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this is great to make after the hollidayscanola cooking spray2/3 cup chopped mild or sweet onions2 cups diced roasted turkey2 cups leftover gravy1/2 tsp worchestershire sauce (optional)1-2 cups leftover veggies (optional)2 cups mashed potatoes1 tbsp butterblack pepper to taste (optional)preheat oven to 400 degrees coat inside of a deep dish pie plate with cooking spraycoat a large non stick skillet with cooking spray add the onions and cook until lightly browned with a spatula stir in the turkey,gravy,worchestershire sauce,and leftoveer veggiesspread the turkey mixture in the pie plate spread mashed potaotes over the meat with a fork make a design in mashed potatoes set asidein microwave safe cup melt butter in the microwave with pastry brush brush the top of the potatoes with melted butter sprinkle top with pepperbake in oven for about 25 minutes or until potatoes are a light golden brown
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Friday, January 18, 2013
Urbanization and deindustrialization
A while ago I had posted about the deindustrialization process in the US (see here). I now checked the rates of urbanization in a few cities which were associated to the industrialization process in the US, like Detroit and Pittsburgh (Census data).
The graph compares those cities with two more conventional metropolis, New York (right axis) and San Francisco, and also to San José, where which is close to the so-called Silicon Valley is located, since 1960. Detroit grew spectacularly fast in the first 40 years of the 20th century, and so did, to a lesser extent Pittsburgh. Motor City and Steel City represented the rise of metal-mechanical industry, and they grew faster than other cities in the country.
By the 1960s Detroit population had picked, and Pittsburgh was already in decline. Note that the late 1960s is when the process of deindustrialization associated to a slower growth in industry (so industrial jobs are increasing) than in services started to take place. In the 1970s the population of New York and San Francisco also decreased, and it seemed that deindustrialization and suburbanization meant that cities were a thing of the past (the Death and Life of Jane Jacobs you can call it), destined for the dustbin of history.
But note that in the 1980s population growth picked up in New York and San Francisco while it continued to collapse in the Rust Belt. San José also was growing very fast. This suggests that in the period in which the absolute number of manufacturing jobs are decreasing, not all cities are faring badly, if you are in the business of information technology or finance you are fine. And yes, San José is bigger than San Francisco now.
2 comments:
True that San Jose is bigger than San Francisco now, though this also reflects San Francisco's inability to grow geographically, and its rather restrictive building laws. But it's not quite right to say that Silicon Valley is in San Jose. Silicon Valley is more precisely located in the cities from Palo Alto, in the north, to Mountain View, in the south. San Jose certainly does receive spillover population. We owe this distinction to AT&T, which opted to locate Bell Labs in Palo Alto during its many years as the monopoly provider of phone service in the US.
I stand corrected then. Thanks Will. Mind you I always thought of Palo Alto as a posh residential suburb. By the way, the Census might have data on Palo Alto, but San José is the only one I found readily available. And yes, Bell Labs' connection with Standford goes back to Shockley, one of the inventors of the transistor, if I'm not incorrect.
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jimwriter
Contributing Member
Last Activity: 01-04-2015 11:17 AM
User Lists
About Me
About jimwriter
Real Name
james mukuria
Location
nairobi, kenya
Occupation
freelance writer
Professional Biography
I am a freelance essay writer with a deep experience in academic writing. I write on a variety of topics for different academic levels. From high school and college to masters level, I have them covered. Click my signature links to see some essay samples.
Special Skills, Interests, and Hobbies
writing,singing,poetry,webdesign,reviewing products and services,poetry,blogging,dancing,internet research and socializing
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male
Latest News
at the moment i am just blogging and freelance writing. But am planning in developing a software come December. i will keep you informed.
Favorite Quote
"My time. My life." I love this quote it actually says, 'how i spend my time defines how i live.
Favorite Movie
hard one, but "facing the giants" is the best movie i have ever watched.
Favorite Books
anything medical, finance or technology related, i find it good.
Favorite Color
purple. my life is beautiful and so am i.
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most gospel songs as long as they encourage me and help to build my faith
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javascript, php, mysql, html5,css. Ms word and other office tools I have also mastered.
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The best, there may be more than one opinion, but how can you argue with AJ....as far as who has done the most for USAC, I think that is a work in progress with the guys that climbed the USAC ladder and are now giving back by fielding race teams, etc. That is if the guys at the top don't screw it up. The schedules this year were pretty poor in my opinion, way to many holes, I think some of the USAC regulars ran more weekly shows than USAC shows this summer. We need more Midget / Sprint combined shows, not fewer as was the case this year. What happened to Toledo and Mansfield?
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Altered Modalities Contemporary Dance Company members, Rosalie Avila and Spencer Ruell perform a duet to…"Lost?". It is a story of young love and the trust that needs to be earned between two people at the beginning of a relationship.Read More
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. Dance is…art form, an expression through moving rhythmically to music that usually follows a set sequence of steps. When the two elements of physics and dance are fused together, there is a rainbow of endless possibilities. To dance according to the speed of colour, the nature of sound and the composition harmonics, each component is essential to the next; each an integral detail to what we see and hear in our daily lives. That is reality. Turning them into Art is the beauty of it.Read More
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People love being involved, able to share and enjoy the benefits their personal contributions can make. I have spent most of my life learning how to make and do many things, including those that can help us improve and support our health. I'm talking about how to eat what suits you best and how to cut down on the cost of expensive medications and supplements. There are easy ways to find many solutions in the kitchen. You too, can learn how to enhance your health and have great pleasure in doing so. Life is a fun journey. Thanks for sharing
InfoBarrel is a writing platform for non-fiction, reference-based, informative content. Opinions expressed by InfoBarrel writers are their own.
Children Adopt Bad Eating Habits and We Wonder Why They Get Sick
At a young age habits are formed and if negative associations are linked to food that children are forced to eat it develops into a lifelong resistance. Is this why so many people live on junk food?
Some adults flatly refuse to eat vegetables and it is easy to see how this happens. When parents forbid children to eat unhealthy items, especially if they are wheat intolerant and have already developed a very sweet tooth it only make matters worse. What you resist will persist and a reactive eating strategy takes over: a worship of takeaways, fluffy white rolls and fizzy drinks. Sadly many adults fall into this category and are not a good example for young children to follow.
We try to give children a healthy start in life, regardless of how we personally eat at home. We load up school lunch boxes with carrot sticks and other healthy snacks without considering the child’s peer group and the pressure they feel they have in conforming to the same likes and dislikes that are deemed to be cool. To them bread, rolls, cakes, sweets and biscuits are cool. Do we really think they don’t eat junk food when they get the chance? Do we stop buying bread, sweets, sugar-laden juices and fizzy beverages and fatty fries and have these readily available? Admittedly it is a cheap and convenient way to stop the hunger pangs and junk food is readily available at any corner store.
As a child I was horribly embarrassed by my Mom’s efforts to produce unique home-made (very flat) brown bread sandwiches stuffed with Marmite, cheese, tomato and lettuce leaves. All I wanted was huge fluffy white bread jam sandwiches like everybody else. I was an oddball! I used to hide my sandwiches and share the cool food that friends gave to me instead.
Good nutrition and a Mother who forced cod liver oil and vitamin syrup down my throat? Not cool in those days. Being the odd one out was an ordeal for me but throughout my junior and high school days I never was sick. At home we thrived on home-grown vegetables, fresh farm milk and other simple nutritious foods. I did not have to conform to the eating habits of my peers at home. I did not suffer from tonsillitis, appendicitis, sinusitis, bed wetting, colds and flu and other common childhood maladies either!
What happens when we eat junk food and skip the vegetables?
Food that has no real nutrient value (junk food) sets up an inner hunger within the body. Starving cells and tissues cannot survive without the key nutrients that fresh fruit, vegetables and a good balance of healthy fats and lean protein provide. The brain receives signals of distress and hormones stimulate the appetite for more and more food to glean a few minerals, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and essential fatty acids from it.
Credit: Sue Visser
The effects of a carbohydrate overload
If the diet is based on excessive refined carbohydrates and trans-fatty acids and little else the liver takes strain. Enzymes can no longer be released to control hormones like testosterone. The 5 alpha reductase enzyme in particular will then release free dihydrotestosterone (DHT) into the bloodstream. When this happens, insulin resistance sets in. It is the precursor to high blood pressure and raised levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and finally non-insulin dependent diabetes. (Type 2 diabetes.)
Should we treat the symptoms of insulin resistance with drugs?
The sad thing is that high blood pressure caused by poor eating habits is not recognized as one of the first warning signs of insulin resistance. The patient is told that high blood pressure is a danger to the heart. It is, but it also shows that the body is lacking in Omega 3 oils, magnesium, and potassium and so on. A high blood pressure medication is given to the patient but it will not correct the nutritional deficiencies and it does not stop the patient from eating badly. When the cholesterol level is also high, a cholesterol lowering prescription is given. How about controlling the diet?
The group of drugs known as statins is a popular choice and one of the worst side effects is dementia and often an increased vulnerability to some forms of cancer.
Statin drugs rob the system of co-enzyme Q 10 Patrick Holford and Jerome Burn, authors of the book: Food is Better Medicine than Drugs tell us that a deficiency of this enzyme is a major cause of high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and angina. Does your doctor know this? Good dietary sources are: sesame seeds, walnuts, sardines and mackerel but larger amounts are needed. Co-enzyme Q 10 supplements are a more effective and reliable way to prevent these problems in the first place.
Stage 3 of insulin resistance is type 2 diabetes
When blood pressure and bad cholesterol increase and poor eating habits continue the next stage is type 2 diabetes. Excessive carbohydrates and glucose molecules flood the bloodstream with too much sugar at one time. The pancreas releases insulin to bind the glucose molecules and store them as triglycerides if they are needed at a later stage. But over time the sugar levels in the blood creep up, due to insulin resistance. At this stage glucose molecules no longer respond to the insulin signals. So we call it non-insulin dependent diabetes. In many such cases it turns out to be the effects of a major deficiency of chrome and other minerals, vitamins and enzymes. Even a simple spice like cinnamon is now being recommended by some naturopaths to improve insulin sensitivity.
A blood sugar test indicating the onset of type 2 diabetes comes as a shock to a patient who has been to the doctor and has passed the blood pressure and cholesterol examination with flying colours - due to the medications that are merely suppressing the symptoms of insulin resistance. Obviously the patient is then given the third prescription: blood sugar control medications. So with three sets of drugs to control the three stages of insulin resistance the patient goes home for another round of “healthy” pasta.
People love to complain about being so sick
All those ills and all those pills and then come the side effects of the drugs they take to exacerbate the misery of lousy eating habits. By the time people tell me of their distress they are also taking antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills to smother these side effects. I receive many letters from such people and I painstakingly set out a suitable eating plan for them. I suggest a list of supplements that include Omega 3 oil, multivitamins, minerals and digestive enzymes and other key nutrients.
I recommend doctors they can consult who are familiar with the fundamentals of natural medicine and tell them to seek professional help, especially if they intend to wean themselves off medications. I seldom if ever receive a note of thanks or even a reply for my trouble and this usually tells me that they could not be bothered to get out of their comfort (sick) zone. But I sympathise with them. I know that a common reason is that their medical aid is not willing to fork out for special health foods, supplements and a doctor who is not within their domain of paid-up practitioners. It is inconvenient to change shopping habits and look for organic produce at a higher cost.
Money can’t buy me health?
When it comes to health and detoxification protocols, making your own herb and vegetable juices and cutting out all food that does not suit you can make one feel overwhelmed. It also means taking responsibility for your own health. Most letters I receive are from people who love to list all their complaints and then hopefully get a magic pill to solve all their self-imposed problems.
It is easier to take drugs you don’t have to pay for and receive free medical help because then you don’t have to really care about your lifestyle or what you eat. One old lady managed to control her high blood pressure with a special herb tea her friend gave her. But she still went to the government clinic every month to collect her disability grant for being on chronic medication. She took the pills home and tipped them down the toilet. She drank her herb tea and laughed because the doctor was so pleased with her blood pressure.
Why are we so fat? Does diabetes run in the family?
Take a look around you. Some families look the same from the back. Big and wide! Bad eating habits do run in the family. Some families may be genetically more susceptible to certain diseases but not as much as one may think. Junk food cravings and the way people give in to them also run in families. It is not by any genetic curiosity that obesity is on the rise. So is food consumption! Super-sized portions are served at most fast food outlets to pander to junk food cravings and bulging waistlines. The question remains: do we teach our children to eat so they get sick? The answer is easy enough to figure out.
Children can soon latch on to the perceived benefits of being sick. Illness receives attention and sympathy. It is a grand excuse to cop-out of certain commitments and confrontations because nobody argues when you display evidence of being incapacitated by an illness. Sometimes you may be faking them to escape writing an exam, for instance but it may become a habit and you turn into a hypochondriac. Children watch their parents. They live with people who say: “Not now darling, I have a headache.” Now that’s a good mantra!
They hear Mom or Dad saying: “I’m so sick and tired, I’m too depressed.” People get depressed when the starch laden comfort food they eat robs the body of tryptophan. This results in a serotonin deficiency and causes depression. It is no wonder that antidepressants are the most widely prescribed of all drugs. To learn more about the treatment causes of depression you can read my article at Info Barrel.
Our eyes have grown bigger than our stomachs. At parties and festive occasions we politely stuff ourselves with even more food than we consume at regular meal. Soon after a big rich meal people in the early stage insulin resistance find that their blood sugar drops. Intense hunger and cravings, especially for sugar set in and another attack on sweets, biscuits and chocolates takes care of the rest of the evening. During the night when an insulin rush causes blood sugar levels to drop once again; the familiar trip to the refrigerator is made to satisfy the effects of what we call an insulin roller coaster.
Why do dogs beg from children at the dinner table?
We all know that vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet but it depends on how well they are cooked and presented to us. If the father of the house brings home a pile of hamburgers, chips, white bread rolls and sugar-laden fizzy drinks for a family treat the damage has already been done. By definition the term “treat” is then associated with foodless food that is in many ways very harmful to the health of any human being.
Children get away with being cute - spitting out Mom’s vegetables and feeding it to pets under the table because they associate it as something not nice, not a treat. “No, I don’t like this.” Even without tasting it. Everybody laughs but it is not funny and only serves to sabotage the credibility of the parents who tell their children one thing and then do another. But all too soon there is a birthday party for one of the kids. What do we do? More treats, sweets and harmful food!
Another meal of hamburgers, fries, rolls, pasta, ice cream and cakes is washed down with a few cold fizzy drinks. We even give the little guests bags of sweets and party treats to take home because all the children associate such an onslaught on a fragile little digestive system as a treat. Then at the family dinner table we make a turnabout and force children to eat all their “balanced” meal consisting of some form of protein and few vegetables with potatoes or pasta and other forms of gluten. We threaten them if they don’t eat it all up.
We nag, scorn and beg them to clear their plates. The dog under the table gets fatter! Many dogs are on diabetic medications like their owners. Dogs are very sensitive to simple sugars and are not designed to slurp up carbohydrates, especially mashed potatoes. So the pancreas takes strain. I was shocked to see a poster about canine diabetes at the animal clinic but the staff told that it does happen and they have to treat the animals.
Why are we surprised when our child wets the bed? This is no accident and parents who understand the effects of wheat intolerance will agree that the child is not guilty. The wheat onslaught causes the bladder to go into a spasm and then urine cannot be retained. You know what happens next. The child is intimidated; the parents are embarrassed and look for pills to prevent enuresis.
Make it clear to the family what unsuitable food is and what it does to your health.
Many parents are unaware of wheat and gluten intolerance. It is advisable to investigate further and a number of excellent tests are available to find out what the trigger foods are. They are invariably wheat, gluten, and milk or soya beans. A sugar aggravated insulin resistance also causes a lot of common health problems in young children (and your pets) these days. Parents do not understand the role of a vigilant immune system because they too, tend to prefer the junk food.
Then they respond to the quotes from people who claim to be health gurus. They begin to eat “healthy” and substitute white bread for whole wheat bread and wonder why they still feel sick. The problem is that eating foods that do not suit your blood type can cause bad reactions in some people, albeit the so-called healthy whole grains and legumes.
One cannot solve a problem at the same level at which it was created
How many colds do people catch every year, how many snotty little noses do you see when children eat foods that cause mucous and sinus problems and attract parasites? We need to root out all the refined carbohydrates, trans-fats and loads of sweets and substitute them with nutritious foods. The saying that one cannot solve a problem at the same level at which it was created is one of Einstein’s best insights, especially when it concerns unhealthy eating habits. A higher level of nutritional consciousness means: selecting only food that really suits you and eliminating any that don’t. Let food be your medicine.
Gluten intolerance should not be tolerated. Kick the habit of wheat dependence.
But starchy, sugary comfort foods are cheap and easy to get so people have made a staple diet of them. Then they buy remedies for coughs, colds and flu more than ever before. They are horrified when I suggest they cut out bread because then they say they have nothing else to eat. Hearing this from a personwho suffers from perpetual diarrhoea, sinus problems, a weak bladder, fatigue, anaemia and constant brain fog is very common when I present a talk about healthy happy eating. Most gall bladders that are surgically removed are due to wheat eating. Wheat erodes joints and robs them of glucosamine.
There is nothing happy about eating food that wrecks your health, especially when symptoms of wheat and gluten intolerance are so blatant. The sooner you make the effort the better it will be.
Comments
Yindee, this is an important and informative article. Parents have to demand that their children eat healthy foods early on. They should explain the benefits of healthy eating and include fruits and vegetables in their children's diets. Sadly, as adults, too many of us are not good role models when it comes to proper nutrition. We need to do better. Great article!
Reply to this Comment
Nobody can force or demand at the dinner table. It raises cortisol levels and causes resentment and indigestion, I have found. I have become creative in the kitchen and have plenty of ideas to make tasty food they everybody likes. If not, ask them for some input. Remember Popeye and spinach. My little ones hated the way I cooked spinach, but lapped it up as a soup mixed with other leftovers and creamed up in the blender.
Reply to this Comment
Thank you for your insights into this issue. Nutrition is hugely important, and many, many people have not a clue that food is for helping yourself and your children to be healthy. I know western culture tends to value and promote foods of little or no nutritional value, and this is hugely tragic. I recently cut out refined carbs and sugar, and it has already changed many things for me. Thanks for helping to put the truth out there!
Reply to this Comment
Thany you for taking "note". You will feel the difference, especially with less brain fog. We all aspire to growing our own vegetables and being organic. But have to make a start to reduce the bad stuff and slowly latch on to what I call nutrient dense foods that are more satisfying. But we first have to break the addiction to junk food.
I am really looking forward to reading and studying your advice on mucic. I also need to get back to basics - in your field of expertise.
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Managing Show Goats Growth is Better Than Holding
Posted: September 29th, 2016
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You’ve dedicated a lot of time and effort with your show goat project – feeding, grooming and exercising it. You are 30 days from the show – and when your goat steps on the scale, you realize he’s a little further ahead of your goal.
A month until the show is a long time, so it is critical to start reining him in. Holding goats’ weight is possible, but it is preferable to manage your wether’s weight over the duration of the project. .
Kelsey Pfeiffer, Orlando, Okla., is a leading industry expert at raising and showing meat goats. He says holding goats can often lead to limited results. Market wethers, Pfeiffer says, are more successful when they are fed moderately to their endpoint versus feeding hard then putting on the brakes.
“When a feeder gets into a jam there are a few ways to help regulate weight gain on your market wethers,” Pfieffer says.
Decrease the amount of feed on a daily basis. Many times, feeder goats are given 3-5% of their body weight, which is more than necessary. Maintenance levels of 1.5-2% is often plenty if you feed nutrient dense, professional goat feed like “Show Right Advancer Plus.”
Add Sure Champ®. When you use a supplement like Sure Champ Spark, it will help market wethers maintain muscle shape with minimal weight gain.
Muzzle the goat. A muzzle allows for full water consumption but also eliminates extracurricular snacking. Only unmuzzle the goat when feeding, exercising or practicing showmanship.
Increase exercise. This will help control the weight gain of a goat since exercise and weight gain have an inverse correlation.
“A lot of people may think there is a set amount of exercise for every goat, but it’s more about understanding he logistics between weight and exercise,” Pfeiffer says. .”
Leave hair long. If feeders will keep from shearing their show wethers too often Pfeiffer says this can be a great way to regulate gain. Allowing hair to stay long will help eliminate surges in body weight. When a person shears a goat’s top or bellies a lot they are allowing the animal to get cool or cold, which means they’ll also grow fast.
Seasons and geographic regions can also impact weight gain. Pfeiffer says in the summer time a wether is going to grow a bit faster than on a day when the weather is cool or cold. And, he says, goats eat differently depending on if they’re in the northern or southern U.S. or in the East or West.
Holding a goat is not the right thing to do, if a person doesn’t understand the proper technique. Pfeiffer says holding is something people do to take the belly off of a goat; not to just impact the animal’s weight.
“If you have a 120-pounder do you throw the brakes on?” Pfeiffer asks. “Or if he’s at 80 pounds there’s probably no reason to hold him at any point. It’s like when you watch a movie and it says, ‘Don’t do this at home.’ It’s critical to really understand what you’re doing.”
Pfeiffer suggests feeding and exercising in moderation,. Does are shown differently than wethers and should not be held. Adding Sure Champ to the feed one month prior helps bring on muscle shape, so the animal can get this trait early rather than trying to rush into it. Sometimes, Pfeiffer says it’s just best to stick to the basics.
“It really doesn’t matter if you’re real close to show,” Pfieffer says. “We may have held goats over from OYE to Tulsa State Fair but we did it slow and steady. Coasting in with one is way better in moderate fashion than to get one there real fast then try to hold them.”
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Dubbed the Samsung Galaxy S II, the handset improves on its predecessor in a number of ways. First, you've got the addition of a dual-core processor. We were originally told by the company that it was using Nvidia's Tegra 2 chipset but were later informed that it was Samsung's own chip; unfortunately, further details were not provided at the event but generally speaking you should see faster performance and graphics.
Given the delay with updates being pushed out to the current Galaxy S portfolio, we're sure this news will make some groan. However, TouchWiz 4.0 offers added functionality, including the three new hubs--Game, Music, and Reader--so users can download more content to their smartphones. The Games hub will be powered by Gameloft, and the Music hub will be run by 7Digital. The Reader hub will come from different providers and includes access to 2.2 million books, 2,000 global and local newspapers, and 2,300 magazines.
You'll still get your social-networking feeds through the Social hub (now Social Hub Premium), but you'll also be able to see your communications history, IM status, and reach your contacts via SMS, e-mail, etc., all from one place.
Though there's a social and multimedia aspect to the device, Samsung has also worked to make it a more business-friendly smartphone. As a result, the Galaxy S II includes on-device encryption and support for Cisco's mobile solutions for VoIP calls, VPN, and virtual desktop.
Design-wise, the Galaxy S II features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus touch screen with a WVGA 480x800-pixel resolution. Samsung's Super AMOLED screens already provided one of the richest viewing experiences on a smartphone, but the Super AMOLED Plus adds 50 percent more subpixels, and we certainly noticed a crisper, smoother picture, and colors popped off the screen.
The general design is like other touch-screen smartphones we've seen, but Samsung loves claiming to have the world's thinnest or smallest products, so we weren't surprised to hear it call the Galaxy S II the "world's thinnest smartphone." Having seen it in person, we can say it is incredibly thin. It measures 4.93 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.33 inch thick and weighs 4.09 ounces.
Like the previous generation, the Galaxy S II has a plastic build, but Samsung added a textured back, so at least the smartphone doesn't feel as slick this time around. You can get a closer look at the device in our hands-on photo gallery below.
Other notable highlights of the Galaxy S II include an 8-megapixel camera and front-facing 2-megapixel camera, 1080p HD video recording and playback, option for NFC connectivity, HSPA+ support, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Samsung says it currently has no plans for a CDMA version of the phone at this time.
The Galaxy S II is expected to ship to Europe and Asia in February, but no word on U.S. availability or pricing at this time. In addition to the Galaxy S II, Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Tab 10.1, which will debut worldwide this spring.
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K-V Pharmaceutical Co
K-V Pharmaceutical Co
This is a listing for K-V Pharmaceutical Co (1 Corporate Woods Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044) from the Biotech and Pharmaceutical Companies Directory. You can find more similar services in our Biotech and Pharmaceutical Companies Directory.
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Shooting at USC
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A 21-year-old man was convicted Monday of four counts of attempted murder for a shooting that wounded four people outside a Halloween party on the USC campus, prompting the defendant to flip over a chair in anger and beg deputies to shoot him.
The nine-woman, three-man panel took less than three hours to reach its verdict against Brandon Spencer.
Prosecutors told jurors that the October 2012 shooting was the result of a longstanding feud between Spencer and a rival gang member.
The defense maintained it was a case of mistaken identity, with Spencer’s father contending his son was prosecuted in a rush to judgment to satisfy the University of Southern California and its donors.
After Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Edmund Clarke Jr. thanked the jurors for their service and they filed out of the courtroom, Spencer reacted in anger and frustration, yelling expletives about a life in prison.
Then he yelled, “Shoot me, I don’t give a (expletive),” as three deputies pushed furniture out of way and tried to restrain him.
“I love you dad,” he hollered, before again asking the armed deputies to kill him. He struggled as court officers held him down, calling him by his first name and urging him to “calm down” as they got him handcuffed. He broke loose once more and three deputies pinned him to the ground as family members cried and called out to Spencer.
Clarke cleared the courtroom shortly afterward.
Outside in the hallway, Spencer’s father leveled charges of racism, telling reporters that his son was not a gang member and that prosecutors were driven by pressure from USC.
“(They) want to keep all these black men off the USC campus,” James Spencer charged. “This is just to satisfy USC.”
The elder Spencer said jurors were not allowed to hear that his son was a licensed security guard, and said his son had enrolled at UCLA to begin studying to be an emergency medical technician.
Deputy District Attorney Antonella Nistorescu told jurors during her closing argument that the defendant was a “documented, well-known” gang member who had been shot in the stomach in August 2011 by an unidentified rival gang member.
She said Spencer was seeking vengeance when he fired at reputed gang member Geno Hall outside the party at USC. Hall, a former Crenshaw High School
football standout, testified that he had just been talking to his girlfriend when he was shot and didn’t know who did it or why.
“Gang members don’t snitch, they don’t talk to the police ... even rivals,” Nistorescu told the jury.
Three other witnesses testified that it was Spencer who shot Hall and three others: Mysson Downs, Thomas Richie and Davonte Smith.
The prosecution used tweets that had been sent on Spencer’s phone as evidence of his gang links, while defense attorney John Blanchard countered that “the younger generation likes to trash talk.”
The prosecutor pointed to the fact that Spencer pulled off his shirt in the wake of the shooting as evidence of his guilt. But Blanchard said his client pulled off his red shirt to avoid sporting gang colors.
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Attack is imminent!
Students invade city, wreak havoc
If you’re reading this on Thursday, Sept. 16, you’ve probably noticed 3,500 new squeaky-clean kids invading SLO Town, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. I suspect this weekend thousands more will return, filling up apartment complexes and neighborhood rentals, parking their cars everywhere, driving their cars too fast and the wrong way down one-way streets. Yes, friends, it’s the annual migration of Poly students, that mixed blessing that fills businesses’ coffers and drives NIMBY residents bonkers. One set of businesses that are pleased are bar and club owners, and they’re ramping up the entertainment in preparation.
Take Downtown Brew, for instance. They’re hitting the ground running on Friday, Sept. 17, with punk legends The Melvins (7 p.m.; all ages; $14 presale or $15 at the door) with Totimoshi opening. The Melvins, whose dirgy, heavy punk borrows from the ’70s metal sounds of Black Sabbath, are touring in support of their recently released album The Bride Screamed Murder.
On Sunday, Sept. 19, college favorite Sherwood returns (7 p.m.; all ages; $13 presale or $14 at the door). This is a group that formed at Cal Poly in 2002 and used Myspace to launch themselves into a West Coast sensation.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IRATION
BACK TO SCHOOL : Hard-touring, genre-busting reggae act Iration hits Downtown Brew on Sept. 20, the first day of Cal Poly classes, offering a great way to shake off the cobwebs.
On Monday, Sept. 20, the first day of classes for Cal Poly, students can take the edge off with reggae sensations Iration (8 p.m.; all ages; $18 presale or $20 at the door). Formed in Hawaii and relocated to Santa Barbara for the last couple of years, this is one of the hardest-touring bands around, delivering music that extends beyond typical reggae boundaries. Calling their sound “New Roots,” Iration brings a modern twist to this classic Jamaican genre.
I’m most excited about the show on Tuesday, Sept. 21, when Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue return (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $17 presale or $20 at the door), with Funk n Public opening. I caught Shorty on his last trip through town, and he delivered a blistering set of authentic New Orleans jazz dripping with soul and injected with contemporary funk sounds.
If you like singer-songwriters, Steve Key has you covered at locations throughout the county with his Songwriters at Play showcases, which feature a principal performer as well as up to eight local songwriters.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL SPRAWL
ROAD WARRIOR : Paul Sprawl brings his percussive guitar sounds to The Porch on Sept. 16 for Steve Key’s Songwriters at Play showcase.
On Thursday, Sept. 16, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Porch in Santa Margarita, Paul Sprawl returns to the county. His percussive guitar work, bottleneck slide, beatbox, and harmonica combine to set a stunning backdrop for tunes about the downtrodden and forgotten. With eight CDs to his credit and 10 years on the road, he has tons of material to draw from.
On Tuesday, Sept. 21, the Steynberg Gallery hosts Appalachian duo Jeni & Billy from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Playing “New Old Music,” Jeni & Billy bring two very distinct musical backgrounds together to draw from the deep well of Appalachian roots music, with stories of miners, preachers, ramblers, lovers, and plain-living folks. This all-ages event costs $5.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FREDDY AND FRANCINE
STRAIGHT OUTTA L.A. : Sept. 22 marks the first night of a new ongoing series at Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach, when Steve Key brings his Songwriters at Play showcase to yet another venue. The new series kicks off with L.A. duo Freddy & Francine (pictured).
Wednesday, Sept. 22, marks the first night of a new ongoing series at Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach, when Steve Key brings his Songwriters at Play showcase to yet another venue. The new series kicks off with L.A. duo Freddy & Francine: the result of a multitude of late-night writing sessions between Bianca Caruso and Lee Ferris. “Drawing from influences like Ray LaMontagne, The Swell Season, and The Rolling Stones, Freddy and Francine are building their story behind beautiful vocal harmonies, a solid writing style, and a captivating live set,” says their press release. The new series happens every Wednesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Key is also host to a showcase every Monday at Rose’s Landing in Morro Bay.
Swampy, funky, soulful, proud—those are a few words that come to mind when listening to Baton Rouge-born multiple Grammy-winner, actor, and blues innovator Chris Thomas King’s newest CD Sketches of ‘Treme, a recording filled with traditional and electric blues, the hip-hop blues fusion that he pioneered, and New Orleans-inspired ballads.
On Saturday, Sept. 18, the SLO Blues Society celebrates its 30th anniversary with Grammy winner Chris Thomas King and opening act Guy Budd and the Soul Gypsies during an 8 p.m. show at the SLO Vets Hall. Start with free dance lessons at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 at the door. You must be 21 or older to attend.
More music …
The Latino Outreach Council of SLO County presents “Fiesta Mexicana” at the Farmers Market on Thursday, Sept. 16, to celebrate 200 years of independence for Mexico. Expect ceremonial dancers and a special presentation by Rogelio Flores from the Mexican Consulate. The event begins at 6 p.m. with Aztec and folkloric dancers, followed by Mariachi Mexicanisimo. The shout for independence, “El Grito de Independencia,” and the ringing of the ceremonial bell will occur at 7 p.m.
The running joke at Sustenance Cooking Studio is, “How do you make a small fortune at Sustenance? Start with a bigger fortune.” That’s because owner-operator Seamus Finn Chandler is always giving stuff away, donating the space to charity, and forgetting to charge people. On Thursday, Sept. 16, that tradition continues when Sustenance donates its space and finger foods during a fundraising concert with Al Ferguson & Friends. It’s BYOB, and 100 percent of your $10 donation at the door goes to Nigel Holland’s Caring Bridge (caringbridge.org), which helps families facing cancer. The music starts at 7 p.m.
This just in from Malik Miko Thorne at Boo Boo Records: “I know this is super late notice, but I just booked an in-store yesterday with Merge recording artist The Radar Brothers, for Friday, Sept. 17, the same day as the WOW downtown takeover. We’re tentatively planning for the in-store to take place at 6 p.m., though we’ve been holding out to confirm a possible Melvins DJ set and/or meet and greet, though it looks less and less likely. Merge is the same label that put out Arcade Fire, and the Radar Brothers’ Singing Hatchet is still a favorite album.” Show up at 6 and see what’s what!
PHOTO BY BARRY GOYETTE
PLAY FOR LIFE : The Damon Castillo Band will ignite the Central Coast Cancer Challenge Stage at Laguna Lake Park on Sept. 18 to raise funds for cancer support services in SLO County.
The Damon Castillo Band will ignite the Central Coast Cancer Challenge Stage on Saturday, Sept. 18, to raise funds for cancer support services in SLO County. The performance is dedicated to the band’s founding bassist, Matt Taylor, who lost his battle with cancer in 2002. The event is a multi-sport event with running and cycling, a wellness expo, and a concert from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Laguna Lake Park. Castillo is the headliner taking the stage at noon. The event is free.
Duane Inglish is so entwined in the local music scene, it’s hard to imagine it without him. He was a founder of Live Oak, owned the Dark Room, has been in any number of bands over the years, and, on Saturday, Sept. 18, will host his eighth annual musical reunion of friends and neighbors during Inglish Fest starting at 3 p.m. (For directions and details, visit inglishfest.com.) “We’ll have a full lineup of great music featuring luminaries from SLO County and beyond,” Duane said. “We’ll continue well into the evening with campfires and jamming afterwards.”
Take that last taste of summer on Saturday, Sept. 18, with a $10 fundraising concert hosted by the Paso Digital Film Festival and Le Vigne Winery at Sylvester Vineyards from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Singer-poet John Andrew Parks and actor-musician Robert Carradine headline the event, which also features local chanteuse Jade Jackson opening the concert. Barbecue and wine will be available for purchase. RSVP at 227-4000. Proceeds benefit the Pullman Restoration Fund.
I personally can’t get enough of The Tipsy Gypsies, whose Gypsy jazz sound and bright ’20-style vocals never fail to engage me, especially since their tunes have such an interesting campy milieu. On Saturday, Sept. 18, they’ll play The Clubhouse from 8 to 11 p.m., with guest artist J. T. Matherly on mandolin. The cover’s $7 at the door. Bring some extra dough for their awesome album Lipstick Holdup; you won’t regret it!
Big Jugs! Now that’s a band name I can get behind. On Saturday, Sept. 18, Big Jugs plays the oldest bar in the county, the Elkhorn, at 9 p.m. Big Jugs’ motto is “Keepin’ country dirty,” and they’ll deliver a rousing set of country, Americana, and rockabilly. This is a band whose influences include bar fights, table dances, whiskey, beer, public intoxication, drunks, drinking, drunking, and bar fights. And don’t forget banjo pickin’!
“Hot Jazz,” an event to showcase the talents of trumpeter Jeff Elliott—who toured with Doc Severinsen’s Big Band and played with Les McCann, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, and Aretha Franklin—happens from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, at St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church in Los Osos. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for those younger than 18, at Boo Boo’s or by calling 782-0400 or 534-1514. Admission includes hors d’oeuvres, wine, and soft drinks. The performance by the Real Time Jazz Band honors the late pianist Edd Richards, a beloved member of St. Benedict’s congregation.
