 'Best Actor' Oscar in 2013 for his appearance as 'Lincoln' in the Steven Spielberg biopic.
There is another Birmingham link to Abraham Lincoln. One of Lincoln's greatest friends and influences was Birmingham MP and anti-slavery campaigner John Bright.
Bright encouraged Lincoln to adopt the abolition of slavery as a central aim of his war against the Confederacy and for many years a bust of John Bright MP stood in The White House.
Birmingham therefore is linked via Sir Michael Balcon and his Ealing Studios films to Hollywood and the Oscars won by his grandson Daniel Day-Lewis. Birmingham also has several other links to the early British film industry. The first ODEON 'picture house' was built in Birmingham by Oscar Deutsch.
The acronym ODEON was coined by Oscar Deutsch and stood for: 'Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation' and the first 'ODEON' was in Birmingham. The word ODEON has become a by-word for a cinema in the British film industry.
Birmingham also has the oldest continuously operating cinema in Britain in 'The Electric Cinema' in Station Street near the 'Old Rep' having first shown news reels and short films since 1909. Current owner Tom Laws has reinvented and reinvigorated 'The Electric Cinema' as a Art Deco cinema with a bar, double armchair-style seats which movie-goers can enjoy, creating an enjoyable personal cinema experience, totally different to the multiplex.
The fact that Celluloid was invented in the city too makes Birmingham a very important place in the history of the British film industry.
Birmingham rope and wire-making company Webster and Horsfall based in Small Heath have two claims to fame. Firstly they provided most of the ropes for the British Naval Fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and for Admiral Lord Nelson's Flag Ship HMS Victory. Another surprising Birmingham link as the British city furthest from the sea is that around 120 of the sailors on HMS Victory hailed from land-locked Birmingham! In 1865 Webster and Horsfall made the very first Trans-Atlantic Telecommunications cable which Isambard Kingdom Brunel's great steam ship the SS Great Eastern laid at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Webster and Horsfall is one of the few companies in the country with its own dedicated church onsite….St Cyprians of Small Heath.
John Bright MP who played a pivotal role in the 1867 Reform Act which helped enfranchise the ordinary working man was a friend of the great US President Abraham Lincoln. When, early in The American Civil War (1860 – 1865) Lincoln was wavering as to whether he wanted to retain the Abolition of Slavery as one of his key war aims. Bright wrote to Lincoln to bolster his resolve and plead that he continue his abolitionism. Lincoln kept this letter and when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth at The Washington Theatre in 1865 the letter was found in one of the pockets of his frock coat. Many years later First Lady Hillary Clinton found a politician's bust in a dusty White House storeroom. After some research it was discovered that the bust was of Birmingham MP John Bright and the bust was placed on display in The Oval Office of the Clinton Presidency.
The Birmingham MP Thomas Attwood, whose reclining statue can be found in Birmingham's Chamberlain Square was one of the MP's who played a great role in the enfranchisement of the ordinary working man with the 1832 Reform Act which abolished 'Rotten Boroughs'. Attwood held a huge political rally at Newhall Hill in 1830 of his Birmingham Political Union which was one of the precursors to the Trade Union Movement and was instrumental in the formation of the unions. The establishment felt under threat by events like the huge Birmingham Rally at Newhall Hill and for a time it was felt that revolution maybe in the air with events in Birmingham.
Joseph Chamberlain, the Birmingham Lord Mayor and Birmingham MP and former Colonial Secretary was the man who made Birmingham into the 'workshop of the world' and 'the city of a thousand trades' was instrumental in providing clean water for Birmingham artisans and workers through his plan to pipe clean water over 70 miles from North Wales to Bartley Green Reservoir in South Birmingham. This was known as The Elan Valley Project and eradicated water-borne illnesses in the city of Birmingham and continued the city's exponential industrial growth under Chamberlain.
Joseph Chamberlain was also instrumental in the establishment of The University of Birmingham which was the first of the 'Redbrick' Universities established in the great Victorian cities. Birmingham University was formed from Mason College and Chancellor's Court is a tremendous example of Edwardian architecture. Old Joe, the Clock Tower or Campanile is the tallest free-standing clock tower in the world and is named after Birmingham Lord Mayor and MP and founder of Birmingham University Joseph Chamberlain. Another Birmingham hero JRR Tolkien was growing up in Edwardian Birmingham at this time when the Birmingham University clock tower was being constructed and some think that 'The Eye of Sauron' from the second part of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy: 'The Two Towers' was inspired by the building of 'Old Joe'.
Words and photos supplied by Keith Bracey, Birmingham History Buff.
Bring // You'll need: a bus / train ticket. And Listerine.
'Why are we trekking out to Dudley?' your companions may rightly ask. 'I thought we'd be going to Cadbury World?' It's simple – Cadbury World doesn't have the Brooklyn Cakewalk. Possibly the best fairground ride known to man - certainly the most underrated - the concept is deliciously simple and so much harder (and more fun) than it sounds. You have to walk from one end of a gangway to another...only the whole thing is furiously rattling. Nothing beats watching your Dad attempting to walk the plank, vibrating like he's been plugged into the mains. You'll be buzzing afterwards. Literally. Those Victorians knew how to let loose (the ride dates back to 1910).
Take the train from Birmingham New Street Station (or, when it sheds its caterpillar status, Grand Central...) to Tipton. One mile walk to the museum.
The Custard Factory is a short-ish walk (approx 15 mins) from New Street Station.
You'll probably never want to set eyes on icing again again. Time for a stiff drink – why not slump from your sugar comedown in a darkened room, fortified by a cocktail from the Jekyll and Hyde's Confectionary Corner. Lemon Bon Bon, anyone? Strawberry Laces? Make mine a Jelly Babies.
While you're in the Custard Factory it's worth stopping by McTunneys Sweet Emporium. There's 40 different lollipop flavours. Yes – 40.
Challenge Gemma to a Brum for...? Trail: Got a theme or unsuspecting audience in mind? Make your challenge.
I love the internet - I don't have to lie about who I really am. If I met you in the street I'd have to tell you that my name is Jeremy Clovenhoof and that I live in Boldmere, but here I can come right out with it and tell you that I am Satan. That's SATAN, Lord of Hell! I do live in Boldmere though.
Let's just say that I was the victim of some corporate re-shuffling and they thought they'd park me in the suburbs to keep me out of the way. Keep a low profile they said. You'll love it, they said. Well it's been weeks since I've blown anything up, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on some changes that I have in mind to make things more interesting.
1) I'd like a column in the Daily Mail. I think it would suit my style, although I do worry that I'm not rude enough.
2) I'd like royalties from the church every time they mention my name in a service. Yeah, they love to chunter on about how Satan does this and Satan does that. Well a lot of it's true, but I think I'm due a cut from the collection plate, it's only fair.Now that's sorted, let's put the world to rights. The world of religion is obviously my thing. I think the main problem with it is that everyone takes it all a bit too seriously. I'm going to pep things up a bit.
3) Richard Dawkins is to be made pope. Seriously, I just want to see his face when he finds out. I'll give the current pope a new job, don't worry. I think he might enjoy a starring role in a Broadway musical. Something with lots of feathers and sequins.
4) I think I can safely say that everyone will be happier if I stipulate that dogs are to have a minimum size. If a dog can sit comfortably in a teacup then it just isn't a dog. Let's reclassify those little ones as gerbils and move on.
5) I want food that bounces. I've had enough of the world's scientists, doing this so-called research that tells us things that we already knew, I want to see them developing things that are genuinely useful, like bouncing food. Someone invent a kebab that you can drop on the floor and then catch on the rebound. You'll all thank me for this one.Let's get local now.
Birmingham's fine. I like it a lot, but it could do with some small tweaks.
6) Birmingham is to be moved nearer to the sea. Canals just aren't the same, so let's sort it out. If it's any easier to move the sea closer to Birmingham then that would be fine too. I don't want you to think I'm unreasonable.
7) The Custard Factory. I went there and it was definitely not made of custard. As I said, I'm a reasonable man, so just a little custard fountain would be fine. I worry that the lawyers will turn nasty if we don't throw them a bone. You can't just say something's custard when it's clearly not.
9) I'd like to see a helter-skelter installed there. Ideally it should have a device like they use on railways to shunt trains onto a different line. As people are sliding down, I'll move the lever to send them either onto the soft cushiony landing place so they can have another go or if I don't like them, I'll send them the other way into the canal.
10) One more thing. Once a year, to celebrate wonderful me, I would like the canals of Birmingham to be filled with Cadbury's chocolate instead of water. It will be reserved for me and my speedboat. I'm ruler of the world, aren't I? I'm entitled to some perks. Okay, maybe if you're really good, you can also ride up and down my Chocolate Speedway. I'm a reasonable chap after all.
Birmingham has always been a hive of activity and was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, which was set in motion by the Lunar Society of Birmingham, a group of the greatest scientists, inventors and manufacturers of the time who met to exchange ideas and knowledge at Matthew Boulton's home Soho House in Handsworth.
By 1791, Birmingham was being hailed as the first manufacturing town in the world, and after it gained city status in 1889, it was named the City of A Thousand Trades because of the huge variety of companies based here. It's also been called the Workshop of The World and the First City of the Empire.
It was at The Soho Manufactory, the first factory in the world - that assembly-line mass production was created by pioneering industrialist Matthew Boulton. It was built on Handsworth Heath in 1766 and it made a range of goods including buttons and buckles and was home to the first steam-powered mint. The Soho Mint opened in 1788 and used eight steam-driven machines designed by Boulton to strike up to 84 coins a minute.
The Czech composer Anton Dvorak ((1841-1904) came to Birmingham and said: "I'm here in this immense industrial city where they make excellent knives, scissors, springs, files and goodness knows what else, and, besides these, music too. And how well! It's terrifying how much the people here manage to achieve."
Today, figures from Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that Birmingham is the largest centre in Great Britain for employment in the sectors of public administration, education and health, and the second largest centre outside London for employment in financial and other business services.
Four FTSE100 companies have their HQ in the Birmingham area - the largest concentration of such firms outside London and the South-East. Birmingham's wider metropolitan economy is the second largest in the UK with a GDP (gross domestic product - the value of all goods and services) of £68 billion.
According to the rankings of the Globalization & World Cities Research Network, Birmingham is a beta level city - the third highest ranking in the country after London and Manchester. Birmingham has the highest level of entrepreneurial activity outside London, with more than 16,000 business start-ups registered in 2013. The city is behind only London and Edinburgh for private sector job creation between 2010 and 2013.
Birmingham has 35 miles of canal compared with 26 miles of canal in Venice. And the entire Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) is a network of waterways connecting Birmingham and the Black Country. The BCN comprises 114 miles of waterways less than the 174 miles it had at its peak in the 18th century. More cubic metres of water flow through Birmingham's canals than any other city in the world.
Birmingham has "nearly 600 parks and public open spaces" compared with 400 in Paris. Birmingham City Council gave a more exact number with a figure of 571 parks and open spaces with more than 3,500 hectares of public accessible space, and 250 miles of urban brooks and streams. Birmingham City Council estimates that there are six million trees in the city. The 2,400-acre Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield is the largest Urban Park in Europe.
Birmingham's annual German market - officially the Frankfurt Christmas Market - is the largest outdoor Christmas market in the country and the biggest outside Germany and Austria. It attracts more than five million visitors, earning £90 million for the city, and is even bigger than the market staged in German capital Berlin.
Birmingham is the most culturally mixed city in the UK, with 33.3 per cent non-white according to 2007 figures, compared with London's 30.7 per cent.
Outside London, Birmingham has the UK's largest Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist communities, the second largest Hindu community and the seventh largest Jewish community. The city's Sikh Vaisakhi celebrations are the largest in Europe.
Birmingham is one of the UK's top conference destinations. According to Core Cities, the National Exhibition Centre Group (which has four venues in Birmingham: the NEC, International Convention Centre, LG Arena and NIA) attracts more than 4 million visitors a year. That's 42 per cent of the UK's total exhibition trade and major conferences.
Birmingham has a long tradition of TV and Radio production with many shows recorded in studios in Birmingham or filmed on location in the city, while others have been produced here but filmed elsewhere. Among the programmes to come from Birmingham are Doctors, Hustle, Crossroads, Boon, New Faces, Spitting Image, Pot Black, Gangsters, Dalziell and Pascoe and Tiswas, plus the game shows The Golden Shot, Bullseye and Blockbusters.The Archers, the world's longest running radio soap, is recorded in Birmingham for BBC Radio 4.
Birmingham's St Patrick's Day Parade is the third biggest in the world, after New York and Dublin with more than 80,000 people turning out to celebrate the occasion. Birmingham has a large Irish community dating back to the Industrial Revolution when Irish people, known as 'Navvies' moved here to work in the construction of canals, railways and factories and is estimated to have the largest Irish population in the UK. The city has the UK's only Irish Quarter, centred on Digbeth and Deritend.
Birmingham is the birthplace of Heavy Metal, with Black Sabbath and coming from Aston in Birmingham Tony Iommi learned to play guitar in a different way following an industrial accident that removed the tips of two of his fingers. He tuned the guitar down and relied on power chords, something guitarist Geezer Butler also did and together they produced the classic sound of Heavy Metal. Subsequent Heavy Metal bands Napalm Death and Godflesh also hail from Birmingham. Birmingham also boasts Dave Pegg (Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), and Blaze Bayley (Wolfsbane). Other music acts from Birmingham include ELO, Duran Duran, UB40, The Moody Blues, Fuzzbox, Ocean Colour Scene, The Move, Toyah Wilcox, Joan Armatrading, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Ruby Turner, Fine Young Cannibals, The Streets, Musical Youth, Jamelia and Pato Banton. Mother's Club in Erdington was voted the world's best rock venue in 1969 and 1970, with a Blue Birmingham Civic Society plaque unveiled in 2013 to commemorate the iconic venue where such acts as Pink Floyd, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Black Sabbath, The Who and Led Zeppelin played.
In the 1960s, Birmingham was the birthplace of modern Bhangra and is also the centre of the UK's Asian music industry. Birmingham is the global centre of Bhangra music with almost 90 per cent of it made here.
In the classical world, Worcestershire-born composer Edward Elgar was the first conductor of the City of Birmingham Orchestra (later the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra: CBSO) when it was officially founded in November 1920. Elgar was also the first Professor of Music at Birmingham University. In 2002, the CBSO won the most prestigious Record of the Year prize at the Gramophone Awards, the classical counterpart to the Oscars. The CBSO's most famous conductor is Sir Simon Rattle, for whom Symphony Hall was built, often cited as one of the best classical music concert halls in the world.