Local vocalist Deanna Delore joins classical guitar guru James Edwards for an outdoor concert on Sunday, Sept. 19, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the SLO Botanical Garden Amphitheatre, to perform both traditional classical pieces and their own vibrant arrangements (all ages; $20 tickets; $2 parking fee; local wines and Shock Top beer for $5). All proceeds benefit the Botanical Garden.
French indie outfit SAIBU blends “folk, pop, and rock heritage from both sides of the Atlantic ocean to create their own sound and atmosphere,” according to frontman Victor Pavy, whose band has opened for American indie icons such as Yo La Tengo, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Jayhawks’ Mark Olson. They’ll play Tuesday, Sept. 21, at The Clubhouse and Wednesday, Sept. 22, at Last Stage West on Hwy. 41.
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Shopaholic Sactress
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Fly AF
I have been on my fitness grind lately! I have signed up for not one but two races!!!! I am also currently in the middle of a 30 day sweat challenge where you work out for 30 minutes everyday for 30 days. I am feeling strong and focused!!!
I test drove a brand new pair of Nike Vapor Max kicks recently. The look alone stands out from the crowd, they are super duper light and I was pleasantly surprised with the extremely supportive sole. I can’t lie they are fly AF and so I think I will be rocking them casually instead of on a run. I can’t risk these puppies getting dirty before the summer.
AIR TO MOVE YOU FORWARDS
With a reinvented cushioning system, the Nike Air VaporMax Flyknit Women’s Running Shoe delivers a lightweight, bouncy ride for a gravity-defying sensation underfoot and Flyknit fabric for a snug, flawless fit.
LIGHTWEIGHT CUSHIONING
Air cushioning provides maximum impact protection from heel to toe. Carved-out sections of the sole help keep the shoe incredibly flexible and lightweight.
Flywire technology—strong, lightweight cables that hug the midfoot—integrate with the laces for secure lockdown and stability.
BEHIND THE DESIGN
The Air VaporMax represents a new era in Nike innovation. “It’s changed our whole philosophy on how we design for Air”, says Cushioning Innovation Designer Zachary Elder. With the VaporMax, the designers wanted to truly capture the feeling of “running on air”. The designers started by restructuring the Air unit so they could attach it directly to the upper. “That was the biggest challenge”, says Tom Minami, Senior Footwear Designer—but it was worth it. “Without any midsole or sockliner, you get to feel the Air in a whole new way”. In previous Air Max models, the goal was to fill the sole with as much Air as possible, but with the VaporMax, the focus is on using the Air efficiently. “As you step down, each lug gets pushed into the Air unit, ramping up the pressure”, Elder explains. “As you step off, the pressure releases, creating that springy bounce”. After the seven-year journey from ideation to release, Elder and Minami are excited for what’s to come. “I’m super-proud of the product”, Elder says. “This new approach is going to be a huge turning point for Air—and for Nike”.
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$1 million bail set for suspect in stabbing death as police provide crime timeline
Suspect in Bellingham stabbing death makes first court appearance
Jesse Reyes, a suspect in the stabbing death of Donald Alderson of Bellingham, makes his first court appearance Monday, Oct. 8, 2018 in Whatcom County Superior Court.
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Jesse Reyes, a suspect in the stabbing death of Donald Alderson of Bellingham, makes his first court appearance Monday, Oct. 8, 2018 in Whatcom County Superior Court.
By
Bail was set at $1 million Monday afternoon for Jesse Rene Reyes, 33, who is suspected of a violent crime spree that included the stabbing death of a 71-year-old man and assaults on two other people Saturday morning in Bellingham’s Puget neighborhood.
Reyes made his first appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court, where Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Eric Richey asked for and received the $1 million bail. Reyes also was instructed by Court Commissioner Pamela Englett not to contact any of the victims or their families.
“Clearly, Mr. Reyes, by what happened here on Saturday, is a danger to the community,” Richey said Monday.
Reyes is facing charges of first-degree murder, second- and fourth-degree assault and, if convicted, could face 20 years to life in prison and fines of up to $80,000, Englett said.
“The witnesses observed that the male who was riding his bike away from the man down was wearing a white, blood-soaked sweatshirt, had blood on his face and was wearing a black beanie,” Richey said.
Police found Reyes walking his bike near the Boys and Girls Club and arrested him near 1800 Texas St., Richey said. A folding knife with a 3-inch blade covered in what appeared to be dried blood was located by a Boys and Girls Club employee on a field where a youth flag football game had been played while police searched for the suspect.
The first assault, Richey said, occurred at the Lakeway Teriyaki restaurant in the Fred Meyer building, before Reyes reportedly fled north past Carl Cozier Elementary School. The female victim in that assault sustained minor injuries, according to a city of Bellingham press release Saturday evening.
Richey said the victim told police, and employees corroborated, that Reyes approached and begin hitting her in the head and face without provocation.
“Employees intervened, and he left,” Richey said.
Richey said the second assault victim received minor cuts and bruises to his face and suffered a brain bleed that caused him to stay at St. Joseph’s hospital overnight for observation. That assault occurred behind Carl Cozier.
Richey said several witness reported seeing the assault, and one took a picture of the suspect leaving the scene.
“The victim said that the male punched him in the face, knocked him to the ground and straddled him while continuing to punch him in the face,” Richey said.
Richey said Reyes, who wore a blue- and white-striped jail jumpsuit Monday with his hands cuffed in front of him while appearing on video from Whatcom County Jail, had “a significant amount of criminal history from Texas,” including convictions for domestic violence assault, burglary and illegal possession of firearms in multiple cases from 2015 to 2016.
Despite Reyes’ convictions in Texas, Lt. Claudia Murphy said in an email Monday to The Herald that Bellingham Police have “only had minimal contact with him here in 2018 and nothing before.”
“At this point, we have no further information as to what may have set him off on his rampage on Saturday,” Murphy said.
Murphy provided the following timeline of Saturday’s events:
▪ 11:05 a.m.: Police received the first call regarding the assault of the woman in the 800 block of Lakeway Drive.
▪ 11:09 a.m.: While responding to the first call, police received a second report of another assault of a man in the area of Lincoln Street and Potter Street. The subject’s description matched the one given in the first assault.
▪ 11:20 a.m.: 911 was called about a man down on a trail near Meador Street, and a suspect matching the description of the previous assaults was seen leaving the area with blood on his clothing and hands. Alderson died from the stab injuries before officers arrived. Officers immediately “saturated the area to try and determine where he was going.”
▪ 11:48 a.m.: A patrol officer saw Reyes in Roosevelt Park, pushing his bike westbound away from him. Reyes matched the suspect’s description “completely,” and the officer radioed to other officers. The officer also realized there was a youth sporting event happening in the park and asked that the Boys and Girls Club be called to go into lockdown. Adults in charge of the sporting event noted the law enforcement presence and asked parents and kids to go to the south side of the building, away from police activity on the north side.
▪ 11:51 a.m.: Officers called that Reyes had been detained.
Some social media comments questioned whether parents at the flag football game in the park did not receive enough warning about the dangerous situation.
Murphy said police were aware of the game and attempted to notify organizers.
“This was a dynamic, rapidly unfolding, unpredictable situation on Saturday morning,” Murphy said. “Even as officers were looking for the suspect, steps were being taken to notify the public if the suspect had not been caught. As he was caught so quickly that notification was not needed.”
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Saturday, January 7, 2012
Art presents itself as a way of life, not unlike religion, science, and socialism. It differs from these other modes of understanding only in that it is not a product of its time and appears, as it were, as the worldview of the ultimate goal.
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After seeing the OEM pricing, I figured I'd take a chance on the Parts Geek replacement mirror. The fit and finish are identical to OEM at a fraction of the cost. I would highly recommend parts geek if you are looking for a replacement mirror on a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
October 2nd, 2013 | Posted by Looks/fits like OEM
Action Crash | CH1321244
broke second near backing up like an idiot. Went to Jeep dealer they wanted $200 for this item. Bought it from this website and 3 days later it was here for a fraction of the cost it looks better then factory original.
October 29th, 2013 | Posted by as god as new
Dorman | 955-1478
Excellent product!!! As advertised. Timely shipping
December 19th, 2016 | Posted by Excellent product
Action Crash | CH1321246
Fit perfectly. overall quality good. Only problem is that the mirror image is distorted as if the mirror was mounted in a bend. Probably a simple manufacturing error.
March 7th, 2017 | Posted by Worth the price
Action Crash | CH1320244
Received the side view mirror in just a few days. It arrived in good condition and Fit perfectly. If you need an exact replacement part, I would recommend parts geek.
February 2nd, 2017 | Posted by Good product
Action Crash | CH1321246
I was so happy with it I was. Thrilled to find it at that price I.am on a tight budget and was afraid that I wouldn't.t find one at a price I.could afford.Thank you.
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Savvy Planner
Water, Water (From) Everywhere
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by Lisa A. Grimaldi |
June 11, 2018
Transform a humble H2O station into a gourmet tasting experience by offering spring waters from different parts of the globe. A "beautiful water café" was set up on the show floor of the recent IMEX Frankfurt show in Germany, featuring waters from destinations as diverse as Hawaii, Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Italy.
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Ohio Police Post Heartbreaking Photo to Drive Home a Point
The City of East Liverpool, Ohio was in the spotlight this week after its police department made the controversial decision to post a photo of an overdosed couple in the front seat of a van with a four-year old child in the backseat.
The photo garnered international attention because pictures of minors are normally blurred out in such instances to protect their identities, but the police department chose to make an exception in this case to drive home a point on the perils of drug abuse.
“We are well aware that some may be offended by these images and for that we are truly sorry, but it is time that the non drug using public sees what we are now dealing with on a daily basis” the city’s Facebook post read.
The heartbreaking photos, which were posted with a ‘graphic content’ warning, were taken during a traffic stop earlier in the week and show two incapacitated adults in the front seat with the young child sitting behind them.
“We feel it necessary to show the other side of this horrible drug. We feel we need to be a voice for the children caught up in this horrible mess,” the post continued. “This child can’t speak for himself but we are hopeful his story can convince another user to think twice about injecting this poison while having a child in their custody.”
According to reports, the male driver pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle and endangering a child. The woman in the photo – the child’s mother – reportedly pleaded not guilty to endangering a child, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. She is expected to appear in a pre-trial hearing on September 15.
What do you think of the police department’s decision to release the un-doctored photos on social media? Were they warranted in their decision?
When I saw Bringing Baby Home I thought it was really useful, really concrete information. It dealt with so many scenarios that could come up. I thought the manner in which it was done was very thoughtful. This is the same feedback I got from the mums who watched it; they felt it dealt with questions they had already asked themselves. These are young women who would definitely not be able to afford to buy themselves something like this.
When I saw Bringing Baby Home I thought it was really useful, really concrete information. It dealt with so many scenarios that could come up. I thought the manner in which it was done was very thoughtful. This is the same feedback I got from the mums who watched it; they felt it dealt with questions they had already asked themselves. These are young women who would definitely not be able to afford to buy themselves something like this.
http://whereparentstalk.com/testimonials/8420/
Kudos to you and your partner for launching this great idea! Especially for someone like myself , who is like many of the other moms and on the go, I love the visual offerings. I also like the idea of having the form of a chat room to discuss things which I might be passionale about. You know us women, we love chatting!
C. Gasser, Mom of 3 Toronto, ON
WhereParentsTalk.com
2015-04-14T03:28:46+00:00
C. Gasser, Mom of 3 Toronto, ON
Kudos to you and your partner for launching this great idea! Especially for someone like myself , who is like many of the other moms and on the go, I love the visual offerings. I also like the idea of having the form of a chat room to discuss things which I might be passionale about. You know us women, we love chatting!
http://whereparentstalk.com/testimonials/8406/
This video was ordered for our Huntington Hospital Community Health Library. I screened it, and I have to say that it was very informative! I am a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 3 and this video was still able to teach me quite a few tips on baby care! I loved it and I know that our community will love it also. I only wish that this resource was available when I was a new mom!!!
This video was ordered for our Huntington Hospital Community Health Library. I screened it, and I have to say that it was very informative! I am a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 3 and this video was still able to teach me quite a few tips on baby care! I loved it and I know that our community will love it also. I only wish that this resource was available when I was a new mom!!!
http://whereparentstalk.com/testimonials/8419/
Bringing Baby Home is an exceptional video for both birth educators and expectant parents. Likewise, the new parent will find this an invaluable tool to guide them through the postpartum period. Rarely can you find a postpartum education video of this quality at such an affordable price.
Bringing Baby Home is an exceptional video for both birth educators and expectant parents. Likewise, the new parent will find this an invaluable tool to guide them through the postpartum period. Rarely can you find a postpartum education video of this quality at such an affordable price.
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For a hamlet branded the fountainhead of the Gujarat carnage, the colony behind the Godhra railway station is remarkably quiet in what usually should be the cacophonous hour of any election campaign.
Signal Falia — from where the mob that reportedly burnt the train coach on February 27 originated — betrays few signs that it has contributed another entry in the country’s political lexicon and a poll plank —Godhra.
The only pointer to an election just a week away is a banner put up by the local Congress candidate, Rajendrasinh Patel. That is all.
Signal Falia has become the ghost town of election-bound Gujarat and fallen off the campaign maps of all parties.
As the BJP candidate, former Bajrang Dal national vice-president Haresh Bhatt, does not expect any Muslim to vote for him, campaigning is considered futile in minority-dominated localities like Signal Falia, Polan Bazar, Vijapur Road and Nichvas.
The Congress candidate, too, is not canvassing in the area. He was told not to campaign in Muslim areas as that could polarise the votes further.
Some local Muslim leaders like Maulvi Omar and Yusuf Charkha have reached an agreement with the Congress that they would support the party.
But the Muslims are also sceptical about Patel who, they claim, joined the mob that looted and burnt hotels on highways during the riots.
The Muslim leaders, however, say that the Congress candidate has apologised. Moreover, they point out, party chief Sonia Gandhi has promised them in writing that if her party is voted to power, it will take action against the rioters, provide shelter to the homeless and release innocent people whom the BJP government has put behind bars.
In Godhra, headquarters of Panchmahal district, Muslim voters number about 42,000 — over 21 per cent of the electorate in the constituency.
Signal Falia’s residents are sore that they still have to carry the stigma that they attacked kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya and sparked the worst communal riots in recent memory.
They are constantly reminded of the blot, not by non-existent posters but by stickers and T-shirts — purportedly sponsored by the BJP’s supporters. Emblazoned on the alternative campaign material is a searing slogan: “We will not let this place become another Godhra.”
“The BJP is insulting us,” says Nasir Pathan, a shopkeeper in Nichvas. Despite the apparent indifference, the Muslims of this town will vote to the last man.
“You take it from me, 100 per cent Muslim voters will vote this time. It will be a record. We have created a team of volunteers who would ensure that no Muslim stays at home on December 12,” says Maulvi Hussain Omar.
Going by the BJP’s eagerness to exploit the train carnage, Godhra should be a cakewalk for its candidate who is being projected as a “national leader”.
But the ground realities, caste equations and the prevailing resentment among local party workers are something the Sangh parivar should be worried about.
As it is, the BJP has never been a strong force in Panchmahal district. Of the seven Assembly seats here, the BJP had won just two in the last elections. Bhatt is fighting several adversaries. He is an “outsider” who does not have any local support base in rural areas where the decisive battle will be fought.
Besides, Bhatt’s utterances that he would bulldoze Polan Bazar and turn it into a cricket ground have only helped Muslims sink their differences.
Bhatt has to explain at every meeting that he is not a “foreigner” like Sonia but a national leader. Like any national leader, “I can contest from any constituency,” he has been telling the people of Godhra.
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Texas wildfires continue to rage through state
AUSTIN, Texas - David and Kris Griffin returned home from out-of-town weekend trips on Monday to find that their house was one of at least 20 in their Austin neighborhood destroyed or nearly destroyed by a weekend wildfire.
Nearly all of their possessions went up in flames, and George, their cat of 11 years, was missing. Making their loss even tougher to grasp, the homes on both sides of theirs survived relatively unscathed.
"All the other houses got saved except ours ... we're just kind of speechless right now," said Kris Griffin. She said finding the cat was their priority, because their possessions were replaceable.
Authorities charged a 60-year-old homeless man with arson on Monday, saying he defied a nearly statewide burn ban and left a campfire untended Saturday when he went to a store to buy beer. Fire officials say wind-blown embers ignited the blaze, which spread quickly through a suburban-like area of southwest Austin and forced the evacuation of about 200 homes.
The blaze destroyed 10 homes in the affected area and significantly damaged 10 others, and those numbers were likely to rise as fire officials continued searching the affected area, said Austin Fire Department spokesman Palmer Buck.
One of the driest spells in Texas history has left most of the state in extreme drought, and wildfires in various parts of the state have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land in the past week an area that together would equal the size of Rhode Island.
Flames continued to drive residents from their homes along the shore of a North Texas lake, with at least 18 homes and two churches burned Monday near Possum Kingdom Reservoir on the Brazos River, 70 miles west of Fort Worth, said Trooper Gary Rozzell of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Rozzell said at least three large wildfires approached consolidation into one massive one called the Possum Kingdom Complex. The heat from the flames grew so intense Monday that it sent cinders high into the atmosphere, where they became icy and fell in a process called "ice-capping," he said.
"They tell me it's like a roof falling in," he said.
Palo Pinto County Judge David Nicklas, the county's chief executive, said flames from that fire touched off a storage building filled with fireworks. No injuries were reported.
Gov. Rick Perry asked President Barack Obama on Sunday for federal disaster funding, and forestry officials said Monday that the threat of new wildfires remained extremely high in the western part of the state.
"We really need the federal government to step up at a substantially greater role that they have been playing," Perry said Monday.
He also urged Texas residents to use extreme caution with any outdoor fires and to remove dried vegetation that can fuel wildfires.
"There are some really serious conditions out there," Perry said.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford said Monday that two people who apparently wanted to see one of the West Texas fires from the air were killed when their single-engine biplane crashed the day before.
Lunsford said witnesses told investigators the two-seater took off from Mathis Field/San Angelo Municipal Airport on Sunday and that the two people on board, whose identities were not immediately released, indicated they wanted to go on a sightseeing trip over the wildfire. The wreckage was found Monday east of San Angelo.
In East Texas, closer to the border with Louisiana, new blazes broke out in an area known for its thick forests, sometimes called the Piney Woods. About 3,000 acres have burned in the area, Texas Forest Service spokesman Marq Webb said.
Webb said he was particularly concerned that the tops of some trees have been set alight by wind-carried embers, a phenomenon known as crowning.
"Fire builds up and gets into the tops of trees, it just races through the top," Webb said. "You don't normally see that kind of fire activity in East Texas. The fire factor is just running off the charts."
Crowning likely contributed to the erratic damage in the Austin fire.
At the home next door to the Griffin's, only a door frame had been damaged. On the other side, only a wooden fence and part of the backyard had been burned. But a short walk up the hill, firefighters were working to bulldoze a collapsed home continued to smolder late Monday morning.
Steven Schrage, who rents one of the houses next door to the Griffins, said he watched through binoculars Sunday as the wildfire raced up a ridge toward his backyard. He fled with his computer and family photos and spent the night at a hotel, certain he had lost everything. But he returned Monday to find his home had been spared.
"I'm a little bit freaked," said Schrage, 57. "I don't know if I want to live here anymore."
David Griffin, 50, said it was the spectacular views from their ridge-top home that lured them to the Austin outskirts two years ago. Their backyard overlooked a lush, brush-covered panorama dotted with old oak trees and wildflowers. The fire left it a smoldering wasteland.
"We had this gorgeous view of all these trees and now it's nothing," Kris Griffin said. "I wish I had some profound thing to say but I'm just blown away."
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How to draw a Rabbit – step by step lesson
Here we are going to learn how to draw a rabbit, but the fact is that there is another animal that is very similar to it – is the hare. So we need to take this into account and try these similar animals not to be confused.
Here are therabbits:
Well, let`s leave hares alone and immediately start to draw a rabbit.
Lesson of drawingof a sitting rabbit
Pencil sketchis quite simple, but we must notice the internal structure of our rabbit :
Start drawing with the torso – aside from legs, it is almost oval:
Rear jumping legs, although pre-loaded under the belly, are rather large:
Front legs are much shorter:
Draw a head with ears on the alert:
Addsymmetricalearand the second hind leg. A little shadow will add volume:
How to draw a Bunny – lesson 2
This bunny is sitting too, so the second lesson will be as a gallery.Click images to enlarge.
And here is our Bunny drawing:
So, it was a lesson of step by step drawing of a sitting rabbit. And what about movements?
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These ear buds looks amazing! With a dome resin finish, full colour print to the lid of the case and a 1 colour print to the back of each ear bud the product is super bespoke and super smart. Well done Outbrain for going that little bit further!
Bake yourself and your customers a treat with our bespoke Cookie Cutters. This completely customisable item is perfect for an unusual promotion where a standard item just won't do! Made to order in the UK from food safe plastic, and available in a choice of colours. Standard prices are correct for a custom shape within 100 x 100mm size with either a completely open back or with a solid back embossed with your logo or design. Perfect for adults and children alike!
Never get caught out with a flat battery again! Our portable cylinder shaped power bank has a 2600maH capacity & comes with a range of attachments making it compatible with iPhone 5, iPhone 4, Micro USB and Mini USB. Supplied in an individual plastic box this handy charger can be used time and time again by charging via a USB port. This personalised power bank can be printed or engraved.
Beautiful Matra business jotter from the Castelli Ivory collection with a fluent matt finish cover with colour coordinated closure band. Simple and chic with plain, ruled or graph paper on beautiful ivory coloured pages. Supplied with pencil for small additional cost. Large Size also available POA.
Sit down and take a break with our custom printed Inflatable Chair. Available in Red, Blue or Orange, we brand your design to the top of the arm rest or the front of the seat in 1 spot colour, maximum. This item is great for use at events, or just when you want to relax!
Definitely one of our favourite designs of 2013! The interlocking petals of the whirly mill have been designed with a real care for detail. Not only this but the product suits our customers message perfectly.
Our brand has evolved.
We are always looking to progress our company and to coincide with our new website, we have evolved our logo too. We will miss the previous design as we have worked under it for many years, however we are extremely proud of the latest incarnation. Our new logo, a simplified, strong evolution, maintains our identity whilst improving our visual presence.
Catch the attention of your clients with our promotional juggling balls. Ideal for amateur jugglers and promotional use, these balls are supplied in sets of 3 in clear and silver pouches, printed with your design to 1 panel of each ball as standard. Made from PVC and filled with linseed. This item is also available with a full colour print - POA.
The year of 2014 has been glorious for the MoJo team which arguably could be counted as the strongest and most successful year for the company to date. Things have moved from strength to strength for us and we owe it all to our loyal customers (both old and new), friends and family. We wanted to take a quick look back at the year and pick out some of...
Reinforce your brand with our exciting range of pantone matched colour coat glassware. Choose from a selection of popular glass styles in a range of sizes pantone matched with your choice of colours from just 288 pieces. Your design can be etched into the glass for a subtle frosted effect or printed in spot colours.
Water has never tasted more refreshing! Our custom printed 500ml Aluminium Sports Bottle is made to a great standard, that bellies the price it costs. With a screw cap closure and carabiner attachment included as standard, this has got to be one of the best value products. Available in a range of colours. BPA Free.
One of our favourite products of the year so far! The die stamped medal was finished in antique gilt and attached to a soft feel, dye sublimated full colour lanyard. The end result is a premium, bespoke momento for the marathon runners to take home.
Keep your desk neat and tidy with our Eco Friendly Desk Set. Supplied housed in a stylish recycled paper box, this useful desk top product contains sticky notes, flags, a ruler and a pen with black ink. Printed with your design within the generous print area on the lid.
If your morning 'cuppa' is cuddle in a mug, then there is no better product than our Hug Mug. This unusually shaped, curvy bone china mug is our most favourite mug! Combing a sleek design with the lovely weight and feel of a real bone china mug, our Hug Mug makes for a perfect gift, giving a lasting impression. Printed with your design to the front and back, as standard, why not also print to the inner rim or the handle for that extra touch POA.
The perfect gift for any DIY expert, our custom engraved Mini Maglite AA Torch is a great high end product, sure to be loved by anyone in the construction business. Supplied individually boxed in a black presentation case with 2 AA batteries. This item is manufactured in the USA from high strength aluminium. Water, corrosion and shock resistant this production also features a focussing spot to flood beam, a spare bulb in the tail cap and a lifetime guarantee. LED light version also available POA.
Kids will love our custom branded Teddy bear shaped money box. Available in 3 translucent colours, this item is a great alternative to a standard piggy bank.
The branded merchandise specialists...
MoJo Promotions are specialists in branded promotional merchandise. We are here to find the right product to promote your organisation with. All of our personalised promotional products are designed to be custom printed with your design. We are based in Leicester in the heart of the UK, however we deliver nationwide as well as internationally. We are skilled in our profession, continually evolving our product range and branding techniques. Through our passion for promotional products we are pleased to work with some of the biggest brands in the world.
Have a drink on the go! 3.5oz stainless steel pocket hip flask with large personalisation area, perfect for Universities, Bars and Clubs. Your design is engraved for a hard wearing and high quanlity finish. Supplied in individual card boxes.
Simple yet absolutely effect. We were approached by Domino Records to produce a run of custom printed ear plugs. The end result is this stylish little tin: made from high quality aluminium, in England, branded to the top with a dome resin finish. Inside are two ear plugs. A great combination of product and branding!
Keep your Oyster/Loyalty Cards handy and safe with our promotional PVC Oyster Card Wallet. Made to order here in the UK from welded PVC, this product is printed when flat allowing us to brand your design to the outer sides, both front and back, 100% coverage as standard. Available in a wide range of colours for screen printing spot colours, we are also able to print in full colour onto white PVC. Available in matt or gloss, with high gloss also available POA.
This custom branded pocket diary is an original Castelli design featuring a luxurious soft touch Tuscon cover, with a novel clasp closure and stitched detail. This diary has a refillable insert available year after year. With a week to view portrait on White pages, this handy Diary is sure to suit any pocket, briefcase or handbag.
Whether you have an event coming up or you need bags for your store, our custom printed carrier bag offers an ideal solution. Made from 180/360 vari-gauge polythene with punched handles, the bag is naturally reinforced so no additional taping is required behind the handles. Standard prices for printing to 1 side on a white bag. Prices for branding to both sides and coloured polythene POA. Orders for carrier bags are subject to a 10% overrun on quantity.
Keep your message on your customer's desk with our custom printed Blockpad. Supplied with approximately 500 sheets of 80gsm paper, your design is printed to all 4 sides. Prices as standard for printing the same design to each side. Print a different design, or to the face of each sheet, for an additional cost.
Our client required a high quality, durable coaster to match their strong brand. The end result was a fabulous Melamine coaster with a matt finish, cork back and full colour process print to the top face.
What makes us different to our competitors?
It’s a good question and one that informs a lot of what we do. Firstly we are creative, we are not afraid to break the mould. If we feel that a certain product stands out for your campaign or a branding option works best we will let you know.
We are also thorough, our quotes are detailed, our ordering system is bespoke, we make things as smooth as possible. Lastly and most importantly we pride ourselves in offering a genuinely friendly service, we want to work with you for years to come, not just once! Catch up with our team here.
Ideal for schools, our personalised flexi-ruler is perfect to pop into your pencil case. Made from made from recycled UK waste CD cases for an eco friendly touch. Ruler has metric and imperial graduations and is manufactured in the UK. Also available in a 30cm length.
Case Study
The FA
Case Study
The Brief.
The brief was to put together an incentives pack that could be distributed to schools enrolled in the football programme. The items would be supplied to the schools upon sign up and designed to be given as a reward for students' continued participation in the programme and needed to appeal to girls in particular to increase their interest in football. A range of items was required so that they could be given out at different points during the programme (such as week 1, week 4, week 6 etc.), with an additional gift for the students selected in each school to oversee the project.
The Solution
After working together to explore multiple ideas, it was decided that low cost items would work best and allow a greater volume to be purchased to work within the set budget. As boys were also targeted in the programme (but not the sole focus), items selected had to be unisex, however available in pink and blue to work with the theme of the branding. We therefore opted for blind embossed, Pantone matched, silicone wristbands, along with membership lapel badges with a dome resin finish (to be worn on uniform around school promoting the programme) and Baseline Bottles due to their practical nature. We then produced another batch of lapel badges, with a different design, for Platinum members of the project and drawstring bags for the students who would be managing the football sessions. All of the incentive items were then supplied packaged for the schools in a branded kitbag so that they would be able to store their items in one place. All of the products were very well received by students at the programme launch event.
Completely bespoke rock sticks that look amazing! Fantastic pantone matched twists of colour to the outer, along with a full colour insert label, topped off with bespoke lettering to the inside of the rock itself. The end result is a truly unique gift which not only looks impressive but also provides the good will factor of receiving a tasty treat.
Treat your delegates to our personalised zipped over-sized A5 folder. Made from a lightly grained, high-grade PU for a leather look finish, this folder comes complete with a 20 page recycled paper notepad & internal pockets to hold a USB and business cards. A great additional to any conference pack.
Wear your brand with pride with our printed lanyards! Our flat single layer polyester lanyard is available in a range of widths and is printed with a repeating logo along the entire length. Fitted with standard swivel snap hook or trigger clip fitting. Prices based on printing on 1 side. Available in a wide range of colours - Fabric can also be Pantone Matched POA. Safety clasp fitting - add 8p each. Standard prices for 20mm width.
Our stress animals love to be squeezed and are a great way to get your message across in a fun way. Our custom printed Cow Stress Item is a perfect desktop promoter and ideal for farmyard comparison. Supplied in individual polythene bags and available with up to a full colour print.
Fill it with books, wine, wet towels, or any other random object, our personalised cotton bag will promote your brand whatever the use!
Made from 5oz natural cotton, with long handles as standard for over shoulder carrying - take things further with less pain! A large print area also offers the perfect opportunity for additional branding alongside your logo.
Prices as standard for the Natural cotton bag printed to 1 side. Coloured versions, 2 sided print and short handle option also available - POA.
Personalised A5 Pad, which is custom printed with your design to the face of each sheet as standard. Supplied with 50 sheets of white 80gsm paper, glued at the head to a backing card. A popular choice that is great for offices, schools or any workplace!
Make your branding stick out with our personalised A7 Sticky Smart Notes! Contains 50 sheets of white 80gsm sticky note paper, gummed along the long edge. The larger size makes this a really useful desktop item with a great branding area to ensure your message is always on display.
Take a sip of your brew from our Cambridge Earthenware Mug. This classic, hard wearing, durable mug is ideal for every day use. Standard prices are based on white mugs, however a great range of 15 other colours are available. 330ml capacity.
Unusual Custom Printed Products...
If you are looking for something a little bit different to promote your company, then look no further. Amongst the 1000’s of personalised products we supply you will find all sorts of unusual items, including: customised playing cards, branded protein shakers, scale rulers, boomerangs, personalised beach balls, water bottles and even piggy banks. Of course we love our staple promotional products as they simply work! However sometimes an unusual item will help your campaign to stand out. Our range is constantly evolving so please contact us if you cannot find the item you require.
Rotating metal sleeve over a soft touch rubber coated body to protect USB plug, no separate lid. Can be screen printed or engraved. Also available with a dome resin finish recessed into the metal sleeve.
Silky smooth natural lip balm in a customised pot. The small size makes this item perfect for pockets and handbags. Your design is printed in full colour to the top of the tin, with a hardwearing dome resin finish as standard.
Our personalised Brite-Mat Coaster is one of our favourite, best-selling coasters for many reasons. Made to order in the UK, with a hardwearing surface, giving stunning colour reproduction. Available in either a 95mm square or round. Manufactured from 95% recycled CD cases. This light-weight coaster, with trademark non-skid backing, is ideal for mailing.
Never forget your trolley pound again with our custom printed recycled, durable plastic trolley coin keyring, made in the UK. Also available in Euro size. Printed in full colour to both sides as standard. (Not suitable for locker use - due to the weight).
Cuddle up with our branded Suki James Bear. This top quality, Chocolate brown plush bear is part of the Official Suki range and custom printed with your design in full colour as standard, giving unlimited print colours. A wide range of other branding options are availablr including different coloured t-shirts, polo shirts and jumpers.
A premium teddy bear with a high quality finish and high retail value.
The classic 80's puzzle cube makes the perfect promotional gift. Consists of 54 squares on 6 sides, which can each be printed with a full colour design. An official Rubiks product. Individually shrink wrapped.
Personalised Sticky Notes...We supply a wide range of personalised sticky notes and branded post it note pads. All of our custom printed sticky notes are made to order and come in a range of sizes, from our most popular A7 size to the small 75 x 75mm square. We are also able to create bespoke shapes!
Manufactured in UK using 1500 micron pulp board from Sustainable Forests and fragrances containing Natural Oils, Air Fresheners are fitted with choice of plastic hanger or elastic cord. Bespoke shape and printed full colour to both sides as standard. Individually bagged. Header cards available POA..
Our personalised embossed silicone wristbands offer a great way to promote your brand to all ages, perfect for events and spreading your message. Silicone is Pantone matched as standard to your colour. Price includes an embossed logo around the entire band. Can also be embossed with colour infill (POA).
Fill these pouches with any sweets that you fancy! Huge range of sweet types available including jelly beans, retro mix, mint imperials, strawberries & cream, candy canes and sherbet lemons. Approximately 50g per bag. Your design is printed in full colour to front label of the pouch. Standard prices for Jelly Beans.
Stay organised with our custom printed A4 Ringbinder, with 25mm capacity, 2D ring mechanism. Made from 350mic smoothcalf PVC for a high quality finish, over 2250mic grey board for sturdiness. Screen printed to all of the outer sides - 100% coverage this offers great brand exposure for any conference or event. Also ideal for school or property portfolios, full colour branding can also be achieved.
This USB flash drive feels as good as it looks, with a smooth and stylish rubber coated finish. The pod shape is great to hold and any owner is sure to fall in love with its tactile nature. With four available print areas and the option of Pantone Matching the product colour (50+ units POA) this item offers great branding potential.
Never lose your page again with our large tassel bookmark in recycled leather. Handmade in the UK and available in a wide range of coloured, recycled leather. Can be Gold / Silver foil blocked or embossed. Also available in a natural, uncoloured finish. Full colour print also available POA.
We love this design, a simple use of the available branding area, ensures maximum brand exposure. A brave black and white design produces a stunning promotional message.
"Personalised Pens you say... well we cannot recommend them highly enough as a promotional product. Always useful and available in a huge range of styles allowing you to tailor them to your brand and company budget. Mojo Promotions have one of the most comprehensive personalised plastic pen ranges in the UK.
All of our pens can be custom printed with your logo and company details. Choose from a huge range of styles, colours and print options. If you would like to see a free sample any of our plastic pens prior ordering, please add them to you samples basket."
Case Study
Traffix
Case Study
The Brief.
We were approached by a large traffic management company to produce a range of promotional items that reflect their corporate identity of offering a quality and efficient service, with long-lasting results for a number of events and self-promo. Although budget was key, it was important to put across the quality service that they provide.
The Solution.
For their events we worked with the client to produce a bespoke A4 wirobound notebook to showcase images of their fleet, whilst portraying their quality image with translucent polypropylene covers and high quality, 100gsm, branded sheets throughout the pad.
To accompany the above we matched in our Senator SuperHit ballpen with the Traffix UK Limited logo printed to the white barrel with matching blue clip. To add an executive finish we printed using using a metallic gold ink.
To complete the desktop set, we selected our BriteMat Mousemat a product that we highly recommend, for it's hard-wearing nature and recycled-elements. Although this product offers large branding potential, we made a statement by printing a simple design onto a white background.
Finally, as the traffic management industry is based around vehicles, producing a bespoke Air Freshener provided the ideal opportunity to showcase one of Traffix's vehicles and also promote their contact details with a degree of longevity.
By utilising the Traffix brand message we were able to work together to produce a successful range of promotional items that showcase the Traffix brand, which were all very well received.