Oscar Deutsch, born in Balsall Heath and the son of a scrap metal dealer, opened the first ever Odeon cinema in Perry Barr in 1930. Deutsch was a master of marketing with Odeon standing for 'Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation'.
Star City now has the UK's largest cinema complex with thirty screens. Six screens are devoted to Asian films, making this the largest Bollywood movie centre in Europe. The Giant Screen cinema at Millennium Point has the largest screen in the Midlands (72ft wide, 40ft high) & the second largest in the UK.
The Electric Cinema in Station Street at the back of Birmingham's revamped New Street Railway Station is the UK's oldest working cinema dating from 1909.
As well as its famous waterways, Birmingham is home to the Gravelly Hill interchange, better known as Spaghetti Junction the best known motorway junction in the UK. The M6 passes through Birmingham on the longest bridge in the UK the Bromford Viaduct Birmingham was also the terminus for both of the world's first two long-distance railway lines – 1837's 82-mile Grand Junction Railway & the 112-mile London and Birmingham railway of 1838 whose terminus at Curzon Street was the first railway station.New Street station is the busiest train station in the UK outside London In addition, the Number 11 Outer Circle bus route is the longest urban bus route in Europe, reaching a length of 28 miles.
Tennis originated in Birmingham when, in 1859, Harry Gem, Clerk to the Birmingham Magistrates, and his friend Augurio Perera, a Spanish merchant, combined elements of racquets and the Basque ball game Pelota on the lawn of Perera's home at 8 Ampton Road, Edgbaston. The oldest surviving club Lawn Tennis club in the world is the Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Society, which pre-dates The All England Club by 3 weeks.
Acclaimed author JRR Tolkien, born in Bloemfontein South Africa, lived in Birmingham as a child variously in Kings Heath, Hall Green, Rednal and Edgbaston and attended King Edward's School in New Street. Sarehole Mill, Moseley Bog, Perrott's Folly, Edgbaston Waterworks Tower, Birmingham University Clock Tower and the nearby Lickey Hills in Birmingham inspired his famous works The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit.
The Jewellery Quarter is Europe's largest concentration of jewellery businesses, and produces 40 per cent of jewellery made in the UK. It has the largest School of Jewellery in Europe, and the world's largest Assay Office, which hallmarks about 12 million items a year. At its height in the early 1900s, the Jewellery Quarter employed more than 30,000 people. About 3,000 people work there today.
Birmingham has four Michelin-starred restaurants, more than any other city in the UK outside London. Glynn Purnell, Adam Stokes,Luke Tipping and Richard Turner are the Chef Patrons.
Birmingham is the birthplace in 1977 of the Balti - a type of curry served in a metal bowl (karahi) & home to the Balti Triangle, an area encompassing Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Moseley, where there are more than 100 Asian restaurants. Well-known food brands that originated in the city include Bird's Custard, Typhoo tea, Cadbury's chocolate and HP Sauce. Alfred Bird created Bird's Instant Custard in 1837 as his wife was allergic to eggs used to thicken earlier versions of the dessert.
In 1863, William Sumner published A Popular Treatise on Tea and in 1870 started a grocery/pharmacy business with his son John in High Street, Birmingham. It was in 1903 that John's son, John Sumner Jr, created Typhoo Tea - taking the name from the Chinese word for doctor after his sister said she had found relief for her indigestion by drinking a brew made from the tiniest particles of tea leaf, rather than the usual large leaf variety. Sumner Jr sold the tea pre-packaged rather than loose. Typhoo became one of the largest makers of teabags in the UK.
Chocolate giant Cadbury began when John Cadbury opened a grocery shop in Bull Street Birmingham in 1824. Among the products he sold cocoa and drinking chocolate which he prepared using a pestle and mortar. It was in 1831 that he started the Cadbury manufacturing business in a warehouse in Crooked Lane. In 1847, it moved into a larger factory in Bridge Street and when that site became too small, a new works was built at Bournville. The Quaker company produced its first chocolate bars in 1897 and Cadbury's Dairy Milk in its purple wrapper is an icon.
Birmingham is the youngest city in Europe with 25 year olds and under accounting for nearly 40 per cent of its population. Birmingham has five universities: Aston, Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Newman University College & University College Birmingham. Birmingham University was founded by Joseph Chamberlain and was the first 'Redbrick' University. The region as a whole produces over 111,000 graduates each year making it the second largest student area in the UK. In 2011 Birmingham had more than 78,000 students living in the city during term-time more than any other city in the UK outside London. The national educational charity University of the First Age was founded in Birmingham by Professor Tim Brighouse in 1996. Birmingham Business School founded in 1902 is the oldest graduate-level business school in the UK.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery holds the largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art in the world as well as Europe's finest collections of ceramics and fine metalwork. Also on display there is the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork ever found. It consists of more than 3,500 items with over 5kg of gold, 1.4kg of silver and 3,500 cloisonné garnets. BMAG also contains the largest complete bronze sculpture of its kind in the world in the Sultanganj Buddha found in the North Indian town of Sultangani during the construction of the East Indian Railway & dates from 700-800 AD. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts has been described as one of the finest small art galleries in the world. Birmingham Science Museum Think-tank, has the world's oldest working steam engine and the UK's first purpose-built digital planetarium.
Birmingham schoolteacher Rowland Hill established the first modern postal system towards the end of 1839. He invented the first postage stamp the Penny Black designed by artist William Mulready featuring Queen Victoria in May 1840.
In 1962, the physicist and molecular biologist Maurice Wilkins received a Nobel Prize for his work revealing the structure of DNA as one of the three (the others being James Watson and Francis Crick) who became known as the Code Breakers. Wilkins was brought up in Birmingham and educated at King Edward's School, going on to develop wartime radar screens at Birmingham University before his involvement in genetics research. Wilkins, Crick and Watson were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. The former Forensic Science Service, which was based on Birmingham Business Park in Marston Green, pioneered the use of large-scale DNA Profiling. It set up the world's first DNA database in April 1995.
The new Library of Birmingham which cost £189million is the largest public library in the UK, the largest public cultural space in Europe and the largest regional library in Europe.
England's first municipal bank was set up in Birmingham. The Birmingham Corporation Savings Bank later Birmingham Municipal Bank was set up to raise money for the First World War effort. It opened on September 29, 1916. The Midland Bank and Lloyds Bank were also founded in Birmingham. The world's first building society - Ketley's Building Society - was founded in Birmingham in 1775 by Richard Ketley who was the landlord of The Golden Cross pub.
William Withering, a physician at Birmingham General Hospital, discovered the use of digitalis an extract from the foxglove plant as a heart drug and in 1785 published a paper on his findings. A member of the Lunar Society of distinguished scientists, he lived at Edgbaston Hall and later in Sparkbrook where he died in 1799.
In Birmingham on January 11, 1896, John Hall-Edwards was the first man to use X-rays under clinical conditions by taking an X-ray image - or radiograph - of a needle embedded in someone's hand. On February 14, 1896, he was the first to use X-rays in a surgical operation. He also took the first X-ray of the human spine.
Birmingham surgeon Dr Joseph Sampson Gamgee invented the surgical dressing called Gamgee Tissue - cotton wool between two layers of gauze - in 1880. His name became an inspiration for The Hobbit character Sam Gamgee in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
Birmingham University's Rupert Billingham and Peter Medawar set out the key procedures and principles of skin grafting.In 1950, the first hole-in-the-heart surgery was carried out at Birmingham Children's Hospital, and in 1960 it was announced that Queen Elizabeth Hospital surgeon Leon Abrams had fitted the first variable-pace pacemaker In 1952, a team of researchers in Birmingham made the link between wheat gluten and coeliac disease and developed gluten-free diets.
Birmingham businessman and Aston Villa FC Chairman Sir William McGregor founded the Football League, the world's first football league competition. In 1888 that he suggested that 10 or 12 of England's top clubs get together to arrange fixtures and the English Football League was born.in Birmingham and the city is where the FA Cup was made. The very first trophy had been produced in Sheffield but was stolen from a display window in Birmingham in 1895 after Aston Villa had won the cup. The second trophy - and the oldest one surviving today - was a replica of the first and made by Vaughton's of Birmingham, which still exists in Well Street.Birmingham was first British city to be named National City of Sport by the Sports Council and held the IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships at the National Indoor Arena in 2003.
Of the 4,000 inventions copyrighted in the UK a year, 2,800 come from the Birmingham area. Peter Colegate of the Patent Office said: "Every year, Birmingham amazes us by coming up with thousands of inventions. It is impossible to explain but people in the area seem to have a remarkable ability to come up with, and have the dedication to produce, ideas." Among the inventions to come from Birmingham are James Watt's paper copier the smoke detector, household vacuum cleaner and mass spectrometer.
It was in 1856 that Alexander Parkes created the first viable man-made plastic which he named eponymously 'Parkesine'. This led to the development of celluloid film also by Parkes so indirectly Birmingham could be said to have created the world-wide medium of film and the film and cinema industry as well as the large-scale production of chemicals and the chemical industry.
In 1929, Brylcream was created by County Chemicals at the Chemico Works in Bradford Street, Birmingham. Joseph Priestley who was a prominent member of Birmingham's Lunar Society and an Unitarian preacher whose inflammatory sermons advocating Revolution earned him the name: 'Gunpowder Joe' was the first man to isolate Oxygen in 1787.
Birmingham surgeon John Wright experimented with electricity in his spare time and discovered a process for coating metal objects in gold and silver. Wright's associates George Elkington and Henry Elkington were awarded the first patents for electroplating in 1840. These two founded the electroplating industry in Birmingham and the technique spread across the world.
The world's first pneumatic tyre was made by John Boyd Dunlop in 1888. He sold the rights to Harvey du Cross Jr who founded the Dunlop Rubber Company in 1889. The former tyre manufacturing plant Fort Dunlop was built-in 1916 and was at one time the largest factory in the world, employing more than 3,200 people. In 1922, Dunlop invented a tyre that lasted three times longer than any other, and Dunlop tyres have helped many drivers and their cars to victory at the Grand Prix, Le Mans, Formula 1 and British and world speed records.
It was in Birmingham that William Murdock discovered the use of gas for street lighting. In 1798, he used gas to provide internal lighting for Soho Foundry a factory making James Watt's steam engines and in 1802 he lit the outside of the building in a public display that amazed local residents. In 1806, Birmingham inventor Joseph Pemberton lit the outside of his own factory with gas and this eventually led to the first public street lighting by gas which was in London in 1807. It was in 1818 that Birmingham had its first street lighting by gas, with the lights made in Gas Street off Broad Street.
The wonderful Michael Younger volunteers with the 67th Birmingham Girls Brigade at Erdington Fair and shares his photo diary with us.
On Saturday July 11th, Erdington High Street came awash with a range of stalls from all different local organisations and charities, as the annual Erdington Fete was held. For the second year running I was roped into helping out on the 67th Birmingham Girls Brigade stall (although it was easy to persuade me).
8am - an early start as we collected the cakes and sweets for the stall from Six Ways Baptist Church, before pushing them on two trolleys the short walk to Erdington High Street.
8:15 - 9:30am - after locating our stall for the day (aptly right outside a well-known bakers) we began setting the stall up, and talking to some of the early morning shoppers and other stall holders. Even though the Fete hadn't officially started, the cakes were too tempting for some shoppers, who purchased a couple of £s worth, not that we were complaining, as all money the stall raised went back into the Girls Brigade group.
9:30 - 10am - with the stall set up, it was time to stand back and wait for the opening of the Fete. During this time, we watched the stalls around us setup - including a few other cake stalls (our competitors for the day), a well-known pub chain and our neighbours for the day, local charity John Taylor Hospice who were there to raise awareness of the hospice and encourage people to join their team for the Birmingham Half Marathon in October. It was great to have Liz and Diane from John Taylor Hospice as our neighbours for the day, as it's a charity I've supported over the last couple of years, including running the half marathon for them last year. If you've seen their recent campaign you may have spotted me on the back of a bus.
10am - 12:45pm - The Fete was on, and the High Street became a hive of activity as the Erdington community came out to enjoy the atmosphere, support the stalls and enjoy great music from local musicians. During<|fim_middle|>, all year round. This has proved to be an ongoing challenge. Many of their sauces are imported direct from Mexico. So, moving on, I was invited to first try their Salsa sauces.
The first one I tried was the Green Salsa Verde....hhmm, not bad.
The third was the red Habanero Salsa ..... Sweet. Holy. Jesus, my mouth is on fire.
I was directed to the table where they kept water and a few glasses, and I did a good impression of the Flash as I made my way over.
Then after we took a few photos of the decor, it was time to try their Burritos. Now this was the bit I had been looking forward to. I opted for the Carnitas, which is slow cooked pulled pork with orange zest and thyme. It tastes amazing. I had it with some Romain lettuce, Guacamole and sour cream.
Watching them prepare this thing showed that there is a dark art to wrapping a Burrito that I am still yet to master. They had it wrapped, baked and presented in a nice foil package in just a few seconds. Mine just leak and have bits sticking out everywhere. In size, this thing was huge, and well worth the money, and perfect for a lunch time snack on the go.
For more information, take a look at their website. | this time, if you were anywhere near the High Street there's a good chance you'll have heard me doing my best Del Boy impression, wooed passers-by and spoke with shoppers, as I drummed up sales for the girls on the Girls Brigade stall, encouraging shoppers to buy the cakes which were being sold 5 for £1. - I even managed to get one or two people to join the John Taylor Hospice half marathon team!
As the afternoon came, it was time for me to hand over the reins as honorary 67th Birmingham Girls Brigade member to the partner of another Girls Brigade leader, due to prior commitments.
With the sun being kind to everyone, the Erdington Fete proved to be a huge success, enjoyed by young and old alike - and I'm sure everyone is looking forward to next years...I know I am.
If you have a daughter (or granddaughter) aged 4yrs - 18yrs old who is interested in joining the Girls Brigade, the 67th Birmingham Girls Brigade meet every Wednesday evening from 6:30pm (during term time) at Six Ways Baptist Church, Erdington.
Huge thanks to the John Taylor Hospice team who took many of the pictures for this post. The hospice do a fantastic job, and are looking for as many people as possible to join their team for October's Birmingham Half Marathon - having ran for the team (and agreed to do so again this year) I highly recommend it.
By Mike Younger – Copywriter (by nature) & Twitter user (@MYounger14).
In 1859, Gem and Perera wanted to play a rackets game outdoors and marked out a court on the lawn at 'Fairlight'. The dimensions of a modern lawn tennis court roughly correspond to those of the back garden of 8 Ampton Road, Edgbaston which would be our first stopping off point on the 'Birmingham Tennis Trail'.
The next place of interest on the 'Birmingham Tennis Trail' would be the Edgbaston Priory Lawn Tennis Club in Sir Harry's Road. Edgbaston Priory is home to the important pre – Wimbledon Ladies Tennis Tournament: 'The AEGON Classic'.
In honour of another hugely important and significant Birmingham tennis figure, the Centre Court at Edgbaston Priory is named after the 1969 Wimbledon Ladies Singles Champion Ann Jones, who at one time lived in Edgbaston. Ann Jones has devoted a lifetime of service to the game of tennis, firstly as a Warwickshire County Player, then as an international player representing Great Britain in The Federation Cup and as a British Wimbledon Champion and latterly as an official with the Women's Tennis Association. Interestingly Ann Jones was a World Champion Ladies Table Tennis player as a teenager before turning to outdoor tennis.
The 'Birmingham Tennis Trail' then moves down through Edgbaston, past Edgbaston Golf Club, whose imposing clubhouse was once home to 'Lunar Society' member Dr William Withering, who invented the heart drug Digitalis. We turn left down Edgbaston Park Road which takes us to the University of Birmingham 'Tennis Courts' halls of residence. It was here that the Edgbaston Lawn Tennis Club was located until the mid 1960's, when it joined with The Priory Lawn Tennis Club to become the Edgbaston Priory Club in Sir Harry's Road.
The University of Birmingham kept the shale courts for a while and it was on one of these that Black Country photographer Martin Elliott, who sadly is no longer with us, shot the photograph which became the iconic 1970's Athena poster: 'The Tennis Girl'. The model who posed for this shot was also local hailing from Stourbridge in The Black Country, and is now a grandmother!
E.A.L.T.S. is the oldest existing lawn tennis club in the world. The society's six grass courts occupy the same piece of ground where the original courts were laid down in the early 1870's. Therefore this patch of land holds the distinction of being the oldest lawn tennis playing surface still in regular use anywhere in the world pre-dating the All England Club at Wimbledon by 3 weeks.
The 'Birmingham Tennis Trail' then moves up the hill to the traffic junction named 'The Ivy Bush' after the public house on the corner of Hagley Road and Monument Road, near to Tolkien's 'Two Towers' in Waterworks Road, Perrott's Folly and the Waterworks Tower.
The Birmingham Oratory just along Hagley Road in Edgbaston was at one time home to the first Olympic Lawn Tennis Champion: John Pius Boland. The son of a Dublin baker, whose Boland's Biscuits still retail in Ireland, John Pius Boland attended The Oratory School as an orphan in Birmingham, where he played cricket and lawn tennis.
John Pius Boland's adoptive parents taught him to play lawn tennis and his tennis skills were honed by the coaching of Father Pereira at The Oratory School in Birmingham. Boland then attended Christ Church College, Oxford. In 1894 Boland invited a Greek acquaintance: Konstantinos Manos to speak at The Oxford Union on "The Revival of the Modern Olympic Games". Boland and Manos became close friends and Boland was invited to spend the Easter holidays of 1896 in Athens.
It appears that John Boland had no intention of competing in the first Olympic Games in Athens however his host, who was a member of the Olympic Organizing Committee, prevailed upon the 26 year-old Irishman to enter the Olympic Lawn Tennis Tournament.
Boland won two Olympic Gold Medals. He took the singles title by beating Egypt's Dionysios Kasdaglis in three sets and then joined German Friedrich Traun to win the Men's Doubles Title.
Andy Murray at London 2012 was not the first Olympic Tennis Men's Singles Champion from these islands. The 'Roll of Honour' was begun by John Pius Boland in Athens in 1896 and was followed in Paris in 1900 by Laurence Doherty and in London 1908 by Josiah Ritchie.
John Pius Boland became a noted Irish Nationalist politician until defeat at the 1918 Irish General Election when he retired from politics and moved to London to become Director of the Catholic Teaching Society.
Another Birmingham tennis link is the fact that the noted Bishop of Birmingham, Alfred Gore whose statue stands in St Philip's Cathedral grounds, was the brother of the very first Wimbledon Men's Singles Champion from 1872: Spencer Gore.
Hello one and all and welcome to this week's trawl through the latest cinematic releases out in and around Birmingham.
Writer/director Paul Feig once again teams up Melissa McCarthy's unique blend of ad-lib self-deprication and f-word fuelled quips doing so whilst also doing a comedic take on the spy-ish action flick. It appears they are onto a winner.
The absurdity of the setup where McCarthy, a desk-bound CIA analyst goes into the field to go after a deadly arms dealer, provides many of the humour tropes from the get go. Add to this a supporting cast including The Stathe (especially), Jude Law and Rose Byrne where they are all playing heightened stereotypes of what you'd expect, the aim is for comic impact is to turn up to 11.
Feig and McCarthy are a big comedy force right now - they understand each other really well - and with Spy clearly having much affection for the spy and action genres, the critics have latched on to the film's effectiveness replacing fat jokes with gags about the setup and the situation instead.
Horror director James Wan passes the mantle over to franchise creator Leigh Whannell in the third instalment of this massively successful franchise.
This is a prequel, set before the haunting of the Lambert family and reveals how gifted psychic Rainier reluctantly agrees to use her ability to contact the dead in order to help a teenage girl who has been targeted by a dangerous supernatural entity.
Insidious films are proven examples of knowing how to terrify an audience at the cinema riffing off many of the classic horror conventions - lots of high musical notes, strong use of sound and silence and enough long-pauses to make you really jump when the scares happen.
Clearly pitched as a cross between The Fugitive, Salt and a Bourne film, on paper this "woman on the run" flick has familiar and likeable casting of Jovovich and Brosnan playing up to the film's game of cat and mouse.
Sadly even the trailer showed little fun here - Survivor has received negative reviews in large part because it feels so tired compared to the many other superior films it clearly owes a debt to.
Showing at the Electric, Kristen Stewart and Juliette Binoche's performances have been getting great plaudits in Olivier Assayas's film - a take on fame, acting and ageing, one which is shot in a linear fashion but filled with conviction and intensity.
The film follows the two characters - as Maria Enders is asked to revive a play that made her career twenty years earlier, but she is being asked to play the role not of Sigrid, the young woman who disarms and drives her boss Helena to suicide, but the role of the older Helena!
Rehearsing in the alps with her assistant played Stewart, Maria finds herself in the company of a woman who is, in essence, an unsettling reflection of herself.
Showing at the mac, this is the story of Samba, a migrant to France from Senegal, who after plugging away for years to make a living, meets Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a senior executive who has recently undergone a burn-out. Their mutual struggles draw them both together - the film tracks their relationship and how to get out off their own predicaments.
That's it from me this week. As always, any queries or quibbles, you can find me @timmy666 on twitter. Have a great week at the cinema!
Hola Amigos, I have one last bit of news before Mexican May draws to a close. As luck would have it, a whole new Burrito cafe has opened up in Brindleyplace and I was invited down to take a look and try a sample.
I found the place easily enough, it was right next to Carluccio's, and already they were queuing out the door. I quickly realized that this was because they were giving away free Burritos. One thing my time here has taught me is that nothing gets between a Brummie and a free lunch.
I was introduced to Jan Rasmussen, a nice, approachable guy who founded Mission Burritos only a few years ago. His story starts in San Francisco, where he was working as an IT Engineer at the time. He loved his time in the city, which he highly recommends. His favourite place was the Mission district, where the Mexican community had a food market at the weekend. He loved their Tacos, which were cooked fresh, right in front of you, using the best ingredients from the market.
The Mexicans were a very open, hospitable community, and their big celebration day was Cinque de Mayo, when they closed the whole district for one big party with parades, games and all sorts of things. He returned to London a year later with a head full of ideas, and a heart that was no longer in IT. He wanted to bring Mexican food to the UK. This had been done before, of course, but this time he would make sure it would be 2done properly".
Everything is cooked on the premises, using locally sourced ingredients, helping local farmers and butchers. But this has not been without challenges, namely, finding quality avocados at a decent price | 2,424 |
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10 Reasons The Fantastic Voyage Is A Bucket List Must Do
Do not miss the boat next year<|fim_middle|> originally published on blackamericaweb.com
1 2 3 4 5Next page » | !
Tonya Pendleton, BlackAmericaWeb.com
Recently I had the Blackest dream ever – I was at a big party with tons of fun people and near the end of the night, I was watching Black Panther on a big screen somewhere near the water. Eric Roberson and his wife sat down next to me. When Black Panther was over, there were even more lit parties going on and I went to those as well.
Oh wait. That was no dream. It really happened on the Fantastic Voyage 2018. That and so much more, as you may have gathered from social media and our multiple photo galleries. But the Fantastic Voyage is one of those things – like the Divine 9 fraternities and sororities, like attending an HBCU, that can never quite be fully explained from the outside looking in. It can only be experienced.
When I tell you that there will be people talking about this cruise for the rest of their lives in the kinds of tones that people talk about 'Were you there' experiences like Wattstax, The Thrilla In Manila, Prince aftershows, the Oscar parties the year the Black people won, and other magical experiences in the world of Black America, I'm not exaggerating.
I said it before and I'll say it again: the Fantastic Voyage is a combination of a cookout, barbecue, house party, pool party and boat ride with a music festival mixed in. I have, in my life and career, been to the Summer Olympics, the U.S. Open, the NBA playoffs, Made in America, over 100 concerts, the American Black Film Festival, The Black Expo, the Soul Train Music Awards, The Essence Festival, the BET Awards and more and the Fantastic Voyage is an experience I'd put at the very top.
Maybe you think I'm overhyping it. So here are 10 reasons why it's an experience that you should not miss.
UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK: One of the most remarkable things about the Fantastic Voyage is this: it's as though a portal opens up for a week where you get to see the best of Black America. And I don't mean that its exclusive – as the quartet of women who traveled from Japan can tell you (who were embraced by all and had the time of their lives, including lunch with Tom Joyner) anyone can attend.
But its representative of the very best of Black culture. There are people from various cities and regions in T-shirts that proclaim their loyalty to Naptown, Nola, The Chi, Dallas, H-Town, ATL, NYC, Cali, G.I. (Gary, Indiana) and every other place in between. There are the Divine 9 fraternities and sororities and the HBCU alums and parents.
But more than that, during the week everyone is in a great mood and being their best selves. (Of course, it is a vacation.) You'll make fast friends and will be greeted like family every where you go on the ship. It's as though you got an invite to the very best parties from everywhere where Black folks live and they're welcoming you with open arms. I rarely heard a harsh word or any tension from anyone – not even from folks behind the scenes who had to make multiple productions happen daily.
BLACK LOVE: One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen anywhere is the amount of beautiful Black couples on the ship. Of course, there might also be behind the cabin doors drama, but I tend to believe that if you signed up to be confined together in a ship cabin for a week and committed to wearing matching sequins suits with Afro wigs and platform shoes for 70's Night, or you came to Mardi Gras Night as Rick James and Teena Marie, then you might really be in love. This year, a couple who met on a previous Fantastic Voyage, got engaged on this one!
I saw so many instances of couples loving on each other from the R&B concerts to the Anita Baker shows, to people attending the "Marriage and Money" panel together and it was really, really, really lovely to see. There are also entire families who attend with grown children, 10, 20 and 30 deep who enjoy each other and the cruise together.
10 Reasons The Fantastic Voyage Is A Bucket List Must Do was | 895 |
"Berlin?" asked the helpful American Air Lines person I was speaking to, offering another city I might fly to after I had dismissed Paris, Rome and Lisbon because I'd been before.
I wanted to fly comfortably in style to my son's wedding in Europe last month, but didn't want to use all my miles. If I wanted to choose the days, it could have cost me up to 65K miles each way for Business Class seats; yet only 20K for off-peak low fares if I could find one .
I<|fim_middle|> room for my array of incredible local cheeses cow's milk German cheeses I was having for dessert.
Those local morsels included Bia Aurela, an aged hard cheese from the south; Antoine's first love; and a semi-hard village cheese for with housemade red onion-port wine chutney, a celery-spiced apricot and tarragon treat, fig and cherry fruit loaf and salted smoked almonds. With that I enjoyed a glass of Spätburgunder.Vulkangestein, Burggarten, Ahr 2013 (5.50 Euros/$6.25). Their final touch to all guests were some chewy gels.
Where are those Michelin reviewers? Volt deserves at least a star, where the Michelin starred place I visited in Berlin didn't. Stay tuned for that. | paid the extra 25 bucks to speak to that amazingly helpful human. Once she learned that I was completely flexible about dates, times and European cities — as long as I was in Barcelona for the big day — she helped me find a way to fly for 50K round trip.
Berlin is worth a visit. Once you arrive, it's easy to get into the city on public transportation (2.70 Euros/ ~$3). Musts in this walking city include the iconic Brandenburg Gate, the East Side Gallery (a mural memorial on a section of the remaining Berlin Wall) and more amazing museums than possible to see in one visit — although I tried. The most moving one to me was the underground free museum with the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (an eerie uneven field of almost 3000 different height concrete slabs.) Bring lots tissues and allow enough time to hear many of the recordings of survivor's stories. (Visit Berlin for tips, tours and offerings of the 12 Berlin districts).
When friends heard I was heading to Berlin, Volt in the Kreusberg district was the do-not-miss restaurant. With food that pleased both the eyes and palette, this restaurant is not to be missed. Volt made industrial space charming inside an old transformer station. Their 5-course prix fixe menu is a barga in at 75 euros (~ $85 at today's prices) with smaller-course tasting-menus available for those, like me, who can't eat that much.
My first glass of their reasonably priced wines was a 2013 Reisling, Feinherb, Becker Landgraf (5.50 Euros/$6.25), which went well with the first bites the chef sent out: A housemade potato chip with catfish and garlic served in a wooden pincer, pulled pork in a mini profiterole and a delicate falafel wedge topped with lovage ream and mini watercress.