Keep your documents safe in our Polypropylene Conference Box. With a capacity of 25mm and manufactured from 800 micron white or frosted clear polypropylene. Supplied with tuck closure and flat packed. Colour polypropylene material available POA. Also available with either 15mm, 20mm or 40mm capacity for no additional cost!
Catch the attention of your target audience with our brilliant promotional Frisbee. This moulded plastic flyer is available in most standard and glow in the dark colours. We are able to print your design within the centre around and outer rim as standard, allowing you to maximise your branding.
Perfect for surveys and taking notes our custom printed A4 sized clipboards are great for anyone looking to promote their brand. With wall hanging attachment, prices as standard for printing to 1 side.
Keep on top of your paperwork by keeping it in our personalised Polypropylene folder. Made from 500 micron white or frosted clear polypropylene with popper stud closure. For a more cost effective alternative, please see our Polypropylene Wallet (MP13191), with a self tuck closure. Standard prices for 50% ink coverage.
Silky smooth natural lip balm in a customised pot. The small size makes this item perfect for pockets and handbags. Your design is printed in full colour to the top of the tin, with a hardwearing dome resin finish as standard.
Protect yourself with our custom Printed Plasters! A novelty product, these CE approved plasters are a fabulous way of getting your branding noticed! Custom printed in full colour to the outer side as standard.
Never be late for your important meetings with our custom printed Slim LCD Alarm Clock. This brilliant travel and desk clock fold down to make it brilliant for mailing. Custom printed with your design to the large print area on the lid. Includes Alarm, Date and Temperature Functions. Supplied individually boxed as standard with button cell batteries included.
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Womens Shoes
St Louis WebGems
St Louis WebGems is an eBay representative for manufacturers and distributors. This unique relationship results in great deals passed on to buyers. Compare our prices to retail prices and similar products on the internet. St Louis WebGems prides itself on service. Team discounts available.
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No coupon code required.
Ennia Lingerie Coupons
Ennia is a specialty retailer for fashionable lingerie for women around the world. Their product selection offers women the ability to purchase comfortable loungewear and sensual lingerie. A few of the products that are available through their website include: Bridal Lingerie, Hoisery, Shapewear, Thongs, Briefs, and Nightwear. Women can browse through the “New Lingerie” section to see items that have been recently added to the collection. There are also clearance items that you can purchase for significantly lower prices. Some of the brands that you can buy through Ennia are: Bassaya, Beauty Night, Ballerina Hoisery, Axami, Irall, Corin, and Controlbody.
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Analysis: Outside groups may factor in Arkansas court race
Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson lost her bid to run the state's highest court two years ago after coming under fire from conservative groups that spent big on mailers and TV ads targeting her. Two years earlier, David Sterling was defeated in the race for the Republican attorney general nomination despite outside groups going after his rival in that race.
Now, the two are about to face off in what could wind up being another costly and heated fight for a state high court seat that could overshadow other races on the ballot this year. It could also turn into a proxy fight over the state's resumption of executions and the court's role in scaling back what had been an unprecedented plan to put eight men to death over an 11-day period.
Goodson quietly launched her campaign last week, with an adviser confirming that she planned to seek another term on the state's high court in the May judicial election. The same day, Sterling said he planned to challenge the incumbent jurist.
Neither candidate has laid out campaign arguments, but the past two election cycles offer some guide of what to expect. Goodson launched her bid for the chief justice seat ago vowing to represent "conservative values" on the court.
"The Supreme Court is supposed to represent your common sense, conservative values, to uphold the rule of law and to look out for your rights," Goodson said in a campaign video she posted in the fall of 2015.
A year earlier, Sterling was touting his conservative credentials in his campaign for attorney general and promised to use the office to protect Arkansans from "an overreaching federal government." Sterling lost in the runoff for the Republican nomination against Leslie Rutledge, who is now seeking re-election as the state's top attorney.
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You are here
Health Benefits Of Bee Pollen
Health benefits of bee pollenare known for centuries. The most common bee pollen health benefits are easy weight loss and energy enhancer. Bee pollen comes with 96 essential nutrients and contains 40% of protein that is readily usable by our body. Bee pollen has been extensively used in Chinese medicine and there are references that Egyptians used it as a natural rejuvenator. This “super food” or “perfect food” gives you benefits that are incredible. Let’s explore some of the health benefits of bee pollen.
Bee pollen nutritional value: It is an excellent source of B complex vitamins and rich source of Vitamins A, C, D, and E, it carries 55 percent of carbohydrate, 40 percent of protein 3 percent minerals and 2 percent fatty acids. In addition, it comes with amino acids and flavonoids.
Cholesterol: Intake of bee pollen is helpful to decrease the LDL (low density lipoproteins) which is bad cholesterol and increases the good cholesterol HDL (High density lipoproteins). It controls the triglyceride and cholesterol levels in blood and increases blood serum.
Cancer: Anti cancer function is one of the main health benefits ofbeepollen. When bee pollen supplements were given to women with cancer, it showed that the cancer fighting cells were increased and it strengthened the immune system to fight against cancer.
Anti aging: One such health benefits of bee pollen is anti aging, it is evident that bee pollen has the ability to slow down the aging process. Many studies by researchers and scientist have confirmed the same.
Weight loss: Obesity is the major problem worldwide, whatever may be the reason, people find it very difficult to shed down the excess weight. Bee pollen stimulates the body metabolism and burns more calories, thus resulting in weight reduction. Food cravings are also controlled, the amino acid phenylalanine takes care of the cravings and serves as a natural appetite suppressant.
Other health benefits of bee pollen include sexual function improvement, allergy and asthma cure and increases stamina. Regular consumption of bee pollen will help to treat various health conditions.
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This December, comics icon Peter Milligan (Hellblazer, X-Statix) and visionary artist Roberto De La Torre (Daredevil, Age of Apocalypse) are honing Shadowman to a razor-sharp point aimed straight at the jugular of the Valiant Universe!
As revealed today in USA Today, Milligan and De La Torre will begin their run as Valiant’s newest ongoing creative team in Shadowman #13 – the FIRST ISSUE of all-new story arc exposing the malignant roots of Shadowman’s superhuman abilities…roots that began in Jack Boniface’s own tortured past…and now extend through the bloodied back-alleys of 21st century New Orleans.
When a troubled young man with a history of violence and a penchant for blackouts meets an overwhelming source of power with a mystical scythe, the results are doomed to be destructive. A voodoo loa has possessed Jack Boniface – or so he believes. But after Jack awakens in an alleyway covered in blood, he embarks on a journey across lands of shadows and death to discover if he can expel the dark force that’s seized control of his life…and which may be responsible for a violent rampage through the city he swore to protect.
“My first arc will be an attempt to dig up some dirt, dislodge a few skeletons, and find out what the Hell is really going on with Jack. I’m not throwing everything out with the bath water, I’m just making the bath water a bit more grimy and, hopefully, unpleasant,” Milligan told USA Today. “Something is wrong with Jack and to find out what it is he’ll need to face some terrible truths about himself and make some big changes in his life.”
Featuring a standard cover by De La Torre, alongside Pullbox and incentive variants by Miguel Sepulveda (Red Lanterns), Ben Templesmith (Ten Grand), and Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One), Shadowman #13 is also the first title in the MUST READ VALIANT initiative – a new series of self-contained stories and easy jumping-on points across the Valiant publishing line from some of the brightest talents in comics today.
“As a publishing company, our number one priority is always accessibility. With that in mind, we’ve built MUST READ VALIANT to showcase a handful of new, exciting entry points across all of Valiant’s monthly series,” said Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce. “Valiant is among the most talked-about publishers in comics today, and we are constantly being approached by new readers looking for clean introductions to our characters and our universe. Start reading in UNITY #1 this November – then explore the rest of what we have to offer when MUST READ VALIANT kicks off with Shadowman #13.”
You’ve heard the buzz. You’ve seen the reviews. Now, find out why VALIANT has been heralded as the MUST READ publisher in comics today when Peter Milligan and Roberto De La Torre drag Jack Boniface to his blackest depths yet in Shadowman #13 – in stores December 4th!
And get a sneak peek at things to come in Shadowman #13X – a special standalone prelude to Shadowman’s all-new story arc from Peter Milligan and newcomer Diego Bernard (Witchblade) – bagged exclusively with Bleeding Cool Magazine #7 and available in comic stores everywhere on October 23rd!
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TheCuriousIncidentoftheDogintheNight-Time
You are here
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Apr 27, 2018 | 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
An Olean Community Theatre production, directed by Kenneth Roberts.
The story concerns a mystery surrounding the death of a neighbor's dog that is investigated by young Christopher Boone, who has an autism spectrum condition. The play-within-a-play explores his relationships with his parents and school mentor and details a journey that will change his life forever.
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Aridlands offer unique opportunities to compare effects of history, evolution, and local geography on assemblage and dynamics of small mammal communities that have severe environmental constraints. Pioneering work in Northern Hemispheric aridlands resulted in paradigms that were assumed to be general. Because the evolutionary history and biogeography of Southern Hemispheric aridlands have been distinct, they offer unusual opportunities to test this assumption.We present 6 papers in this Special Feature that show that Southern Hemispheric aridlands have developed and evolved in many unique directions.
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Switchgear Market by Type
Switchgear Market by Type
“Switchgear is an integral part of the electric power system. The power sector offers a promising future, with growing demands for electricity following increasing urbanization in the developing nations. Switchgear forms a crucial part in the sector across various segments including power generation, transmission and distribution, and equipment protection. Switchgear is employed to minimize electric failures and mitigate aftereffects of fault currents that flow through the circuit. These high-intensity fault currents can damage equipment or devices in the circuit.
The market is segmented on the basis of the application, in which the utilities are estimated to dominate the market, while other categories taken into consideration contribute considerable value to the market.
Switchgear are preferred more over its substitute fuses as they do not provide re-closure function, which is very important in setting up the circuit in its normal functions. Moreover, there is no need of replacing the switchgear after every disconnection of the circuit due to faults, which is unavoidable in fuses.
Leading players in this industry with their recent developments and other strategic industry activities have been profiled in the report. These companies include ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Eaton Corporation (Ireland), GE (U.S.), Schneider Electric SE (France), and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan).
Lucrative market for switchgear with estimated value of $136.71 billion by 2019 and major share for this is contributed by the Asia-Pacific region.
The market is projected to be promising for utilities owing to upgrades in transmission and distribution utilities in developed regions. Industries are second most growing application for switchgear. Residential and other applications, which include transportation and power generation, have a considerable combined share in the market.
The switchgear market is also analyzed with respect to Porter’s Five Force model. Analysis of...
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Wolfpack lament
In memoriam: Atocha Station, Madrid, 2005, one year after the bombings
In these 21 years, I suppose you could say I've been through a few tough things. The usual suspects: death, rejection, heartbreak, the kind of stuff that hurts like hell every time.
I've just wandered through the toughest emotional hurdle of my senior year at N.C. State, one I put on par with all the others. And the quandary, of course, is being a born-again sports fan wearing Wolfpack Red.
When I was a kid, sports were my life. I could spit out stats and playoff scenarios. In a time when my allegiances shifted with the uniform Jose Canseco was wearing, books filled with baseball lore, history and biographies were my dearest textbooks. My parents supported the habit, too, taking my brother and me to Baltimore to watch another hero--Cal Ripken Jr. --make his way to the 2,131 game mark, while my grandmother let me play hooky as long as I started "feeling better" soon enough to eat lunch and go baseball-card shopping in Fuquay.
Then came Bill Clinton's bid for the White House in fourth grade, and I became obsessed with politics through habitual reading of Time magazine. That hobby competed with girls as my middle school preoccupation, until it was overwhelmed in ninth grade by music. (That is, I stopped caring about Time. I still like girls just fine. My e-mail address is in the masthead, ladies.)
As I sought out all the music I could get my ears around, sports seemed to slip a bit more into the background with each new school year. I went to basketball and football games as a college freshman, though, perhaps more excited with the idea of sitting in the student section than watching the action itself. For that reason, my attendance approached nil until the night I stormed the RBC Center floor after Julius Hodge and Marcus Melvin dropped 18 apiece against Duke to thwart J.J. Redick's 28.
Since then, I've been hooked. I made it to every men's home game except three this year. Like most of the student body, I was high on expectations when we reached the 10th spot in national polls. There were faint whispers of phrases like "national championship" amid a deafening roar of declarations like, "We'll beat Carolina at least once, and we can definitely handle Duke this year." After an away loss to a charged Washington, though, the slow wash into basketball burnout began.
Sunday night at the RBC Center was the crescendo, the devastating, orchestrated pop at the end of a sad-bastard symphony of college hoops gone sour. It was going to be so perfect: With three minutes left on the Senior Night of Julius Hodge and (my favorite) Jordan Collins, we were up nine. The No. 4 Demon Deacons were in our house, and--with a smattering of their stupidly tie-dye clad fans in attendance--they were going down. We were planning our court entrance routes, systematically zipping wallets, cell phones and cameras into coats. We were yelling, screaming, shouting, telling Chris Paul we would get him back for punching our boy, Julius Hodge, in his crown jewels.
Then Justin Gray and Chris Paul made fools of us all. With 12.8 seconds left, Gray arched a nothing-but-net trey over Engin Atsur. Atsur tried to answer with a top-of-the-arch three of his own, only to be fouled by Gray. The obvious foul--much like Paul's blatant, mean-spirited and puerile fist-to-the-crotch--wasn't called. Stealing down the court, Paul nailed a 10-foot floater as time expired.
Stunned, stupefied, speechless ... failed, flabbergasted, finished.
Blame it on Herb or on Hodge's free-throw fiascos. Blame it on referees or sucker punches. But, in the end, it can only be blamed on one thing: God certainly hates the one North Carolina ACC establishment without a Divinity School or a touch of celestial blue. I fear that Wolfpack Red is self-eliminating.
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Rest Assured, We Got You!
Here at Liberty One Entertainment Group, it's important to us that we share our passion with our clients.
Often we get inquiries that look something like this:
"Hey, I seen you on Facebook. I was wondering what your prices are. Thanks!"
Or like this:
"Hi. I need a DJ. How much do you cost?"
Or even this:
"I need a DJ and my budget is $200. Can you do it?"
My response, although sometimes unwarranted, is often something like this:
"Hi. As we are a professional company, and take pride in our talents and expertise, we can not give you a "flat rate" quote off the cuff. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation, we can discuss all of your needs, and our capabilities to meet those needs."
You see, if a client is shopping around for the cheapest price, we will flat out tell you that we are not a good match for you. That doesn't mean that we are over priced or too expensive by any means. Heck, we actually might be the most affordable option out there after all. But, if you are looking to hire a DJ, or photographer, or even a photo booth based solely on the cheapest price tag, that shows that you don't really care about what kind of quality you receive from your vendors when you hire them. And frankly, if you don't care, why should we?
We understand that planning an event can be expensive, but take this infographic below into consideration:
On average, couples spend5% of their wedding budget on entertainment, but when asked what they remembered most about a wedding, 38% of guests remember the ENTERTAINMENT FIRST. Now thats not to say that your wedding rings, dresses & tuxedos, and venue aren't important. Those things are all very important. But consider this fact as well:
During wedding planning, brides say their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site, and caterer. ENTERTAINMENT IS AMONG THE LEAST OF THEIR PRIORITIES! Yet, within one week after their reception,78% OF BRIDES SAY THEY REGRET NOT MAKING THE ENTERTAINMENT THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITY!
Your entertainment will make or break your event. Don't just shop around for the cheapest price. Ask around for referrals and testimonials. Hire a DJ that has contracts, insurance, a back up plan in case he becomes deathly ill the day before the event. Ask questions, and don't apologize for asking! Your vendors should be prepared to answer any questions you have, and answer them honestly, whether it's to their benefit or not. Hire a DJ that's passionate about making your event as important to them as it is to you. Hire Liberty One, and trust that you're event will be in good hands. Rest Assured, We Got You!
If you enjoyed this blog post, give it a like by clicking the heart on the bottom right!
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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.
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This month, Sikhs celebrated the appointment of Guru Hargobind as the sixth Guru of the Sikhs in 1606, following the execution of the preceding Guru, Guru Arjun, by the Mughal emperor Jehangir for refusing to convert to Islam. Born to a prophecy that he would crush tyranny, Guru Hargobind represented a metamorphosis for the Sikh people — manifesting more than just spiritual practice but worldly practice as well. The commemoration of his ascension as Guru is a timely coincidence, for […]
The Sikh prayer called Ardaas (link) is an address before the All-Pervasive Immortal that is offered regularly by Sikhs in congregation. It concludes every service and is often offered ahead of an undertaking of a task by Sikhs to seek the Divine’s blessings and protection. The prayer is a defined set of verses that recounts Sikh history: the Gurus, those who sacrificed themselves, and custom verse at the end by the congregation specific to the context of the occasion. The Ardaas […]
“A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s […]
In 2016, Buzzfeed News published a story about undocumented migration of Punjabi Sikhs to America in an article entitled “America’s Quiet Crackdown On Indian Immigrants”. Recounting the story of one migrant, the story traces the roots of the increasing migration and detention of Indian nationals in the US, looking at the affect political unrest and human rights violations in Punjab, India have had on those fleeing to the United States. According to the article, over 10,000 Indians arrive as undocumented […]
Wednesday night’s special election result in Alabama was a clear revelation on several fronts, particularly when the exit polls were analyzed that demonstrated the constituency of support garnered by the two candidates, Republican Roy Moore — the ostensible and rebellious conservative Christian plagued with accusations around pedophilia and improper conduct with women and girls — and the victorious Democrat Doug Jones, considered an underdog candidate for a state that hadn’t elected a Democrat for Senator in decades. The exit polling […]
This blog is now just over six years old. I started this blog in October 2010. I had just become an American citizen and being moved by the experience of the citizenship ceremony, I was compelled to express the enthusiasm I felt in adopting this new national identity alongside hundreds of others, but even more so, I wanted to openly reconcile this national identity with my religious one. I wanted to demonstrate that despite our different appearance as followers of the […]
Our world as exists today feels overwhelmingly negative at times and particularly during this uncharacteristic election season. Recently, it seems as though the news cycle has bombarded us with negative news, and especially so with disturbing acts of violence and slander at home and abroad. I was invited once again by The Mash-Up Americans to write about how we can both address feelings of anger and channel energies towards a hopeful mindset. I will not claim any expertise nor mastery of […]
I had the pleasant opportunity this week to work with the folks at The Mash-Up Americans, a website and podcast that discusses the experiences of multi-identity Americans. Head over to their site to find out about the 11 things you wanted to know about Sikh turbans.
Over his two terms, President Obama has recognized the Sikh community (and seems comfortable in doing so) perhaps more than any other US president in history. In his recent speech at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, he makes reference to the Sikh American community as victims of anti-Islamic bigotry in the United States. However, it was lacking in specific proposals to help counter America’s Islamophobia.
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Resource Library
The next NeighborWorks Training Institute (NTI) will take place in Washington, DC the week of December 11-15. The NTI offers more than 100 course offerings in affordable housing development and financing; housing asset management; community engagement; community revitalization; community economic development; housing construction and rehabilitation; financial capability and homeownership education, coaching, and counseling; nonprofit management and leadership; and single-family and small business lending. In addition to taking training courses throughout the week, participants can attend a mid-week symposium, “Pathways Out of Poverty: Investing In Independence, Keeping the Pathways Open” on December 13.
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Nova Scotia RCMP said she was alone at the time of her death, but could provide few other details on how she ended up in the rough, chilly waters.
A popular Nova Scotia tourist spot is once again grappling with tragedy.
In the dark and dangerous waters off Peggy's Cove, a woman from a small Quebec town drowned Sunday.
Police officers, paramedics and fire fighters responded to an emergency call about someone in the ocean off the rocks at Peggy's Cove at about 1:40 p.m., according to a Nova Scotia RCMP news release.
“A woman was recovered from the water and was pronounced deceased,” said the RCMP release, which was sent to media at about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Some local fishermen reportedly tried to rescue the woman, but she had already died when they found her in the chilly waters.
"She was 46 and was from Quebec," RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Clarke said Monday afternoon, adding the deceased woman was from a small town.
"We didn't want to name the town, as we didn't feel that all the family members had been notified at this point," Cpl. Clarke said.
The woman "was alone at the time" of her death, Cpl. Clarke said, "and not believed to be travelling with a group."
Police could not provide any other information on how the woman ended up in the water.
"We're leaving all of our options open with respect to investigative avenues and circumstances," she said.
This isn't the first time the Atlantic Ocean has claimed the lives of visitors to the Peggy's Cove area.
Last April, a young man from Smith Falls, Ont., died when he was swept off the rocks and dragged out to sea by a large wave. Last July, another Ontario man almost lost his life after falling into the ocean, but was saved when he was pulled out of the waters by local tourist boat operators.
Just this past March, the Nova Scotia government announced plans to implement new safety measures at Peggy's Cove, including enhanced warning signs, a video message in the visitor information centre, intrepretative panels describing the ocean's strength and a social media campaign.
John Campbell, owner of the Sou’wester Restaurant adjacent to the lighthouse, told Metro Halifax in a March interview that rock barriers would also be installed around his business's parking lot to help direct visitors to three different entrances to the rocks, which would all be properly signed.
Campbell, along with other community members and local organizations, made recommendations for the new Peggy's Cove safety measures to the provincial government.
“There are going to be people who don’t use the best judgement and put themselves in harm’s way," Campbell told Metro in March. "I can’t stop someone from going out on the rocks and jumping in or getting too close to black rock."
“The only way we can stop that is to close the rocks, which I don’t think is the solution," he said at the time. "But we’ve got to make sure that people have a fair chance to know what the dangers are.”
When reached by phone Monday, Campbell had no comment on Sunday's most recent death off Peggy's Cove. He also had no comment on this tourist season's new safety measures on site.
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As I read, I was pulling out favourite lines but now I've realised there are far too many and this review would merely quote the bulk of the story again, rendering it pretty pointless, no?
Really, I don't believe that you realise the talent you have because this was so, so gorgeous and so Jane and I could pick this out of any line-up as yours. I can't place it in a genre at all and just...divine description and prose and having no dialogue showcases what you can do (because I think we've all established that your dialogue is perfect now.)
I want you to go for promotion. Please? Please, please, please? Pretty please? With Travis Davenport on top?
Gorgeous chapter, dearest.
♥
xx
Author's Response: Silly, silly, silly.
Yes, definitely pointless as it would make me cringe immensely :P. It's enough to know that you liked it! As long as I can please you and Zoey I am a very happy lepper.
Non-humour stuff that is like me? I am moving up in the world ♥ I have no idea what genre to place it in either! I think it's just a bit of a mish-mash :P. It is far from perfect, dearest XD.
I DID IT. And do you know what this means? YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE ME TRAVIS FROM THE LOVE SHACK.
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I currently work as a claims employee in a Midwest office. Our particular office has great leadership and a nice environment. The benefits are amazing and have been a big motivator to stay with the company. 22 days PTO, option to "buy" 5 more, 401k with match, a pension, health/dental/vision, tuition, the list goes on.
Cons
It's claims. Claims sucks. People are so unreasonable and angry they're in this situation to begin with. We only talk to people on their worst days and they take it out on us. It's tiring to get cursed out day in and out. You end up hating everyone in general, it sucks the soul out of you. The workload is unrealistically high but that's industry wide. Every insurance company hires just enough claims people to keep you frantically behind on your work at all times.
Company Updates
Allstate is proud to be named one of NAFE's 2017 Top 60 Companies for Executive Women! We work hard to maintain a company culture that supports and celebrates women. Read more: http://glassdoor.com/slink.htm?key=vQvSD
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OK, I'm glad this thread came up cos Black and White were among my favorite Pokemon games ever and after contributing to this section a lot I really wanted to look back at the pros and cons that most fans saw with the games.
My personal opinion was that I think Black and White were a big step in the right direction. Like what Lapras said, it doesn't mean that Pokemon fans like myself have to like every little bit of it. Despite what most people thought about the Unova Pokemon didn't stop me from liking it in every little detail but I still felt the whole "moving forward" point the franchise was doing at the time. Black and White were basically made to attract new players to the series, hence the whole "only Unova Pokemon before National Dex" thing. It had that fresh look I was expecting when I first heard about the games.
When Black and White were in development, Game Freak was probably thinking this - If we want Pokemon to continue, we need new fans. This was apparently the reason why the quote "Start from a new beginning" was used in the advertisements for the games.
I'm a veteran of the Pokemon games since Generation 3 so I know what they were trying to do with the whole theme of Black and White.
Even though I've played several Pokemon games, it's Black and White that kept me going, and eventually became my personal favorites. There were a few flaws such as some features not being good but it didn't let me down. The sprites also looked a bit too pixellated but the improvement in general graphics and battle animations kept me excited. As well as the flaws, there were also the things that helped keep the veteran Pokemon fans interested too, especially the more fast-paced battles and animated sprites.
Now I do come to the conclusion that Black and White made a good stepping stone for Black 2 and White 2, cos this is the first generation to ever get direct sequels, which is what sets Generation 5 apart from previous generations. Personally, I do think Pokemon will show more big improvements in generations to come.
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Description
The present invention generally relates to implantable medical systems and methods, and more particularly relates to implantable microstimulator systems with programmable multielectrode configuration and uses therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002]
Implantable electrical stimulation devices have proven therapeutic in a wide variety of diseases and disorders. Pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) have proven highly effective in the treatment of a number of cardiac conditions (e.g., arrhythmias). Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems have long been accepted as a therapeutic modality for the treatment of chronic pain syndromes. Deep brain stimulation has also been applied therapeutically for well over a decade for the treatment of refractory chronic pain syndromes, and it has also recently been applied in additional areas such as movement disorders. In recent investigations, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) systems have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes, and a number of additional applications are currently under investigation. Finally, functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems such as the Freehand™ system by NeuroControl™ Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio have been applied to restore some functionality to paralyzed extremities in spinal cord injury patients.
[0003]
Current implantable electrical stimulation systems typically consist of a system with electrodes on a lead, separate from but connected to an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that contains the power source and the stimulation circuitry. A number of these systems have multiple programmable electrodes, allowing each electrode to be configured as an anode, a cathode, or as an open circuit (i.e., electrically disconnected). However, these types of leaded systems have several disadvantages. The implantation procedure may be rather difficult and time-consuming, as the electrodes and the IPG must usually be implanted in separate areas and the lead must be tunneled through body tissue to connect to the IPG. Also, the leads are typically thin and rather long and are thus prone to mechanical damage over time. Additionally, many conventional systems typically consist of a relatively large IPG, which can have a negative cosmetic appearance if positioned subcutaneously.
[0004]
Neurons typically propagate signals in one direction. Peripheral nerve fibers that propagate signals away from the central nervous system (CNS, i.e., the brain and the spinal cord) and towards the periphery and viscera are referred to as efferent nerve fibers. Peripheral nerve fibers that propagate signals away from the periphery and viscera and towards the CNS are referred to as afferent nerve fibers.
[0005]
Efferent impulses may initiate a variety of actions, from movement of a muscle to initiation of changes in the heart rate or force of contraction or in the level of constriction of the vascular smooth muscle in arterioles. Through increasing or decreasing the activity of efferent fibers, the CNS can, for example, alter the blood pressure by changing the characteristics of the cardiovascular system.
[0006]
Afferent impulses from specialized nerve endings or receptors inform the controlling neurons in the CNS about characteristics of the system, e.g., if a limb is feeling pain or if blood pressure is high or low. Most peripheral nerves contain both afferent and efferent nerve fibers.
[0007]
A typical individual neuron consists of a soma (i.e., cell body), which contains the nucleus of the cell; dendrites, which receive input from pre-synaptic neurons; and an axon, which send signals via axon terminals (i.e., the distal portion of the axon) to post-synaptic neurons (or to effector cells, e.g., muscle fibers). An action potential is initiated at the initial segment of the axon (i.e., the proximal portion of the axon) when triggered by input from the dendrites. An action potential is an electrochemical signal that propagates from the initial segment down the axon to the axon terminals. Such propagation is referred to as orthodromic. (Orthodromic is defined as “of, relating to, or inducing nerve impulses along an axon in the normal direction.”) Action potential propagation in the opposite direction is referred to as antidromic. (Antidromic is defined as “proceeding or conducting in a direction opposite to the usual one—used especially of a nerve impulse or fiber.”)
[0008]
In a neuron at rest, i.e., that is not propagating an action potential, the inside of the axon is negatively charged relative to the outside of the neuron, i.e., the membrane of the axon is at a negative resting potential.
[0009]
When the soma receives sufficient stimulation at its associated dendrites, it initiates an action potential at the initial segment, which travels orthodromically down the axon. An action potential is initiated and propagated by opening channels in the axon membrane to allow positive charge (e.g., sodium ions) to enter the axon. This causes the voltage of the inside of the axon to become positive, i.e., it depolarizes a segment of the axon. Depolarization of one part of the axon causes depolarization of an adjacent patch of axon; this mechanism allows a wave of depolarization to sweep down the axon. After a brief period of depolarization (e.g., approximately 1 msec), the axon membrane automatically repolarizes to return to a resting state.
[0010]
Electrical stimulation causes depolarization of the local axon membrane and may be used to initiate action potentials. For instance, electrical activation of an axon performed near the middle of an axon (i.e., not at the initial segment) produces two action potentials. One action potential propagates orthodromically, while the other propagates antidromically.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011]
The invention disclosed and claimed herein addresses problems noted above and others by providing miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators) with programmably configurable electrodes. In addition, to further address the above and other problems, the invention disclosed and claimed herein provides miniature implantable stimulators capable of unidirectional propagation of action potentials (UPAPs). Further, the instant disclosure teaches and claims methods of using UPAPs in certain locations and for certain disorders.
[0012]
A microstimulator may be implanted via a small incision and/or via endoscopic means. A more complicated surgical procedure may be required for sufficient access to the nerve or portion of the nerve (e.g., nerve fibers surrounded by scar tissue) or for purposes of fixing the neurostimulator in place. A single microstimulator may be implanted, or two or more microstimulators may be implanted to achieve greater stimulation of the neural fibers.
[0013]
The microstimulators used with the present invention possesses one or more of the following properties, among others:
[0014]
at least two electrodes (e.g., one active electrode and one reference electrode) for applying stimulating current to surrounding tissue;
[0015]
electrical and/or mechanical components encapsulated in a hermetic package made from biocompatible material(s);
[0016]
an electrical coil or other means of receiving energy and/or information inside the package, which receives power and/or data by inductive or radio-frequency (RF) coupling to a transmitting coil placed outside the body;
[0017]
means for receiving and/or transmitting signals via telemetry;
[0018]
means for receiving and/or storing electrical power within the microstimulator; and
[0019]
a form factor making the microstimulator implantable via a minimal surgical procedure.
[0020]
In some configurations, the microstimulator has at least three electrodes. In certain configurations, the microstimulator is leadless, while in others it may include electrodes on a relatively short lead. Additional microstimulator configurations are discussed in the detailed description of the invention.
[0021]
Each electrode or section of a partitioned electrode may be configured via programming of stimulation parameters (i.e., programmably configured) as a cathode, an anode, or an open circuit with different current outputs. This allows the microstimulator to be “electrically positioned” once it has been implanted or otherwise fixed in place. This also allows the stimulation electrodes to be redefined via reprogramming of the stimulation parameters should the microstimulator migrate slightly. In turn, this allows stimulation to be directed to the appropriate site without needing to physically manipulate the microstimulator. Additionally, the use of the proper set(s) of electrodes allows more localized and selective stimulation of the target structures and reduces the magnitude of the injected electric current required to achieve neural stimulation, which results in less power consumed by the microstimulator.
[0022]
A microstimulator may operate independently, or in a coordinated manner with other implanted devices, or with external devices. For instance, a microstimulator may incorporate means for sensing a patient's condition, which it may then use to control stimulation parameters in a closed loop manner. The sensing and stimulating means may be incorporated into a single microstimulator, or a sensing means may communicate sensed information to at least one microstimulator with stimulating means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023]
The above and other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
[0024]
[0024]FIG. 1A is a section view through an exemplary, two-electrode microstimulator that may be used with certain embodiments of the present invention;
[0025]
[0025]FIG. 1B is an isometric view of an exemplary, two-electrode microstimulator that may be used with certain embodiments of the present invention;
[0026]
[0026]FIG. 1C is an isometric view of an exemplary, two or more electrode microstimulator that may be used with certain embodiments of the present invention;
[0027]
[0027]FIG. 2A is an isometric view of an exemplary microstimulator of the present invention, including a plurality of electrodes;
[0028]
[0028]FIG. 2B is an isometric view of an exemplary microstimulator of the present invention, including one or more cuff electrodes;
[0029]
[0029]FIG. 2C is a section view taken through 2C-2C of FIG. 2B;
[0030]
[0030]FIG. 2D is a section view taken through 2D-2D of FIG. 2B;
[0031]
[0031]FIG. 2E is an isometric view of an exemplary microstimulator of the present invention, including a plurality of partitioned electrodes;
[0032]
[0032]FIGS. 3A and 3B show isometric views of microstimulators with fixation devices;
[0033]
[0033]FIG. 3C depicts a microstimulator with a fixation device that includes helices that wrap around a nerve or other body tissue;
[0035]FIG. 5 depicts a system of implantable devices that communicate with each other and/or with external control/programming devices;
[0036]
[0036]FIG. 6A illustrates various autonomic nerves in the head, neck, and thorax;
[0037]
[0037]FIG. 6B is a cross-section through the neck, at the level of cervical vertebra C7;
[0038]
[0038]FIG. 6C illustrates various autonomic nerves in the abdomen;
[0039]
[0039]FIG. 7A depicts the nerves of the male pelvic viscera and surrounding anatomy, where a stimulation system of the present invention may be implanted; and
[0040]
[0040]FIG. 7B is a section view through the body of a penis.
[0041]
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0042]
The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.
[0043]
Unidirectionally Propagating Action Potentials (UPAPS)
[0044]
As mentioned earlier, electrical activation of an axon usually produces action potentials that propagate in both the orthodromic and antidromic directions. Generation of a unidirectionally propagating action potential (UPAP) requires three essential components:
[0045]
(1) Anodic Block in One Direction: Depolarization of an axon membrane leads to two action potentials traveling in opposite directions. In order to generate a UPAP, the propagation of one of the action potentials is blocked (i.e., arrested or inhibited), while the other is allowed to propagate. To block or arrest an action potential, a section of an axon membrane along the path of the undesired action potential is kept hyperpolarized during the time (or part of the time) the action potential would have traveled through that segment. To hyperpolarize the membrane, an electrode with anodic current is used. Therefore, to create a UPAP, the membrane must be depolarized at one electrode and hyperpolarized at another electrode. For instance, a cathodic current depolarizes the local axon membrane and initiates action potentials in opposing directions. A high anodic current may be used to hyperpolarize a section of axon membrane, thereby arresting action potential propagation in that direction.
[0046]
Due to properties of the neurons, significantly less current is required to depolarize an axon enough to initiate an action potential than the current that is required to hyperpolarize an axon enough to arrest an action potential. Thus, the current that must be applied at the anode to arrest an action potential is typically higher in amplitude and of longer duration than that required for neurostimulation. Since the current flows between the cathode and the anode, this results in a relatively large cathodic current as well. This additional current requirement is not damaging to the cell or difficult to achieve. However, the generation of such high currents requires more energy from the neurostimulator and also requires electrodes with a relatively large surface area, so as to maintain safe levels of charge density and current density.
[0047]
(2) Rebound Depolarization Control: Experimentally, if the very high anodic current used for hyperpolarization of the axon is discontinued abruptly, then the portion of the axon that was hyperpolarized suddenly depolarizes due to the non-linear properties of the axon membrane. In other words, if the hyperpolarizing anodic pulse is suddenly discontinued, the axon membrane can undergo a rebound depolarization (also known as anodic break) which may result in the generation of action potentials. Thus, to avoid rebound depolarization, the anodic current may be discontinued gradually, i.e., tapered off.