While waiting for my order, I had to restrain myself from devouring the basket of crusted dense breads served with two fresh butters – one simply salted, the other vibrant green from the celery.
Next came another dish to that tickled my tongue: two braised cauliflower florets, each nestled in red carrot crème and a small panna cotta of peas. I ordered the Grauer Burgunder Katzbosh, Weingut Leiner Pfalz (6.50 Euros/$7.40).
My first actual menu-o rdered dish was the zander (a fresh water fish from the local river) with artichokes and sliced kolrabi atop a vegetable aioli all sprinkled with arctic char caviar and dusted with sepia crumbles.
When the seared sturgeon with roasted white asparagus and celery, fresh cream cheese all over a leek puree, with fingerling potatoes and pea cream arrived, I knew I couldn't eat much more. I motioned the waiter and cancelled my next course. I wanted to leave just enough | 630 |
French Bulldogs also referred as Frenchies make one of the best companion dogs in the world. They are small and generally well behaved around other pets and people. These dogs have a reputation of being clownish and playful, stealing attention whenever an opportunity presents itself. Similarly, these Bulldogs love being around people and other pets. The dogs are active and frisky during the day but love curling up to relax on the couch during the night. This makes them perfect companion for families of all sizes and ages.
Training French Bulldogs is not as complicated as many people tend to think. The Frenchie loves playing games and running. You will surely have fun when training them. For the best results, the training should be in short sessions,<|fim_middle|> to focus on basic tasks.
Generally, the dogs are not aggressive. For this reason, you only need to teach them how to obey basic commands, and they are good to go.
These dogs are very friendly and one of the best dog breeds that any dog lover would want to have. Plus, they are very cute and easy to manage. Just like any other training, start training your French bulldog at an early age to avoid unwanted behaviors to develop. Adequate training will also allow him to get along well with children as well as other pets.
‹ Yo Galgo – a Documentary Film About Spanish Greyhound › Dog Quote of the Day: You Keep Me Safe. I'll Keep You Wild. | as they will lose interest quickly if the sessions are too long. Mixing the routine up will keep the dog interested. Additionally, showering your Frenchie with treats and affection during the training period will get you fast results. Punishing or yelling to this dog will frustrate him and may stop listening altogether. House training will take some time and patience to train them fully. Most breeders recommend crating them for 4-6 months for full training.
The Frenchies are stubborn in nature, so you will need to be patient to get your desired results. Being impatient will cause a lot of problems during the training. The dogs are slow when learning new things. However, once they master the trick, it is very hard for them to forget. The key here is being consistent, as this will help them to understand better. Another important aspect to ensure is to have some kind of usual training routine. This allows the dog to prepare physically, boosting it concentration. When you stray from the usual routine will confuse your dogs, making the learning process difficult.
French bulldogs have their own intelligence, independent thinking, and mischievousness. For proper training, you must consider their personalities and offer a tailor made training that will fit your dog. Remember, although the dogs are fully trainable, they tend to be stubborn. Failing to recognize your dogs, special needs will make learning more tiresome for both the owner and the dog. Some dogs are active during the day while others love taking long naps during the evenings. Ensure you have a comprehensive training session and only train them when they are most active. Although the process seems time-consuming, your dog will behave properly if you invest your time and energy to train them properly.
Regular exercise will help the dog to drain its excess energy. As previously, mentioned, French Bulldogs tend to be playful and active during the day. When you are training the dog in a crate means that his movement is limited. To drain the excess energy ensures that you take them for daily walks. Also, daily walks are crucial to training as you can use this time to teach the dog simple commands such as come sit and stay. Confining the dog in a crate is also very effective as it allows you to teach him places to go and the restricted areas.
Why is crate training the bulldog necessary?
Frenchies are known to be willful and stubborn at times. Since they take a long time to learn how to act on commands, you must be more willing than your dog. Using a crate to train your dog will help you to have better results in a short time. Since the dogs are easily distracted, confining them in a crate will allow them | 540 |
As you may have figured out, I LOVE file folder games. I think it is great<|fim_middle|> a cool idea Michelle! I usually just weight them down with books until they lay flat. Thanks for sharing! | that they are self-contained, you can store all the pieces together, and they are perfect for independent work systems because with Velcro, they stay together so you can check them when it's finished. However, the one snag I always ran into was how to keep the pieces with the file folder. I tried a ziplock bag velcroed to the back, but it always seemed to detach itself. I can store the pieces on the Velcro for the file folder itself. However, if there are more pieces than items on the folder, there aren't enough spaces. And, when I get ready for the student to use it, I have to dis-assemble the pieces for the student to complete it.
This is where friends come to the rescue! Several years ago a teacher (I'm sorry that I don't remember who) shared this tip with me and I wanted to share it with you. You put the extra pieces in a Ziplock bag. Then take a piece of clear packing tape–the thick kind used to seal packages (yea, hence packing tape)–and cut it slightly longer than the width of the Ziplock bag.
Put the tape just underneath the zipper of the baggie (like below).
The pieces can be stored inside.
And you can still open and close it as you can see below.
Thanks to my sister, Superteach56 for her willing photography of the strategy while she was making a file folder game. Anyone have other ways that work for them to fasten the pieces to file folder activities?
Thanks for the tip. I have used the tape before and usually tape it across the bottoms and sides, but after time the bag seems to tear from putting hands inside to pull out the pieces. I am looking forward to changing the placement to see it that last longer.
I had the same problem…my sister figured out to put it horizontal which at least should store better.
Wow, what a cool idea! I'll have to try that!
I use laminated envelopes in different sizes. I laminate the envelope (with a 1.5 mil), then carefully slice the opening of the envelope with an Exacto knife. With a double sided tape, I stick the laminated envelope to the back of the laminated folder. To close the flap of the envelope, I use Velcro coins. I've used the bags in the past, but the students eventually rip the bags. The laminated envelopes are more expensive than the bags, with the laminate, double sided tape and Velcro coins, but I find they last longer with the group of students I teach.
Thanks for sharing another way!
I've used CD pockets that are adhesive backed. When the sticky dot doesn't work anymore, I put velcro coins in its place to keep it closed.
I would never have thought of that! Thanks!
My students were frustrated when the folder did not lay flat (and I was frustrated that they did not fold flatly), so I cut the folder at the fold and laminated them with a tiny space between them so that the laminating film is the "hinge." The ones I had already made, I cut and used packing tape as the "hinge," but the ones with laminating film last longer.
That's | 659 |
After his NFL dreams ended, former University of South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore changed his focus. Now he's helping young athletes.
Marcus Lattimore thought he would be a professional football player at 27.
The Duncan native was a<|fim_middle|>7, Lattimore's job is one he would've never expected to have, but it directly corresponds with the things he's most passionate about in life right now. | highly sought-after recruit who fulfilled many of those expectations as a player at the University of South Carolina until injuries derailed his plan. After a short, unsuccessful stint in the NFL, Lattimore came back to South Carolina and worked as a high school football coach until returning to the University of South Carolina as the director of player development in January 2018.
He said his job now largely includes mentoring football players because he's often one of few people who can empathize.
Lattimore sees himself going into psychology or another field that would allow him to study human behavior.
Having gone from being the SEC Freshman of the Year to plagued by injuries within the span of four years, Lattimore's focus is on players understanding there's more to life than football.
The Marcus Lattimore Foundation, now run by his mom, stepdad and wife, mirrors the work Lattimore does with the Gamecocks but with high school students. Lattimore says the mindset that sports can carry you through life can start as early as high school.
He knows because it happened to him.
At 2 | 225 |
Apple Says It's Raised Over $200<|fim_middle|> 4 to Developers [Download] | Million to Help (RED) Fight AIDS
by symbolsline 30. listopadu 2018, 6:57
Apple announced today that its contributions to (RED) have reached $200 million, making it the largest corporate donor.
Since its founding by Bono and Bobby Shriver, (RED) has raised more than $600 million to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, $200 million of which has come from its partnership with Apple, the organization's largest corporate donor.
In a report highlighting work in Kenya, Apple notes that the Global Fund has helped to radically change access to HIV treatment, providing 17.5 million people with ARVs — now available from the moment they test positive. As a result, Kenya has seen a 52 percent drop in new HIV infections since 2000. As of last year, just 4.8 percent of all adults were HIV-positive.
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After a long wait, the makers of the indie Barefoot to Goa have come up with an innovative Profit Sharing and Refundable Crowd Funding model for the theatrical release of the feature film. Having already created ripples at film festivals across the world, its real journey to theatres across India is about to begin. It's your opportunity<|fim_middle|> with all of it while she still can. By closely observing her, we may get glimpses of our own elders and, perhaps, even come to terms with their growing solitude as they get older. We may also be reminded of our urban society's moral and cultural decadence.
Barefoot to Goa is an indie film written, directed and co-produced by the Mumbai-based independent filmmaker Praveen Morchhale. On the face of it, is a tale of two siblings: an eleven year old brother and his nine year old precocious sister, who witness the loss of innocence during a life-changing road trip that they undertake in order to meet their ailing grandmother. But, in its essence, Barefoot to Goa is a social commentary on the great rural-urban divide in India. Morchhale limns a vivid canvas to depict the dichotomy between the two Indias and the manner in which their inhabitants think, behave, act, and live. | to own the film Barefoot to Goa.
A precocious little girl of nine who epitomizes the unbridled innocence of childhood that would tug at our heartstrings. Her resolve and strong headedness make her an object of envy and a symbol of courage not only for her eleven year old brother but also for those adults who fail to muster the courage when the going gets tough. She is the proverbial pocket size dynamite in more ways than we can possibly imagine. To watch this young upstart experience a loss of innocence as she steps out of her cocooned environment, accompanied by her brother, in search of her ailing, abandoned grandmother is nothing short of a pure cinematic treat.
The poignant sight of a septuagenarian woman incapacitated by old age and a bout with cancer longing for a son who long abandoned her can melt any heart. Her son's blatant display of indifference hasn't stopped her from loving him or sending him letters and homemade sweets at brief intervals. But, her love for her grandchildren is most tender and she wants to shower them | 214 |
Visit any one of the twenty-one conveniently located Sundays spa resorts in Hampton Roads and discover a sunny sanctuary from the stresses of everyday life. Sundays offers an incredible array of sun, spa and airbrush<|fim_middle|> the ultimate in sun and spa! | services and features the finest European sun beds, spa devices and automated airbrushing technology, ranked best in the world.
Tanning Beds: For over two decades, Sundays Sun Spa Shop has introduced Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and all of Hampton Roads to the finest in sunless tanning equipment. We are home to the amazing Sun Angel and quality beds from Soltron and Ergoline.
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Think you know what Sundays has to offer? Come to any of our locations around Hampton Roads (there's one near you) and experience for yourself | 317 |
Can an mhealth clinical decision-making support system improve adherence to neonatal healthcare protocols in a low-resource setting?
Hannah Brown Amoakoh ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6575-428X1,2,
Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch1,3,
Irene Akua Agyepong4,
Mary Amoakoh-Coleman5,
Gbenga A. Kayode1,6,
J. B. Reitsma1,
Diederick E. Grobbee1 &
Evelyn K. Ansah7
This study assessed health workers' adherence to neonatal health protocols before and during the implementation of a mobile health (mHealth) clinical decision-making support system (mCDMSS) that sought to bridge access to neonatal health protocol gap in a low-resource setting.
We performed a cross-sectional document review within two purposively selected clusters (one poorly-resourced and one well-resourced), from each arm of a cluster-randomized trial at two different time points: before and during the trial. The total trial consisted of 16 clusters randomized into 8 intervention and 8 control clusters to assess the impact of an mCDMSS on neonatal mortality in Ghana. We evaluated health workers' adherence (expressed as percentages) to birth asphyxia, neonatal jaundice and cord sepsis protocols by reviewing medical records of neonatal in-patients using a checklist. Differences in adherence to neonatal health protocols within and between the study arms were assessed using Wilcoxon rank-sum and permutation tests for each morbidity type. In addition, we tracked concurrent neonatal health improvement activities in the clusters during the 18-month intervention period.
In the intervention arm, mean adherence was 35.2% (SD = 5.8%) and 43.6% (SD = 27.5%) for asphyxia; 25.0% (SD = 14.8%) and 39.3% (SD = 27.7%) for jaundice; 52.0% (SD = 11.0%) and 75.0% (SD = 21.2%) for cord sepsis protocols in the pre-intervention and intervention periods respectively. In the control arm, mean adherence was 52.9% (SD = 16.4%) and 74.5% (SD = 14.7%) for asphyxia; 45.1% (SD = 12.8%) and 64.6% (SD = 8.2%) for jaundice; 53.8% (SD = 16.0%) and 60.8% (SD = 11.7%) for cord sepsis protocols in the pre-intervention and intervention periods respectively. We observed nonsignificant improvement in protocol adherence in the intervention clusters but significant improvement in protocol adherence in the control clusters. There were 2 concurrent neonatal health improvement activities in the intervention clusters and over 12 in the control clusters during the intervention period.
Whether mHealth interventions can improve adherence to neonatal health protocols in low-resource settings cannot be ascertained by this study. Neonatal health improvement activities are however likely to improve protocol adherence. Future mHealth evaluations of protocol adherence must account for other concurrent interventions in study contexts.
The Sustainable Development Goals aim to reduce the current high global neonatal mortality from 18 per 1000 to at least 12 per 1000 live births by 2030 [1]. Concerted effort is being harnessed through many international, national, district and community collaborations to make this a reality particularly in low-resource settings like sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia which contribute most to the global burden of neonatal mortality [2, 3]. Infections, birth asphyxia and prematurity contribute to the majority of neonatal deaths in low-resource settings (90%) [4]. Although morbidity and mortality from these conditions are largely preventable, the scarcity of health resources (facilities, personnel, basic equipment and medicines, training programmes, protocols etc.), allow these preventable deaths to thrive in the health systems of poorly resourced countries.
(mhealth) is a potential tool to improve the efficiency of health workers and the health system as a whole in low-resource settings [5]. Many mHealth interventions have been applied in areas of vaccination, management of tuberculosis and HIV, monitoring of antenatal health services for pregnant women in low-resource settings and have been documented to have variable but largely good success [6,7,8,9]. In the field of clinical decision-making support (CDMS), few mHealth interventions have been implemented in low-resource settings [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16], and even fewer studies report adherence to protocols or algorithms specified by these electronic CDMS systems.
Ghana is a lower middle-income country that reports high neonatal mortality rates of 25 per 1000 live births [17]. Non-adherence to standard clinical protocols has been identified as a cause of Ghana's high neonatal mortality [18, 19]. Previous studies have shown the absence of standard health protocols (the Safe Motherhood Protocol) for about 44% of health workers at the point of service delivery [20]. To bridge this protocol access gap, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with her Dutch partners designed and implemented an mHealth clinical decision-making support system (mCDMSS) aiming to improve clinical decision-making and ultimately neonatal health outcomes that was tested in a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) in the Eastern Region of Ghana [21].
Description of the intervention
The mobile clinical decision making support intervention (THE INTERVENTION for short for the rest of this paper) consisted of 4 components - phone calls (voice), text messaging (SMS), access to the internet (data) and access to an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) that provided emergency protocols in response to selection from a short code drop-down menu. The messages on the USSD were created by a design team of frontline health workers, family physicians, obstetricians and paediatricians in the Greater Accra Region, drawing on Ghana's Safe Motherhood Protocols [22]. All four components of the intervention were part of a single composite intervention delivered on a non-smart mobile phone. Researchers considered access to the USSD the main intervention component. Health workers were expected to use the phones primarily to access neonatal and maternal health emergency protocols via the USSD and obtain additional support from colleagues and the internet via the other intervention components. Each project mobile phone had a unique Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card. All the SIM cards were networked in a Closed User Group (CUG) that allowed free and unlimited access to the USSD. Access to the intervention was, however, limited to the project SIM cards to avoid contamination. Health workers were trained on how to use the intervention firstly at a group gathering in each intervention district capital before the start of the CRCT and then at least once during monitoring visits in their individual health facilities during intervention implementation. Monthly reminders were also sent to health workers about the availability of the USSD platform for their use.
Study objectives
Our objectives in this study were to assess the quality of neonatal healthcare in the Eastern Region of Ghana, by examining the change in health worker adherence to neonatal health protocols in both study arms of the CRCT from a pre-intervention period to an intervention implementation period, and to investigate differences in adherence within and between the study arms during these time frames. We also assessed whether and which concurrent neonatal health improvement activities (not related to the intervention) occurred during the trial period. This study will provide insights to explain the observed effect of the intervention on neonatal mortality. For brevity, we limited this study to the neonatal component of the CRCT. Adherence to maternal health protocols during the CRCT will be published separately.
Study design & setting
We designed a longitudinal study and performed a cross-sectional document review within two clusters selected from each arm of a cluster randomized trial at two different time points: before and during the trial. The trial aimed to assess the impact of an mCDMSS on neonatal mortality in the third most populous region in Ghana- the Eastern Region [23]. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov(trial identifier number NCT02468310) and the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (trial identification number PACTR20151200109073).
The Eastern Region has a neonatal mortality rate of 30 per 1000 live births and ranks fourth highest in terms of neonatal mortality in Ghana [24]. The region was divided into twenty-one (21) geographic local administrative units called districts at the time of the study. The CRCT was implemented over 18-months (August 2015 to January 2017) in 16 of these districts randomized into 8 intervention and 8 control clusters. Each of the 16 districts formed one cluster of the CRCT. The CRCT has been previously described elsewhere [25].
Sampling of clusters
For logistic reasons, one well-resourced and one poorly-resourced cluster were purposively selected from each CRCT arm making two clusters per arm. The selection criteria were based on the number and mix of health facilities (hospitals, community health planning and services compounds (CHPS), health centres (HCs) and maternity homes) in the district and the midwife to the number of deliveries (per annum) ratio in a district (reference year was 2014). Following cluster selection, district hospitals were sampled because initial assessment showed that almost all cases of neonatal morbidity of interest in this study were managed in the district hospitals.
Recruitment of study participants
All cases of in-patient neonatal morbidities of birth asphyxia, jaundice and cord sepsis that were managed in the district hospitals 9 months before the intervention started and, 9 months to the end of the intervention implementation period were studied to assess health worker adherence to protocols regarding morbidities. These morbidities were selected as the most common causes of neonatal morbidity in the study setting [26].
Baseline data regarding the number and category of health workers providing neonatal health services in each cluster was collected using a checklist. We extracted data concerning the number of deliveries per study cluster during the two-time frames of interest from the district health information management system 2 (DHIMS2). The DHIMS2 is a data recording, collection, collation and analysis tool that hosts the entire national institutional health data of Ghana [21].
We utilized a scoring system based on existing health protocols as done in previous studies [27,28,29]. In each hospital, the head of the maternity or paediatric unit and the health information manager were contacted to identify the medical records (registers and books) that are routinely used in the hospitals to document in-patient neonatal data. A list of all in-patient cases of birth asphyxia, jaundice and cord sepsis was then populated from the 'in-patient admissions and discharge register' which documents all admitted cases in a hospital. A document review of the management of these cases was done using a checklist to assess health worker adherence to neonatal protocols. This checklist was based on Ghana's Safe Motherhood Protocol for management of neonatal morbidities. During data extraction, protocol items were assessed under the following themes where applicable for each morbidity type: i. Diagnosis (e.g., 'Diagnosis documented'), ii. Signs and symptoms of disease (e.g., 'Colour of baby', 'Cord assessed for odour, pus and wetness'), iii. Investigation (e.g., 'Serum bilirubin checked') iv. Treatment given (e.g., 'Airway of baby cleared through suction', 'Phototherapy given, or sunbath advised', 'Antibiotics given'). Assessment of adherence was only done for items that are considered mandatory in the management of each morbidity type (Tables 2, 3, 4). Additional file 1 details the type of facility records utilized in the data collection process.
Data concerning other concurrent neonatal health improvement interventions such as trainings and workshops that took place in the study districts during the 18-month intervention period was collected using a checklist. The district public health nurse in each cluster and the in-service trainers of the four hospitals assisted in extracting the relevant data from their facility record books.
The data were checked for errors, cleaned and analyzed at health facility level. We calculated the number of deliveries per midwife and doctor to estimate the delivery related workload in the study clusters. Descriptive analysis of neonatal data was performed. Items for each morbidity protocol was scored as 'adhered to' and assigned a score of 1 if there was written documentation of adherence to the item in any of the medical records. A protocol item was scored 'not adhered to' and assigned a score of zero (0) only when there was no written documentation of adherence in all the medical records. When the records of a neonate could not be traced because a register or book for a neonate was not found, protocol items were scored as 'don't know' and assigned a score of zero (0). Additional file 1 details the 'don't know' responses which totalled 2.9% of the entire data collected. For each item, the proportion of neonatal cases for whom guidelines were adhered to, was estimated. The mean and median adherence to protocols per morbidity type were calculated. Total adherence to specified neonatal morbidity protocol was estimated as the sum of scores per theme, presented as a percentage and rated (i.e. adherence status) high, moderate or low if total adherence was 90–100%, 89–60 and < 60% respectively [30]. The difference in total adherence to neonatal protocols within and between the study arms during the time frame of interest was assessed using Wilcoxon rank-sum and permutation tests to determine the significance of these differences due to the small sample size. All analysis were done separately for the two time frames of interest (i.e., 9 months pre and 9 months to the end of the intervention) using two-tailed tests at α = 0.05 in Stata 13 [31].
We analysed the number, and described other activities aimed at improvement in neonatal health outcomes that were undertaken in both the intervention and control clusters during the intervention period.
One district hospital in each of the four clusters participated in this study. Three of the hospitals were public owned and one was operated by a religious body. There were 2290 deliveries in the intervention arm hospitals and 4440 deliveries in the control arm hospitals in the pre-intervention period. During the intervention period, the number of deliveries stayed about the same in the intervention arm, whereas the number of deliveries increased by 20% in the control arm (Table 1). The number of deliveries per midwife was 76 and 109 in the intervention and control arm respectively during the pre-intervention period. During the intervention period, the number of deliveries per midwife was 66 and 115 in the intervention and control arm respectively. Cluster C recorded the highest delivery related workload during the pre and intervention periods. Table 1 details the characteristics, human resource availability and delivery related workload of the study clusters.
Table 1 Distribution of health personnel and delivery related workload in study clusters
Adherence to asphyxia protocols
The prevalence of asphyxia was 3.5 and 15.1 per 1000 deliveries in the intervention and control arm respectively during the pre-intervention period. The 10th and 90th percentile for adherence per theme varied from 0% to 100% in the intervention arm and 33.3% to 100%, in the control arm in this time frame (see Table 2). In the intervention arm, the mean score for total adherence to asphyxia protocols was 35.2% (SD = 5.8%) and in the control arm, it was 52.9% (SD = 16.4%).
Table 2 Total adherence score and proportion of asphyxia protocol items adhered to before and during intervention implementation
During the intervention period, the prevalence of asphyxia was 6 and 9.4 per 1000 deliveries in the intervention and control clusters respectively. The range of values for the 10th and 90th percentile for adherence per theme remained the same during the intervention period. The mean total adherence was 43.6% (SD = 27.5%) in the intervention arm, and in the control arm, it was 74.5% (SD = 14.7%).
Adherence status to asphyxia protocols was moderate to low in the pre-intervention period and high to low in the intervention period (Fig. 1). Overall, there was improvement in total adherence to asphyxia protocols in both study arms (23.9% and 40.8% in the intervention and control clusters respectively). However, improvement in the intervention arm (Fig. 2) was not significant (p = 0.92) while improvement in the control arm was significant (p < 0.001). Between the study arms, the control arm sites were more adherent to asphyxia protocols compared to the intervention arm before and during the trial period (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001 respectively).
Adherence status per morbidity type before and during the intervention period
Distribution and change in total<|fim_middle|> the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Dodowa, Accra, Ghana
Irene Akua Agyepong
Noguchi Memorial Institute, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Mary Amoakoh-Coleman
International Research Centre of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria
Gbenga A. Kayode
University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
Evelyn K. Ansah
J. B. Reitsma
Diederick E. Grobbee
HBA, KKG, MAC, KAG, and EA designed and performed the study. HBA drafted the manuscript and KKG, EA reviewed the manuscript. IAA, DEG, MAC, KAG, JBR, provided critical comments on the review of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to Hannah Brown Amoakoh.
This study was approved by the Ghana Health Service Ethics Review Committee (approval number number: GHS-ERC: 04/09/16). Institutional heads of the various hospitals consented for their hospitals to participate in this study.
None declared.
Amoakoh, H.B., Klipstein-Grobusch, K., Agyepong, I.A. et al. Can an mhealth clinical decision-making support system improve adherence to neonatal healthcare protocols in a low-resource setting?. BMC Pediatr 20, 534 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-020-02378-1
Accepted: 07 October 2020
Health care delivery
Neonatal health
Global and public health and healthcare | adherence to asphyxia, jaundice and cord sepsis protocols among study clusters
Adherence to jaundice protocols
There were 2.6 and 6.5 cases of jaundice per 1000 deliveries in the intervention and control arms respectively during the pre-intervention period. Jaundiced neonates were on average 7.2 days old (SD = 7.3 days). The 10th and 90th percentile for adherence per theme for jaundice protocol varied from 0% to 100% in both study arms (Table 3). The mean total adherence to jaundice protocols was 25.0% (SD = 14.8%) in the intervention arm, and in the control arm it was 45.1% (SD = 12.8%). The cause of jaundice was not identified in 65.7% of cases; in 30.4% of cases, glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD deficiency) was the cause of jaundice and gastroenteritis in one case. Four jaundiced neonates (two in each arm) received no counselling for sunbathing, neither were they put in a phototherapy unit. Two of four neonates in the control arm whose caretakers were advised to give their babies sunbath were not followed up as per protocol. Most jaundiced neonates (33 (91.4%)) received antibiotic as part of their treatment although there was only one documented case of infection (gastroenteritis).
Table 3 Total adherence score and proportion of jaundice protocol items adhered to before and during intervention implementation
The number of jaundiced neonates decreased to 1.6 per 1000 deliveries in the intervention arm and increased to 9.2 per 1000 deliveries in the control arm during the intervention period. These jaundiced neonates were on average 5.1 days (SD = 4.5 days) old at the time of the diagnosis. The 10th and 90th percentile for adherence per theme for jaundice protocol varied from 0% to 100% in intervention arm and 14.3% to 100% in the control arm. In the intervention arm, the mean score for total adherence to jaundice protocols was 39.3% (SD = 27.7%); in the control arm it was 64.6% (SD = 8.2%). In 45 (83.3%) of all cases of jaundice, the cause of the jaundice was classified 'unknown'. One case of physiological jaundice and one case of pathological jaundice were identified in the intervention arm, while one case of cord sepsis and one case of physiological jaundice were identified in the control arm; for the rest of the cases, the cause of the jaundice was not stated in any of the records found in the health facilities. There was no documentation of treatment (using phototherapy or by sun-bathing) of three neonates in the intervention clusters. In the control clusters, all jaundiced neonates received either of the aforementioned treatment options. All sunbathed neonates were followed up during the intervention period. All jaundiced neonates received antibiotics as part of their treatment although only one case of infection (cord sepsis) was identified as a cause of jaundice.
Overall, adherence status was low to moderate during the pre-intervention and intervention periods (Fig. 1). The 57.2% improvement in adherence to jaundice protocols observed in the intervention clusters (Fig. 2) was not significant (p-value = 0.38) while improvement observed in the control clusters (43.2%) was significant (p-value < 0.001). Comparing the two study arms, control clusters scored higher in adherence to jaundice protocols before and during the intervention period (p-value = 0.005 and 0.088 respectively).
Adherence to cord sepsis protocols
The prevalence of cord sepsis was 2.2 and 1.8 per 1000 deliveries in the intervention and control arms in the pre-intervention period. The average age of these neonates was 5.4 days (SD = 3.8 days). The 10th and 90th percentile for adherence per theme for cord sepsis protocol varied from 16.7% to 100% in both study arms (Table 4). Altogether, the mean total adherence to cord sepsis protocols in the intervention arm was 52.0% (SD = 11.0%) and, 53.8% (SD = 16.0%) in the control clusters.