[0048]
(3) Virtual Cathode Elimination: A nerve cuff is typically used for generation of UPAPs, as explained further presently. When a nerve cuff is used, it is desired that the current that flows between the anode and the cathode stay within the nerve cuff. However, some of the current inevitably flows from the anode, out of the nerve cuff, around the outside of the nerve cuff, and back in the other end, to the cathode. Since the hyperpolarizing current must be relatively large in magnitude, this “leakage” current is relatively high in magnitude as well. As this leakage current leaves the cuff at the end proximal to the anode, it effectively behaves as a “virtual cathode.” (Under normal bidirectional stimulation conditions, the virtual cathode current is relatively low in amplitude, so it may not create sufficient depolarization to fire an action potential. Even if it does, with bidirectional stimulation the effect is likely to be indistinguishable from stimulation at the actual cathode.) In this case, the virtual cathode current is relatively high in amplitude, and thus can initiate an action potential. This is unwelcome, since the purpose of the nearby anode is to hyperpolarize the nerve and prevent action potential propagation in the direction of the anode. Different techniques have been used to eliminate the virtual cathode effect, including the introduction of an additional anode at the other end of the nerve cuff, as described in more detail presently.
[0049]
Anodic Block in One Direction
[0050]
Generating a UPAP requires that an unwanted propagating action potential be arrested (in one direction). A nerve containing nerve fibers of differing diameters and with differing conduction velocities may respond well to stimulation when the site of action potential initiation and site of arrest are closely spaced to minimize stimulus pulsewidth (and consequent charge injection). Such an arrangement may take the form of a conventional bipolar electrode configuration in a nerve cuff with the anode located at one end of the nerve cuff and the cathode located closer to the other end of the cuff.
[0051]
Since the hyperpolarizing anodic current pulse is applied when the action potential is expected to reach the anode (or before), it is helpful if the spacing between the electrodes is known. Assuming a known velocity of action potential propagation in given nerve fibers, the time at which an action potential arrives at the anode may thus be predicted. Precise timing of the anodic pulse is also aided by known spacing between the electrodes and the nerve. Minimizing the spacing between the electrodes and the nerve reduces the current required for stimulation. In addition, fully enclosed cuffs concentrate the current near the nerve, reducing the amplitude of the required (cathodic and anodic) currents. In order to ensure that spacing is both controlled and minimized, a nerve cuff is typically used for UPAP; however, any arrangement in which the electrodes are closely apposed to the nerve, which also allows stimulation with less current, may be used for UPAP.
[0052]
Virtual Cathode Elimination
[0053]
UPAPs have been demonstrated in several experimental systems. In 1979, van den Honert and Mortimer demonstrated that single, unidirectionally propagated action potentials could be elicited in peripheral nerves by electrical stimuli of short duration. (See Van den Honert C; Mortimer J T “Generation of unidirectionally propagated action potentials in a peripheral nerve by brief stimuli” Science Dec. 14, 1979; 206(4424):1311-2.) They reduced the depolarizing effects of the virtual cathode using a tripolar electrode configuration; the center electrode was the cathode, and the two outside electrodes were anodes. The second anode created an additional electric field that opposed the flow of current from the first anode to the cathode through the path outside the cuff. Arresting (i.e., blocking or inhibiting) propagation of action potentials from both anodes was avoided by injecting a smaller current through the “escape” end anode than through the “arrest” end anode. This method required coordinated control of two stimulators. The stimulation pulse for UPAP was quasitrapezoidal in shape with a plateau pulsewidth of 350 μsec and an exponential trailing phase having a fall time of 350 μsec. The plateau amplitude necessary for UPAPs was 5-6 mA.
[0054]
Other Methods of Generation of UPAP
[0055]
In 1986, Ungar, et al. described a system for generation of UPAPs via a “collision block” in a cat myelinated peripheral nerve. (See Ungar I J; Mortimer J T; Sweeney J D “Generation of unidirectionally propagating action potentials using a monopolar electrode cuff.” Annals of Biomedical Engineering 1986; 14(5):437-50.) This system used a monopolar electrode cuff with the conductor positioned closest to the “arrest” end of the cuff. A single cathode located at least 5 mm from the arrest end resulted in unidirectional propagation with minimal current and charge injection. The range of stimulus current values that produced unidirectional propagation increased with increases in longitudinal asymmetry of cathode placement over the range of asymmetries tested. The stimulus current pulse that minimized charge injection was quasitrapezoidal in shape with a plateau pulsewidth of approximately 350 μsec and an exponential trailing phase having a fall time of approximately 600 μsec. These stimulation parameters were found to be independent of cuff geometry. Arrest efficiency was not degraded using a cuff of sufficient internal diameter to prevent nerve compression in chronic implantation. The critical current density within the extracellular space of the electrode cuff required to produce conduction failure at the arrest end was estimated to be 0.47±0.08 mA/mm2. The necessary total cuff length for effective unidirectional stimulation was from 32-48 mm.
[0056]
Also in 1986, Sweeney, at al. described a system for generation of UPAPs using an asymmetric two-electrode cuff (ATEC). (See Sweeney J D; Mortimer J T “An asymmetric two electrode cuff for generation of unidirectionally propagated action potentials” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 1986 June; 33(6):541-9.) This configuration differs from a standard bipolar cuff electrode in that the anode is enclosed by an insulating sheath of larger diameter than the cathode and the electrodes are asymmetrically placed within the cuff. The diameter of the cathode portion of the cuff was 16 mm and the diameter of the anode portion was as large as 26 mm. These electrodes were used to perform acute experiments in 13 adult cats. The stimulation pulse for UPAP was quasitrapezoidal in shape with a plateau pulsewidth of 200-500 μsec and an exponential trailing phase having a fall time of 400-1200 μsec. The plateau amplitude averaged 0.5 mA, and it varied from 0.1-2.3 mA. From the related dimensions specified in the article, it seems likely that the necessary total cuff length for effective unidirectional stimulation was less than 3 cm.
[0057]
In the above studies, only cuff electrodes were used. In addition, the pulse generators used in these studies were not implantable, and as such, leads were used to enter the body and travel to the stimulation site(s). Use of the implantable systems and methods disclosed herein results in improved generation and delivery of UPAPs, among other improvements that will be evident to those of skill in the art upon review of the present disclosure.
[0058]
The body reacts properly to orthodromic stimulation. Antidromic stimulation has a less significant physiological effect. UPAPs allow a system to effectively select afferent or efferent stimulation. For instance, when stimulating a nerve, if an action potential is allowed to escape in the direction of signals traveling away from the viscera and periphery and towards the CNS, both afferent and efferent fibers will transport the action potentials, but only the afferent fibers (with signals traveling orthodromically) will have an important physiological effect. Antidromic pulses on the efferent fibers will have a less significant physiological effect. This is referred to herein as “effective selection of afferent fibers.” Correspondingly, “effective selection of efferent fibers” is performed via stimulation with UPAPs in the direction of signals traveling away from the CNS and toward the viscera and periphery, resulting in physiological effects via orthodromic pulses on the efferent fibers, while the antidromic pulses on the afferent fibers have a less significant physiological effect. Several applications of neuromodulation would benefit from neurostimulation applied to effectively select just the afferent or just the efferent nerves. Systems and methods described herein provide this ability.
[0059]
For example, the vagus nerve provides the primary parasympathetic nerve to the thoracic organs (e.g., the lungs and heart) and most of the abdominal organs (e.g., the stomach and small intestine). It originates in the brainstem and runs in the neck through the carotid sheath with the jugular vein and the common carotid artery, and then adjacent to the esophagus to the thoracic and abdominal viscera. Through stimulation to effectively select afferent fibers (via UPAP stimulation traveling away from the viscera and the periphery and towards the CNS), unidirectional stimulation of the vagus nerve may be an effective treatment for a variety of disorders, including epilepsy and depression. Through stimulation to effectively select efferent fibers (via UPAP stimulation traveling away from the CNS and towards the viscera and the periphery), unidirectional stimulation of the vagus nerve may be an effective treatment for, e.g., tachycardia.
[0060]
As yet another example, electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve in the pelvis has been demonstrated to produce and sustain erection, and as such, is likely to prove an effective therapy for erectile dysfunction. The therapeutic effect is mediated by the efferent fibers, which stimulate structures in the corpora cavernosa and spongiosum of the penis. Stimulation of the afferent fibers of the cavernous nerve is likely to produce sensations that may be distracting, painful, or the like. Effectively selecting the efferent fibers of the cavernous nerve(s) as a therapy for erectile dysfunction could allow relatively higher levels of stimulation, which might provide more effective therapy for erectile dysfunction. This would also mitigate side effects such as pain at relatively high levels of stimulation.
[0061]
The present invention provides, inter alia, microstimulator systems for stimulation of a nerve with unidirectionally propagating action potentials. In addition, the present invention provides programmably configurable multielectrode microstimulator systems. The present invention also provides improved treatments for various medical conditions, as mentioned above and described in more detail presently.
[0062]
A microminiature implantable electrical stimulator, referred to herein as a microstimulator, and known as the BION® microstimulator, has been developed (by Advanced Bionics of Sylmar, Calif.) to overcome some of the disadvantages of traditional leaded systems. The standard BION is a leadless microstimulator, as the IPG and the electrodes have been combined into a single microminiature package. A standard configuration of the BION is a cylinder that is about 3 mm in diameter and between about 2 and 3 cm in length. This form factor allows the BION to be implanted with relative ease and rapidity, e.g., via endoscopic or laparoscopic techniques. With this configuration, the BION consists of only two electrodes: a reference, or indifferent, electrode at one end and an active electrode at the other end. In addition, with this configuration, electrical signals delivered to nerves travel away from the stimulation location along the nerve fibers in both directions.
[0063]
The microstimulators of the present invention may be similar to or of the type referred to as BION devices. The following documents describe various features and details associated with the manufacture, operation, and use of BION implantable microstimulators, and are all incorporated herein by reference:
Application/Patent/
Filing/Publication
Publication No.
Date
Title
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
Implantable Microstimulator
5,193,539
Mar. 16, 1993
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
Structure and Method of
5,193,540
Mar. 16, 1993
Manufacture of an
Implantable Microstimulator
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
Implantable Device Having
5,312,439
May 17, 1994
an Electrolytic Storage
Electrode
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
Implantable Microstimulator
5,324,316
Jun. 28, 1994
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
Structure and Method of
5,405,367
Apr. 11, 1995
Manufacture of an
Implantable Microstimulator
U.S. Pat. No.
Issued
Improved Implantable
6,051,017
Apr. 18, 2000
Microstimulator and Systems
Employing Same
PCT Publication
Published
Battery-Powered Patient
WO 98/37926
Sep. 3, 1998
Implantable Device
PCT Publication
Published
System of Implantable
WO 98/43700
Oct. 8, 1998
Devices For Monitoring and/
or Affecting Body Parameters
PCT Publication
Published
System of Implantable
WO 98/43701
Oct. 8, 1998
Devices For Monitoring and/
or Affecting Body Parameters
Published
Micromodular Implants to
September, 1997
Provide Electrical Stimulation
of Paralyzed Muscles and
Limbs, by Cameron, et al.,
published in IEEE
Transactions on
Biomedical Engineering,
Vol. 44, No. 9,
pages 781-790.
[0064]
As shown, for instance, in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, microstimulator device 100 may include a narrow, elongated capsule 102 containing electrical circuitry 104 connected to electrodes 110, which may pass through or comprise a part of the walls of the capsule, as in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, electrodes 110 may be built into the capsule (FIG. 1B) or arranged along a lead(s) 112 (FIG. 1C), as described below. As detailed in the referenced patent publications, electrodes 110 generally comprise a stimulating electrode, or cathode (to be placed close to the target tissue) and an indifferent electrode, or anode (for completing the circuit). Other configurations of microstimulator device 100 are possible, as is evident from the above-referenced publications, and as described in more detail herein.
[0065]
Microstimulator 100 may be implanted via a minimal surgical procedure. Microstimulator 100 may be implanted with a surgical insertion tool specifically designed for the purpose, or may be placed, for instance, via a small incision and through an insertion cannula. Alternatively, microstimulator 100 may be implanted via conventional surgical methods, or may be inserted using other endoscopic or laparoscopic techniques. A more complicated surgical procedure may be required for sufficient access to a nerve or a portion of a nerve (e.g., nerve fibers surrounded by scar tissue, or more distal portions of the nerve) and/or for fixing the neurostimulator in place.
[0066]
The external surfaces of microstimulator 100 may advantageously be composed of biocompatible materials. Capsule 102 may be made of, for instance, glass, ceramic, or other material that provides a hermetic package that will exclude water vapor but permit passage of electromagnetic fields used to transmit data and/or power. Electrodes 110 may be made of a noble or refractory metal or compound, such as platinum, iridium, tantalum, titanium, titanium nitride, niobium, or alloys of any of these, in order to avoid corrosion, electrolysis, or other electrochemical reactions which could damage the surrounding tissues and the device.
Microstimulator 100 includes, when necessary and/or desired, a programmable memory 114 (which may be a part of the electrical circuitry 104) for storing a set(s) of data, stimulation, and/or control parameters. Among other things, memory 114 may allow stimulation and control parameters to be adjusted to settings that are safe and efficacious with minimal discomfort for each individual. In addition, this allows the parameters to be adjusted to ensure that the stimulation favors unidirectional propagation, when desired. The device(s) may be implanted to deliver electrical stimulation to any location that is likely to be therapeutic, and the stimulation parameters may be adjusted to any set of parameters that prove efficacious, as described herein. Specific stimulation sites and parameters may provide therapeutic advantages for various medical conditions, their forms, and/or severity. For instance, some patients may respond favorably to intermittent stimulation, while others may require continuous stimulation to alleviate their symptoms. Therefore, various embodiments of the invention include means for providing stimulation intermittently and/or continuously.
[0069]
The present invention provides means of maintaining the advantages of earlier BION microstimulator systems while extending their functionality to enable, inter alia, programmably configurable multielectrode systems that allow current to be more effectively directed towards a target stimulation site. For instance, possible microstimulator configurations have one or more programmably configurable electrodes 110 arranged along the stimulator outer capsule, as shown in FIG. 2A. Thus, a microstimulator 100 may have a combination of programmably configurable and hard-wired electrodes, or may have only programmably configurable electrodes, or may have only a plurality of hard-wired electrodes.
[0070]
The configuration of microstimulator 100 may be determined by the structure of the desired target, the surrounding area, and the method of implantation. The size and the shape of the microstimulator may be varied in order to deliver more effective treatment. A thin, elongated cylinder with electrodes at the ends and/or along the cylindrical case are possible configurations, but other shapes, such as disks, spheres, helical structures, and others are possible. Additional alterations in configuration, such as the number, orientation, and shape of electrodes (which may be programmably configurable), may be varied in order to deliver more effective treatment. For instance, the electrodes may be rectangular, semi-spherical, arcs, bands/rings, or any other useful shape, and may be distributed along and/or around the surface of the microstimulator.
[0071]
Implantable microstimulator 100 is sufficiently small to permit its placement in or near the structures to be stimulated. For instance, capsule 102 may have a diameter of about 4-5 mm, or only about 3 mm, or even less than 3 mm. Capsule 102 length may be about 25-40 mm, or only about 20-25 mm, or even less than 20 mm. In some configurations and for some stimulation sites, it may be useful for microstimulator 100 to be larger, to be of a different shape, or to include a lead(s) 112, as described in more detail below.
[0072]
In some embodiments of the instant invention, microstimulator 100 comprises two or more leadless electrodes. However, one or more electrodes 110 may alternatively be located along short, flexible leads 112 (FIG. 1C) as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/624,130, filed Jul. 24, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The use of such leads permits, among other things, electrical stimulation to be directed more locally to targeted tissue(s) a short distance from the surgical fixation of the bulk of the implantable microstimulator 100, while allowing most elements of the microstimulator to be located in a more surgically convenient site and/or in a position making telemetry with and/or powering and/or replacing or removing the device simpler. This minimizes the distance traversed and the surgical planes crossed by the device and any lead(s). Other uses of such configurations will be apparent presently. For instance, the electrodes may be positioned on a cuff(s) attached to the microstimulator via a lead(s), as described below. In most uses of this invention, the leads are no longer than about 150 mm.
[0073]
A microstimulator including a cuff electrode, as shown in FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 2D, may be a tripolar cuff electrode 116, possibly with an asymmetric placement of the center electrode. The electrodes may substantially form a ring, or the electrodes may be partitioned. Other cuff electrode configurations, as known to those of skill in the art, may alternatively or additionally be used. Such a cuff electrode may be a bipolar cuff electrode 118 with the anode placed farther from the nerve than the cathode via the use of an insulating sheath of larger diameter for the anode than the cathode.
[0074]
According to one embodiment of the invention, a microstimulator is attached to the cuff electrode via a lead 112. According to another embodiment of the invention, the cuff electrode is incorporated into the microstimulator package, e.g., a microstimulator with a cuff electrode attachment or other microstimulator fixation device 130, as in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/146,332 (the '332 application), which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As discussed in the '332 application, fixation device 130 may include one or more electrodes 110. Examples of microstimulator cuff electrode attachments/fixation devices 130 that may be used with the present invention are shown in, but not limited to, FIGS. 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A, 3B, and 3C.
[0075]
In some applications, a microstimulator having a single cathode may be sufficient. For instance, in some applications, such as pudendal nerve stimulation for urge incontinence, the target may be rather large in at least one dimension, allowing for some positioning error. However, for some applications, a single cathode microstimulator may prove insufficient or imperfect. For instance, if a target site is very small in all dimensions, the microstimulator may be difficult to place precisely. For example, in deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease, the subthalamic nucleus has a maximum dimension of only 4-7 mm. Precisely placing the microstimulator at this target is likely to be difficult, and even slight migration of the microstimulator over time may reduce its efficacy. Other stimulation target sites may be physically constrained, so that the microstimulator cannot be or is difficult to position ideally in relation to the stimulation target. For example, the trigeminal ganglion, which receives sensation from all of the sensory nerves of the face, sits in a dural compartment known as the trigeminal (Meckel's) cave, which lies in a depression on the anterior slope of the petrous portion of the temporal bone. The trigeminal cave is a rather confined space that is surrounded by bone, and a solid device, even a microstimulator, may not be easy to manipulate and precisely position in such a space.
[0076]
In addition, in configurations where the microstimulator electrodes are cylindrical (either on a lead or on the case of a cylindrical microstimulator), the stimulation current is generally directed 360 degrees radially outward. However, the target neurons may be located only to one side of the electrode(s). Such a situation can result in higher thresholds (due to wasted current directed away from the neural targets) as well as undesired stimulation of neurons that are not the desired targets of stimulation. Solutions to this problem may involve locating the electrodes to one side of the array. However, lead or microstimulator migration or rotation can make such designs ineffective or cumbersome to deploy and maintain.
[0077]
The programmably configurable multielectrode microstimulators of the present invention, which can be “electrically positioned” as described herein, address these and other problems. In certain embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 2A, the microstimulator has a cylindrical shape, with electrodes 110 configured as a plurality of anodes, cathodes, and/or open circuit electrodes distributed along its surface. One or both ends may be capped with an electrode 110, and one or more electrodes may be arranged along the microstimulator outer case.
[0078]
In various embodiments, the end cap electrode(s) and/or those along the length of the microstimulator and/or those on a lead attached to a microstimulator can be further divided as shown in FIG. 2E into “partitioned” electrodes. Thus, individual electrodes, rather than extending completely around the microstimulator, are partitioned into short arcs. In between each of the partitioned electrodes 110 is an insulating material 120 to provide some electrical isolation. In an extreme alternative, the microstimulator could be covered with small arcs of electrodes along its entire surface. The size of the electrodes 110 and the insulating areas 120 may be uniform or may be independent and varied.
[0079]
Electrodes configured along and/or around the microstimulator can be individually programmed via stimulation parameters into various configurations to “steer” the electric field radially around the microstimulator (e.g., activating cathode(s) and anode(s) positioned substantially radially around the microstimulator) and/or longitudinally along the microstimulator (e.g., activating cathode(s) and anode(s) positioned substantially linearly along the microstimulator); such a microstimulator can be “electrically positioned.” A relatively large number of small independent electrodes allows the electric field to be programmed in many configurations, such as very wide fields (e.g., multiple grouped cathodes and anodes) or very narrow fields (e.g., single electrodes for one cathode and one anode, using adjacent electrodes). Such electrode array designs can mimic the electrode design of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and/or 2A, for instance, while still allowing the more focal stimulation from choosing individual electrodes.
[0080]
Steering of the electric field (a.k.a., electrically positioning the stimulator) can be achieved by programming the stimulation parameters to activate different electrodes and program each activated electrode as a cathode, an anode, or an open circuit, as well as by controlling the current flowing from each electrode that is activated. Such steering capability allows the electric field to be located more precisely to target desired neurons, minimizing stimulation thresholds needed to capture the desired neural targets, thus minimizing power consumption of the stimulator. Also, if microstimulator 100 or lead 112 happens to rotate or migrate, some designs allow the electric field to be reprogrammed by adjusting the stimulation parameters, thus allowing the microstimulator to be electrically positioned without having to physically manipulate and reposition the microstimulator or electrodes.
[0081]
All or some cathodes may be electrically connected, or some or all of the cathodes may be independently driven individually or in configurable groups, i.e., the stimulator may have multiple stimulation channels. Similarly, all or some anodes may be electrically connected, or some or all of the anodes may be independently driven individually or in configurable groups. In some embodiments, at least one electrode is a dedicated anode, and in various embodiments, at least one electrode is a dedicated cathode.
[0082]
In certain embodiments, microstimulator 100 is capable of producing waveforms that can cause electrical stimulation and activation of neural fibers. Such a waveform includes a periodic asymmetric square wave pulse that consists of an initial cathodic pulse followed by a programmable delay with minimal or no current and ending with an anodic charge recovery pulse. Between stimulation pulses, the output of a given electrode consists of minimal and ideally no current. Other waveforms, including but not limited to trapezoidal and exponential, may be used. In some such nerve stimulation embodiments, the stimulator produces pulses in the range from about 10 μA to about 15 mA, with a compliance voltage from about 0.05 volts to about 20 volts, a pulsewidth range from about 10 μsec to about 4.0 msec, and a stimulation frequency range from about 1 pulse per second (pps) to about 10,000 pps.
[0083]
Certain embodiments include means for producing a biphasic stimulation periodic pulse waveform with a programmable stimulation phase pulsewidth in the range of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec and a charge recovery phase having a programmable pulsewidth in the range of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec. The biphasic stimulation periodic pulse waveform may be symmetric or asymmetric. The shapes of these waveforms may be any of those known to those of skill in the art. For example, the stimulation pulse may be a square pulse, and the charge recovery pulse may be a square pulse, or it may be a trapezoidal or quasitrapezoidal pulse.
[0084]
Some embodiments of the present invention, such as those producing UPAPs, include means for producing a stimulation pulse with, e.g., a quasitrapezoidal shape, with a programmable plateau pulsewidth in the range of about 10 μsec to about 5 msec, and a decaying trailing phase (e.g., an exponentially decaying trailing phase) having a programmable fall time in the range of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec. The stimulation pulse may be a square pulse, a trapezoidal or triangular pulse, or any other shape known to those of skill in the art. The charge recovery pulse may be a square pulse, a trapezoidal or quasitrapezoidal pulse, or any other shape known to those of skill in the art, with, e.g., a plateau pulse width of about 50 μsec to about 10 msec. As described earlier, this anodic charge recovery pulse may be tapered to avoid rebound depolarization and generation of additional action potentials. As such, the anodic pulse with, for instance, a trapezoidal or quasitrapezoidal pulse, may have a decaying trailing phase (e.g., an exponentially decaying trailing phase) with a programmable fall time in the range of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec.
[0085]
In some embodiments, part or all of the charge recovery pulse may precede the stimulation pulse. In certain embodiments, the charge recovery pulse entirely precedes the stimulation pulse. In various embodiments, a charge recovery pulse precedes the stimulation pulse and an additional charge recovery pulse follows the stimulation pulse.
[0086]
If a tripolar or other multipolar electrode configuration is used (e.g., a tripolar nerve cuff), then means for distributing the current asymmetrically between the electrodes may be included, i.e., the polarities and currents of the electrodes may be independently programmable. For example, in a nerve cuff with one cathode and two anodes, the anodic currents may be independently programmed to be of different amplitudes.
[0087]
The BION microstimulators described in the earlier referenced patents and publications require some architectural modifications in order to provide UPAP. The microstimulators 100 of the present invention configured to provide UPAP include, in some embodiments, at least three electrodes 110, and more specifically, at least one cathode and at least two anodes (which may be configured as such by the programmable stimulation parameters). The electrodes may be distributed collinearly along the long axis of the microstimulator, with the at least one cathode in between the at least two anodes. In some embodiments, the electrodes surround the microstimulator radially. In alternative embodiments, the electrodes may be segmented such that an individual electrode extends part way around the microstimulator; this should provide more focal application of cathodic and/or anodic currents.
[0088]
In various embodiments, one or more of the electrodes may be a “virtual” electrode, for instance, when a microstimulator with a fixation device such as a nerve cuff is used. A nerve cuff is typically used to maintain the electrodes in close proximity to a specific target tissue and to maintain a larger density of injected charge in the target area within the cuff. However, some of the current inevitably flows around the outside the cuff. When this happens, the edges of the cuff behave as “virtual” electrodes. The virtual electrodes typically have a polarity opposite that of the “real” electrodes that create the current flowing around the edge of the cuff. These virtual electrodes can stimulate tissue, as do real electrodes.
[0089]
For example, a single real anode inside a nerve cuff with a reference electrode outside the cuff will behave similar to a tripolar cuff electrode with real cathodes on either side of a real anode. As injected electric current from the anode flows towards the reference electrode (which is located external and typically relatively distant from the cuff), the current is forced to leave the cuff at the edges since the cuff is less electrically conducting than the tissue. As perceived by the tissue inside the cuff, the edges of the cuff appear to behave as sinks of current, thus creating virtual cathodes at the edges of the cuff. Similarly, if the single electrode in the cuff is a cathode, the edges of the cuff will behave as anodes.
[0090]
The amount of current and current density that flows through the edges of the cuff will determine the relative strength of the virtual electrodes. Different means can be used to control the relative strength of the virtual electrodes. For instance, by placing a single electrode asymmetrically within the cuff and a reference electrode symmetrically outside the cuff, a stronger virtual electrode (more current) will typically be created on the edge of the cuff that is closer to the real electrode. As another example, by placing the reference electrode asymmetrically outside the cuff and the real electrode symmetrically within the cuff, a stronger virtual electrode (more current) will be created on the edge of the cuff that is closer to the reference electrode. As yet another example, by increasing the diameter of one side of the cuff, the virtual electrode on that side can be made relatively weaker. Similarly, by decreasing the diameter of one side of the cuff, the virtual electrode on that side can be made relatively stronger. These and other means to control the relative strength of virtual electrodes can be combined to allow for further control of the relative strength of the virtual electrodes.
[0091]
As described above, due to the presence of virtual electrodes, systems with a given number of real electrodes can behave like systems with a greater number of electrodes. For instance, a system with a single real electrode, such as a single real cathode placed asymmetrically within a nerve cuff or a single real cathode placed asymmetrically on a microstimulator with a fixation device, can be used to generate UPAPs. The edge of the cuff/fixation device closer to the real electrode will be a stronger virtual anode than the edge of the cuff/fixation device further from the real electrode. Therefore, propagation of action potentials created by the cathode can be arrested by the stronger virtual anode but allowed to propagate past the weaker virtual anode. Previously described methods for controlling the relative strength of the virtual anodes can also be used in single real electrode UPAP generating systems. For purposes of this description and the claims defining the scope of the invention, virtual and real electrodes are both encompassed by the term “electrodes”. Therefore, for instance, this single real electrode UPAP generating system comprises at least three electrodes: the “real” cathode and two “virtual” anodes. Similarly, where herein reference is made to “a cathode” or “an anode” the cathode and/or anode may be “real” or “virtual”.
[0092]
UPAPs can also be produced with systems containing only two real electrodes. For instance, the asymmetric two-electrode cuff (ATEC) system described earlier used a larger cuff diameter at the anode side of the cuff and asymmetrically placed the anode and cathode within the cuff. This configuration reduced the relative strength of the virtual cathode, thereby reducing the depolarizing effects of the virtual cathode. Similarly, a microstimulator with a fixation device, even one with only two electrodes, can be configured to produce UPAPs. In configurations where the anode and cathode share a power source, the current that depolarizes the nerve at the cathode hyperpolarizes the nerve fibers at the anode. In configurations including, e.g., a reference electrode, an anode, a cathode, and more than one power source, the hyperpolarizing current may be, for instance, of longer duration and/or higher in amplitude than the depolarizing current. These anodes and cathodes may be real or virtual. Methods described above for reducing the relative strength of a virtual cathode can also be used in UPAP systems with two real electrodes.
[0093]
Virtual electrodes can also be used to reduce the effect of other virtual electrodes. A virtual cathode may be eliminated with the addition of an anode on the opposite side of the cuff from the virtual cathode. This extra anode can also be a virtual anode. Additionally or alternatively, the virtual cathode can be addressed with the methods described above for controlling the relative strength of virtual electrodes. For instance, in a two “real” electrode cuff system, a virtual cathode appears on the edge of the cuff near the real anode, while a virtual anode appears on the side near the real cathode. By placing the real electrodes asymmetrically within the cuff, in such a way that the real anode is further from the edge of the cuff than the real cathode, the relative strength of the virtual anode will increase and the relative strength of the virtual cathode will diminish. This system with two real electrodes will effectively produce UPAPs in the direction of the real cathode, while arresting propagation in the direction of the real anode.
[0094]
As mentioned earlier, a microstimulator may include or be attached to a fixation device that holds the microstimulator and/or electrodes in close apposition to the nerve. Among other things, this may help control the spacing desired between the electrodes and target nerve. For example, the microstimulator might include or be integrated as part of a nerve cuff. Various embodiments of this invention include a cuff electrode assembly that allows UPAPs. Such a device may be a tripolar cuff electrode 116 (FIG. 2B), possibly with an asymmetric placement of the center (cathodic) electrode. Other cuff electrodes can be as described above, where one or more of the electrodes is a virtual electrode. According to some embodiments of the invention, a microstimulator as in the '332 application, with examples shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, includes a fixation device 130. Once again, one or more of the electrodes may be a virtual electrode. According to other embodiments, a microstimulator is attached to one or more cuff electrodes via a lead, as in FIG. 2B.
[0095]
The microstimulator may also include means for simultaneously providing anodic current of different amplitude through two or more different anodes. For example, when a microstimulator with a nerve cuff or the like is used, this allows one anode to be used to produce a relatively high amplitude hyperpolarizing anodic current, while another anode may be used to produce a relatively low amplitude anodic current to shunt some of the current that leaks outside the nerve cuff, thereby preventing depolarization and stimulation by a virtual cathode. In some such embodiments, the means includes two different current sources with a common cathode and different anodes. In some embodiments, the means includes programmable stimulation parameters. In some embodiments, the means includes two or more microstimulators.
[0096]
The present invention also provides means for unidirectional propagation of action potentials in a selected subset(s) of neurons by taking advantage of the fact that the speed of an action potential depends on the diameter of a neuron. For instance, as is known in the art, the relatively large diameter A-α fibers (up to about 22 micron diameter) conduct action potentials at up to about 120 m/sec, while the relatively small diameter C fibers (up to about 1 micron diameter) conduct action potentials at up to about 2 m/sec. As used herein, large diameter fibers means relatively large diameter nerve fibers, and includes A-α, A-β, and A-γ fibers, while small diameter fibers means relatively small diameter nerve fibers, and includes A-δ, B, and C fibers. Through appropriate timing, an action potential may be passed along one size fiber and may be arrested in another.
[0097]
For example, action potentials in large diameter afferent fibers travel relatively faster than in small diameter afferent fibers. A relatively high-amplitude depolarizing current is applied to the nerve to initiate bidirectional action potentials in both small and large diameter nerve fibers. To arrest afferent propagation of action potentials in small diameter fibers, relatively high-amplitude hyperpolarizing anodic current is applied at the anode after the large diameter action potentials has passed (or has at least been initiated) and before the action potentials in the small diameter fibers has been initiated (or at least before it has passed). Thus, some or all of the action potentials in the small diameter afferent fibers would be arrested. To do this would likely require the electrodes to be spaced relatively far apart, for instance, with one or more microstimulators or with electrodes on leads attached to a microstimulator(s).
[0098]
Similarly, action potentials in large diameter efferent fibers travel relatively faster than in small diameter efferent fibers. Again, a relatively high-amplitude depolarizing current is applied to the nerve to initiate bidirectional action potentials in both small and large diameter nerve fibers. To arrest efferent propagation of action potentials in small diameter fibers, once again, relatively high-amplitude hyperpolarizing anodic current is applied at the anode after the large diameter action potentials has passed (or has at least been initiated) and before the action potentials in the small diameter fibers has been initiated (or at least before it has passed). Thus, some or all of the action potentials in the small diameter efferent fibers would be arrested. As above, electrodes spaced relatively far apart, such as electrodes on leads attached to one or more microstimulators, would likely be required.
[0099]
In another example, the present invention provides means for arresting propagation of action potentials in small and large diameter fibers in one direction along a nerve. As in the examples above, a relatively high-amplitude depolarizing current is applied to the nerve to initiate bidirectional action potentials in both small and large diameter nerve fibers. As used herein, a relatively high-amplitude depolarizing current is applied at an amplitude of about 0.01 mA to about 15 mA, with a pulse width of about 0.01 msec to about 5.0 msec. To arrest propagation of action potentials in small and large diameter fibers, a hyperpolarizing anodic current(s), which is of relatively high-amplitude, is applied at the anode before the action potentials in the small and large diameters fibers has passed. As used herein, relatively high-amplitude hyperpolarizing anodic current is applied at an amplitude of about 0.1 mA to about 15 mA, with a pulse width of about 0.1 msec to about 10.0 msec. In this and the examples above, the anodic current may be tapered at the end in order to reduce the likelihood of a rebound stimulation of an action potential, as described earlier. Apply additional anodic current(s) as needed to prevent stimulation at a virtual cathode.
[0100]
As yet another example, the present invention provides means for arresting propagation of action potentials in large diameter fibers. A relatively large cathodic current can initiate a bi-directional action potential in both small diameter and large diameter fibers. However, a relatively low-amplitude hyperpolarizing anodic current is more likely to hyperpolarize a large diameter fiber than a small diameter fiber and is thus more likely to cause anodic block and arrest of action potential propagation in a large fiber. Thus, in order to selectively arrest action potentials in large diameter fibers while allowing propagation of action potentials in small diameter fibers, the following steps may be followed:
[0101]
1) Apply a relatively high-amplitude depolarizing cathodic current to the nerve. This will depolarize axons of all sizes and will thus initiate bi-directional action potentials in both small and large nerve fibers.
[0102]
2) On the side(s) of the cathode on which arrest is desired, apply a relatively low-amplitude hyperpolarizing anodic current to the nerve. As used herein, relatively low-amplitude hyperpolarizing anodic current is applied at an amplitude of about 0.01 mA to about 10 mA, with a pulse width of about 0.01 msec to about 5.0 msec. This current should be sufficient to hyperpolarize and arrest action potentials in large fibers but not in small fibers, as large fibers are more easily hyperpolarized than small fibers. Once again, the anodic current may be tapered at the end to reduce the likelihood of rebound stimulation.
[0103]
3) Apply additional anodic current(s) simultaneously with the steps above as needed to prevent stimulation at a virtual cathode.
[0104]
Stimulation parameters may have different effects on different neural tissue, and parameters may be chosen to target specific neural populations and to exclude others, or to increase neural activity in specific neural populations and to decrease neural activity in others. As an example, relatively low frequency stimulation (i.e., less than about 50-100 Hz) typically has an excitatory effect on surrounding neural tissue, leading to increased neural activity, whereas relatively high frequency stimulation (i.e., greater than about 50-100 Hz) may have an inhibitory effect, leading to decreased neural activity. Therefore, low frequency electrical stimulation may be used to increase electrical activity of a nerve by increasing the number of action potentials per second in either one direction or in both directions. As yet another example, a relatively low-amplitude stimulation current is more likely to initiate an action potential in large diameter fibers, while a relatively high-amplitude stimulation current is more likely to initiate an action potential in both large and small diameter fibers.
[0105]
Some embodiments of implantable microstimulator 100 include a power source and/or power storage device 126. Possible power options for a microstimulator of the present invention include, but are not limited to, an external power source coupled to the stimulation device, e.g., via an RF link, a self-contained power source utilizing any suitable means of generation or storage of energy (e.g., a primary battery, a replenishable or rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion battery, an electrolytic capacitor, a super- or ultra-capacitor, or the like), and if the self-contained power source is replenishable or rechargeable, means of replenishing or recharging the power source (e.g., an RF link, an optical link, a thermal link, or other energy-coupling link).
[0106]
According to certain embodiments of the invention, a microstimulator operates independently. According to various embodiments of the invention, a microstimulator operates in a coordinated manner with other microstimulator(s), other implanted device(s), or other device(s) external to the patient's body. For instance, a microstimulator may control or operate under the control of another implanted microstimulator(s), other implanted device(s), or other device(s) external to the patient's body. A microstimulator may communicate with other implanted microstimulators, other implanted devices, and/or devices external to a patient's body via, e.g., an RF link, an ultrasonic link, a thermal link, an optical link, or the like. Specifically, a microstimulator may communicate with an external remote control (e.g., patient and/or physician programmer) that is capable of sending commands and/or data to a microstimulator and that may also be capable of receiving commands and/or data from a microstimulator.
[0107]
In certain embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, the patient 170 switches microstimulator 100 on and off by use of controller 180, which may be hand held. Microstimulator 100 is operated by controller 180 by any of various means, including sensing the proximity of a permanent magnet located in controller 180, sensing RF transmissions from controller 180, or the like.
[0108]
External components for programming and/or providing power to various embodiments of microstimulator 100 are also illustrated in FIG. 4. When communication with microstimulator 100 is desired, patient 170 is positioned on or near external communications appliance 190, which appliance contains one or more inductive coils 192 or other means of communication (e.g., RF transmitter and receiver). External communications appliance 190 is connected to or is a part of external programmer 200 which may receive power 202 from a conventional power source. External programmer 200 contains manual input means 208, e.g., a keypad, whereby the patient 170 or a caregiver 212 can request changes in the stimulation parameters produced during the normal operation of microstimulator 100. In these embodiments, manual input means 208 includes various electromechanical switches and/or visual display devices or the like that provide the patient and/or caregiver with information about the status and prior programming of microstimulator 100.
[0109]
Alternatively or additionally, external programmer 200 is provided with an interface means 216 for interacting with other computing means 218, such as by a serial interface cable or infrared link to a personal computer or to a telephone modem or the like. Such interface means 216 may permit a clinician to monitor the status of the implant and prescribe new stimulation parameters from a remote location.
[0110]
The external appliance(s) may be embedded in a cushion, pillow, mattress cover, or garment. Other possibilities exist, including a belt, scarf, patch, or other structure(s) that may be affixed to the patient's body or clothing. External appliances may include a package that can be, e.g., worn on the belt, may include an extension to a transmission coil affixed, e.g., with a velcro band or adhesive, or may be combinations of these or other structures able to perform the functions described herein.
[0111]
In order to help determine the strength and/or duration of electrical stimulation required to produce the desired effect, in some embodiments, a patient's response to and/or need for treatment is sensed. For example, muscle activity (e.g., limb EMG), electrical activity of a nerve (e.g., ENG), and/or electrical activity of the brain (e.g., EEG) may be sensed. Other measures of the state of the patient may additionally or alternatively be sensed. For instance, medication, neurotransmitter, hormone, interleukin, cytokine, lymphokine, chemokine, growth factor, and/or enzyme levels or their changes, and/or levels or changes in other substance(s) borne in the blood and/or in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be sensed, using, e.g., one or more Chemically Sensitive Field-Effect Transistors (CHEMFETs) such as Enzyme-Selective Field-Effect Transistors (ENFETs) or Ion-Sensitive Field-Effect Transistors (ISFETs, as are available from Sentron CMT of Enschede, The Netherlands). For instance, the level or changes in level of neuron-specific enolase, a key glycolytic enzyme, in either or both the blood serum or CSF may be sensed. As another example, to sense erectile dysfunction, a penile tumescence sensor, penile arteriole pressure sensor, and/or nitric oxide sensor may be used.
[0112]
As another example, when electrodes of implantable stimulator 100 are implanted on or near the vagus nerve, a sensor or stimulating electrode (or other electrode) of microstimulator 100 may be used to sense changes in EEG resulting from the stimulation applied to the nerve. Alternatively, a “microstimulator” dedicated to sensory processes communicates with a microstimulator that provides the stimulation pulses. The implant circuitry 104 may, if necessary, amplify and transmit these sensed signals, which may be analog or digital. Other methods of determining the required stimulation include sensing impedance, pressure, acceleration, mechanical stress, and capacitance, as well as other methods mentioned herein, and yet others that will be evident to those of skill in the art upon review of the present disclosure. The sensed information may be used to control stimulation parameters in a closed-loop manner.
[0113]
As mentioned earlier, use of, for instance, a multi-electrode cuff, where electrodes are present on the inner surface of the cuff, may be used to create UPAPs. In this example of sensing a physical condition of a patient, sense amplifiers may be employed to sense the propagating action potentials that result from the cathodic stimulus from the cuff's stimulating electrode. For instance, a technique (such as described herein) to implement the UPAP is employed, and the signal at each end of the cuff, or at a more remote location(s) on the nerve, is measured. If the UPAP generation is successful, then an action potential will be sensed traveling only in the desired direction, for instance, at only one end of the cuff.
[0114]
If the UPAP technique is unsuccessful, it may be because (1) no action potential was generated by the stimulus, (2) bidirectional action potentials were generated, (3) a UPAP was generated in the wrong direction. In the case of such a failure, an algorithm can be employed to generate the correct UPAP. For instance, if no action potentials were produced, the cathodic stimulus may be increased until bi-directional action potentials are generated. If bi-directional action potentials were produced or a UPAP was generated in the wrong direction, one of the techniques discussed herein for creating UPAPs may be implemented and adjusted until the UPAP in the appropriate direction results. When using virtual and real electrodes, the configuration and/or stimulus strengths may be adjusted to create the effect. Or, if stimulus waveform characteristics are employed (trapezoidal pulses with an exponential trailing edge), the parameters of the waveforms may be adjusted until the proper UPAPs are generated.
[0115]
In some instances, the time(s) of arrival of the sensed action potentials and/or evoked potentials at the electrodes may be used to adjust the UPAP-generating mechanisms. Since various nerve fiber types have different conduction velocities, the arrival time of an action potential (as defined by a waveform morphological feature, such as an upstroke, maximum rate of change of sensed amplitude, peak value, zero crossing, or the like) at an electrode some distance from the stimulation site may be used to determine if the UPAP generation was successful, i.e., whether the fiber type to be inhibited is no longer generating action potentials in the direction to be blocked.
[0116]
In certain instances, the morphology of the sensed action potentials and/or evoked potentials may be used to determine the effectiveness of UPAP generation. At an electrode close to the stimulating electrode, the difference in propagation velocity between fibers is often not great enough to create differences in arrival times between sensed propagating action potentials; that is, the sensed signal at a nearby electrode will be a spatial- and time-averaged waveform that is made up of the traveling action potentials of different fiber types. Techniques for decomposing the waveform into the constituent action potentials from the different fiber types have been proposed. (See, for instance, Barker, et al., “Determination of the Distribution of Conduction Velocities in Human Nerve Trunks” Biomedical Engineering 26(2):76-81,1979 and Schoonhoven, et al., “The Inverse Problem in Electroneurography-I: Conceptual Basis and Mathematical Formulation” Biomedical Engineering 35(10):769-777, 1988.) An algorithm incorporating waveform analysis can be utilized to decompose the sensed signal to determine if the UPAP is successfully arresting the propagation of an action potential from a specific fiber type(s).
[0117]
As an example, the sensed waveform may be characterized during a calibration routine. A sensed signal may be obtained from the desired UPAP configuration/parameters and compared to a sensed signal obtained from bi-directional propagation configuration/parameters. The state of bidirectional versus unidirectional propagation may be verified by either or both sensed signals and/or by clinical symptoms. The differences in the unidirectional and bidirectional waveforms could be characterized by a feature or suite of features indicating the differences.
[0118]
For instance, if it is reliably determined that the peak value of the sensed action potential from a fiber is related to the square of the conduction velocity of that fiber, then, given a known or assumed distribution of fibers within the cuff electrode, the fibers which are propagating action potentials may be inferred from the amplitude of the compound action potential (CAP) waveshape. As an example, if larger fibers (which have higher conduction velocities) are to be blocked by UPAP techniques, then, during bidirectional propagation (e.g., for calibration), large sensed CAP waveforms would be detected on the electrode in the direction to be blocked. When the UPAP technique is successful, a dramatic reduction in sensed signal amplitude will result, due to blocked propagation of the larger fibers. There may still be a propagated CAP of lower amplitude sensed by the electrode due to some smaller fibers being activated by the cathodic stimulus, but a sense threshold can be established, where signals that exceed this threshold indicate propagation by larger fibers and failure of the UPAP method.
[0119]
In an alternative example, if sense electrodes are placed at each end of a nerve cuff, a differential comparison can be made. After timing and gain adjustments are made, a large difference in signal amplitude between the two electrodes would indicate UPAP success, where a small difference in signals would indicate either loss of nerve capture or bilateral propagation.
[0120]
Again, the stimulator may sense a physical condition of a patient by monitoring the sensed signal(s) for the characteristic feature(s) to determine if the UPAP generation was successful. If the UPAP succeeded, no changes need be made to the stimulator parameters or configuration. If the UPAP failed, stimulator parameter(s) and/or configuration may be modified until the desired UPAP is recreated, as indicated by the sensed, characteristic waveform that indicates the UPAP. This system may be periodically recalibrated, either automatically or during follow-up sessions with a clinician.
[0121]
While a microstimulator may also incorporate means of sensing one or more conditions of the patient, it may alternatively or additionally be desirable to use a separate or specialized implantable device to sense and telemeter physiological conditions/responses in order to adjust stimulation parameters. This information may be transmitted to an external device, such as external appliance 190, or may be transmitted directly to implanted stimulator(s) 100. However, in some cases, it may not be necessary or desired to include a sensing function or device, in which case stimulation parameters are fixed and/or determined and refined, for instance, by patient feedback, or the like.
[0122]
Thus, it is seen that in accordance with the present invention, one or more external appliances may be provided to interact with microstimulator 100, and may be used to accomplish, potentially among other things, one or more of the following functions:
[0123]
Function 1: If necessary, transmit electrical power from external programmer 200 via appliance 190 to microstimulator 100 in order to power the device and/or recharge power source/storage device 126. External programmer 200 may include an algorithm that adjusts stimulation parameters automatically whenever microstimulator(s) 100 is/are recharged, whenever communication is established between them, and/or when instructed to do so.
For the treatment of various types and degrees of medical conditions, it may be desirable to modify or adjust the algorithmic functions performed by the implanted and/or external components, as well as the surgical approaches, in ways that would be obvious to skilled practitioners of these arts. For example, in some situations, it may be desirable to employ more than one implantable stimulator 100, each of which could be separately controlled by means of a digital address. Multiple channels and/or multiple patterns of stimulation might thereby be programmed by the clinician and controlled by the patient in order to, for instance, stimulate larger areas of neural tissue in order to maximize therapeutic efficacy.
[0128]
In some embodiments discussed earlier, microstimulator 100, or a group of two or more microstimulators, is controlled via closed-loop operation. A need for and/or response to stimulation is sensed via microstimulator 100, or by an additional microstimulator (which may or may not be dedicated to the sensing function), or by another implanted or external device. If necessary, the sensed information is transmitted to microstimulator 100. In some embodiments, the stimulation parameters used by microstimulator 100 are automatically adjusted based on the sensed information. Thus, the stimulation parameters are adjusted in a closed-loop manner to provide stimulation tailored to the need for and/or response to stimulation.
[0129]
For instance, in some embodiments of the present invention, a first and second “stimulator” are provided. The second “stimulator” periodically (e.g. once per minute) records e.g., nerve activity (or medication, etc.), which it transmits to the first stimulator. The first stimulator uses the sensed information to adjust stimulation parameters according to an algorithm programmed, e.g., by a clinician. For example, stimulation may be activated (or stimulation current amplitude may be increased) in response to EEG changes indicative of an impending or an actual seizure. As another example, when the microstimulator is used to stimulate the cavernous nerve to produce an erection, stimulation current amplitude may be increased in response to a decrease in intracavernosal pressure. Alternatively, one “microstimulator” performs both the sensing and stimulating functions.
[0130]
For example, as shown in the example of FIG. 5, a first microstimulator 100, implanted beneath the skin of patient 170, provides electrical stimulation via electrodes 110 to a first location; a second microstimulator 100′ provides electrical stimulation to a second location; and a third microstimulator 100″ provides electrical stimulation to a third location. As mentioned earlier, the implanted devices may operate independently or may operate in a coordinated manner with other similar implanted devices, other implanted devices, or other devices external to the patient's body, as shown by the control lines 222, 223 and 224 in FIG. 5. That is, in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, external controller 220 controls the operation of each of the implanted microstimulators 100, 100′ and 100″. According to various embodiments of the invention, an implanted device, e.g. microstimulator 100, may control or operate under the control of another implanted device(s), e.g., microstimulator 100′ and/or microstimulator 100″. That is, a device made in accordance with the invention may communicate with other implanted stimulators, other implanted devices, and/or devices external to a patient's body, e.g., via an RF link, an ultrasonic link, a thermal link, an optical link, or other communications link. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, microstimulator 100, 100′, and/or 100″, made in accordance with the invention, may communicate with an external remote control (e.g., patient and/or physician programmer 220) that is capable of sending commands and/or data to implanted devices and that may also be capable of receiving commands and/or data from implanted devices.
[0131]
For instance, two or more stimulators may be used in a UPAP system. One stimulator may depolarize the nerve, inducing bidirectional propagation of action potentials. One or more additional stimulators may be responsible for hyperpolarizing the nerve, or certain fiber types within the nerve. The stimulators may communicate with each other to coordinate these activities, or they may communicate with and/or receive communications from an external controller. The stimulation parameters and/or timing may be fixed, adjusted manually, and/or automatically updated based on sensed physical condition(s) of the patient. One or more microstimulators included in the system may include a fixation device, such as a nerve cuff. For instance, in certain embodiments, the stimulator(s) used for hyperpolarizing include a nerve cuff, while the stimulator(s) for depolarizing do not.
[0132]
A microstimulator made in accordance with the invention may incorporate, in some embodiments, first sensing means 228 for sensing therapeutic effects, clinical variables, or other indicators of the state of the patient, such as EEG, ENG, and/or EMG. The stimulator additionally or alternatively incorporates second means 229 for sensing levels or changes in one or more medications, neurotransmitters, hormones, interleukins, cytokines, lymphokines, chemokines, growth factors, enzymes, and/or other substances in the blood plasma, in the cerebrospinal fluid, or in the local interstitial fluid. The stimulator additionally or alternatively incorporates third means 230 for sensing electrical current levels and/or waveforms. Sensed information may be used to control the parameters of the stimulator(s) in a closed loop manner, as shown by control lines 225, 226, and 227. Thus, the sensing means may be incorporated into a device that also includes electrical stimulation means, or the sensing means (that may or may not have stimulating means) may communicate the sensed information to another device(s) with stimulating means, or to another device capable of commanding other devices to stimulate. For instance, a “central” device can analyze the sensed data and command other devices to stimulate appropriately. This central device may or may not be implanted.
[0133]
As described earlier, the present invention teaches a microstimulator system for stimulation of a nerve with unidirectionally propagating action potentials that may effectively select the efferent fibers or the afferent fibers propagating more towards the periphery and viscera or more towards the CNS. Such selective stimulation may be an effective treatment for a variety of disorders. For instance, and as discussed in more detail below, stimulation of the vagus nerve with unidirectionally propagating action potentials that effectively select and stimulate the therapeutic afferent fibers of the vagus nerve may be an effective treatment for a variety of disorders, including epilepsy and/or depression.
[0134]
A commercially available vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) system is currently used as a therapy for refractory epilepsy. Epilepsy afflicts one to two percent of the population in the developed world, and an estimated 25-33% of these are refractory to medication and conventional surgery. The currently available VNS system produces a significant number of side effects due to recruitment of efferent fibers.
[0135]
The vagus nerve 250 (see FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C) provides the primary parasympathetic nerve to the thoracic organs and most of the abdominal organs. It originates in the brainstem and runs in the neck through the carotid sheath 252 (FIG. 6B) with jugular vein 256 and common carotid artery 258, and then adjacent to the esophagus to the thoracic and abdominal viscera. As seen in FIGS. 6A and 6C, vagus nerve 250 has many branches, including pharyngeal and laryngeal branches 260, cardiac branches 264, gastric branches 266, and pancreaticoduodenal branches 268. Because the vagus nerve innervates the pharynx, the most common side effect associated with VNS therapy is a hoarse voice during stimulation. Some patients also experience a mild cough, tickling in the back of the pharynx, or increased hoarseness. Stimulation of the vagus nerve may also lead to a decreased opening of the vocal cords, which results in shortness of breath during exertion.
[0136]
The vagus nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to the heart, and stimulation of the vagus nerve has been demonstrated to cause bradycardia and arrhythmias. Stimulation of the left vagus nerve distal to the cardiac branch of the vagus nerve has not resulted in significantly increased cardiac side effects; however, the stimulating electrodes may only be safely placed on this distal portion of the left vagus nerve. Bilateral stimulation is not allowed, as stimulation of the right vagus nerve produces significant cardiac side effects. Finally, the vagus nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to the lungs and most of the abdominal organs (e.g., the stomach and small intestine), and improper stimulation of the vagus nerve may impair proper functioning of these organs.
[0137]
Some embodiments of this invention include a microstimulator that generates UPAPs of the vagus nerve (which, as used herein, includes branches of the vagus nerve). A microstimulator may be implanted on or near the vagus nerve in the neck region, e.g., by dissecting down to the carotid sheath. A microstimulator may also/instead be surgically implanted on or near a more proximal or distal portion of the vagus nerve. Various stimulator configurations may be used. For instance, a cuff electrode, which may be part of a microstimulator, attached to a microstimulator via a short lead, or attached to an IPG, may be implanted around the vagus nerve.
[0138]
A single microstimulator may be implanted, or two or more microstimulators may be implanted to achieve greater stimulation of the vagus nerve. According to some embodiments of the invention, a single microstimulator is implanted for stimulation of the left vagus nerve. According to various embodiments of the invention, one microstimulator is implanted for stimulation of the left vagus nerve and another is implanted for stimulation of the right vagus nerve. Bilateral stimulation may be effected with two separate microstimulators or by a microstimulator with multiple leads. Vagus nerve stimulation with UPAPs may alternatively or additionally be provided by one or more IPGs attached to one or more leads with, for instance, electrodes in a nerve cuff.
[0139]
For instance, a UPAP system (e.g., a microstimulator with a fixation device, a nerve cuff attached to an IPG implanted in a subclavicular location, or the like) may be provided on the vagus nerve in the carotid sheath (unilaterally or bilaterally). Stimulation parameters may comprise, for instance, a stimulation pulse with a quasitrapezoidal shape, with a plateau pulse width in the range of about 10 μsec to about 5 msec and/or an exponentially decaying trailing phase having a fall time in the range of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec. A charge recovery pulse, may comprise, for instance, a quasitrapezoidal shape with a plateau pulsewidth of about 50 μsec to about 10 msec and/or a decaying trailing phase with a fall time of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec. Other possible UPAP parameters are taught herein. In some electrode configurations, for instance tripolar or other multipolar configurations, means for distributing the current asymmetrically between the electrodes may be included, i.e., the polarities and currents of the electrodes are independently programmable.
[0140]
According to such an embodiment of the invention, the stimulation can increase excitement of afferent fibers of the vagus nerve(s), thereby treating epilepsy and/or depression, while limiting side effects typically caused by bidirectional stimulation that activates efferent fibers with orthodromically propagating action potentials. Low-frequency electrical stimulation (i.e., less than about 50-100 Hz) is likely to produce the therapeutic activation. To determine the need for and/or response to such treatment, EEG of the cortex, thalamus, a region adjacent to a scarred region of the brain, or any area of the brain known to give rise to a seizure in a particular patient, may be sensed. Alternatively or additionally, limb EMG and/or other conditions, as known to those of skill in the art, may be sensed.
[0141]
Additional uses include the application to tachycardia via effective selection and stimulation of the efferent fibers of the vagus nerve, such as one or more superior and/or inferior cardiac branches. Electrodes capable of UPAP may be provided on the right and/or left vagus nerve(s) in, for instance, the neck, the thorax, and/or adjacent to the esophagus. Excitatory stimulation (i.e., less than about 50-100 Hz) should be used to stimulate vagal parasympathetic activity to the heart to promote a decrease in heart rate and thereby treat tachycardia. To determine the need for and/or response to such treatment, ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow, cardiac output, acceleration, and/or breathing, for instance, may be sensed.
[0142]
As another example, stimulation of the cavernous nerve(s) with unidirectionally propagating action potentials that effectively select the therapeutic parasympathetic efferent fibers of the cavernous nerve(s) may be an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction and may minimize distracting, unpleasant, or uncomfortable sensation that may be associated with electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve(s).
[0143]
Recent estimates suggest that the number of men in the U.S. with erectile dysfunction may be 10-20 million, and inclusion of men with partial erectile dysfunction increases the estimate to about 30 million. Erectile dysfunction has a number of causes, both physiological and psychological, and in many patients the disorder is multifactorial. The causes include several that are essentially neurologic in origin. Damage to the autonomic pathways innervating the penis may eliminate “psychogenic” erection initiated by the central nervous system. Lesions of the somatic nervous pathways may impair reflexogenic erections and may interrupt tactile sensation needed to maintain psychogenic erections. Spinal cord lesions may produce varying degrees of erectile failure depending on the location and completeness of the lesions. Not only do traumatic lesions affect erectile ability, but disorders leading to peripheral neuropathy may impair neuronal innervation of the penis or of the sensory afferents.
[0144]
A well-publicized medication is available for erectile dysfunction, but it requires an hour to exert its full effects, and it may have significant side effects such as abnormal vision, flushing, headache, and diarrhea. Intracavernosal injection therapy, in which a patient injects vasodilator substances (e.g., papaverine) into the corpora of the penis, suffers a high rate of patient dropout, as do vacuum constriction devices. Several forms of penile prostheses are available, including semirigid, malleable, and inflatable, but these have significant problems with mechanical failure, infection, and erosions.
[0145]
The male erectile response is a vascular event initiated by neuronal action and maintained by a complex interplay between vascular and neurological events. The pelvic splanchnic nerve plexus 280, the nerve fibers of which originate in the sacral spinal cord (S2, S3, S4, respectively) and intertwine with the inferior hypogastric plexus 284, provides the primary parasympathetic input to the penis, i.e., the corpus cavernosa 286 and the corpus spongiosum 288, via the greater cavernous nerve 290 and lesser cavernous nerve 292. This parasympathetic input allows erection by relaxation of the smooth muscle and dilation of the helicine arteries of the penis. The cavernous nerves 290, 292 pass bilaterally near the apex, mid, and base of prostate 294 and then near the posterolateral urethra (not shown). The nerves then run underneath the pubic symphysis 296 and into the penis. Conversely, sympathetic innervation from the hypogastric nerves, specifically from the interior hypogastric plexus 284, makes the penis flaccid due to constriction of the smooth muscle and helicine arteries of the penis.
[0146]
One or more stimulators may be implanted to stimulate cavernous nerve(s) 290, 292, branches thereof, and/or nerves that give rise to a cavernous nerve(s) (collectively referred to herein simply as cavernous nerves) in any of the aforementioned regions by dissecting down to the nerve(s). Such dissection may usually be performed through any incision allowing access to the prostate and/or the posterolateral urethra. For example, an incision could be made above the pubic symphysis 296, and the tissues between the incision and at least one of the cavernous nerves could be dissected away. Alternatively, an incision may be made immediately below the pubic symphysis 296, or an incision may be made through the perineum. As another alternative, an incision may be made in the dorsolateral penis 298.
[0147]
Some embodiments of this invention include a stimulator that allows UPAPs of the cavernous nerve(s). Such a stimulator (for instance, a microstimulator of the present invention) allows the effective selection of efferent fibers. Via stimulation of primarily efferent fibers, unidirectional stimulation of the cavernous nerve(s) may be an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. By effectively avoiding the production of orthodromic action potentials on the afferent fibers, such stimulation may minimize distracting, unpleasant, or uncomfortable sensation that may be associated with electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve(s) or other associated nerve fibers, as mentioned above.
[0148]
According to such an embodiment of the invention, a UPAP system (e.g., a microstimulator with a fixation device or a nerve cuff attached to an IPG implanted in the abdomen or the like) may be provided on one or more cavernous nerves or neurovascular bundles containing a cavernous nerve. Stimulation parameters may comprise, for instance, a stimulation pulse with a quasitrapezoidal shape, with a plateau pulse width in the range of about 10 μsec to about 5 msec and an exponentially decaying trailing phase having a fall time in the range of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec. A charge recovery pulse, may comprise, for instance, a quasitrapezoidal shape with a plateau pulsewidth of about 50 μsec to about 10 msec and a decaying trailing phase with a fall time of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec. Again, other possible UPAP parameters are taught herein. In some electrode configurations, for instance, tripolar or other multipolar configurations, means for distributing the current asymmetrically between the electrodes may be included, i.e., the polarities and currents of the electrodes are independently programmable.
[0149]
The stimulation can increase excitement of a nerve(s), such as a cavernous nerve(s), thereby treating erectile dysfunction. Low-frequency electrical stimulation (i.e., less than about 50-100 Hz) is likely to produce such activation. To determine the need for and/or response to such treatment, a penile tumescence sensor, penile arteriole pressure sensor, and/or nitric oxide sensor, for instance, may be used.
[0150]
A single microstimulator may be implanted, or two or more systems may be implanted to achieve greater stimulation of a cavernous nerve(s). According to one embodiment of the invention, a single microstimulator is implanted for stimulation of a single cavernous nerve. According to another embodiment of the invention, one microstimulator is implanted for stimulation of one of the left cavernous nerves and another is implanted for stimulation of one of the right cavernous nerves. According to other embodiments, several microstimulators are used: one for each nerve to be stimulated, or even multiple for each nerve to be stimulated. Bilateral stimulation and other multiple stimulation site treatments may be effected with two separate microstimulators or by a microstimulator with multiple leads. Cavernous nerve stimulation with UPAPs may alternatively or additionally be provided by one or more IPGs attached to one or more leads with, for instance, electrodes in a nerve cuff.
[0151]
Additionally, sensing means described earlier may be used to orchestrate first the activation of microstimulator(s)/electrode(s) targeting one area of a nerve, and then, when appropriate, the microstimulator(s)/electrode(s) targeting the same or another area of the nerve, in order to, for instance, implement UPAPs. Alternatively, this orchestration may be programmed, and not based on a sensed condition.
[0152]
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.
Claims (38)
What is claimed is:
1. A microstimulator capable of being electrically positioned, comprising:
electrical circuitry electrically connected to the at least two electrodes, wherein the electrical circuitry generates stimulation pulses applied by the electrodes, which stimulation pulses are variable to create steerable electric fields;
programmable memory connected to the electrical circuitry, which programmable memory stores stimulation parameters determining the activated electrodes and the stimulation pulses generated by the electrical circuitry and applied by the activated electrodes; and
a power source connected to the electrical circuitry, which power source provides operating power to the microstimulator.
2. The microstimulator of claim 1 further comprising a multiplicity of programmably configurable electrodes for applying steerable electric fields.
3. The microstimulator of claim 2 wherein the electrodes are positioned along and around the microstimulator.
4. The microstimulator of claim 3 wherein the electric fields are steerable radially around the microstimulator and longitudinally along the microstimulator.
5. The microstimulator of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are programmably configurable prior to implantation and after implantation.
6. The microstimulator of claim 1 further comprising at least one hard-wired electrode.
7. The microstimulator of claim 1 further comprising a lead, wherein at least one of the electrodes is positioned on the lead.
8. The microstimulator of claim 7 wherein the lead is no longer than about 150 mm in length.
9. The microstimulator of claim 1 wherein each activated electrode is configured as one of an anode, cathode, and an open circuit.
10. The microstimulator of claim 9 further comprising at least one configurable group of electrodes comprising at least two activated electrodes.
11. The microstimulator of claim 9 wherein the stimulation parameters include controlling the amount of current flowing from at least one of the electrodes that is activated.
12. The microstimulator of claim 1 further comprising an external programmer that adjusts the stimulation parameters.
13. The microstimulator of claim 1 wherein the stimulation parameters are fixed.
14. The microstimulator of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor that senses a physical condition of a patient.
15. The microstimulator of claim 14 wherein the sensed physical condition is used to adjust the stimulation parameters.
16. The microstimulator of claim 15 wherein the stimulation parameters are automatically adjusted.
17. The microstimulator of claim 1 wherein the stimulation parameters include controlling the amount of current flowing from at least one of the electrodes that is activated.
18. The microstimulator of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are programmed to unidirectionally propagate action potentials.
19. The microstimulator of claim 18 further comprising at least one lead and wherein at least one electrode is positioned on the at least one lead.
20. The microstimulator of claim 18 further comprising at least one cuff electrode wherein at least one electrode is positioned on the at least one cuff and the at least one cuff is attached to the microstimulator via a lead.
21. The microstimulator of claim 18 further comprising at least one cuff electrode wherein the at least one cuff electrode is incorporated into the microstimulator.
22. The microstimulator of claim 18 wherein the microstimulator is programmed to create a stimulation pulse with a plateau pulsewidth of about 10 μsec to about 5 msec and a decaying trailing phase with a fall time of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec and a charge recovery pulse with a plateau pulsewidth of about 50 μsec to about 10 msec and a decaying trailing phase with a fall time of about 50 μsec to about 5 msec.
means for generating stimulation pulses applied by the electrodes, which stimulation pulses are variable to create steerable electric fields, and which generating means are connected to the at least two electrodes;
means for storing stimulation parameters, which stimulation parameters determine the activated electrodes and the stimulation pulses applied by the activated electrodes, which storing means are connected to the means for generating stimulation pulses; and
means for providing operating power to the microstimulator, which power means are connected to the means for generating stimulation pulses.
24. The microstimulator of claim 23 wherein each activated electrode is configurable as one of an anode, cathode, and an open circuit.
25. The microstimulator of claim 24 further comprising at least one configurable group of electrodes comprising at least two activated electrodes.
26. The microstimulator of claim 24 wherein the stimulation parameters control the amount of current flowing from at least one of the activated electrodes.
27. The microstimulator of claim 23 further comprising means for adjusting the stimulation parameters.
28. The microstimulator of claim 23 further comprising means for sensing a physical condition of a patient.
29. The microstimulator of claim 28 wherein the sensed physical condition is used to adjust the stimulation parameters.
30. The microstimulator of claim 23 further including means for providing unidirectional propagation of action potentials.
31. A method of electrically positioning a microstimulator, wherein the microstimulator comprises:
a power source connected to the electrical circuitry, which power source provides operating power to the microstimulator;
said method comprising:
determining the electrodes to activate and the stimulation pulses to apply with the activated electrodes using the stimulation parameters stored in the programmable memory; and
generating the stimulation pulses using the electrical circuitry and based on the stimulation parameters, which stimulation pulses are variable to create steerable electric fields that electrically position the microstimulator.
32. The method of claim 31 further comprising adjusting the stimulation parameters to configure each activated electrode as one of an anode, cathode, and an open circuit.
33. The method of claim 32 further comprising adjusting the stimulation parameters to configure at least two activated electrodes into at least one configurable group of electrodes.
34. The method of claim 31 further comprising adjusting the stimulation parameters to steer the electric fields at least one of radially around the microstimulator and longitudinally along the microstimulator.
35. The method of claim 31 further comprising adjusting the stimulation parameters to control the amount of current flowing from at least one of the electrodes that is activated.
36. The method of claim 31 wherein the microstimulator further comprises at least one sensor for sensing at least one physical condition of a patient and the method further comprises sensing at least one physical condition of the patient.
37. The method of claim 36 further comprising using the sensed physical condition to adjust the stimulation parameters.
38. The method of claim 31 further comprising configuring the electrodes to provide unidirectional propagation of action potentials.
Electromagnetic interference (emi) filter and process for providing electromagnetic compatibility of an electronic device while in the presence of an electromagnetic emitter operating at the same frequency
Electromagnetic interference (emi) filter and process for providing electromagnetic compatibility of an electronic device while in the presence of an electromagnetic emitter operating at the same frequency
Method, system and device for treating disorders of the pelvic floor by means of electrical stimulation of the pudendal and associated nerves, and the optional delivery of drugs in association therewith
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A Rogue PvE Blog
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Wishlisting for Warlords: Tricks of the Trade
A couple weeks ago Haileaus made a nice post over at his new rogue blog about why Tricks of the Trade is a failed ability. Tricks has been a pet issue of mine for a while now so I want to emphasize Hail’s points in a few places. If you want to read my full anti-tricks argument it is still on the forums.
Tricks is a flat out boring ability, pretty much every raiding rogue has a set of macros for frequent tricks targets (other rogues, tanks, high dps) and then a focus macro for uncommon targets. Every 30 seconds you hit that button, there is no interaction there, it is hit this button on cooldown to not lose damage. With threat what it is using tricks on the tank, even on the pull, is a waste so target selection, using it on a target with a good threat drop, isn’t relevant anymore.
Beyond that tricks suffers from a damage and utility dual use. Blizzard correctly recognized long ago that having an ability that did damage and had important utility was asking for trouble because players will always feel penalized if they have to use that ability for utility and since then Blizzard has been attempting to remove dual use damage and utility abilities. Tricks is in theory an awesome ability for when things go badly but since I’m using it on cooldown for dps it is almost certainly not up.
To finish this discussion of why the tricks damage buff should go look at this post by the great rogue theorycrafter Aldriana from more than two years ago during cataclysm which discusses again why tricks and more broadly tricks based set bonuses should be reevaluated.
Now that I have hopefully convinced you that the Tricks of the Trade damage buff should be removed the question becomes, now what? A few ideas.
1) Remove Tricks of the Trade. Threat is basically irrelevant in WoW today, with 500% threat modifiers and big AoE damage abilities like keg smash its generally safe to assume that if an add is in range of the tank, the tank has threat on it. Unlike hunter misdirects which can occasionally be useful rogues as a melee class generally can’t help pick up new adds that the tanks can’t reach themselves. Tricks is useful in random heroics with tanks you outgear by 50+ ilevels but that seems like a very specific use case to keep an ability around. If Blizzard is looking to clean up ability bloat tricks would be a good place to start.
2) Make Tricks an offensive raid cooldown. I don’t like this idea because I feel offensive raid cooldowns undermine class balance at a very fundamental level. Most class or spec specific raid utility is at least in some form situational, death grip for instance while very powerful on many encounters is sometimes not useful. Offensive raid cooldowns do not have a fight where they are unneeded, more dps helps on all fights. To preempt some criticism I freely admit that defensive raid cooldowns while often limited in some ways are similarly too widely usable.