Table 4 Total adherence score and proportion of cord sepsis protocol items adhered to before and during intervention implementation
There were 0.8 and 2.2 cases of cord sepsis per 1000 deliveries during intervention implementation. The average age of these neonates was 5.9 days (SD = 4.9 days). Altogether, the mean total adherence to cord sepsis protocols in the intervention arm was 75.0% (SD = 21.2%) whereas, in the control arm, it was 60.8% (SD = 11.7%). The 10th and 90th percentile for adherence per theme for cord sepsis protocol varied from 50% to 100% in the intervention arm and 33.3% to 100% in the control arm.
Adherence status was low to moderate during the pre-intervention and intervention periods (Fig. 1). Improvement in adherence to protocols was observed in both study arms (44.2% and 13% in intervention and control arms respectively) (Fig. 2). However, these improvements were not significant (p = 0.24 and p = 0.21 for intervention and control arms respectively). Between the study arms, adherence to cord sepsis protocols were not significantly different (p = 0.89 and p = 0.44 for intervention and control arms respectively).
Concurrent neonatal health activities in clusters
In the intervention clusters, there were two training programmes that were aimed at improving neonatal health outcomes during the intervention period while in the control clusters, training programmes aimed at improving neonatal health numbered more than 12 (Table 5). Eight of these trainings (two in the intervention clusters and six in the control clusters) were intensive exercises aimed at improving new-born resuscitation and lasted six (6) to seven (7) days. These intensive training programmes were organized by a non-governmental agency. The rest of the training programmes in the control clusters usually lasted for one (1) day.
Table 5 Concurrent neonatal health improvement activities in study clusters during the intervention period
We observed fairly good adherence to asphyxia diagnosis protocol in this study. However, adherence to 'signs and symptoms' protocols was sub-optimal in both study clusters particularly in the pre-intervention period. Several of the 'signs and symptoms' assessments culminates in the APGAR score of neonates [32]. Not assessing these signs and symptoms can lead to inaccurate APGAR scores and inappropriate treatment of neonates who require resuscitation. Surprisingly, the APGAR scores were usually documented, thus one could argue that these signs and symptoms assessments were done but not documented because the natural focus is to treat the patient and not record [33], however, video recording of neonatal resuscitation has shown otherwise [33,34,35]. In the intervention clusters, adherence to treatment protocols worsened during the intervention period. Lack of knowledge about asphyxia as documented in Malawi could be an explanation for this observation [36]. The intervention (mCDMSS) was intended to bridge such knowledge gap, however, the absence of knowledge transfer (about the intervention) implies persistence of lack of knowledge and access gap in the intervention clusters possibly through suboptimal use of the intervention [37]. Monthly reminders concerning the availability of the mCDMSS for the use of health workers and, re-training of health workers at post in health facilities during supervisory visits by the project team, seem not to have been effective in addressing the challenge of suboptimal use of the intervention [37]. Poor adherence as observed suggests focused support for health workers in the management of asphyxia in order to improve adherence to its protocols.
Protocols for management of Jaundice were least adhered to among the three morbidity protocols understudied. There was poor adherence to protocol items for the theme 'Signs and symptoms' of jaundice in all clusters in both time frames. Of note is the assessment of neonates for convulsion and hypotonia. While the diagnosis of convulsion may be difficult in neonates [38, 39], hypotonia can be objectively assessed; the lack of documented evidence of assessment of these two critical signs of the central nervous system (CNS) is undesirable given disabilities associated with CNS complications (kernicterus) from jaundice [40]. Failure of the health workers to recognize at-risk infants and poor management of hyperbilirubinemia is a known cause of kernicterus [40]. The observed complete non-adherence to jaundice investigation protocols in the intervention arm during the pre-intervention period and poor adherence to these protocols in the intervention period could be due to the absence of the rapid tests or laboratory equipment to run these tests in the hospitals. Lack of required equipment is associated with non-adherence to protocols [41,42,43]. Neonates with mild jaundice may have been the ones not treated in this study; the absence of follow-up of jaundiced neonates has been previously documented and can be associated with dire consequences should the jaundice worsen [40]. We report indiscriminate use of antibiotics in cases of jaundice and this suggests the need for training on rational use of antibiotics in the study setting.
Prevalence of cord sepsis in this study was low. This may be due to on-going interventions in the GHS to promote good cord hygiene practises [44, 45]. This low prevalence of cord sepsis may however lead to poor recall of assessments for cord sepsis cases as observed in the low adherence score for 'signs and symptoms' in this study. Local signs of cord sepsis (e.g. pus and odour) are associated with mortality [46], therefore lack of assessment for these local 'signs and symptoms' can be potentially catastrophic for neonates as important complications from the cord infection that may warrant urgent attention or treatment modification may be missed. All cases of cord sepsis were treated with antibiotics which indicates that once a diagnosis is made, treatment will be initiated, and the vitals of patients will be monitored as observed. The non-adherence to protocol item regarding cord hygiene education for caregivers presents a missed opportunity to teach cord hygiene in a setting where poor cord hygiene still exists in some communities [47]. Caregivers are known to be inappropriately educated by health workers about the morbidities, treatment and associated complications their wards may experience [40, 41].
Adherence to protocols in general
We found no case of complete adherence to protocols for all three morbidity types (asphyxia, jaundice, and cord sepsis) in this study using data of 257 neonates in the four district hospitals. A similar observation was made in another study where every resuscitation had an error [33]. Improvement in adherence to all three morbidity type protocols during the intervention period in both the control and intervention arms is possibly due to training programmes of the GHS and her partners in this area. Such efforts must be documented and reviewed to optimize their effect on improvement in neonatal healthcare services. Cluster C recorded the highest proportion of deliveries, and the highest workload but the best adherence to protocols before and during the intervention period. Low workloads can influence competence and high workloads can influence ability to respond adequately; the high workload of cluster C could have positively influenced the cluster's observed adherence to protocols.
Contribution of concurrent activities to improvements adherence to neonatal care protocols
"Even if you know everything you can forget" [48]. Frequent reminders, trainings and refresher trainings are a means to improve health outcomes in general. The observed higher improvements in adherence to protocols in the control clusters compared to the intervention clusters may reflect differences in knowledge across the intervention and control clusters resulting from the training programmes that were more frequently undertaken by hospital management, the GHS and her partners in control clusters. Commensurate efforts on neonatal health improvement training programmes in addition to the mCDMSS in the intervention clusters may have led to significant improvements in adherence to protocols in the intervention clusters as well. The higher number of concurrent neonatal health improvement activities in the control clusters could also explain the observed lower odds of neonatal death in the main CRCT findings [49].
We sought to understand the pattern of health worker adherence to neonatal health protocols before and during the implementation of an mCDMSS, but our study has certain limitations. Differences in adherence to protocols by resource allocation type per study arm were not assessed. Due to the low incidence of cases among the various subgroups and because individual level data concerning mortality was incomplete in the DHIMS2 and in the health facility medical records, we could not control for the effect of the concurrent neonatal improvement activities in our analysis, nor analyse the relationship between adherence and neonatal mortality as originally indicated in our trial registration. The results of our study should therefore be interpreted in the light of these methodological limitations. We did not evaluate the type of health care provider in relation to the care provided nor the factors that may have influenced adherence to neonatal protocols. Qualitative analyses of why the observed pattern of adherence occurred could have provided more insight into the results we have obtained and are recommended for future studies.
The question of whether mHealth interventions can improve adherence to neonatal health protocols in a low-resource setting remains difficult to answer from the evidence generated in this study, but, during the study, adherence improved irrespective of intervention allocation. This was particularly observed for the control clusters, and concurrent neonatal improvement interventions that took place in the study clusters may explain this effect. It is therefore essential to document and review all ongoing interventions whose goals are to improve health worker adherence to neonatal health protocols in study settings. Concurrent neonatal health improvement activities must be taken into account in similar mHealth evaluations. Future studies should relate adherence with patient outcomes.
Data for this study is available on request by emailing the corresponding author at ansomaame@hotmail.com.
CDMS:
Clinical decision-making support
CHPS:
Community based health planning and services
CNS:
CRCT:
Cluster randomized controlled trial
CUG:
DHIMS2:
District health information management system 2
G6PD:
Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
Ghana health service
HCs:
mCDMSS:
Mhealth clinical decision-making support system
Subscriber identification module
Short message system
USSD:
Unstructured supplementary service data
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Ghana Statistical Service Accra, Ghana and Ghana Health Service Accra, Ghana and Macro International Inc. Calverton M. Ghana maternal health survey 2007. 2009. http://dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-fr227-other-final-reports.cfm. Accessed 27 Jan 2016.
Ghana Statistical Service. 2010 population & housing census summary report of final results. Accra, Ghana: Ghana Statistical Service; 2012. http://www.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/2010phc/Census2010_Summary_report_of_final_results.pdf.
Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Ghana Health Service (GHS), and ICF International. 2015. Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Rockville, Maryland, USA: GSS, GHS, and ICF International.
Amoakoh, H.B., Klipstein-Grobusch, K., Amoakoh-Coleman, M. et al. The effect of a clinical decision-making mHealth support system on maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in Ghana: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2017;18:157. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-1897-4.
Ghana Health Service Family Health Division. Ghana Health Service Family Health Division Annual Report 2016. Accra Ghana Health Service; 2017. https://www.ghanahealthservice.org/downloads/FHD_2016_ANNUAL_REPORT_Final_June.19.2017natfinal.pdf. Accessed 27 Sep 2018.
Amoakoh-Coleman M, Agyepong IA, Zuithoff NPA, Kayode GA, Grobbee DE, Klipstein-Grobusch K, et al. Client factors affect provider adherence to clinical guidelines during first antenatal care. PLoS One. 2016;11:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157542.
Van Fenema E, Van Der Wee NJ, Bauer M, Witte CJ, Zitman FG. Assessing adherence to guidelines for common mental disorders in routine clinical practice. Int J Qual Health Care. 2012;24:72–9 http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=emed10&NEWS=N&AN=2012037128..
Browne JL, Van Nievelt SW, Srofenyoh EK, Grobbee DE, Klipstein-Grobusch K. Criteria-based audit of quality of care to women with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in a referral hospital in Accra, Ghana. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0125749. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125749.
Sales AE, Tipton EF, Levine DA et al. Are Co-Morbidities Associated with Guideline Adherence? The MI-Plus Study of Medicare Patients. J Gen Intern Med. 2009;24:1205–1210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-1096-4.
StataCorp. Stata statistical software: release 13. College Station, TX: StataCorp LP; 2013. http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/resources/citing-software-documentation-faqs/. Accessed 28 Jan 2016.
NIH:US National Library of Medicine. Apgar score: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003402.htm. Accessed 22 Feb 2019.
Oakley E. Using video recording to identify management errors in pediatric trauma resuscitation. Pediatrics. 2006;117:658–64. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-1803.
Carbine DN, Finer NN, Knodel E, Rich W. Video recording as a means of evaluating neonatal resuscitation performance. Pediatrics. 2000;106:654–8. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.106.4.654.
Lindbäck C, Ashish AC, Wrammert J, Vitrakoti R, Ewald U, Målqvist M. Poor adherence to neonatal resuscitation guidelines exposed; an observational study using camera surveillance at a tertiary hospital in Nepal. BMC Pediatr. 2014;14. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-14-233.
Chikuse B, Chirwa E, Maluwa A, Malata A, Odland J. Midwives' adherence to guidelines on the management of birth asphyxia in Malawi. Open J Nurs. 2012;02:351–7. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojn.2012.24052.
Amoakoh HB, Kerstin K-G, Evelyn A, Grobbee Diederick E, AIA YL. How and why frontline health workers (did not) use a multifaceted mHealth intervention to support maternal and neonatal health care decision-making in Ghana. BMJ Glob Heal. 2019;4:1153. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001153.
Volpe JJ. Neurology of the newborn. 5th ed. Philadelphia, USA: Saunders/Elsevier; 2008. https://books.google.com.gh/books?hl=en&lr=&id=RiPpqyaH7DIC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&ots=DOTmnlxFdh&sig=3YtJwni9YrfYVatICGwUdxS4UpU&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false.
van Rooij LGM, van den Broek MPH, Rademaker CMA, de Vries LS. Clinical Management of Seizures in newborns. Pediatr Drugs. 2013;15:9–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-012-0005-1.
Johnson L, Bhutani VK, Karp K, Sivieri EM, Shapiro SM. Clinical report from the pilot USA kernicterus registry (1992 to 2004). J Perinatol. 2009;29:S25–45. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.211.
Wahabi HA, Alziedan RA. Reasons behind non-adherence of healthcare practitioners to pediatric asthma guidelines in an emergency department in Saudi Arabia. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012;12:226 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/226. Accessed 21 Feb 2019..
Lin ND, Martins SB, Chan AS, Coleman RW, Bosworth HB, Oddone EZ, Shankar RD, Musen MA, Hoffman BB, Goldstein MK. Identifying barriers to hypertension guideline adherence using clinician feedback at the point of care. AMIA Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium; 2006;494–498.
De La Sierra A, Zamorano JL, Ruilope LM. Application of hypertension guidelines in clinical practice: implementation of the 2007 ESH/ESC European practice guidelines in Spain. J Hypertens. 2009;27(SUPPL. 3):S27–32. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.hjh.0000356769.32130.95.
Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Umbilical cord care in newborns, GHS receives medication - graphic online. 2018. https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/health/umbilical-cord-care-in-newborns-ghs-receives-medication.html. Accessed 21 Feb 2019.
Ghana Health Service. Newborn Care Programme | Programmes | Ghana Health Service. 2017. http://www.ghanahealthservice.org/newborn/programme-cat.php?ghspid=3&ghscid=76. Accessed 21 Feb 2019.
Mullany LC, Darmstadt GL, Katz J, Khatry SK, Leclerq SC, Adhikari RK, Tielsch JM. Risk of mortality subsequent to umbilical cord infection among newborns of southern Nepal: cord infection and mortality. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009;28(1):17–20. https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0b013e318181fb4c.
Moyer CA, Aborigo RA, Logonia G, Affah G, Rominski S, Adongo PB, et al. Clean delivery practices in rural northern Ghana: a qualitative study of community and provider knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. 2012. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-50.
Jones COH, Wasunna B, Sudoi R, Githinji S, Snow RW, Zurovac D. "Even if you know everything you can forget": health worker perceptions of Mobile phone text-messaging to improve malaria case-Management in Kenya. PLoS One. 2012;7:e38636. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0038636.