The common response to this is, Blizzard already has a perfectly serviceable solution to the problem, sated style debuffs. My favorite variant of sated style debuff was put forth by Shadowboy on twitter. Change all offensive raid cds (Skull Banner, Stormlash Totem, now Tricks of the Trade) to provide the same with buff and normalize the cooldowns. These raid cooldowns share a shorter sated style buff to give this offensive raid cooldown a different character than Bloodlust et al. Whether Blizzard makes tricks an offensive raid cooldown or not I’d like to see them go to this design for skull banner and stormlash totem.
3) Make Tricks an external personal cooldown. One of the more interesting ability trends we’ve seen in MoP is the addition of external personal cooldowns, these have always existed in tank external cooldowns such as pain suppression but MoP has brought a number of more varied personal external cooldowns, monk’s Tiger Lust, priest’s feathers and in a slightly different vein symbiosis. This design has a number of useful features, it loosens comp restrictions by allowing more people to fill a given role and it creates some interesting comp choices by allowing one player to cover for another’s weaknesses. For these reasons personal external cooldowns are something I hope Blizzard does more with in WoD, possibly as a replacement for the defensive raid cooldowns Blizzard has been handing out like candy for the past two expansions.
Tricks of the Trade could make a very interesting personal external raid cooldown. One potential idea that I posted on twitter last week:Tricks of the Trade
2 Minute Cooldown
When Tricks of the Trade is cast on a friendly target the next time the rogue uses Feint, Cloak of Shadows or Sprint the friendly target receives a weakened version of that ability instead of the rogue.
Feint- Reduces AoE damage by 30% for 5 seconds
Cloak of Shadows- Reduces magic damage by 40% for 6 seconds
Sprint- Increases movement speed by 70% for 4 seconds
The basic idea is the rogue can trade some personal utility for increasing the utility of a raid member. A number of people on twitter suggested this idea might be overpowered, looking at these three abilities I don’t think any of them are that overpowered, cloak of shadows and feint are very specific damage reductions that will probably be situationally powerful but probably not generally overpowered at least compared to other raid cooldowns with 30% general damage reduction. If they are overpowered the cooldown of tricks could be increased of the damage reduction of the abilities could be decreased, the numbers here are ballpark attempts but the general mechanic is the real idea I want to get across.
Another complaint I saw on twitter was people don’t like having to trade personal utility for raid utility both from a thematic and gameplay perspective. I don’t understand this complaint from either perspective, thematically tag team or synergistic ability usage is a hallmark of many genre fiction. Beyond that while the idea of a rogue as a thief or assassin who doesn’t play well with others is one part of the rogue archetype it is by no means the only rogue archetype. From a gameplay perspective raiding already involves trading personal utility for raid utility, if you raid asks you to use cloak to soak a specific mechanic you cannot use it when you need it for a defensive cooldown. This idea of tricks simply allows more potential uses for raid utility. You are sacrificing a use of one of your abilities for someone else but that kind of coordination and team play seems like something that should be encouraged by mechanics in a team based game like raiding or pvp.
Tricks doesn’t really fit in WoW today, 500% threat multipliers and high threat abilities like keg toss have rendered threat transfers basically pointless and the simple on cooldown damage buff is hardly compelling gameplay. Tricks needs to be reevaluated to make it fit in the modern raiding game or removed in the interests of button bloat. I can’t say which option is better, it depends heavily on Blizzard’s class design goals for WoD but something needs to be done.
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Snapshots: Riders of Icarus
July 1st, 2016 Connor
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Riders of Icarus hits open beta July 6th, but for now Nexon has sent along a few new screenshots showcasing the mounts you can find in-game. Players with founders packs can get in early, while the rest of us will be able to log in next week.
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Compare 120Volts to 240Volts - Is one More Energy Efficient?
EFFICIENCY of 120V vs 240V EQUIPMENT - CONTENTS: Can we save money by wiring devices to run at 240Volts instead of 120Volts?Should we wire our well pump to run at 240V instead of 120V?Which is better, 120Volts or 240Volts? Which voltage level is more energy efficient?
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
This article describes the difference between wiring an electrical motor, such as a well pump, to operate at 120 volts compared with 240 Volts and answers the common question of whether or not wiring an electrical device to operate at higher 240 Voltage level will save on the electrical bill by using less energy.
The short answer is no, and details are provided below. Sketch courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates. Photographs and sketches illustrate voltage, electrical resistance, and other electrical wiring concepts.
Twice the electrical power or energy can be delivered on a # 12 wire by doubling the voltage and holding the current unchanged, for example at 20 amps. Doubling both voltage and also doubling the amperage would deliver four times the power or energy. Thanks to reader Bob Hawley, for careful reading & editing of this point.
But doubling the power or energy does not mean that we cut our electrical bill in half. Why not? (Our photo at left shows a 240V pump control switch.)
As we introduced at Definition of Volts, Volt, formally, is defined as the potential difference across a conductor when a current of one ampere dissipates one watt of power.
This definition is not very helpful to consumers. Using a water-in-pipes analogy, volts is analogous to water "pressure" in the electrical system.
Having higher "pressure" in a pipe (or electrical conductor) means that conductor is capable of delivering more energy to the user. Later in this article we further explain electrical potential.
Mathematically the following simplified formula relates volts, watts, and amps in an electrical circuit
Electrical Energy Usage Measured in Watts
The watts consumed (and therefore the size of your electric bill) for running a
water pump or other electric motors will be almost exactly the same regardless of whether you are running
the pump wired at 120 Volts or 240Volts.
Using an imperfect "water pressure" analogy, sending water through a pipe to
move a water wheel, if we double the pressure (volts) at which we are supplying
water energy to push the wheel, the number of gallons per minute (amps) we need
to do the same work is cut in half.
So if we keep our pipe and water wheel and
all else the same, but send water through the pipe to push the wheel at 240 psi,
we would need half as much water quantity (measured in gallons per minute or "amps") to turn the
wheel at the same rate as if we were pushing on the wheel at 120 psi.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Electrical motor voltages are similar in this regard. If we have an electric motor that is
designed to run at either 120V or 240V (not all of them are) then the label on
the motor will tell us that at 120V (pressure or potential) the pump motor will
draw about twice as much amperage (current) as at 240V.
Our label (photo at left) shows that this 1/2 horsepower jet pump electric motor can run at either 115V at 10.8 Amps of current draw, or at 230V at 5.4 Amps of current draw.
With this example, if our electric pump motor draws 10.8 Amps when running on
a 120V circuit, you see from the motor label that it draws 5.4 Amps
when in use on a 240CV circuit.
The electric meter at a building measures electricity usage in kilowatt hours (KWH). If you run a 1000W electric heater for one hour, you've just used 1 KWH of electricity. So the pump is costing essentially exactly the same to run at either voltage level.
So what advantages do we get from running an electric motor at 240V rather than 120V?
Most electric motors will be a
little easier to start turning at higher voltage. And for the same amperage
draw, at 240V a smaller diameter circuit wire may be permitted - thus the
circuit is a little less costly.
Finally, on a long circuit, the voltage drop
due to resistance of the wire itself will be less at 240V than at 120V. However, separately, some experts point out that higher voltage circuits are potentially more dangerous.
In sum, the electric bill is about the same, but at 240V the pump has a little
easier time starting, it may thus have a little longer life, and the wiring
might be less costly.
The improvements in efficiency of use of electrical power
is slightly better at higher voltages (less energy loss) but running a water
pump will not be noticeably more or less costly between the two options.
See DEFINITIONS of ELECTRICAL TERMS for definitions of Amps, Volts, Watts, Ohms, etc. Our photo at left shows the data tag inside of a pump pressure control switch and shows that the switch might be wired for either 120V or 240V if other site conditions and equipment specifications permit.
Don't Rush to Re-Wire your Well Pump from 120V to Change it to 240V
The pump pressure control switch in our photo at left has contacts that permit it to be wired to operate at either 120V or 240V. But we don't know if the pump motor itself can run at either voltage. First make sure that the pump motor and control are labeled to indicate that either voltage level is permitted with the equipment you have installed.
Second we don't know that the pump motor, even if it can run at 240V, will not also require a heavier-duty pump control switch than this relay.
Second, there will be some additional costs when changing the voltage level at which an electric motor is going to be operated.
Even if the electrical wires can be left un-changed (when moving UP from 120V to 240V) the overcurrent protection (circuit breaker or fuses) will need to be changed to properly and safely protect the electrical circuit. In either case, if we exceed the current rating of an electrical wire, it will get hot, risking a fire. That's why we use fuse devices (or modern circuit breakers), to limit the current flow on electrical conductors to a safe level to avoid overheating and fires.
Some but possibly not all motor controls such as well pump control switches can be re-wired to operate at either voltage. But if not you'll need to replace the pump control switch.
The wall switch to turn off the well pump will need to be changed and rewired if you change the voltage serving the pump.
So when might we make these changes? Certainly when a new well pump is being installed or when other electrical work is being done on a building that would be the time to ask your licensed electrician about pump wiring and circuit voltage.
FAQs below discusses field reports of problems & solutions for this topic
...
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: wiring for dual voltage so we can switch back and forth
(Aug 17, 2011) bill abrams said:
it would be nice to wire for dual voltage so I could run the pump from a 120v inverter during a power outage. Any one tried this?
Reply:
(Aug 17, 2011) DanJoeFriedman (mod) said:
Bill the pumps I've worked with (which is not many) had to be opened and jumpers moved to select a power source (for pumps capable of 120/240V. There is no reason one could not wire up a pump to run either way provided that the switchover included an isolation switch to be sure that it's an "either-or" proposition.
Question: why do we use 12V lights rather than 12V lights in a swimming pool?
(May 21, 2012) nick monte said:
swim pool inground lite - what is the reason for rating pool lights at 12 volts or 120 volts? 12 v is $168.00 vs @324.00. Is it energy cost?
Reply:
Nick, the wiring for 12V is usually smaller, easier to run, less costly; potentially the lower voltage can be less risky.
Reader Comment: 240V common use in Europe saves energy costs on voltage grop
[delete] (Aug 21, 2012) Bill said:
In Europe they use 240V to save energy cost on voltage drop. Makes sense, but in US we cannot do so, because our electrical outlets, cords, etc are around Jurassic era! When visiting Europe our kids cannot get zapped from 240V, because their (in civilized part of EU) outlets are 99% kid proof. You cannot push metal pins in the outlet, you need a real electrical plug to open those little safety guards.
Here in US, all you need is screw driver to kill your kid in an outlet. Home Depot sells those tamper proof outlets, but if I have them who says my neighbor does so I could send my kids over.
Another thing I've noticed, our plugs hang down revealing those metal pins going into the plug and all you need is to drop metal pin (ie. hangar) crossways on top to get a big boom. In Europe, by the time you'll see metal, it's already disconnected.
What a shame... Time for an upgrade my fellow citizens!
Be safe,
Bill
Question: Can I change a motor from 120V to 240V
(Apr 16, 2014) Paul L said:
If a motor has been running on 120 volt is it ok to change the voltage to 230 volt it is a dual voltage motor.
Reply:
Paul
Maybe. Check the data tags. Some motors can be re-wired to switch to 230V operation from 120V but DO NOT just change the wires at the same terminals. You may burn the thing up. Check the motor data tag for what it is capable of handling and check the installation or wiring guide for what jumpers to move or wire connections to make.
Reader comments on volts, watts, & current (amps)
5/4/2014 fred said:
110/115/120/220/230/240/1000000 volts.
Appliances use power- That's it. Power is all that matters.
If an appliance is rated say 1KW, 1000 Watts, then if used on a 120 volt supply it needs 1000/120 (amps). That is 8.33 amps.
Another appliance of 1000 watts fed from a 240 volt system would only need 1000/240 (amps) = 4.166.
A further appliance of 1000 watts fed from a 1000 volt supple would only draw 1000/1000 ( amps) = 1 amp.
The designers will work out what current is needed to give the 1000 watts of power the appliance needs knowing the voltage at the place where it will be used. In the UK it will be 230 v. Here it will most likely be 120 volts for a small appliance that only consumes 1KW.
Anything plugged into the typical 120 volt socket/receptacle here in the US will have a rating in watts. Its quite common to say something is a 6 amp vacuum cleaner or drill or whatever. You can say this because the voltage is fixed at 120 so quoting the current is a way to express power. But really the right way to quote something's power is in Watts or KWatts. K means 1000.
Amps times voltage IS Watts. So anytime the voltage goes up the current will go down for the SAME power.
2 amp at 200 volts is 400 Watts. But 20amps at only 20 volts is also 400 watts. The makers of appliances will work out what current is need to give the power required at 120 volts. They could make an identical appliance but working on 240 volts say and still 400 watts.
You could run something on 240 volts that is not a big load ( takes a lot of current), like a furnace. It does not mean that because you are using a 240 socket that it has to mean a lot of power ( Watts). You might have an electric clock connected to a 240 volt supply, as is common in the UK. It is power rated at only 2 Watts! So the current it uses is 2W/240V = 0.0083 amp ( 8.3 millamps) - not a lot.
Reply:
Thanks, Fred, your recap of amps, volts, watts, and Kwatts will surely help some readers. I'll copy the text into the article above. Use our CONTACT link to send me an email note if you want to be credited by name, contact info &c.
Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Use the "Click to Show or Hide FAQs" link just above to see recently-posted questions, comments, replies, try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.
Technical Reviewers & References
Original Authors: Al Carson, Daniel Friedman, Robert Klewitz.
Alan Carson is an ASHI Member, national home inspection educator, author and building failures researcher in Toronto, Ontario.
Daniel Friedman, an original author of this article and the editor and producer of InspectAPedia where this article now appears is an ASHI Member, first ASHI Technical Committee chairman, editor and publisher of the ASHI Technical Journal, licensed home inspector, educator, and building failures researcher in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Robert Klewitz is a licensed professional engineer, a professional home inspector, an ASHI Member, and has served on the ASHI Technical Committee as well as in other ASHI activities. His practice is in Issaquah, WA.
Douglas Hansen, Robert Stead. Mark Cramer - technical review.
Photographs: Daniel Friedman.
Arlene Puentes, an ASHI home inspector in Kingston, NY, suggested text on the importance of safe electrical grounding. Ms. Puentes has served as Hudson Valley ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) chapter president, and is active in professional education in the home inspection field. She can be contacted at [email protected]
N. Srinivasan, MSEE, is a senior member of IEEE with 30 years experience in the electrical industry. Mr. Srinivasan is in Vienna VA.
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
Recommended books on electrical inspection, electrical wiring, electrical problem diagnosis, and electrical repair can be found in the Electrical Books section of the InspectAPedia Bookstore. (courtesy of Amazon.com)
"Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. [DF NOTE: I do NOT recommend this obsolete publication, though it was cited in the original Journal article as it contains unsafe inaccuracies]
"Basic Housing Inspection," US DHEW, S352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries.
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US to commemorate 9/11 as its aftermath extends and evolves
FILE- In this May 15, 2015 file photo, visitors gather near the pools at the 9/11 Memorial in New York. As they have done 17 times before, a crowd of victims' relatives is expected at the site on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019 to observe the anniversary the deadliest terror attack on American soil. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
By JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press | 
Updated: Tue 5:28 PM, Sep 10, 2019
NEW YORK (AP) — Americans are commemorating 9/11 with mournful ceremonies, volunteering, appeals to "never forget" and rising attention to the terror attacks' extended toll on responders.
A crowd of victims' relatives is expected at ground zero Wednesday, while President Donald Trump is scheduled to join an observance at the Pentagon. Vice President Mike Pence is to speak at the third attack site, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Eighteen years after the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, the nation is still grappling with the aftermath at ground zero, in Congress and beyond. The attacks' aftermath is visible from airport security checkpoints to Afghanistan. A rocket exploded at the U.S. embassy as the anniversary began in Afghanistan, where a post-9/11 invasion has become America's longest war.
"People say, 'Why do you stand here, year after year?'" Chundera Epps, a sister of Sept. 11 victim Christopher Epps, said at last year's ceremony at the World Trade Center. "Because soldiers are still dying for our freedom. First responders are still dying and being ill."
"We can't forget. Life won't let us forget," she added.
The anniversary ceremonies center on remembering the nearly 3,000 people killed when hijacked planes rammed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville on Sept. 11, 2001. All those victims' names are read aloud at the ground zero ceremony, where moments of silence and tolling bells mark the moments when the aircraft crashed and the trade center's twin towers fell.
But there has been growing awareness in recent years of the suffering of another group of people tied to the tragedy: firefighters, police and others who died or fell ill after exposure to the wreckage and the toxins unleashed in it.
While research continues into whether those illnesses are tied to 9/11 toxins, a victims compensation fund for people with potentially Sept. 11-related health problems has awarded more than $5.5 billion so far. Over 51,000 people have applied.
After years of legislative gridlock, dwindling money in the fund and fervent activism by ailing first responders and their advocates, Congress this summer made sure the fund won't run dry . Trump, a Republican and a New Yorker who was in the city on 9/11, signed the measure in July.
The sick gained new recognition this year at the memorial plaza at ground zero, where the new 9/11 Memorial Glade was dedicated this spring.
The tribute features six large stacks of granite inlaid with salvaged trade center steel, with a dedication "to those whose actions in our time of need led to their injury, sickness, and death." No one is named specifically.
Some 9/11 memorials elsewhere already included sickened rescue, recovery and cleanup workers, and there is a remembrance wall entirely focused on them in Nesconset, on Long Island. But those who fell ill or were injured, and their families, say having a tribute at ground zero carries special significance.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced Monday that its 9/11 memorial will close next week for electrical and lighting work. The project, expected to take until late May, includes repairs to lighting glitches in the shallow reflecting pools under the memorial benches.
Sept. 11 is known not only as a day for remembrance and patriotism, but also as a day of service. People around the country continue to volunteer at food banks, schools, home-building projects, park cleanups and other charitable endeavors on and near the anniversary.
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It’s been a wild ride for the last few weeks. I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster, teetering from euphoria to despair, and everything in-between. Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, but my brain’s been on overload.
THE GOOD STUFF:
Sales of Resuscitation, my second novel, have been awesome to say the least. And because of its success, They Never Die Quietly, my first novel, has hitched a ride on Resuscitation’s brisk sales and is delivering respectable sales numbers as well. Shortly after its release on October 11, Resuscitation ranked #1 in Kindle sales in the UK. But last week, I was really knocked for a loop when I received an e-mail from my editor and learned that my second novel hit #1 in the USA for Kindle sales. Although the ranking has steadily declined, as of this morning, it’s still ranked in the top 100. Now bear in mind that Amazon offers over one-million Kindle titles, so to be ranked #1, even for an hour, is amazing.
I am scheduled for two book signings here in San Diego. On Sunday, December 4, I will be signing books at the Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore on Clairemont-Mesa Blvd. On January 8th, I’ll be signing books at Warwick’s Bookstore in La Jolla. I’m both stoked and nervous about these upcoming events. I don’t expect to sign a gazillion books but hope that both signings go well.
THE BAD STUFF:
Anyone who buys an item through Amazon.com can write a review for that product. The review can be for books, electronics, or any number of items. For an author, reader reviews can literally make or break you. Positive reviews promote sales, and negative reviews drive prospective buyers away. No matter how famous or esteemed an author might be, there are generally good and bad reviews—the trick is to have more positive and less negative.
I have been pretty fortunate with both of my books and the good reviews outnumber the not-so-good ones. Although negative reviews hurt, I gain a great deal from objective feedback. A couple years ago when I got my first negative review, I was devastated. I asked a very successful writer friend of mine how he deals with critical reviews. Basically, he advised me to learn from the reviews but not get caught up in them. He further said that under no circumstances should I ever respond to any review—positive or negative.
Recently, one reader in particular wrote a critical, 1-Star review. I totally understood his or her perspective and tried to digest the criticism. Well, a week or so after the reader posted the review, someone posing as me responded to the reader in a most disrespectful way. What this person said was mean-spirited and demeaning. The person who wrote the original review assumed (for good reason) that I wrote the harsh response. I didn’t discover this until a few days later when a bunch of readers got on the bandwagon and expressed their opinions.
I went against my writer friend’s advice and responded to the thread of comments. I explained that I did not, nor would I ever respond to a reader comment in such a rude and discourteous way. I apologized profusely, but could not prove that I did not write the harsh comment. How could I? A few of the readers who commented gave me the benefit of the doubt. But most, unfortunately, didn’t believe me. One person in particular, wrote a very insulting comment and really attacked my integrity. To date, the thread of comments continues.
What occurred to me during this fiasco is that all of us are vulnerable. Our reputations can easily be damaged by some stranger halfway around the world, who, for whatever reason, either has it in for us, or just wants us to be a victim of some random act of cruelty. Anyone could establish a fraudulent account with a web site or open an e-mail account and pose as someone else, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to protect yourself.
I had hoped that more readers who commented on this situation would not be so quick to judge, but sadly, that’s not the case. I didn’t write that shameful comment, but there is no way I can prove it. I now know what it feels like to have your identity stolen. Believe me, it’s a sickly feeling.
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8 responses to “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!! Fantastic news about your ranking & sales. You must be very excited. Secondly, identity theft is a horrific violation. Unfortunately, it’s happening more & more each day. Technology is improving so quickly & thieves are taking advantage of the tools available. Very sad but true.
In this day and age, we are bombarded with the opinions of others, be it positive/negative or personally or objectively based. Grow a thick celebrity skin, keep on writing the good stuff. Oh! And stop reading your reviews, too!
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Today, many internet service providers in the UK have censored a page on Wikipedia due to an image used on the page. The image was blacklisted by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), an “independent, self-regulatory body” that aims “to minimise the availability of… child sexual abuse content hosted anywhere in the world and criminally obscene and incitement to racial hatred content hosted in the UK.” ISPs quite voluntarily use a list provided by the IWF to decide which pages to block. The IWF are free to decide that any page they choose is unsuitable, and to make it unavailable to internet users across the UK. On this occasion, they claim to have checked with the police, and been advised that the image in question is “potentially illegal”.
So what is the image in question? It’s actually the cover of an album, Virgin Killer, which was released by a German rock band called the Scorpions in 1976, which features a photograph of a naked girl. I’d never heard of the band or the album, and never seen the cover art in question, and neither would the majority of people have done. But now, thanks to the IWF’s intervention, everyone in the UK, and indeed around the world, will know of them, and many will no doubt have looked up the album cover to see what all the fuss is about.
There are many technical issues with the way the page has been blocked. My ISP, Be Unlimited, is one of those to have blocked the page. If I try to visit it, I see a message saying, “Not Found. The requested URL en.wikipedia.org was not found on this server.” The message is completely incorrect. In many less democratic countries that have wide-ranging censorship, attempting to view a blocked page displays a message to say that it’s blocked. If we must have pages censored, we should be told so, not have it disguised as a server error. Also, the way the block has been implemented means that all British users of Wikipedia are now channelled through a small number of proxy servers, sharing IP addresses. That means it is almost no longer possible to edit Wikipedia without an account (and impossible to create an account), and any anonymous users who do manage to vandalise Wikipedia can not be traced. I’m very concerned about the use of proxies, which can only have an impact on the performance of Wikipedia, which isn’t always the fastest site anyway. And as the IWF decides more and more sites have a single “potentially illegal” page, all those sites’ traffic will also go through the same proxies. The internet will get slower and slower, and the government will have all the traffic going through a central point where it can be monitored more easily for insertion into their big database.
The funny thing is, the content has been blocked in rather incompetent and ineffective way. They have blocked the page containing the image, not the image itself, so entering the URL of the image still allows it to be viewed, but at the same time, the entirely inoffensive text about the album is inaccessible. Then there is the fact that it’s possible to view the page using the HTTPS version of the English Wikipedia. Secure web pages are much harder to block or monitor. Yet even more ridiculous is that the same album cover is visible to all British internet users on the Georgian, Finnish and Ukranian language versions of Wikipedia. (Note that I haven’t linked the articles in question above, rather the main pages of the Wikis. It’s simple enough to use the search, but please check the laws in your country first.) Not to mention, the album is still on sale in the UK, and has been for more than 30 years, and is available from Amazon. As Wikipedia spokesman David Gerard says:
When we asked the Internet Watch Foundation why they blocked Wikipedia and not Amazon, apparently the decision was “pragmatic”, which we think means that Amazon had money and would sue them, whereas we’re an educational charity.
Something has to be done about the paranoia surrounding the issue of child abuse. Efforts should be directed towards catching the evil people who genuinely are responsible for abusing children or distributing masses of obscene material. Those people no doubt share knowledge to get around any obstacles that are in their way. They certainly aren’t going to be visiting Wikipedia to see the cover of a record from the 70s. I don’t believe blocking pages according to the IWF’s list serves any useful purpose. People who are determined to see illegal material will find ways of doing so. Anyone else is very unlikely to encounter such material unless they deliberately look for it. When a questionable image is hosted in a civilised, western country such as the US, surely the correct course of action should be to liaise with the authorities in that country to have the material taken down – if our laws prove to be tighter than the other country, we should be asking ourselves why.
Allowing an unaccountable organisation to add whatever pages they like to a blacklist is not a very happy position. Who knows what other criteria may be added in the future? Websites criticising the government maybe. Or perhaps they will block pages that explain how to circument digital rights management on Hollywood films. Internet censorship is a road we should not go down, and today’s development is already a step too far in that direction.
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The Real Menu
Income of Owner of One Self Occupied House Property
Continuing from our last post where we learned the basic way of how to calculate Income from House Property.. ..What is your Income from House Property if you own a single house and live in it? How is Income from House Property computed when you have let out a portion of your house? Or you have let out your house for a part of the year?
You own ONE Self Occupied House Property
If you are using your property for residence throughout the year and it’s not let out or used for any other purpose – in such a case the Gross Annual Value of the property is Nil. There is no income from your house property. But if you occupy your house property to carry on a business or profession or your freelancing work– any income or expenses with respect to this property shall be covered under the head ‘Profits & Gains of Business & Profession’. You will be allowed to deduct expenses that you may incur towards maintenance and repairs from your business income. Any rent receipts will be added to your income.
Can there be Loss from a self occupied house property? Although the Gross Annual Value and Net Annual Value for ONE self occupied house property is Nil. In case you take a loan to purchase or construct the self occupied property and such construction is completed within 3 years from the end of the financial year in which loan was taken – you can claim standard deduction under section 24 for interest on money borrowed. You will be allowed deduction for interest on the money borrowed up to a maximum of Rs 1,50,000. You will need an interest certificate from the lender (your bank) to claim this deduction that states the interest payable and the amount borrowed for the financial year. If the loan has been taken for reconstruction, repairs or renewal of a house property – this interest will be allowed up to a maximum of Rs 30,000. In this case this interest is negative income and this amount will be your ‘Loss’ under the head house property. So yes, you can have ‘Loss’ under the head House Property.
In case you have taken a loan jointly – both the co owners will be allowed this interest as loss in the proportion of their share in the property.
You will be allowed to set off this Loss under the head House Property against any head of current year’s income. When you are not able to set it off in the current year’s income you can carry forward this loss for 8 years and set off against the head Income from House Property.
Here’s an example – X owns one house property, the market value of the property is Rs 80lakhs. During the financial year the property was being exclusively used by X for residential purposes. Reasonable rent of the property is Rs 1,50,000 and during the year X incurs Rs 10,000 on repairs of the house. Rs 8,000 are the municipal taxes on the house. X had taken a loan to fund his house purchase and his annual interest payment is Rs 1,56,000.
Gross Annual Value Nil
Less: Municipal Taxes Nil
Net Annual Value Nil
Less Interest on Money Borrowed -1,50,000
(Loss) House Property -1,50,000
Loss under the head house property for X is Rs 1,50,000. In case the annual interest on the property is Rs 1,00,000. Loss under the head house property shall be Rs 1,00,000. No deduction is allowed for repairs – deductions are only allowed as per section 24 towards (a) standard deduction which is 30% of Net Annual Value and (b) Interest on Borrowed Capital (see here for details https://blog.cleartax.in/calculate-income-from-house-property/ ).
The income from a house property will be similarly calculated when you leave your one self occupied house property vacant and it not used for any purpose – when you need to live in another city due to your work arrangements. The Gross Annual Value of such a property is also taken to be nil.
In case a portion of the property is let out and remaining portion is self occupied? Continuing with the assumption of a single self occupied property – in this case – the unit which is self occupied will have no Gross Annual Value, Income from the let out unit will be computed and taxed. You will be allowed to deduct interest on money borrowed for this house. Let’s see by way of an example –
Example –
Y has a house, which has 2 equal units on the ground and the 1st Floor. Unit 1 on the ground floor is self occupied by Y and used fully for residential purposes. Unit 2 on the 1st floor has been let out. Rs 6,000 is the rent received per month. Reasonable rent of the property is Rs 5,000 per month. Taxes paid to municipality are Rs 10,000. Rs 5,000 are the repairs incurred by Y. And Rs 20,000 is the interest on money borrowed to construct the house.
Unit 1 Self Occupied
Gross Annual Value Nil
Municipal Taxes Nil
Net Annual Value Nil
Less: Interest (50% of 20,000) -10,000
Loss from house property -10,000 (A)
Unit 2 Let Out
Gross Annual Value 72,000
Less: Municipal Taxes (50% of 10,000) -5,000
Net Annual Value 67,000
Less: standard deduction @30% -20,100
Less: Interest -10,000
Income from House Property 36,900 (B)
Therefore, Income from House Property for Y is Unit 1 + Unit 2 or (A)+(B) = 26,900. No deduction is allowed for repairs – deductions are only allowed as per section 24 towards (a) standard deduction which is 30% of Net Annual Value and (b) Interest on Borrowed Capital (see here for details https://blog.cleartax.in/calculate-income-from-house-property/ ). Municipal Taxes should have actually been paid.
What if property is let out for some months of the year? In case the property is let out for a part of the year – Income from house property will be calculated as if the property has been let out for whole of the year. This will no longer be treated as a self occupied property, even though for the remaining part of the year you may have used it for self residence purposes.
Example – Z has a property in Jaipur. The house has been let out from 1st April 2013 to 31st December 2013. Rent Received is Rs 10,000 per month. Municipal taxes paid by Z are Rs 5,000. Interest for the financial year on money borrowed is Rs 60,000.
Gross Annual Value 90,000
Less: Municipal Taxes -5,000
Net Annual Value 85,000
Less : standard deduction @30% – 25,500
Less : Interest – 60,000
Loss from House Property – 500
Therefore, as seen above, the property has been treated entirely as a let out property.
The above details were regarding a house property when you own one self occupied house property. What is the tax treatment when you own more than 1 self occupied house property? To know more, keep watching out for our next post. If you need help with your calculation of income from house property or any other tax issue – write to us support@ cleartax.in
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The ClearTax Team comprises qualified chartered accountants and experienced investment experts who are passionate enough about finances to bring you the best advice and tips on everything related to your hard-earned money.
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MLB Preseason Outlook: NL East
Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals look in good position to challenge for the division title this season.
The Eastern division of the National League will provide an entertaining race this season. With the NL East featuring the wheeling-and-dealing Washington Nationals, the new look Miami Marlins, and the sideshow organization that is the New York Mets, you’d be hard pressed to find a dull moment in this division this season. The Philadelphia Phillies ran away with the division last year with the best record in baseball, and the Atlanta Braves had their shot to get into the playoffs as a Wild Card, but let an 8.5 game lead slip as the St. Louis Cardinals stole the playoff berth. All said, the Braves finished 13 games behind the Phillies, and the Nationals finished 8.5 games behind Atlanta. This year could produce a different story as a result of the numerous offseason moves in the division.
Atlanta Braves (89-73, 2nd in NL East) – The Braves were bolstered last year by Rookie Of The Year Craig Kimbrel who lead the National League with saves (46) along with John Axford. Unfortunately for Atlanta, he blew a save in the last game of the season, which led to them missing the playoffs. This year, the Braves will be looking to bounce back and claim that playoff spot. At last year’s trade deadline, they were able to bring in center fielder Michael Bourn from the Houston Astros, who was able to help out hitting .278 in the latter part of the season. Atlanta will feature a couple prospects in the field: speedy outfielder Jose Constanza, a late season call up last year, and Tyler Pastornicky, a contact hitting shortstop that finished his season at AAA Gwinnett last year. Another player looking to complete his first full MLB season is Julio Teheran, another late season call up from Gwinnett. Teheran anchored his club’s rotation in AAA with a 15-3 record, 2.55 ERA, and 122 strikeouts before going 1-1 in 3 starts (5 appearances) with a 5.03 ERA in Atlanta. Youth is definitely on Atlanta’s side, especially with third year man Jason Heyward hoping to improve his numbers after his sophomore slump. They’ve also got players on their way out: Chipper Jones has hinted at retirement following this season, and Tim Hudson, at 36 years old, can’t have many years left on that right arm. With Jones, Heyward, Freeman, and catcher Brian McCann, the Braves definitely have the power to muscle their way into October.
Miami Marlins (72-90, 5th in NL East) – The fish formerly known as Florida will be moving into a new stadium for this season; Marlins Park is built specifically for baseball and features a retractable roof that will prevent rain delays. Miami made numerous additions to their strong base of Hanley Ramirez, Logan Morrison, Gaby Sanchez and (Giancarlo) Mike Stanton, and have signed Jose Reyes, Mark Buerhle, and closer extraordinaire Heath Bell to go from the bottom of the barrel to genuine contenders in the NL East. Following managerial issues last season, the Marlins were able to bring in Ozzie Guillen, who left his post with the Chicago White Sox. Guillen in turn was able to convince volatile pitcher Carlos Zambrano to come to Miami from the Chicago Cubs. Zambrano, Ramirez, and even Morrison have shown themselves to be difficult to manage during their time in southern Florida, but Ozzie is a no-nonsense manager, and with his strong and strict managing style, he’ll be able to keep a tight grip on this team. The Marlins’ chances of winning the NL East aren’t big, but their season can’t be much worse than the reception to their new logo, or this thing.
New York Mets (77-85, 4th in NL East) – Where do you begin with the Mets? You have an owner in Fred Wilpon who had some less than flattering things to say about his own players last year, and the team is also crunched for money. As a result of those factors, the Mets lost speedy shortstop Jose Reyes to the Marlins, who carried most of their offensive threat. New York will look to Lucas Duda, Jason Bay, and David Wright to shoulder the offensive load, and will need Ike Davis and Josh Thole to chip in as well. Johan Santana is in the late stages of his recovery from the shoulder injury that kept him off the mound for all of 2011, and he looks poised to make a return to the starting rotation for the 2012 season. Behind him in rotation are Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese and R.A. Dickey, all of whom had subpar seasons, so you can expect Mets fans to be excited for Santana’s return. The Mets have had their share of struggles, and seeing them not make the moves to keep up with the rest of the division, they will most likely finish toward the bottom.
Philadelphia Phillies (102-60, NL East Champion) – Philadelphia notched the best record in the league last year, and complemented that with the league’s best record on the road (50-31). One of the major factors that contributed to the Phillies’ success was their pitching staff anchored by the “R2C2″ combo of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee. This year, they’ll be without Oswalt, who’s currently looking for a new club, and they’ll be missing Ryan Howard at the front part of this season as a result of a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered during the final out of the Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Filling in at first base in his absence will be either John Mayberry, Jr. or offseason pick up Jim Thome, who’s making a return trip in the late stages of his career. Outside of the question mark at first base, Philadelphia still holds on to Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and trade deadline acquisition Hunter Pence to boast a formidable batting order that can strike fear in any pitcher. One of the most valuable additions to the team that the Philly front office made was the signing of closer Jonathan Papelbon from the Boston Red Sox. With strong starting pitching, solid hitting, and a lights out closer, the Fightin’ Phils should have no problem posting another 90+ win season.