Amoakoh HB, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Agyepong IA, Zuithoff NPA, Amoakoh-Coleman M, Kayode GA, et al. The effect of an mHealth clinical decision-making support system on neonatal mortality in a low resource setting: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. EClinicalMedicine. 2019;12:31–42.
The authors thank the Ghana Health Service Research and Development Division, the Eastern Region Health Directorate, members of the district health management teams in the Eastern Region and the School of Public Health, University of Ghana for their support in the conduct of this study.
Netherlands Foundation for Scientific Research, Global Health Policy and Health Systems Research Program (Grant Number: 07.45.102.00) and Utrecht University, Netherlands.
Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Hannah Brown Amoakoh, Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch, Gbenga A. Kayode, J. B. Reitsma & Diederick E. Grobbee
School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Hannah Brown Amoakoh
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of | 7,574 |
If any part of your vehicle is behaving strangely, auto diagnostics will pinpoint the cause of the issue. As the miles add up, components will endure typical wear and tear, and at some point you'll need the capable hands of experienced automotive professionals to diagnose unusual symptoms. When this time comes, you should know where to turn for proper, long-lasting results. The team at Auto Europa Naples in Naples, FL, is a smooth collaboration of multiple talents, resulting in the perfect final product. While we specialize in German makes, we'll perform auto diagnostics on any car you drive.
Since 1998, Auto Europa Naples has been serving drivers in Naples and throughout Collier County with true refinement in auto<|fim_middle|> time as possible. Altogether, Auto Europa Naples strives to set new standards in auto diagnostics. | diagnostics. All procedures are handled by our ASE-Certified technicians who pay attention to every detail along the way. Whether the solution we determine is minor or extensive, we're confident in guaranteeing a precise answer every time, on a Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Chevrolet and Toyota alike. Following the initial auto diagnostics, all work at Auto Europa Naples is covered by our nationwide 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.
The most refined auto diagnostics process requires more than uncovering the immediate issue. Here at Auto Europa Naples, we utilize modern technology to conduct a comprehensive digital inspection of your vehicle, including photos of all components. You'll have a long-term vehicle health plan in hand, allowing you to make informed decisions on your own schedule. At the same time, realizing the inconvenience of a shop visit, we'll work efficiently to have you back on the road in as little | 178 |
Help the Earth. It is calling for your attention. Just think about it. Tons of plastics and scrap metals are collected every day in commercial factories, construction<|fim_middle|> of fact, they could even pick up the scrap metal from your home. The payment would highly depend on the weight of your garbage and the type of metal you are selling. The condition of the metal would sometimes matter too. If you need some help about all of these things, you could check out their representatives.
You can motivate your janitor or your cleaners to earn some extra income. You can use the funds you have earned for motivating your employees. It might not be that much, however, once all of your actions produce good results, for sure, it will also create a wonderful impact on your people. This is pretty integral.
Helping nature get back on its feet is pretty admirable. However, it is not going to be simple, specifically, if your people are not really interested in helping you. To keep them from breaking the rules, try to find some ways to motivate them. You got to care.
The industry will never leave you. Right now, try to look for the most effective waste management system that is ideal or appropriate enough for your home. You got to build one, specifically, if you like to reduce the burdens you feel inside. The system would help you have an effective waste management operations and plans.
When you are looking for the facts about a scrap metal yard Glens Falls NY residents can visit our web pages today. More details are available at http://www.rcohensrecycling.com/About-Us.html now. | firms, and even in your home. If you love to preserve this planet for the new generation, let the scrap metal yard Glens Falls NY help you. You need to be part of the change. You should contribute to the industry. Whether you are in your home or in your office, make sure to promote the segregation of garbage.
The company is created to help the industry attain cheap metal parts. Thanks to various technologies, the company does not only received scrap metals. They also accept various kinds of recyclable junks. In terms of the sustainability of these components and parts, you cannot just underestimate it. The industry has found a way to revive their quality without destroying its properties.
Do not recklessly throw your trash everywhere. Make sure to segregate them. As for your construction materials, broken technological items, you could still sell most of their parts. The junkyard will accept it. They have been doing this business for years.
In fact, they even have a website for your references. To get an estimate, contact their agents. They would be able to send some people for your scrap. The great thing is, they even pay you in cash. Before the year ends, remember to contact them. For sure, you are doing your best to earn some money for your daily needs.
Try to reward them for their efforts. You cannot just tell them to do it. You have to show them the results of their actions. You can do that not only inside your home but also inside your company. The industry will always be there to support you. As long as someone does care about the Earth, you will certainly earn something from recycling your garbage.
The industry can pay cash. As a matter | 343 |
The Internet of government things
By Colby Hochmuth
U.S. CTO Todd Park and GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini peg the Internet of things as a tool that could revolutionize the way government delivers services.
In many corners of the tech world, the Internet of things is an abstract concept still in the development stage. The federal government has spent more than $300 million on Internet of things-related research in the last five years, and this week officials hailed it as the next wave of innovation.
At the SmartAmerica Expo on June 11 in Washington, D.C., U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park and GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini pegged the Internet of things as a tool that could dramatically change the way government delivers services.
GSA is already using early stages of IoT technology. Through the GSALink initiative, thousands of sensors constantly monitor and measure energy use in federal buildings.
"In every building in the test, there is an average of 2,000 sensors on various points in the building. We then measure the performance data against the manufacturer's expectations for usage to determine if the buildings are consuming the right amount of energy, and to determine whether there's an opportunity for cost savings," Tangherlini said.
"Just like the Internet allows people all over the world to interact seamlessly with each other, the Internet of things will allow devices all over the world to communicate and collaborate seamlessly," Park said.
On June 10, the White House hosted an event where SmartAmerica Challenge teams from across the country demonstrated<|fim_middle|> job and business opportunities, improve our health, our environment and can increase our resiliency in times of disasters," Park said.
The SmartAmerica Challenge was launched in December 2013 by two presidential innovation fellows at the National Institute of Standards and Technology as an avenue for the public and private sector to explore the "tangible benefits" of the Internet of things, according to a blog post by Richard Voyles, assistant director, Robotics and Cyber-Physical Systems at OSTP.
More than 100 organizations from, industry, academic and government formed 24 teams for the SmartAmerica challenge to demonstrate how cyber-physical systems can improve transportation, emergency services, security, health care, resource conservation, and delivery and manufacturing. All 24 demonstrated their projects at the SmartExpo event.
NEXT STORY: FedRAMP deadline a soft one | their projects.
"We believe the projects in this challenge demonstrate that cyber-physical systems and the Internet of things provide significantly growing social-economic benefits, can create | 30 |
Spring Trip to Scotland's West Coast Gardens
After careful consideration, The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA has made the difficult decision to postpone the <|fim_middle|> LEADER
Paddy Scott, after a career in the drinks industry and four years in a French company, set up his own consulting business, Reach for Success. He became Chief Executive of Scotland's Gardens, a well-known charity which raises funds by organizing the opening of private gardens to the public, and was one of the founders of Discover Scotland's Gardens, a business dedicated to marketing Scotland's gardens to the world. For the last three years Paddy has been using his unrivaled knowledge of Scottish gardens to organize garden tours.
Inveraray Castle reflected in the River Aray at Loch Fyne
Brodick Castle. David Ross Photography.
Brodick Castle Gardens
Images courtesy of Dumfries House
An Cala
Bluebells flowering at Arduaine Garden
Arduaine overlooking the Sound of Jura
Arduaine brodick Crarae Gardens Travel
WSJ Magazine explores the Trust's conservation intervention at Scottish architect [...] | 2020 Scotland's Glorious West Coast Gardens Tour. The tour will be rescheduled for May 10-14, 2021, in order to allow us to see the west coast's azaleas and rhododendrons at peak bloom. In addition, we will be offering a second garden tour, to Perthshire and Fife, in June 2021. Full information about both tours will be available later this spring.
Scotland's Glorious West Coast Gardens
Join The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA for five nights on the stunning west coast of Scotland. We will visit private and National Trust for Scotland gardens in Ayrshire, Argyll, and the Isle of Arran, experiencing the region's wild and rocky coastlines, grand houses and castles, spectacular countryside, and dramatic mountain vistas.
Arduaine Garden
The west of Scotland is famous for its rugged coast and beautiful gardens. Buffeted by Atlantic gales, but warmed by the Gulf Stream, the designed landscapes feature a remarkable mix of tender and exotic plants as well as natives.
The tour will be of particular interest to Rhododendron lovers and dendrologists. It will take us through landscapes of extraordinary natural beauty and few roads, necessitating hotel changes but offering an unforgettable experience of this remote region and captivating corner of Scotland.
Our tour takes place at peak season for some of the greatest collections of rhododendrons in the world, and features:
A visit to Brodick Castle, its 18th-century walled garden and 74 acres of specimen plants and woodland walks
Exclusive tours of private gardens at Ardmaddy Castle, with its remarkable 60-foot hydrangea, and An Cala, designed by Thomas Mawson in the early 1930s
A guided walk through Arduaine, a 20-acre coastal garden with a world-famous plant collection and glorious views to the Sound of Jura and the ocean beyond
Lunch and a visit to the gardens of Inveraray Castle, one of the most important designed landscapes in Scotland
Stays at luxury hotels and country houses, including Dumfries House and Loch Melfort Hotel, once home to the creators of Arduaine
An optional postlude in Glasgow, home of iconic designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh
All under the guidance of Scottish garden expert Paddy Scott, with special access to the National Trust for Scotland's garden team
ABOUT THE TOUR | 512 |
Whether it's classic, rustic, Scandinavian, or otherwise, you can be sure that if it's noteworthy and striking, it will feature here on homify 360°.
Today's piece is sure to please our lovers of contemporary style, as we keep it local by focusing on six distinct designs all by one professional team – Muelen Architects. Those familiar with their work will immediately recognise their ability to translate modern beauty and stylish functionality into ultra sleek and cutting-edge designs.
Let's take a look at what they have achieved.
If this is what futuristic residences will look like, then we can't wait! Flaunting a very sleek look and elegant style, this modern house is both inviting and secretive at the same time, thanks to its open volumes and intricate design.
Crisp white surfaces do a superb job of making the structure seem cool and tranquil, while also contrasting most effectively with the lush greens of the garden and lawn.
Space seems to be no problem for this structure, as it presents a spacious and elongated look<|fim_middle|>orning the selection of gigantic squares and rectangles that make up the different rooms.
And thanks to the interior lighting, we get a sneak peek at some of the indoor areas, most notably the colour scheme and décor pieces used.
Feel free to think that we saved the best for last – there is something very lavish and extravagant about this house that inspires hours and hours of daydreaming.
Spacious rooms, large glass windows and doors, expertly manicured gardens, fantastic areas for relaxing and socialising, and even a koi pond that neatly frames the exterior area of one of the lower-floor bedrooms. What is not to love about this magnificent structure?
Want to see more of this super stylish creation? Then click through to: Exploring Dimensions in the Kloof Road House.
What are your thoughts on these modern mansions? | , even from far away. This artistic rendering does a fine job of informing us how wide the interior areas are, not to mention that spacious terrace at the bottom, neatly shaded by the cantilevered volume above.
In contrast to our first discovery, this structure opted to be bolder with its darker range of colours.
Our third example also knows the advantages of neutral tones, for it made some fantastic choices for its façade: a superb selection of stone greys, ranging from graphite tones to off-white shades.
Notice how the different volumes protrude from each other, forming intricate little spaces such as balconies, terraces, and flat-shaped roofs.
Floor-to-ceiling glass panes adorn the rear sides, ensuring a strong link with the back yard while also allowing a decadent amount of natural light to enter the interiors.
A delicious combination of blocks makes up our fourth selection, merging with and protruding from each other to present fascinating results. It is as if a selection of rectangular structures are slowly rising out of the sloping landscape, its pristinely prepared shapes contrasting beautifully with the lush, natural look of the scenery.
In addition, one can also distinguish the assortment of materials used, from timber panels and glass panes to concrete surfaces, all flaunting their modern beauty with perfection.
The backyard view of this structure certainly doesn't hold back in letting us know just how grand it is in size. Made up of eye-catching layers and levels, all coated in earthy tones and striking textures, this house shows us what a powerful tool diversity can be.
Even the slightly pitched roof is a nice little treat, beautifully ad | 328 |
Album Review: Mike Runnels "The Tender Years"
Mike Runnels never fails to impress with his understated country music vocals. And Runnels' new album, "The Tender Years," continues his tradition<|fim_middle|> of the best performances is saved for last with the cut "This Time." What's great about this track is that Runnels combines the finest elements of his considerable talents to create a song that will stand the test of time.
Album Review: Anne McCue "Broken Promise Land" | of country music excellence with ten tracks that impress on all levels.
The album begins with the melodic "Cheatin' Side Of Town" which deserves country radio attention. The equally pleasing "We'll Find A Way" is also a toe-tapping delight.
However, Mike Runnels shines on slow ballads like "Last Date" and "Now You Know." The Roy Orbison-esque "Just Say So Baby" is Mike Runnels' shining moment on the album. It oozes easy-going musical confidence and could warm the hardest of hearts.
Mike Runnels channels an alt-country vibe with "Sweetheart." Likewise, "I Love You More" has a cool Dwight Yoakam meets Hank Williams sound that works. "Do You Feel The Same" and "Fourteen Karat Gold" are also solid efforts.
One | 167 |
A show as huge as Olympia needs a big squad of people behind it and the London International Horse Show has one of the best. No job is too small and everyone is an integral part of a superb team.
Here, Penny Richardson meets one of the showing judges for this year's equestrian extravaganza (12-18 December 2017).
Tweetie Nimmo will travel from near Edinburgh to be one of four judges of Monday's (18 December) LeMieux BSPS Heritage Supreme Championship. This will be her second time in the role.
"It's a great honour to be asked to judge at a magical show I've been attending since I first qualified a pony in 1985. I'm getting the train down on Sunday, meeting my fellow judges for dinner and preliminary judging starts at 9.30am the next<|fim_middle|>'m quite au fait with how it works and we're looked after by excellent stewards. I've tried to avoid M&M classes all season and I have no idea which ponies will be at Olympia.
"It's lovely to see some of the famous showjumpers you only read about usually, but I am sorry that I will miss the dressage. That's my favourite thing and it's at the wrong end of the show. | day. Everything is run strictly to time, so we make decisions quickly and stick with them. Competitors have to be on their top game from the start, too.