Washington Nationals (80-81, 3rd in NL East) – The Nationals finished last season with their best record since their inauguration in 2005 (81-81), so you can see how much things have changed in the past six years. Washington is a scrappy hitting team, batting.242 last season, and finished towards the bottom of the pack in terms of scoring. They signed Edwin Jackson, Brad Lidge, and made a trade to acquire ace pitcher Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland Athletics. Looking at the Washington pitching stable, they have Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, and Edwin Jackson leading the rotation, and they’ll be followed by Lidge, Tyler Clippard, and closer Drew Storen from the bullpen, a stiff test for any batting order. The Nats may not have a shot at catching the Wild Card spot, but this might be their first season they finish above .500.
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Microsoft Pushes Back on EU Cloud Concerns as European Rivals Move In
In what appears to be an effort to ease the concerns of EU customers about the security of U.S.-based clouds, Microsoft has launched the Office 365 Trust Center and is offering its customers compliance with the European Commission’s Data Protection Directive. Microsoft claims to be the first cloud provider to sign a set of EU “model clauses,” which are standard contractual clauses that govern the international transfer of personal data. “When included in service agreements with data processors,” Microsoft writes, “the model clauses assure customers that appropriate steps have been taken to help safeguard personal data, even if data is stored in a cloud-based service center located outside the EEA.”
Though the USA Patriot Act is nowhere mentioned on Microsoft’s newly launched site or in its press materials, it’s hard not to see Wednesday’s announcements as a response to widely reported fears among EU customers that U.S. law gives federal authorities unprecedented leeway to snoop on foreigners’ data when that data is hosted in U.S. clouds.
Earlier this week, a VP at U.K. defense contractor BAE Systems told an audience that his company was set to adopt Office 365 when the firm’s lawyers nixed the idea for Patriot Act reasons. The BAE incident is one example of a much larger trend of companies avoiding U.S.-based public clouds because of concerns that the PATRIOT Act not only gives the U.S. government the power to snoop on private data held by cloud providers, but the feds can also use gag orders to prohibit cloud providers from informing their clients that their data has been compromised. U.S. cloud companies and lobbyists have pushed back on these fears as unfounded, but it’s clear that they aren’t.
I contacted Microsoft to get clarity on whether the announcements were a direct response to Patriot Act concerns, and on whether an EU client who takes Microsoft up on its offer to sign contracts with the EU model clauses in them could still be subject to NSL-related snooping. A spokesperson sent along the following statement in response:
It’s not uncommon for new technologies to create legal questions, and the current dialogue about data sovereignty and the cloud is only the latest example. This is an important topic which affects all cloud providers, including non-U.S. companies with a presence in the U.S., as well as those companies headquartered in the U.S. It is also an active discussion in many regions with similar statutes. We are seeing strong momentum from customers for our cloud services and most take a thoughtful approach considering issues of data sovereignty alongside other evaluation criteria when making a decision to move to the cloud. In the rare instance we receive a government request for enterprise customer data, we will only respond when legally required, and will first try to redirect the request to the customer so they can determine how to respond. For any request, we make every effort to notify customers in advance, unless we are legally prohibited from doing so.
From the above, it’s not at all clear whether the new announcements address the NSL-related concerns that EU companies have; my guess is that they do not, because if they did Microsoft would make a point of stating this explicitly. So this looks like an attempt to reduce the fear level around this issue without actually addressing the root of the problem.
Of course, it’s important to be fair to Microsoft here and note that this problem is not of the company’s making—it’s the government’s fault—and it’s also not specific to Microsoft. Redmond is just trying to make the best of a bad situation. As Microsoft rightly points out in the above statement, every single cloud provider with any kind of presence in the US has to deal with these Patriot Act issues, so there’s really nothing that the company can do short of lobbying Congress to get these provisions repealed. Perhaps if US tech companies lose enough business over this, we’ll see them band together and fight the Patriot Act with the same vigor that they’re opposing SOPA.
And they are definitely losing business, as EU cloud providers are seize the opportunity created by the Patriot Act to snap up customers. One such provider is the Switzerland-based SecureSafe, which advertises itself as a kind of Swiss bank account for keeping your digital files safe from the prying eyes of US feds. The company’s blog seized on my earlier article about the EU’s Patriot Act fears, and positioned its service as a direct response to those fears.
After some poking around the SecureSafe site, I find the ideas behind the service very compelling and will definitely be checking it out. Right now, my secure cloud storage solution is a hacked-together combination of an encrypted sparseimage on OS X, Dropbox, and 1Password. But even though my wife has my 1Password password, if I were hit by a bus she’d probably have to bring in a nerd and privacy geek to help her untangle the whole mess and get at all of our files. With SecureSafe, you can designate people to inherit your data in the event of death, which is actually a feature that services like Dropbox and Google apps could and should offer.
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ATTENTION!PLEASE sign or otherwise identify yourself in your comment posts. I have been FLOODED for months with spam comments, and I've been forced to laboriously screen every post now. Anonymous postings on Masonic topics have the same status as cowans and eavesdroppers as far as I am concerned, and may be deleted if I don't recognize you or if I'm in a grumpy mood.
A mythic past. A visionary future. A legendary brotherhood.
Freemasonry is the largest, oldest and best-known gentleman's fraternity in the world. Historically, it is based on the Medieval stonemason guilds who built the great castles and cathedrals of Europe. Mythologically it is founded upon the building of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, as told in the Old Testament of the Bible. Modern Freemasons likewise use the tools, traditions and terminology of those earlier stonemasons as allegories for building Temples in the hearts of men.
It's said that we are a secret society. We do indeed have secrets—secrets that each individual man has to discover for and about himself.
At its core, Freemasonry is simply an attempt to make the world a better place, one man at a time. For each man, it can become as simple or as complicated as he himself desires.
It's not for everybody.
Maybe it's for you.
"Brother Chris Hodapp's [blog]...is thought provoking and is often the first place on the web where new ideas and matters of interest are posted."
In 2018 Chris was awarded the Caleb B. Smith Medal of Honor by the Grand Lodge F&AM of Indiana for his "distinguished service to Freemasonry in Indiana and worldwide."
Chris Hodapp received his higher education at Indiana University, the University of Southern California, Los Angeles Valley College, California State University at Northridge, and Indiana/Purdue University at Indianapolis.
He spent twenty-three years in advertising as a commercial filmmaker for Dean Crow Productions, shooting and editing close to 1,000 regional and national commercials, music videos and feature films. He has written scripts for corporate and non-profit clients, and his voice has appeared in countless television and radio commercials.
He was the editor and a contributor in 2004-5 to "Laudable Pursuit: A 21st Century Response to Dwight Smith"by the Knights of the North, a Masonic leadership think-tank focussing on modern lodge solutions. He has written for Indianapolis Monthly, Masonic Magazine, Templar History, the Scottish Rite Journal, the Knight Templar Magazine, the Indiana Freemason , the Phylaxis, and numerous other publications.
Hodapp and Alice Von Kannon developed episode outlines for the History Channel program, Brad Meltzer's Decoded in 2010, and contributed material on conspiracies and secret societies for TruTV and the American Heroes Channel. They have both appeared on National Public Radio, the History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, Smithsonian, and the American Heroes Channel - most recently in 2017 on America: Facts vs Fiction.
Chris and Alice live in Indianapolis with their very French poodle Wiley who has them both answering to basic commands.
M.A.T.S.O.L.
If you are a Freemason who travels anywhere, you need to download the Amity app to your smartphone. Immediately.
Instantly identify lodges in all mainstream and Prince Hall U.S. jurisdictions, Canada, and more than 50 other countries. Determine a lodge's Masonic regularity immediately, and whether your own grand lodge is in amity with theirs, all on your phone.Apart from my own books, I don't advertise products here as a rule, but this service is absolutely free of charge, created by and for Freemasons, and with the cooperation of grand lodges all around the world.
I am a Freemason and a member of both the regular, recognized Grand Lodge of Indiana F&AM and the United Grand Lodge of England. However, unless otherwise attributed, the opinions expressed in this blog are my own, or of others expressing theirs by posting comments. I do not in any way represent the official positions of my lodges or Grand Lodges, any associated organization of which I may or may not be a member, or the fraternity of Freemasonry as a whole.
Be aware that no one person may speak on behalf of Freemasonry or present their opinion as being the "official" position of the fraternity, unless it is a grand master, and then, only within his own jurisdiction. While Freemasonry is a global fraternal organization, there is no single, authoritative, administrative Masonic body or figurehead anywhere in the world.
The unauthorized appearance of content from this site, in whole or in part, in links, aggregators, forums, comments or other websites does not express or imply an endorsement by the author.
If you are a Freemason and are lifting material from this website without attribution, shame on you.
PRIVACY INFORMATION
The author of this site does not in any way collect any data whatsoever from readers or posters, does not share any reader information with other sites or advertisers, and does not make use of any data collected by any embedded resources. However, this site is hosted by Google's Blogger platform, and is subject to Google's terms of service, as well as their data collection policy.
Pancakes Served Since May 2010 (plus 2,291,385 more between 2006 and 2010)
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How To Stay Motivated For Your Post-Work Workout
A long day at the office can make you want to check out. When even the idea of dragging yourself home seems like the ultimate challenge, how do you get yourself pumped for that visit to the gym — the one you promised yourself you'd make? Even though we may know what's best for us, sometimes it seems easier to come up with a creative excuse than to don our sneakers and do some squats. Never fear: Persional trainer Leanne Shear (along with some other fitness experts) is here to help you summon the energy that's been drained by your desk.
Sometimes, getting to the gym is simply a matter of tricking your future self. If your office is nearby, head over in your workout gear and leave everything else (your work clothes, laptop, etc.) at your desk, suggests Shear. That way, you reduce the temptation to bypass the gym and continue home.
If you're committed enough that you can leave to work out with all of your belongings and still make it there, Shear recommends other ways to prepare for the gym earlier in the day. Anything you can do to keep your energy up is key. Eating something with both carbs and protein sometime in the afternoon can give you just the boost you need. Most obviously (and deliciously), apples and peanut butter come to mind.
Click through for more simple and unexpected tips to enhance your post-work gym game. (Women's Health).
Yes, this winter is dragging on just as painfully as the wait for Game of Thrones. But, it appears that some heroes out there have managed to fight the urge to stay inside a blanket fort: New Fitbit data shows which states are the most active — even despite some horrible weather. Fitbit looked at average read
Your treadmill can tell you a lot about your life. Calories burned? Check. Distance? Check. How much longer you need to be stuck in this sweaty gym? Sigh, check. But, new research suggests it could also be a window into something a little more morbid: Your treadmill performance can predict how soon you're going to die. read
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The implementation of these methods is very simple. We start with an empty buffer and buffer every item that satisfies the criteria implemented by a predicate. Whenever an item doesn’t satisfy the criteria, all buffered items are yield, the buffer is cleared and the item that doesn’t satisfy the criteria is yield:
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Ryan Reynolds delays surgery
Ryan Reynolds has delayed an operation on his arm to promote 'Deadpool 2' in China.
Ryan Reynolds cancelled surgery on his arm to promote 'Deadpool 2' in China.
Ryan Reynolds
The 42-year-old actor had been due to go under the knife on Sunday (20.01.19) after sustaining an injury while shooting the movie, but following Fox's surprise announcement a re-cut, PG-13 version of the movie would open in the Far East later this week - the first time the franchise has passed the country's strict censorship rules - he scrapped the appointment to support his "dream" coming true.
According to Variety, he told fans in Beijing: "It's been a dream of mine for years to bring 'Deadpool' to China and Chinese audiences, so for me this is, uh, heaven on earth.
"This was more important [than the operation]. I was not going to miss coming to China."
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Dania Cabello was raised in Oakland, Calif.’s, Rockridge neighborhood by Chilean parents who set up small-but-thriving electronics repair and baby wares businesses on the College Avenue main drag. In the ’90s, the proximity to Silicon Valley brought in a new monied residents whom Cabello says were largely white. Rents went up, and Cabello says the resulting gentrification forced the family to shut down its two business. The electronics shop closed in 2005 because, aside from rising rents, new residents preferred to buy new goods rather than have them fixed. And as new Rockridge residents opted for Ikea furniture, the baby shop moved to nearby Temescal. But in the last few years, a new class of neighbors has been moving to Temescal, too. As a result, rents are once again going up, and longtime residents are being displaced. And now, new residents are organizing to bring in private security. Residents like Cabello are worried that that will mean increased racial profiling–and decreased community safety.
Temescal isn’t the only Oakland neighborhood where new residents are seeking to bring in private security. There are currently at least three crowd-funding efforts to hire private security in Rockridge. One in Lower Rockridge North/West just exceeded its $20,513 target by more than $400. Just across the freeway, the Lower Rockridge South/West effort raised more than $27,405–nearly $3,000 beyond its goal of $24,600. And Lower Rockridge-Miles-Claremont is in the midst of raising $20,500. The crowd funding is happening in a quickly changing city. In the last 10 years alone, Oakland has lost 25 percent of its black residents, according to census data. In 1980, black residents made up nearly 50 percent of the city’s residents. Today they comprise just 28 percent.
The fear of crime some residents feel is understandable. Break-ins and muggings have become commonplace–so much so that Oakland maintains the highest robbery rate in the nation. Neighbors report feeling scared to walk to and from the local transit stop. A recent armed robbery involving so-called casual carpoolers who wait in certain areas until drivers pick them up for their commute has also made big local headlines. In this incident several casual commuters were held up at gunpoint and robbers took their wallets, phones and computers.
One victim spoke with KTVU Channel 2 News anonymously, in order to protect his identity. He described the assailants as “three young men with hoodies … it didn’t look like they were ready to get into someone’s car and go to work in the city.” One of the Lower Rockridge crowdfunding efforts by four-year resident Steven Kirsh directly references the casual carpool incident.
His campaign, which he started after seeing the success of the others, reads, “What occurred [recently] at the Casual Carpool has ignited our neighborhood to act,” and suggests that “short police staffing” is making the area less safe.
It’s true that there are fewer cops on the streets. The Oakland Police Department currently contracts 611 officers–that’s down from 836 five years ago. But not everyone agrees with Kirsh’s assessment that fewer officers equals more crime.
“Other cities that have had a decrease in cops have not had a resulting increase in crime,” says Cabello, who now lives in nearby Temescal. But cities that have dealt with fewer police officers on the streets are not necessarily going through what Oakland is experiencing, where new residents are moving in, and longtime residents are being displaced. “We’re unique because of gentrification,” she adds, “but we can change the narrative about gentrification and come up real solutions.”
When I first spoke with Cabello, an educator, about the private security patrols, she stressed that part of her life’s work is to be intentional about the ways that she helps build community. She’s already seen her childhood neighborhood gentrified, but instead of settling on anger she said she wanted to be part of a solution that engages neighbors who too often don’t know each other. She was preparing to attend a community discussion on the private security patrols to provide alternative ideas–but she also knew that this would mean discussing race.
But then Cabello talked about seeing a flyer featuring two stick images–one pointing a gun, and the other with its arms up. That imagery alone discouraged her. “This is about wealth, and access, and power–and about letting people know, ‘We’re different than you’,” she said of the image. “What’s implicit but unsaid is that this is about keeping people of color from even accessing the neighborhood.”
It’s impossible to tell what the flyer was intended to convey, or if its creator even thought about its potential racial implications. The person leading up the effort to attain private security in Temescal, Ellen Kim, declined a request for an interview. But in neighboring Rockridge, Steve Kirsh says he’s attentive to concerns like the ones posed by Cabello.
“I moved to Oakland for the racial diversity. My wife went to the Peace Corps,” says Kirsh. “There are great schools here that are diverse, and our friends are diverse, and that’s a blessing.” For those reasons, explains Kirsh, he went with a private security firm that is both Oakland-based and whose workers, he says, are largely Latino and African-American. In an effort to avoid “a repeat Trayvon Martin incident,” Kirsh says he likes the idea of hiring professionals, who, at least for now, will remain unarmed.
Rockridge residents know that–at least to start–the private security patrols will be unarmed. Over in Temescal, residents still know very little. Cabello says that the meeting she was so eager to attend was less of a discussion and more of an announcement that private security was, indeed coming to the neighborhood. Organizers made clear that 50 people had already pledged to pay for the patrols and that they needed 50 more to be able to contract the work. It wasn’t a matter of whether security patrols would start but when.
Longtime resident Cabello was disheartened by the meeting and she isn’t alone. Pascal Emmer, who moved to the region two and a half years ago, says he was also disappointed by the tenor. “I wanted to be part of a larger conversation about what safety means to people, and that shouldn’t necessarily mean militarizing neighborhoods, says the self-described “transient, white, queer person with educational class privilege.”
Yet what he found at the Temescal meeting was sometimes the opposite. An Oakland police officer, says Emmer, talked about how some displacement was necessary in order to secure the community–and that adding private security would bring an “added value” to Temescal. Emmer, along with Cabello and several others, however, are concerned about whose security is in question.
“Young people from West Oakland come in to Temescal to go to school,” explains Emmer. “And we think they will be targeted by [private patrols].”
Based on the outcome of the casual commuter case, it’s likely young people of color will be watched closely by private security contractors. As it turns out, authorities are alleging that the main perpetrator in the robbery was 17-year-old Dajon Ford, who is black. Ford, a rising athlete and captain of his high school football team, obtained a college scholarship in New Mexico but left the school abruptly in August. Ford attended McClymonds High School, where reports indicate that a budget crunch didn’t allow the school to employ a guidance counselor, an assistant principal, or a school secretary.
Steve Kirsh, who’s raising $20,500 for a four-month private security patrol, does recognize some of the the broader issues a play. “There’s much larger systemic problems that we’re not able to solve in one fell swoop,” he says. “But this is an effort of people who are afraid of having our iPhones and iPads ripped off.”
Kirsh also says he’s spoken with officers about the issue. “We’ve heard from police that a lot of people who used to sell drugs on the street corner and now finding it easier to rob people,” he says. The Oakland Police Department didn’t respond to several requests for comment.
Zachary Norris, who heads Oakland’s Ella Baker Center, is concerned that private policing will rely on racial profiling. “We already have segregated schools,” he explains. “Adding segregated security patrols isn’t a solution.” Norris points out that Bay Area residents pushed for more police in the streets and for longer sentencing, starting in the 1970s–but that hasn’t translated into making for a safer community for those who are being displaced or for those who are moving in.
By focusing on a tiny fraction of what some youth are doing, police and other authorities seem to be failing to address the underlying issues that are plaguing changing neighborhoods–where newer residents can pull together $70,000 for four months of private security patrols, but local schools might lack the resources needed to engage young people. And those aren’t the only closed opportunities. Brand new businesses line neighborhood streets, but longtime residents points out that they rarely hire Oakland natives to work at them.
Pascal Emmer, meanwhile, believes the patrols will only further alienate local youth. At the Temescal neighborhood meeting, Emmer says he wanted to challenge the idea that only white residents feel unsafe there. “For me, police brutality is a safety issue–one that’s also a crime, often perpetrated against young people and people of color,” he says. Private security patrols, he adds, will only compound that feeling of insecurity for people who are just as much part of Temescal as those who are now raising money to have it patrolled.
For Dania Cabello, who’s lived a lifetime of gentrification in Oakland, the Temescal neighborhood meeting was a disappointment because its organizers had already decided to bring in private patrols without real community input. But while there, she had the opportunity to recognize just how many people are opposed to the patrols–and hopes to move forward on alternatives to increased policing, with input from both longtime and newer residents.
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27-76-00 Item 76: Last Med Determ Date
The computer system determines the Last Medicaid Determination Date.
The date is initially set by the system as the calendar month in which the approval action was taken. Thereafter, the system updates the date to the calendar month in which any of the following is processed:
a REDE;
a SWAP (other than a central SWAP);
a person in spenddown status becomes eligible for Assist or Moms and Babies; or
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Midtown
Midtown is the second-largest business district in Atlanta. It lies between the larger Downtown to the south and the smaller Buckhead to the north. Midtown is also the biggest arts center of Atlanta, as it boasts attractions like the Fox Theatre, the High Museum of Art, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Midtown is also home to educational institutions like Georgia Tech and the John Marshall Law School. Finally, numerous international companies like Coca-Cola, Equifax, Invesco, and Earthlink have their corporate headquarters in Midtown. Fusion CPA is proud to support this blend of arts, education, and business by offering Midtown bookkeeping services.
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Bitcoin Blog a1
Monday, October 24, 2016
Basic Crypto Guide
1. Before you can use any cryptocurrency, you need to pick a wallet to use.
What type of wallet you want depends on what you want to use it for. If you intend on mining, stop and reconsider because you probably can’t make any money. But if you want to anyways, you need a full wallet. Otherwise, a light wallet is probably all you need.
Once your wallet is installed, the first thing you need to do is backup your wallet. I can’t stress this enough. You NEED to backup your wallet. I have not neglected to backup my wallet before, and I have lost coins. Don’t be like me. Backup your wallet first thing.There are a few ways to do this. Personally, I use google drive. But you don't want your wallets just sitting in google drive vulnerable to theft. My wallets are encrypted using 7-zip. 7-zip is like Winrar but better and free. When you install a wallet, it will place a .dat or .wallet file on your hard drive. The file extension will be in your roaming folder. For example, the file path for a dogecoin wallet might be something like this: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Dogecoin . The roaming folder is often hidden, so you might need to turn on "show hidden folders" under your system setting for your computer. Grab the .dat or .wallet files you want to back up and put them in 7-zip file and set a password. Personally, I would also save this password using a system like keepass. Lastly, upload your 7-zip to google drive or dropbox.
3. Test the wallet
Now let's test your wallet. Here is how you can try it. You can use a faucet to get small amount of cryptocurrency for free.
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Siemens Helps Student Engineers Race in the Outback
Greetings from Down Under. I’m the senior business development manager for the University of Michigan Solar Car team. In case you’re not familiar with us, we are an entirely student-run organization that designs and builds electric vehicles. We race around the world and are currently in Australia preparing for the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (WSC).
Last week, we successfully completed our Australian Mock Race, our final large-scale testing event before the main race Oct. 6-13. We drove our car -- Generation -- halfway through the Outback and back, through windy, rainy, and sunny conditions. But our journey to the WSC started more than a year ago.
In June 2012, the regulations for the 2013 WSC were released and caught the solar racing community off-guard. In recent years, our cars had three wheels. Our previous car, Quantum, had three wheels, was ultra-aerodynamic, and finished third in the 2011 WSC.
However, this year, WSC mandated a four-wheeled car, which introduced a whole new design challenge. Four wheels means an additional tire, resulting in more drag and more weight.
We started our design work immediately. We tested out symmetric designs, with the driver in the middle, and we tested asymmetric designs, with the driver sitting on one side of the car. Because of the new design change, we placed a large emphasis on our aerobody design. Siemens NX software allowed us to continue making changes to our aerobody while designing mechanical parts for the car. Because both our mechanical division and our aero division were using NX, we were able to design each system simultaneously and easily transfer designs between each group.
In July, we had the first large-scale testing event with our car. We drove Generation over 1,000 miles around the state of Michigan, trying to learn more about the car. We spent one day on the side of the road because of wiring in our electrical system. All in all, our asymmetric design proved successful in the environments we built it for.
Fast-forward a few months to September. There’s less than a month until the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, and teams from across the world are heading into Darwin to begin scrutineering. We just completed our Australian Mock Race, driving Generation through the Outback and learning how to overcome problems native to Australia.
We’re looking forward to the start of the race on Oct. 6. We’ve got miles/kilometers of testing under our belt, we’re used to the terrain of the Outback, and we even have experience swatting away flies and avoiding snakes. Now, there’s only one thing left to do and that’s to win the WSC.
I’ll give you another update during the race. In the meantime and throughout the race, stay tuned to our Twitter updates for the latest from Australia.
I agree, bobjengr. Hands-on experience translates to better engineers. Engineering schools are starting to realize that now, and more are putting hands-on design classes into the first year of their curriculums. National Instruments has told us about schools that use Lego Mindstorms in first-year engineering classes.
Great post--very informative. I certainly wish you good luck with the race. I think endeavors of this type teach basic principals in a fashion that remain with the student and later on, the practicing engineer. Most manufacturers will tell you that "hands-on" creates conditions in which learning "sticks" while facilitating the teaching process. Again, good post and hope you guys win.
The standards electrical machines and components are required to meet in the food processing industry are far more stringent than those in traditional plant construction. For specialized production environments such as these, components must not only resist thermal and physical stresses, but they must also be resistant to the chemicals used to sterilize equipment.
The word “smart” is becoming the dumbest word around. It has been applied to almost every device and system in our homes. In addition to smartphones and smart meters, we now hear about smart clothing and smart shoes, smart lights, smart homes, smart buildings, and every trendy city today has its smart city project. Just because it has a computer inside and is connected to the Web, does not mean it is smart.
Was Steve Job’s signature outfit of a black turtleneck, jeans, and sneakers the secret behind his success? Maybe, or maybe not, but it was likely an indication of a decision-making philosophy that enabled him to become one of the most successful innovators of all time.
Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.
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Tuesday, 16 February 2016
READ BELOW RELATED LINKS ALSO:
THIS INCOME TAX SOFTWARE IS LATEST VERSION.THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDES CPS 50000/- DEDUCTION RUPEES.IT Department clarifies those who are more savings except CPS in Savings can avail CPS deduction U/s 80CCD(1B).
Clarifications for CPS Employees on 80CCD(IB) Deductions for CPS (NPS).
Vide F No. PR CCIT/Tech/67/2015-16 Dated 12.2.2016 Income Tax Department
has given clarification regarding CPS Deductions under 80 CCD (IB) and
for CPS (NPS) Employees. The Important Clarifications useful when the
CPS Deductions exceeds Rs.50000/- and also when the Total Deductions
exceeds 1,50,000/- excluding CPS Deductions. The Details and copy are
given below.
If Employees have savings Rs. 1,50,000 under 80C excluding CPS Deductions, Then the Employee can show their CPS Deductions, under 80 CCD(IB), which is over the 1,50,000 Limit. This is useful for the Senior Employees whose Total Savings excluding CPS Deductions under 80C are more than 1.50 Lakhs.
If the Employee have less than 1.5 Lakh savings in 80C and exceeds 50,000 towards CPS (NPS), then the Employee can split their CPS Amount to 80CCD(1) and 80CCD(IB). The Copy is given below.
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Haver Filling Systems Inc. Integra system
The Integra system from Haver Filling Systems Inc. is a self-contained valve bag filling system ideal for filling loose bulk materials. The Integra system can process up to 99 different material and bag combinations and has a HAVER MEC weighing control system. It can be equipped with an air system, vertical or horizontal impeller, and up to four filling spouts for a production rate of up to 15 bags per minute.
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GIO is part of the HToolkit. The goal of the HToolkit project is to implement a
portable Haskell library for writing graphical user interfaces (GUI's).
The "Graphics.UI.GIO" library is a 'middle-ground' GUI library for Haskell. It
is build on the portable GUI library "Port". GIO stands for Graphical IO, and
implements a middle-level, monadic interface for writing GUI's. The library
only uses the IO monad and doesn't implement a design for structure and state.
WWW: http://htoolkit.sourceforge.net/
-- Oliver Braun
[email protected]
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Eh up, what’s this?? Massive gig for us THIS FRIDAY at the former LAYTON INSTITUTE! We’ll be on the big stage upstairs in the concert hall from around 9pm for two massive sets of live music. Plenty of dancing space, cheap drinks, FREE ENTRY! Bar till 1AM! Sorry for the late notice everyone – bit of confusion over the date and we’ve been busy as hell! In fact, this is the ONLY chance to see The Deadbeats outside of private functions until the end of September, on one of the best stages in the North-West. Can you afford to miss this? Spread the word, make your arrangements and we’ll see you all on Friday at THE LAYTON. Big love y’all, THE DEADBEATS Xx
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Basic Spanish Pronouns
Personal pronouns
in Spanish are used almost the same way as their English equivalents.
However, the main difference is that in Spanish they do not need to
be expressed since the verb itself will identify the subject. This happens
in English with the third person singular of the present tense (to think->
thinks), where the -s shows us that we're dealing with a he, she or
it, although in English the pronoun is never omitted with the exception
of the imperative ("Sit down!", not "You, sit down!"),
unless we want to emphasize on the person being addressed with the command.
In Spanish, a pronoun is only needed when refering to a third person
(singular or plural) for proper identification purposes since it can
be a "she", a "he" or even a formal second person
singular. In the plural, the verb ending could be referring to a "they"
(masculine or feminine) or to "ustedes", a form of the second
person plural used by everyone in all the Hispanic countries, except
in Spain, where "vosotros" is preferred.
The
"Vos" Pronoun
There is also
another second person singular ("vos") used in some Latin
American countries (especially the ones in the South Cone [Argentina,
Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay], although in some Central American countries
it is also used [Costa Rica, for example]). The conjugation for the
"vos" in the present indicative differs from the standard
second person singular (tú) in that the stress for the pronunciation
lies on the last syllable, and not in the penultimate syllable: túsabes -> vos sabés
(you know).
Singular
Plural
Yo
(I)
Nosotros/nosotras
(we: masculine/feminine)
Tú/vos/usted
(you/you/formal 'you' singular)
Vosotros/vosotras/ustedes
(you all: masculine/feminine)
El/ella
Ellos/ellas
(they: masculine/feminine)
Some examples:
Spanish
English
Yo
quiero estudiar or Quiero
estudiar
I
want to study
Tú
quieres comer or Quieres
comer
You
want to eat
*Ella
quiere correr or Quiere
correr
She
wants to run
*Ellos
quieren hablar or Quieren
hablar
They
want to talk
Notice how in Spanish
the verb ending identifies the subject, except when using a third person,
in which case we have several possibilities. In those cases you will find
that either the subject is identified through the use of the personal
pronoun or name, or it has been identified in a previous sentence.
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Kaldor[LOS] -vs- XD a la Sib[LTL] ~(TD: 3,29 G)
We all knew this day would come at some point, a bit gutted that it was outright my mistake that cost me it, but at least now I don't have to worry about deut costs of saving it anymore! Always a positive =]
Ah Michael... sorry to see this but I really appreciate your positive outlook. You'll probably get the itch to rebuild fleet sooner rather than later... ...but until you do - mines all the way!New motto - "Build up - rebuild"I'll be glad to help out any way you desire as soon as I come out of v-mode.
Do I get to count the 3 RIPs that I lost as rips I've killed? Technically It was my fault they got killed right? haha
Thanks for the Offers of help and kind wishes of a fast rebuild =DSeen as I make 4.6M deut a day, surely my fleetsave should be at least 3M right? So I'll rebuild BC till it get's to about there I think
_________________
OOL IS THE ONLY RULENever Regret Anything, Because At One Point, It Was Exactly What You WantedU35 : 132 RIPs killed
I feel cheated that kaldor hasn't posted this hit on the boards =/It's quite amusing to look at the profit he actually got from this hit tbh, I've made 600M from simple cargo slaps, he takes out a 3M+ fleet and only get's 800M, and 150K BC, that's got to cost some deut to fly. Thought i'd be worth more than that haha
_________________
OOL IS THE ONLY RULENever Regret Anything, Because At One Point, It Was Exactly What You WantedU35 : 132 RIPs killed
But yeah, sad to see that fleet gone, it served me well, made me far more res than it cost to build that's for sure!Turns out mines and BC building will make for a good combo, as generally when mining you do tend to build up some crystal. I'll also be building up some nice deut stockpiles. I might trade them off, or maybe I'll keep them for when I'm back to fleeting
_________________
OOL IS THE ONLY RULENever Regret Anything, Because At One Point, It Was Exactly What You WantedU35 : 132 RIPs killed
I only just realized this obvious fact. I lost my 2 HF's from the tutorial in this hit. They'd made it so far too. Going to have to replace them with 2 new ones to pay tribute to their hard fought careers =]
_________________
OOL IS THE ONLY RULENever Regret Anything, Because At One Point, It Was Exactly What You WantedU35 : 132 RIPs killed
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I think the summary is actually quite on point with my whole post.
It's certainly still a long summary, but it properly summarizes how I feel about it, or at least it's supposed to.
I made sure to bold and underline it though so people who don't want to read a wall of text can just scoot down to read the summary.
I'll touch up on it more if necessary.
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workshops
The 1st joint international workshop on Graph Data Management Experiences & Systems (GRADES) and Network Data Analytics (NDA) will take place the 10th of June 2018. This event will be co-located with the ACM SIGMOND International Conference on Management of Data at Houston, Texas.
The focus of the GRADES-NDA workshop is the application areas, usage scenarios and open challenges in managing large-scale graph-shaped data. The workshop is a forum for:
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Organic Supercenter
Buy my food at Walmart? No thanks. Until recently, I had been to exactly one Walmart in my life, at the insistence of a friend I was visiting in Natchez, Mississippi, about 10 years ago. It was one of the sights, she said. Up and down the aisles we went, properly impressed by the endless rows and endless abundance. Not the produce section. I saw rows of prepackaged, plastic-trapped fruits and vegetables. I would never think of shopping there.
Not even if I could get environmentally correct food. Walmart's move into organics was then getting under way, but it just seemed cynical--a way to grab market share while driving small stores and farmers out of business. Then, last year, the market for organic milk started to go down along with the economy, and dairy farmers in Vermont and other states, who had made big investments in organic certification, began losing contracts and selling their farms. A guaranteed large buyer of organic milk began to look more attractive. And friends started telling me I needed to look seriously at Walmart's efforts to sell sustainably raised food.
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Monday, November 29, 1999
Flood fury hits Jorhat district in Assam
Guwahati, Jun 17 (PTI) Jorhat has become the latest district in Assam to face the flood fury with nearly one lakh people being affected in the last two days, officials said today. Lakhimpur in Brahmaputra valley and Cachar and Karimganj in Barak valley have been already hit by floods. In Jorhat district, Bhogdoi River breached the dyke at Maloupathar area submerging over 35 villages with 1000 families and inundating more than 1000 hectares of farm land with standing crops and vegetables, the officials said. Several schools, five colleges, 20 temples of historical importance were also inundated forcing closure of educational institutions for the next three days. The affected people were taking shelter on the Bar Ali `bundh'' (dyke)-cum-road, they said. In Titabor subdivision, in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi''s constituency, Choraipani River had caused breaches in two places between Dangdhora and Bhekuriagaon inundating around 45 villages housing nearly 10,000 people, 20 schools and agricultural fields. With the Brahmputra rising at Nematighat, its tributary, Choraipani river, was flowing above the danger level near Kakodanga overtopping the Dhudar Ali interstate road connecting Jorhat and Nagaland, they said. Another road, Nagabat to Nagaland was also under water affecting the collection of crude oil from the Sarupathar and Borhula gas gathering stations (GGS) of the ONGC to be transported by oil tankers to the refineries by road. World''s largest river island Majuli in Jorhat district was also affected by the rising Brahmaputra submerging its outer adjoining low-lying areas, they said.
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Results: 290 participants were enrolled (70.7% of whom were women, 66.9% minority group members, 72.4% at or below the poverty level, and 35.8% reading below the fifth grade level); 241 (83.1%) participated in posttreatment assessments. Linear mixed models included all randomly assigned participants. Members of the CBT and EDU groups had larger decreases in pain intensity scores between baseline and posttreatment than participants receiving usual care (estimated differences in change scores-CBT: -0.80 [95% CI -1.48 to -0.11]; P = 0.022; EDU: -0.57 [CI, -1.04 to -0.10]; P = 0.018). At 6-month follow-up, treatment gains were not maintained in the CBT group but were still present in the EDU group. With regard to physical function, participants in the CBT and EDU interventions had greater posttreatment improvement than those receiving usual care, and this progress was maintained at 6-month follow-up. Changes in depression (secondary outcome) did not differ between either the CBT or EDU group and the usual care group.
Limitations: Participants represented a single health care system. Self-selection bias may have been present.