"The ride marks are shown straight away, which makes it interesting for spectators, though this can throw up anomalies. I'm doing conformation this year, so my marks won't be revealed until the end.
"Having judged here before in 2007, I | 88 |
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, adventuring in the mountains became an early habit of mine. Following this passion, I moved out to Southwest Colorado in 2010 after graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in Business Finance.
Deciding not to enter an office life, I began to call Telluride my<|fim_middle|> valley of Ophir, CO guiding rock and ice locally in the San Juans and spending much time skiing and climbing out my back door. I am also very passionate about teaching outdoor education to the youth of the Telluride area and coach the Telluride High School rock climbing team. I look forward to getting out in the mountains with you all! | home and discovered my love for spending extended time and sharing experiences with others in the mountains. I joined Mountain Trip as a guide on Aconcagua during the 2014/15 season and since then have been guiding year round from our backyard mountains to Denali, AK. I currently live in the super top secret | 66 |
SANDWICH – The Town of Sandwich is one step closer to having a sand borrow site for Town Neck Beach.
Sandwich has received three permits from the state that would allow for the town to transfer about 250,000 cubic yards of sand from Scusset Beach to replenish materials lost due to erosion and the canal's east end jetty.
Town Manager Bud Dunham said the town now just needs federal approval from the Army Corps of Engineers.
"It's great news because it hopefully will set a good precedents for what lies ahead for the federal permits," Dunham said.
The town applied for the state permits just over a year ago and received the formal approvals last week.
Originally, the state had told town officials that they would make a decision on the permits by the end of the year. With the last few months that timetable was pushed up and expected by the end of August.
"I think this would be the first long-term borrow site that the state has approved," Dunham said.
Assuming the town receives the federal permit, it will need to conduct a lot of scientific study after sand has been taken to make sure it fills<|fim_middle|> for a couple of mild winters to buy time for work to get done to replenish the beach, which was again hit hard during the winter storm season. | back in and the location can be reused in the future.
"All of the tests show that that should happen pretty readily," Dunham said.
Dunham believes the state approval can't hurt its chances of getting the federal go ahead.
The next step, if federal permits are approved, would be to secure financing for the work.
"The biggest thing is that you have to get the permits first," he said.
The town is also trying to get permanent approval for a replenishment site from the Cape Cod Canal.
The canal gets dredged roughly every five to seven years and the town is trying to get that and the Scusset site dedicated to replenishing Town Neck.
The town is awaiting a report from the Army Corps of Engineers, Section 1-11, which is studying the effects of the east end jetty on the flow of sediment.
Dunham said results from that study are not expected for at least another year.
Town officials are hoping | 192 |
Have you ever wondered when we take the limits off God we will see things happening in the supernatural. Things that will happen<|fim_middle|>! | and could not have happen on our strength alone, we will be amazed by what He can truly do.
His appointed time are never the same as our time, because He is a timeless God whose strength is not measured by our own. He said in His Word (Bible) that He will supply our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). So what more do we want that God cannot do?
His Word also said that we should ask and it shall be given; seek and you will find; knock and the door will open (Matthew 7:7). Moreover, He feeds the birds of the air who do not sow and reap, neither do they store away anything, but God still feeds them (Matthew 6:26). So why do we worry about what we should eat or drink?
God does not lie and His words does not come back to us void. He is the God of more than enough! When we trust Him at His word He will come through for us. No matter what the problem is He will keep His word, if it is in His will.
"Fear not, for I am with you; do not be afraid, I am your God, I will protect you and I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
Today, take God out of the box and see Him at His best. When we ask of Him we will see an overflow in our finances, our homes and our children.
Our overdraft will become an overflow in abundance because He is the God of more than enough.
©Abundance of Faith (MA) 2014- 2016. Unauthorised use and /or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's author and owner is strictly prohibited.
Reblogged this on Abundance of Faith.
Yes, He is an awesome God | 406 |
Case Study: Riviera Maison - Photoslurp. Over 50,000 images collected.
This classic home decor brand inspires customers with their customers.
This premium furniture brand collected 50<|fim_middle|> a photo or two of their own interior expressions – all thanks to Riviera Maison.
With over 50,000 images collected through Photoslurp, Riviera Maison has their pick of customer content to include throughout their online shopping journey.
Compared with the average interaction rate of 4%, Riviera Maison has a high engagement with their customer photos bringing in an engagement rate of 15.59%. | ,000 User Generated images through the Photoslurp platform and saw a 15.59% interaction rate with the customer content integrated into the Riviera Maison website.
With a long history in home decoration, Riviera Maison is dedicated to bringing classic interior designs to their devoted base of customers both in-store and online. Their exclusive collections are meticulously designed with a focus on detail, providing customers with unique and stylish products to decorate a comfortable home.
When it comes to selling home decor online, the challenge lies in helping customers envision the products in their own homes before seeing it in person. Riviera Maison aims to give shoppers the best idea of their products before they buy, ensuring cohesive interior styling that customers are guaranteed to love and, in turn, minimizing eCommerce returns.
This interior brand sought a visual solution that would present product perspective in terms of size, color and style, while deepening engagement with online consumers. As it turns out, the answer was in their customers.
By collecting content posted by their customers on social media and integrating it into their eCommerce store, Riviera Maison gives shoppers the key to understanding what a product will look like in their own hands.
Not only does this effort reduce eCommerce returns, it gives shoppers the social proof they need to make a purchase with the added bonus of presenting shoppers with unique stylings designed by their customers.
When shoppers browse images of prior customers and their at-home style, they will have a better idea of how it style it for themselves. Plus, seeing that real people are satisfied with the products on social media, new customers are excited to join the community of the brand and post | 328 |
It's true that the majority of people decide to have laser eye treatment because they want the freedom of being able to see clearly without the inconvenience of having to wear glasses or contact lenses, but for many, medical reasons mean it is their only option.
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli hit the headlines recently for undergoing laser eye surgery as the only viable alternative to correcting his vision after he developed an allergy to contact lenses. Obviously a footballer – or anyone who plays an active sport for a living – can't possibly wear glasses, but<|fim_middle|> obtaining an infection following surgery is lower than contracting an infection through contact lens wear. And then, once the eye has healed, refractive surgery patients can enjoy swimming with without the worry of infections as well as enjoying clear vision. | contact lenses are not always the answer either.
Balotelli had worn contact lenses for years but had developed an allergy that eventually resulted in an abscess and conjunctivitis. Laser treatment was the only option open to him if he was to continue his footballing career.
Apart from the medical necessity, swapping contact lenses for permanent surgical vision correction is something that will improve the performance of every sportsman or woman. No doubt after this year's Olympics many decisions to have laser eye treatment will finally be taken!
Another recent news story about the potential drawbacks of wearing contact lenses presents an even more compelling case for laser treatment. Jennie Hurst, a contact lens wearer from Southampton, caught the devastating eye infection acanthamoeba keratitis after swimming whilst wearing her contact lenses and is now blind in one eye. This highly aggressive amoeba is found in both fresh and sea water so whilst rare, the potential risk is always there. Left untreated this can cause irreversible, painful sight loss with a matter of days.
Worryingly, the incidence of this infection is on the rise. Doctors are putting this down to more patients buying their contact lenses online and not adhering to strict eye care regimes or attending regular eye checks with their eye care professional. Laser treatment not only frees patients from the confines of glasses and contact lenses completely, it also eliminates the risk of contracting serious contact lens related infections.
Following surgery there is a period of time where the eye heals, during which the eye is susceptible to infection. However, due to the rigorous aftercare regimes and antibiotic drops prescribed following surgery, the risk of contracting an infection is very low. In fact, research has found that the chance of | 336 |
CROMWELL - As part of a joint collaboration<|fim_middle|> varieties. | to showcase Riversun Nursery's Pinot Noir varieties, this week Otago Polytechnic's Central campus Viticulture students are planting 240 Pinot Noir grapevines in the polytech's Cromwell vineyard.
Students on the Level 5 Diploma in Viticulture distance learning programme, gain valuable hands-on experience on the Central campus 1ha vineyard located on Bannockburn Road, Cromwell.
With Central Otago's success in producing some of NZ's very best Pinot Noir wines, Riversun's viticulturist Nick Hoskins and Distance Education Coordinator, Rachel Petrie from the Cromwell Campus, saw an opportunity over twelve months ago to utilise four empty rows on the polytech's teaching vineyard.
"After hearing Nick Hoskins speak at a Central Otago Winegrowers (COWA) event in October 2016, I approached Riversun to see if they were in need of any land to trial Pinot Noir clones here in Central Otago," said Rachel.
Riversun jumped at the chance to give students the opportunity to learn, while giving the company access to information on clonal performance in New Zealand's largest Pinot Noir district.
"Local growers will also be able to see how the variety acts in an Otago setting versus how it acts here in our source block in Gisborne which is a completely different climate / terroir," said Nick.
Recommending 3309 rootstock for its popularity in the New Zealand wine industry, in 2016 Riversun grafted 240 vines from a combination of twelve old and new clones including those from the ENTAV-INRA® importation programme. After ten months in the Riversun field nursery, 240 Pinot Noir traditional dormant vines were transported to Central Otago in early October this year. A further 48 two year old SuperVines will be supplied in 2018.
The Pinot Noir planting fits in with the diploma teaching programme for irrigation setup and pruning and down the track students will also be looking at yield, bunch data, brix and management. Students are responsible for the planting and care of the vines through to the first harvest, beyond that future students will be trusted with their care.
The main aim of the collaboration is to forge long term partnerships between education and industry by connecting future employers, growers and viticulturists with future talent.
The vineyard is often a location for COWA (Central Otago Winegrowers Association) workshops and events including the young viticulturist competition and there are discussions around opportunities to develop clone comparison trials, small batch tastings and local grower field days in the future.
Click here for more information on Riversun Nursery's Pinot Noir | 570 |
|In News, Projects
|By Harry Lock
In the first 'PSM Unpacked' session, participants discussed the common challenges, opportunities and best practices related to commercial funding for public media.
On 26th November, the Public Media Alliance launched 'PSM Unpacked', a new and exclusive initiative for PMA members and affiliates to engage in timely discussions about public media issues. Participants from France, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Thailand, Turks and Caicos, and the UK took part in the virtual forum.
Discussion Points
Public media organisations are increasingly expected to do more with less. One key topic posed to the group was how best to manage the 'push and pull' between generating revenue commercially and operating within competitive media markets, while fulfilling their responsibilities as public media to adhere to their core mandates, such as editorial independence, and impartiality.
Similar challenges include the notion of encouraging but not endorsing products or product placement. To get around the issue, some broadcasters avoid promoting a particular brand by discussing a range of different brands, or they consider how and when advertisements are appropriately broadcast on air.
Another key challenge relates to audience fragmentation and reaching new and younger listeners while not disrupting what works well for core audiences – another predicament that many public media organisations are experiencing worldwide.
Participants also discussed the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their commercial revenue<|fim_middle|> avoid entirely excluding one audience group over another
Creating unique content for different language groups, rather than translating content originally produced in English
Developing new measurement tools to gather data on audience habits to allow PSM to better cater to different markets
Re-establishing the importance of partnerships and collaboration between PSM and Pay-TVs to attract more advertisers as well as between PSM and producers. According to some participants, many young people are currently generating content and going direct to consumers rather than working with PSM organisations
Implementing more creative ways of advertising and accessing different sources of revenue in the digital space, such as targeted advertising; use of algorithms or developing for-profit subsidiary companies
Utilising and monetising on what PSM is already doing well, from offering training programmes, production, and management services, to consultancy and communication advice to partners and other like-minded organisations
As one participant explained, while many of these solutions can often take a lot of work and time, they are worthwhile in the long term, especially to ensure future sustainability and viability.
Jasmine Chandler, PMA Project and Membership Manager, said, "The roundtable forum facilitated a great opportunity for our members to exchange information, ideas, and thoughts. By collaborating and sharing knowledge, skills and experiences they are in a greater position to overcome the challenges they face in an ever-changing media landscape".
The session is the first in a series of roundtable discussions for PMA members and affiliate organisations to interact and exchange knowledge, expertise and ideas.
Is there a specific PSM issue that your public media organisation is interested in discussing? Are you looking for solutions to a key PSM challenge? Or perhaps you are eager to interact and network with like-minded organisations? Let us know by emailing us on info@publicmediaalliance.org
Header Image: Family and friends happy moments in video conference at home. Credit: FG Trade/iStock
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PSM Weekly | 24 - 30 November 2021 | . For some organisations, they experienced a loss of income while having to reschedule programmes, and the closure of companies that would no longer advertise. But as others highlighted, that was partially offset as productions were halted or slowed down.
The disparity between the rigour of media regulation across broadcasting countries was noted. For instance, while product endorsements are strictly regulated by some countries, in others, regulation is largely left up to the broadcaster. The disparity highlighted the relevance of understanding the principles of public media and public interest media, to which many participants emphasised the importance of maintaining their public interest values alongside their commercial ventures.
While the different organisations operate within very different situations and contexts, they acknowledged that they were not alone in many of the challenges they experience as PSMs with mixed funding models.
The group offered input to address some of the core challenges by exchanging various solutions and initiatives, including:
Experimenting with new and interactive formats as well as digital, technological innovations to reach new and young audiences, including simulcasting, developing public media apps and subtitling, while maintaining existing audiences to | 216 |
This presentation will outline a series of steps that enabled the bank<|fim_middle|>, DCIM, future facilities, Predictive DCIM, simulation, Virtual Facility. Bookmark the permalink. | 's data center to best analyze and enhance data center performance.
During his discussion, Mr. Pastrana will explore how a global financial institution used a predictive approach in their operations to increase efficiency, resilience and to maximize useable data center capacity in their facility. By building and calibrating a Virtual Facility for their data center, the bank's facility was able to undertake a project that resulted in significant energy savings and an increase in usable capacity.
In addition to its featured discussion, Future Facilities will also be exhibiting at Data Center Dynamics, Booth #43.
For those not able to attend the event, you can visit www.futurefacilities.com/media/info.php?id=240 to download the case study.
This entry was posted in Data Center DCIM Datacenter Datacenters Datacentre and tagged 6sigmaDC, capacity, CFD, christian pastrana, continuous modeling, Continuous Modeling for DCIM, data center, data center capacity, data center infrastructure management, Data Centre, Datacenter, Datacenter Dynamics, Datacenter Dynamics New York, datacenters, datacentre, DCDNY | 221 |
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