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E-step Meeting in Ireland
At the beginning of this week we attended our two-day E-step meeting in Ireland. As usually time was too short to visit around, but at least we’re propud to have managed getting things done and checking all through our agenda.
Definitly the name of our hotel (Kilmore) was a big hint for the meeting that would come, although we were a bit picky about the fact it did not state a very specific, nor measurable objective. It should have been “kill all” instead of “more”! 😉
Killing did involve tasks so no actual violence was recored. We had two good days of hard work and managed to get a lot of things done, starting with our comparative research, road map, reports, evaluations and plannig our next steps.
We would like to thank again the Irish team who did a great job in welcoming us and making us feel so great during our short stay!
Needless to say it was amazing seeing everyone again and we’re already looking forward for our next meeting in October, although unfortunately it will be the last one in this project!
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Video for Social Change was a documentary film course taught by Bruce Orenstein at the Center for Documentary Studies in the spring of 2014. The collection includes eight interviews, with North Carolina social justice activists James Andrews, Rukiya Dillahunt, Anita Earls, Angaza Laughinghouse, Dani Moore, Allison Riggs, Melinda Wiggins, and Mel Williams. The materials in the collection include camera footage in AVCHD format, edited master videos in MP4 format, transcripts, and releases for eight interviews.
Video for Social Change was a documentary film course taught by Bruce Orenstein at the Center for Documentary Studies in the spring of 2014. Focusing on the production of advocacy videos for social change, the course introduced knowledge and skill sets needed to make effective videos for grassroots organizations, exploring how video is integrated into organizing strategies to achieve better results. Student projects consisted of video oral histories with social justice advocates in North Carolina, including James Andrews, Rukiya Dillahunt, Anita Earls, Angaza Laughinghouse, Dani Moore, Allison Riggs, Melinda Wiggins, and Mel Williams. The materials in the collection Include raw footage, edited projects, transcripts, and releases.
Access to the Collection
Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.
All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48-hours to retrieve these materials for research use.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.
Use & Permissions
Not all of the copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
The video interviews and accompanying transcripts were created digitally. You may view streaming copies of the edited video masters under each interview listed below. To access the original video resources and transcripts, contact Rubenstein Library Research Services.
James Andrews interviewed by Harish Chatrathi, 2014 February 28
(104 minutes)
President of the North Carolina state AFL CIO Federation, James Andrews grew up in segregated Warren County, North Carolina, and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained during his service in the Vietnam War. Andrews discusses his career as a union organizer and his rise in the ranks of the AFL CIO. He also discusses the labor and the state of unions today and their future challenges. -- Description adapted from interview abstract (see Transcript).
Rukiya Dillahunt is a retired educator and active advocate. She grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, and received her undergraduate degree from West Virginia State University. In this interview, Rukiya discusses her experience organizing with Black Workers for Justice, as well as her tenure as a teacher and assistant principal in the Wake County School System. She also provides insight about the school-to-prison pipeline and its implications for North Carolina’s youth. Rukiya is married to Ajamu Dillahunt, another prominent organizer and advocate. -- Description taken from interview abstract (see Transcript).
Civil rights attorney and Executive Director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Anita Earls grew up in a mixed race family in the 1960s. In this interview she discusses how her family background and the environment informed her career, and gives her perspective on issues surrounding voting rights in North Carolina and the nation. -- Description adapted from interview abstract (see Transcript).
Angaza Laughinghouse is a founder of the political organization Black Workers for Justice based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Laughinghouse first got involved in activism in New York where he grew up, before moving to North Carolina after hearing about the Charlotte Three and the Wilmington Ten. He began community and workplace organizing after the Greensboro Massacre. Black Workers for Justice came to be as a result of protests against unfair treatment of female workers at a K-Mart in Rocky Mount. The organization strives to empower workers to stand up for their own needs both in the workplace and in the community. They have also been active in political campaigns and have had members run for office. -- Description adapted from interview abstract (see Transcript).
Director of the Immigrant Rights Project at the North Carolina Justice Center, Dani Moore grew up in Tarboro, North Carolina, and earned a B.A. in Economics from Wake Forest University and a master's degree from Harvard Divinity School. In this oral history, she talks about growing up in a poor family in Tarboro, touching on interracial differences and their complicated relationships in her community and school. She also discusses her experiences with different organizations in social justice advocacy. -- Description adapted from interview abstract (see Transcript).
Allison Riggs is a staff attorney for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice who focuses mainly on voting rights. Riggs grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia and received her undergraduate and graduate education from the University of Florida. In her interview, she discusses her current work on voting rights and issues surrounding redistricting, Section 5 of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 in the state of North Carolina, and the impact that Supreme Court cases regarding voting legislation have had on North Carolina and the country as a whole. She also discusses other problematic discriminatory occurrences in North Carolina, such as police discrimination and profiling, and the subsequent collateral damages that occur from these practices. -- Description adapted from interview abstract (see Transcript).
Executive director of the Durham, North Carolina-based Student Action with Farmworkers, Melinda Wiggins grew up in the Mississippi Delta. Melinda attend Millsaps College and later Duke Divinity School, where she explored different types of advocacy work before turning to farmworker rights. In this interview, Melinda reflects upon her own development as an activist, as well as the specifics of farmworker advocacy work in North Carolina and the South. -- Description adapted from interview abstract (see Transcript).
Reverend Mel Williams’s career began during the 1960s, shaped by the civil rights movement and his interest in fighting poverty in Durham, North Carolina. As a pastor of the Watts Street Baptist Church, Williams gathered together diverse communities to bring awareness to the city's poor. Reverend Williams’ work includes the Congregations Coalition, End Poverty Durham, the Walltown “Neighbor to Neighbor” mission, and the Coalition for Non-Violent Durham. In this interview, Williams shares his thoughts on his work, including inspirational moments and the spiritual sources inspiring him. -- Description adapted from interview abstract (see Transcript).
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Time to ditch the fad diets says Heart Foundation
Australians are being urged to ditch fad diets in an effort to focus more on their cardiovascular health.
A major review on the most effective diets was commissioned by the Heart Foundation in order to combat the rising prevalence of cardiovascular disease, which currently affects one in six Aussies.
The review found a number of diets that Australians could implement into their daily lives, with results showing up to a 20% drop in cardiovascular risk.
“It’s really not a complicated message,” states Professor Garry Jennings, National Chief Medical Advisor of the Heart Foundation. “It’s about variety, colour and a sustainable diet.”
The review also looked at the most common eating habits of Australians, with results showing that many of us are indulging in foods that are high in saturated fats and sodium, increasing the likelihood of coronary heart failure, heart disease as well as strokes.
“If we think less about what we need to cut out, and more about how we combine the basic healthy foods into healthy meals, it becomes a healthier way to think about and enjoy food,” said nutritionist Beth Meertens.
With Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing that as many as two million Aussies are on a diet in any one year, changing our way of thinking about food is one of the Heart Foundation’s priorities.
“Rather than fixating on diets which focus on single nutrients or cutting out specific foods, people should focus on the foods that they can eat and enjoy, and how to build those foods into a pattern of eating that is sustainable over the long term,” added Ms Meertens.
‘Fad diets’ are not the way to cure any post-indulgence regrets after a long weekend. Based on an evidence-based review, we recommend a long-term approach to healthy eating that focuses on variety of and delicious meals. https://t.co/pV5ocFVqiepic.twitter.com/Yv2yNtGHjG
Which diets should Australians look into?
While drastically changing our diets after a weekend of bingeing on Easter chocolate seems like a good idea, sustainable healthy eating habits, along with regular exercise, are still the best ways to lose weight over the long term and improve health, with the Heart Foundation updating its Healthy Eating Principles to show Aussies what to eat.
For those that need a bit more help on the dieting front, the Heart Foundation also highlighted some of the better diets to combat cardiovascular disease.
The Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 20%, as well as aid weight loss, according to the Heart Foundation. It focuses on the regular consumption of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, fish and low-fat dairy foods.
“The DASH diet has been around for a while. It’s probably the best proven one in terms of its effects on risk factors for heart disease,” said Mr Jennings.
Other effective diets include the Mediterranean and Prudent diets, which are similar in their emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables and lack of fatty foods.
If you’re worried about your cardiovascular health, it’s best to consult with your local GP before altering your diet.
To our knowledge, all information in articles on the Canstar Blue website was correct at the time of publication. This information may have changed over time. Refer to the product fact sheet (or relevant similar documentation) before making any purchase decision. Canstar Blue's website terms and conditions apply.
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Gazelle Asmeazgobushfire Tour Freebie
20.05.2011
Win 4 x tickets to Gazelle at The Assembly on Saturday PLUS a R100 bar tab. Sound niiiice? OK, here’s what we want from you. We want you to dazzle us this time. No lame one sentence posts or single tags. We want to see what you’ve got. Give us everything. Whatever you want. It’s up to you. Post your entries on the Mahala Facebook Page. The prize will go to the entry with the most effort. Annnnnd you only have today. The competition will end at 4 pm today so get creative, we know you can!
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Contact Information
Leeds Auto Sales
Visit our website www.leedsautosales.com for more information and photos on this or any other of our vehicles or call us today for a test drive (630) 801-7100.
2014 Nissan Sentra SR Vehicle Options
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Mandate
AIFEC removes barriers for students who live in poverty; by encouraging children to participate, awarding grants to cover all program expenses and by providing each participant with his/her own instrument free of charge for the duration of the program. AIFEC’s goals are empowerment and accessibility and to enable all children to experience the joy and benefits of playing music, regardless of their socio-economic position.
Empowering Positive Change in the Community
The most important changes we are aiming to achieve include:
Increased access to music programs for disadvantaged children in Hamilton
Increasing the number of parents who are actively engaged in their children’s music education
Maximizing the program’s positive benefits (Students/parents and staff/teachers report positive benefits for almost 90% of current participating students)
How Music Helps to Change Lives
AIFEC believes that ALL children should have opportunities to be exposed to music and to learn to play an instrument.
Educational research shows that:
Children who study the arts demonstrate stronger overall academic performance. Education is a top public policy priority and the role of the arts in learning is of great interest to parents, educators, legislators, civic leaders and business owners.
Arts programs improve students’ self-confidence and build communication and problem-solving skills in children and teens. This experience prepares young people to be the resourceful and creative problem solvers, who employers seek for today’s work force.
The Arts help to develop the kinds of innovative minds and creative skills required by the entertainment, advertising, design, technical, scientific and other industries that enable businesses to compete successfully in the 21st century workplace.
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Saturday, October 13, 2007
Sabourin had an eventful first period. He started in goal, let a couple of pucks get past him, and got hurt when Orpik pushed Tucker right into him. Bring in MAF, who looked a bit more solid in the net. He still let in a few goals, but eh.
The Pens' offense was ON FIRE. Six goals, and over 50 shots on goal. Toskala kept it from being a complete blow out.
But just where has the Pens PP been? I think it's still on summer vacation. Hope it decides to come back this season because it's greatly missed. And then just as I wrote this, Sid scored on the PP. Figures.
Speaking of Crosby, he finally broke the big goose egg by scoring his first and second goals of the season. Nice. He's also kicked ass on faceoffs, winning like 75%. Very nice.
Don Cherry still thinks that Crosby shouldn't be captain yet because it's taking his focus off the game a bit. Cherry criticizing Crosby, what else is new..I'm just surprised that he didn't start flattering Jordan Staal, saying how he should've won the Calder Trophy.
A lot of the players were cuddly tonight. Kubina had a couple of holding penalties, McCabe was a grabber too. I think McCabe made a nice little home in the box tonight because he kept doing things to go back. Maybe he put a nice fuzzy teddy bear in the box.
Poor Brooksie. He went to hit the Leafer, and got a big ol' glove and stick in the face and was hurt bad. He looked dazed and confused when the guys practically carried him off the ice. Looked like a concussion to me.
So, the Pens' offense showed up tonight, but I think the D slept late...or didn't wake up at all. Perhaps not as bad as Toronto's D, but still - if the Pens have any slim hope of making it far into the playoffs, the D needs to wake up and actually play a defensive game. I'm just saying..
You have to give Toronto fans a lot of credit for continuing to support their team, even when the product is, um, less than perfect. The Leafs organization has been messed up for years, and they've messed the team up pretty good, but the people still come, and they cheer like they've won the Stanley Cup - even those most of them don't know what that's like.
Thumbs up to the little girl in the Mooseheads jersey and the sign saying that Halifax loves Crosby. Nice to have the Maritimes represented in the crowd.
Ok, so Sid got the first star of the game, I totally agree, but Talbot didn't get any love by CBC?? He only scored 2 goals tonight...
Next Pens game on TV = NJ/PIT on Wednesday night. Can't wait. Go Pens
-------
Ottawa continues to dominate, winning again tonight against the Rangers. In fact, they won the game in less than 1 minute by scoring 3 goals in 52 seconds. Heatley got his 6th - he could end up with 60+ goals this year. Yikes.
Gerber's an absolute wall. He should have gotten a shutout, but the powers-that-be took that away from him. Stupid war room people. Jagr's goal shouldn't have counted.
Emery's close to coming back to the nation's capital. He just finished his second 'rehab' game in the AHL, where he faced 48 shots, stopping 46. He'd better hope that he keeps it up with the Sens, because Marty's making a really good case for taking his job.
About Me...
All opinions expressed on this site belong to the author. Logos, photos and other material are used without permission but do not interfere with the owner's profit. I typically post them because they go along with the subject of the post or because I get a kick out of them. If your image has been used on this site and you would like it removed, please let me know by e-mail (provided in my complete profile) and I will be happy to comply with your request.
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Hop on to my pad, Ozlilly's musings
Ungeschminkt
Great tit
The Naked Truth
Note to self: Love yourself. Now what did I want to say on this blog called “Ungeschminkt”?
I was wondering how to translate “Ungeschminkt” into English. It means with no make-up, but implies the naked truth, no cosmetics to cover up the imperfections. Like my red nose.
My hair has got so long now and I’ve had it up the last couple of days. I sprayed some hair oil on it a couple of days ago and now when I let it down, it looked so nice and shiny and full-bodied in the bathroom. Since the menopause my hair has become so dry and frazzled. Using this hair oil spray has been a real boost. A couple of weeks ago I bought three cans of oil hair spray from DM. It also has a lovely coconut scent which really gives me a psychological boost.
I was at the dentist this week and got new front teeth. I haven’t told anybody but now every time I look in the mirror I am so much happier! I had to look at my broken, crumbling, greying teeth and now I have a smile with shiny polished white pearls in my top gum.
I am still doing the SWK and after two weeks am now where I was when I last finished the SWK, at 93 something kg. In the shower this morning I determined I want to be able to see my pubic hair without having to hold my stomach in with my hand.
Oh God, this takes me off on a tangent about all the spam mail I have been receiving. I just delete it but it is so annoying. It can really be traumatizing. Should I write what I get? It is so insanely, perversely, sexual and intimidating, but writing about pubic hair reminded me. Psycho terror and stalking are surely some of the most underestimated sources of emotional stress! As I said, I just delete them but some days I get nearly a hundred of them. It started in October and I wonder what sparked it off?
The heater is not on at the moment. The sun is shining through the bedroom window. I love this time of day when I can sit at my desk with the sun shining on my back. It does interfere with the screen visibility though. Sometimes I need to pull the curtains to be able to read what is on the screen.
The blue tits were flying in swarms this morning to collect the seeds from our bedroom window ledge. They are so fast, so cute, so lively.https://www.facebook.com/ozlilly/videos/10212273387203691/
Andi left for Italy this morning. I was still lying in bed when Josef came to ask whether I want to get up to say goodbye before he leaves. Then after he left, we prayed and read together and spent over an hour talking over breakfast. He was at a gender meeting last night and I was at the Life Plus meeting with Todd Burrier. I gave Josef the signed book from Todd called: Leading with Heart: “Fuehren mit Herz”.https://www.amazon.de/F%C3%BChren-mit-Herz-Todd-Burrier/dp/3981412842/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510490243&sr=8-1&keywords=todd+burrier+f%C3%BChren&dpID=41rA-XdMJDL&preST=_SY264_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
So now the next decision: what to do with all I have written? It was a fascinating evening with Todd with focus on social media. He invited us to live-stream one small section of his meeting after first announcing that no photos or videos were permitted and nothing was to be posted on social media! I was not prepared when he said: Now you can film and live-stream.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMt0dHRALoY&t=99s
I think in the States people do much more of that and he did not anticipate how inexperienced and unprepared we all are for this! I eventually started filming but only just set up the live streaming this morning after breakfast!I am offering content that can lead to spiritual growth and development. Yes. That is my goal. I want to be a source of inspiration. I have received so much from the Divine Principle, from Reverend Moon, from Todd Burrier, from Katie Snape, from Clare Josa, – I just want to share it all.
Now I think I could actually post all that I have written above. But I probably should still consider goals and purpose.Why am I blogging?
I just want to leave a legacy.What do I want to leave?
I want my future grand-kids to know who I was.Really? Pubic hair?
No, that’s for later. That’s to show that I am open-minded and not prude. Also, with so much sex trash on the internet, people should be able to come to some substantial content when they surf for such terms and not just all the pornography and junk.
I am offering content that can lead to spiritual growth and development. Yes. That is my goal. I want to be a source of inspiration. I have received so much from the Divine Principle, from Reverend Moon, from Todd Burrier, Clare Josa, – I just want to share it all. No, I do not want to convert people to the Unification Church. And I do not want to sell any products. I want to share my story, my inspiration, my experience, my wisdom, my love. I love listening to people. Of course I also love to tell my own story, but I feel like, even at 63, I am still working out my story.
Enough time spent on this. Get on with posting at least the video. But will I really post it without my story?
Ungeschminkt.
An excursion into the mind of Ozlilly.
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America's Cup- AC72's line up in Auckland - Luna Rossa does a flypast
Emirates Team New Zealand and the Italian Challenger, Luna Rossa were out race training again, off Auckland's North Shore. Italian Challenger did this spectacular fly-past the Sail-World camera boat.
Winds were recorded in the early afternoon as averaging 20kts gusting 25kts at the entrance to Auckland harbour, and 25kts average gusting 30 at the outer end of the 2000/2003America's Cup course area.
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Tanja Bosak
Tanja Bosak was awarded the 2011 James B. Macelwane Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 7 December 2011 in San Francisco, Calif. The medal is for “significant contributions to the geophysical sciences by an outstanding young scientist.”
Citation
Tanja Bosak was born and raised in the small Croatian village of Kumrovec, also the birthplace of the Yugoslav dictator Tito. At the age of 13, Tanja won admission to Croatia’s best high school, MIOC, in Zagreb. To attend MIOC, which specialized in mathematics and computer science, Tanja moved to Zagreb and lived in a state boarding house for teenage girls. Tanja later attended Zagreb University. She intended to major in physics but soon shifted to geophysics. Setting her sights on a Ph.D. in planetary science, Tanja applied to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and was accepted. Her first paper, written with Andrew Ingersoll, is on Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities in Jupiter’s atmosphere.
Atmospheric physics soon became the road not taken. A second research project at Caltech brought Tanja into contact with Kenneth Nealson and Lisa Stein, who introduced her to the wonders of microbiology. Dianne Newman then arrived at Caltech, and Tanja became her first student. Dianne pointed Tanja toward an ideal problem for a geophysicist seeking to reconstruct herself as a geobiologist: the origin of stromatolites. Stromatolites are laminated sedimentary structures that are thought to be Earth’s earliest fossils. Various lines of evidence, most notably, their unusual geometry, suggest that stromatolites record the presence of ancient microbial life, but precisely how has remained a fundamental question. Tanja’s unique contributions to this subject have derived from her desire to explain field observations with insight gained from carefully controlled laboratory experiments and quantitative theoretical models. One thus sees an expression of her early training in physics and mathematics.
In Dianne Newman’s lab at Caltech, Tanja detailed the ways in which microscopic calcite precipitates are influenced by microbes. After postdoctoral work with Ann Pearson and Richard Losick at Harvard, Tanja continued her work on stromatolites as an assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Tanja and MIT graduate student Alex Petroff noted that small conical stromatolites tend to be spaced about 1 centimeter apart. They then showed, by a combination of theory and experiment, that the centimeter spacing represents a diffusive length scale associated with a diurnal cycle. These results support the hypothesis that conical stromatolites record the presence of early photosynthetic cyanobacteria.
Conical stromatolites often display bubble-like features of uncertain origin. By growing stromatolites in the lab, Tanja and her students have been able to show that microbial growth around oxygen-rich bubbles results in the preservation of these features. Since oxygen is a by-product of photosynthesis, the onset of preserved bubbles may record the origin of oxygenic photosynthesis.
Stromatolites are but one of Tanja’s interests. A hint of her future can be seen in her recent collaboration with her MIT colleague Shuhei Ono. Sulfate-reducing microbes grown in Tanja’s lab turn out to fractionate sulfur isotopes much more so than previously thought. This simple observation may require a substantial revision of the Proterozoic history of atmospheric oxygen.
For these and other accomplishments, those yet to come, and her uniquely physical approach to geobiology, I am delighted to recognize Tanja Bosak as a 2011 James B. Macelwane medalist.
—Daniel H. Rothman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Response
Thank you, Dan, and thank you, AGU, for this honor. Like Dan said, my scientific path so far has had its fair share of lucky turns, so I would like to thank many people who have helped me along the way.
The fortuitous nature of it all really hit me when I tried to trace my scientific roots back to something. Growing up in a small—and I mean small—village in Croatia, I attended the local public school, where math, science, and language classes offered much-needed balance to patriotic songs and stories about President Tito. In high school I thought I might like to be a biologist, but all the ones I knew were working either abroad or as librarians. So I ended up studying physics and geophysics. I thank my parents, Marica and Ivan, for all their support during this time and for not insisting that I become an accountant.
Following a vague notion that I could study other worlds, I went to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for a summer of undergraduate research and then applied to graduate schools in planetary science. Once at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), I learned about another stunning and bizarre planet: the early Earth. I was lucky that Dianne Newman, my mentor, colleague, and friend, suggested that I work on stromatolites, a project that united biology, chemistry, physics, and the early Earth. Without Dianne’s support, optimism, generosity, and contagious delight in science, I would not be standing here today. Special thanks also go to Joe Kirschvink, the wild child of geobiology.
During my postdoc at Harvard, Rich Losick helped me explore the world of genetics, Ann Pearson guided me in organic geochemistry, and Andy Knoll and Paul Hoffman shared their stories from Earth history. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) I have truly enjoyed working with my new colleagues Dan Rothman, Shuhei Ono, and Roger Summons and with my collaborators Sara Pruss, Francis Macdonald, Dan Lahr, and Hojatollah Vali. Also, luckily, I have had great graduate students, Alexander Petroff and Min Sub Sim, as well as motivated research assistants and undergraduates. Finally, all this would be much less fun without my fellow explorer of bizarre worlds Ben Weiss.
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your brain on drugs
We might not have a money tree, but we can have a happiness tree.
Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Endorphins are the quartet responsible for our happiness. Many events can trigger these neurotransmitters, but rather than being in the passenger seat, there are ways we can intentionally cause them to flow.
Being in a positive state has significant impact on our motivation, … [Read more...] about The Happy Drugs Inside Your Brain
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We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.
The hostel is in the city center, near to central train station that was good because we didn't to take the taxi to the hostel. The rooms and common places are cleaned and they are decored in nice way. I slept very well in the...More
Stayed one night before we came back to Hungary. I was afraid the noise but I slept like a log. In the morning we ate a filling breakfast (with waffles, yummy!), it was very cheap but perfect to start the day.
The location is great,...More
we stayed here just for one night so we can rest before our flight to the Balkan countries. NIce place, perfect location for those who wants to be very close to the old town, bus stations very close also, nothing complicated to get the buses....More
Good Hostel in Warsaw, open h24, good proximity with some bars.
In the street next to the hostel, you've 4 bars to enjoy your trip !
Ps : be careful with dust under the bed and on the eater :-)
Poland !
The staff was great. They spoke English and were able to give some good travel tips. The room was comfortable and had all the basics taken care. An adequate breakfast was ready in the morning. It can be a bit noisy in the evenings and...More
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President Forever 2012 Help File
Welcome to President Forever 2012! This is the most in-depth, intense election game ever made. Using realistic electorate modeling techniques, an unprecedented number of options, the ability to plan complex strategies, detailed candidates, and sporting a futuristic interface, this is 21st century politicking big-time!
We will be expanding this help file in the weeks leading up to the election.
Note: if you have a question you think should be addressed in the help file, or a contribution you think could add to the help file, please send us an e-mail about it here. We then might add the answer or that information to the contents of the help file.
Note: If you want to view the President Forever 2012 help file offline, simply save this web-page to your desktop or other convenient location. You will then have the help file available on your own computer, which you can open as you would any file on your desktop.
President Forever 2012 requires your display resolution be set at 800×600 or above. It is also recommended you use High Color (16 bit) or higher for your display. If you have your desktop set to a resolution significantly higher than this, the game window may be fairly small. To change this, you can adjust your desktop resolution to a lower setting.
To change these settings, click on the Windows Start menu button, then click on Control Panel, then click on Display. Finally, click the Settings tab in the window that pops up.
Font Size
President Forever 2012 also may have display problems if you are using Large or Extra Large Fonts. To change your fonts to normal, click on Control Panel, then click on Display. Finally, click the Appearance tab, and set font size to normal.
In Game Help
To get help about a button, hover over it with your mouse. This will display further information on the bottom of the screen.
FAQ
Q. Is there a way to edit candidate attributes, or create scenarios?
A. A candidate editing tool will be released soon. This tool might be expanded to allow for full scenario modification in the future.
Getting Started
It’s grueling. You’ll get dragged through the mud. You’ll get kicked when you’re down. Politics, anyone?
How to Win
President Forever is a game about American Presidential politics. Your goal is simple: win the election. How do you do that? In short, win your party’s primaries (if you start with the primaries option on) and then get the most Electoral Votes in the general election.
Understanding Primaries
To elect a nominee for President, the two major parties have primaries. The primaries are actually a mix of primaries and caucuses. Some primaries are “open,” meaning that people who are not registered in that party can still vote in that primary, and some are “closed,” meaning that only registered party members can vote. Caucuses are like closed primaries. If a candidate has more appeal with independents or even people who are registered with another party, then closed primaries or caucuses can be more challenging to win for that candidate. After each primary or caucus, delegates are selected to attend the party’s national convention. Typically, these delegates will be pledged to one candidate or another. Whichever candidate gets a majority of delegates voting for them at their party’s convention wins the party’s nomination, and can proceed to the general election.
Understanding Electoral Votes
In the general election, each state has a certain number of Electoral Votes. In 2008 there are 538 Electoral Votes in all. California has the most Electoral Votes, at 55. Texas is second, with 38.
Whichever candidate has the majority of Electoral Votes becomes President.
Each state’s Electoral Votes are all-or-nothing. That means whoever has the most normal votes (any vote cast by a registered voter – you or I) in a state gets ALL the Electoral Votes. For example, if you got 51% of the vote in Texas, you would get 100% of the Electoral Votes from Texas.
Whichever candidate has more than 50% of the Electoral Votes wins the game. In the 2012 scenario, you will need 270 Electoral Votes to win.
What if there is a three (or more) way split, and no one gets 270 or more Electoral Votes? Then Congress decides between the top two contenders.
Tutorial
A winning campaign consists of two key components. First, there must be undecideds you can win to your column. To increase the percentage of undecideds, you (or someone else) must attack another candidate. Second, you must win undecideds into your column, by boasting about yourself.
For example, in your Theme, a mix of one attack and two boast components usually works well. If there are few undecideds, or a candidate has a very high percentage in a primary state, say, then you might want to increase the attacks to two components in your Theme.
The number of voters you strengthen on your side, or weaken on an opponent’s side, is related to momentum. Momentum is per issue. Each issue has a maximum amount of (positive or negative) momentum associated with it, which is then multiplied by its profile.
More coming soon.
How do I …
How do I move my candidate?
To move your candidate, from the Main Screen click the Activities Button (a crown). Then, click the Move Button (an airplane). Then click where you want your candidate to move on the Main Map. Then select the activity you want to do in that state by clicking one of the activity buttons. To move to multiple states in one turn, after selecting the first activity, click the Move Button again, and select a second location on the Main Map. Then select the activity you want to do in the second state. And so on.
How do I rest my candidate effectively?
To rest a candidate effectively, go to their homestate and don’t schedule any activities for them for a turn. You can repeat this until your candidate has the desired number of Energy Points.
Screen By Screen
Start Screen
Select Scenario & Parties Screen
Leader & Party Information Screen
Main Screen
Options Screen
Strategy Screen
Endorsers Screen
Start Screen
This is the first screen after the splash screen that you will see. At the top left is the Options Button and the Help Button.
To check if you have the latest version of President Forever 2012, click the Update Button. Note: we will be updating the game frequently up until the election. Please keep in mind that if you have a save file and then update, you will not be able to load the save game. Rather, you will have to start a new game.
Select Scenario & Parties Screen
Select the scenario options
There are several scenario options that can affect game play and strategy. To enable an option, on the Select Scenarios & Parties screen click the scenario so that it is selected.
Primaries. If on, the game starts at the beginning of the parties’ primaries. You must first win your party’s primaries, and then win the general election. If off, the game starts at the beginning of the general election.
Timed Game. If on, each human player has a certain amount of time per turn. Once turned on, you can use the up and down arrows to select how long a human player has per turn. Turned off by default.
Spies. Enables you to create spies to infiltrate other candidates’ headquarters. Turned on by default.
Fog of War. When enabled, public polls are not always accurate. Turned on by default.
Select parties and number of players
Click the button below each of the party or candidate graphics to choose Human, Computer, or Off.
If the Primaries option is on, you can click the Notes Button next to the candidate to view that candidate’s attributes.
Select computer player difficulty level
Click the Computer Difficulty Button to change how difficult the computer players are to beat. Either Easy, Medium, or Hard. The more difficult, the higher the highscore bonus for a human player.
Scenarios
President Forever 2012 currently includes the 2012 scenario. Additional scenarios may be added in the future. If they are added in a future update, you can select to play a different scenario by clicking the Change Scenarios Button.
Leader & Party Information Screen
In this screen you will be able to choose the Presidential candidates for the game, and (if starting in general election mode) the Vice-Presidential nominees.
If you reach your ‘Party goal for this election’, there is +50 to your high score.
Each Presidential candidate has a number of attributes, from 1 to 5, 5 being best. If you hover your mouse icon over the icon next to an attribute, it will describe what that attribute does.
To view your Presidential candidate’s campaign attributes, click the Click To Toggle Info Button. You will then see the campaign attributes. If you hover your mouse icon over the icon next to an attribute, it will describe what that attribute does.
If you are starting in general election mode, you will have the option to view your Vice-Presidential nominee’s info. Click the View VP Info Button. This will list the VP nominee’s attributes, as well as the percentages bonuses you will gain in any states if you choose that person as your VP nominee.
Main Screen
There are several areas on the main screen.
Main Map Area
The Main Map displays the country, divided by state, district, or territory (henceforward abbreviated as ‘state’). Each state displays the color of the candidate who is leading in that unit. The darker the shade of the candidate’s color, the larger the lead. If the state is too close to call (a statistical tie), then it is white.
To select a state to view, click it on the Main Map. To select the entire nation, click on the map somewhere where there isn’t a state. To view detailed information on a state, once it is selected click it again.
To switch to viewing momentum, click the Momentum Viewing Mode Button at the bottom right of the Main Map. This will display the momentum for each of the candidates currently selected on the Main Screen. To switch back to the regular Main Map viewing mode, click the Momentum Viewing Mode Button again.
Candidate Info Area
The Candidate Info Area displays a picture of your Presidential Candidate (or Vice-Presidential Candidate if they are selected through the Activities Button, or a Surrogate picture if they are selected through the Surrogates Button).
The number of Command Points your candidate’s campaign has left for that turn. So, 4/8 would indicate you have 4 points remaining out of a total of 8. You can click the Command Points Button for details on Command Point usage for the turn.
The number of Energy Points your candidate has left for that turn. So, 90/100 would indicate that you have 90 points remaining out of a total of 100. Once your Energy Points drop below 50 (indicated by the color becoming red), you are in danger of making a gaffe if you campaign. Energy Points are restored each turn.
The Funds you have available, and the net change in Funds from last turn. You can click the Funds Button for details on expenses from last turn.
Polling Graph Area
This area contains a graph of polling numbers from the start of the campaign. By default, it displays tracking percentages for each candidate. You can click the graph area to switch to estimated seats (Primaries) or Electoral Votes (general election). If you are starting in the Primaries, you can click the Primaries Button on the bottom right of the graph (a ‘P’) to switch between data for the primaries and data for the general election.
Polling Numbers Area
This area displays numbers for the most recent polling data for each candidate displayed, as well as undecideds. Next to those numbers are the change in the numbers from the last poll.
To the right of the numbers is the flag of the state currently selected on the map. To view some extra information about the state, move the mouse over the flag.
Below the flag is a Change in Momentum Button. Click the button to switch from viewing change in percentages in the second column of numbers in the Polling Numbers Area to change in momentum.
If you are in the primaries, above the flag will be an arrow(s). Click the arrow to view the next party’s primaries.
Seats Bar Chart Area
This displays the seats (Primaries) or Electoral Votes (general election) each candidate is projected or has won in the selected state. The color indicates the depth of support for those seats.
If you are in the primaries, a Delegate Count Button is to the top left of the seat bars. Click this to switch between projected seats (default) and seats from completed elections (delegates locked up). The line in the middle represents the number of seats required to win a majority of delegates.
To the top right is a Projected Electoral Vote Swing Button. This displays the swing in Electoral Votes for the state selected, compared to the previous election. So, if playing 2012 it would be compared to the 2008 outcome.
Buttons Area
These are the buttons for taking various actions during your turn. Hover over a button to see what it is for.
Once you have clicked a button during a turn, the line preceding it will turn from blue to yellow, to indicate that you have already clicked it. The buttons have numbers 1. through 12. next to them.
Options Screen
The Options Screen is accessible by clicking the clipboard icon in the top left of the Main Screen or the Start Screen.
There are several options available. To turn them on or off, click the box next to the option. A checkmark will appear or disappear.
Sound
Whether to have sound in the game.
HoverHelp
Whether the game will show help hints at the bottom of the screen when you hover over a button.
Autosave
Whether the game will automatically save after you click Done. If so, it will be saved to a file called ‘autosave.sav’. To load this save file, click the Load option and select ‘autosav.sav’.
Every time the game autosaves, it will write to the same save file, so if you autosave during one game, then start another game and autosave during that game, the autosave file from the first game will be overwritten.
Show +- On Map
Whether the map on the Main Screen will show the change in percentages. These changes will only show up once a week, and indicate the change in difference between your candidate and the next (or most) strongest candidate. For example, if you were at 25% and the other candidate was at 30%, and the next week you were both at 27.5%, then the number displayed would be +5%.
Strategy Screen
Coming soon.
Endorsers Screen
To get an endorsement, your endorser score must reach 100 before anyone else’s.
1. PIPs cause your endorser score to increase by an amount that is dependent on the given endorser.
2. CPs cause your endorser score to increase by points equal to your campaign’s Command Strength. You can only use 1 CP per endorser per turn.
3. Affinity increases happen automatically, and are determined by several factors, including your Command Strength, your national polling numbers, your national momentum, and how close your platform is to the endorser’s position. These increases are greater if the endorser has become ‘leaning’ (+1) or ‘decided’ (+2) for your candidate. An endorser becomes leaning or decided when the difference in endorser scores between the candidate with the highest score and the candidate with the second highest score is above a certain amount.
Affinity increases will stop at 95. At that point, you must use PIPs or CPs to cross 100.
If you get an endorsement, some endorsers can become surrogates. It will say ‘potential surrogate’ on the Endorsers Screen. Once you have gained their endorsement, that potential surrogate is automatically put into your list of possible surrogates. You can then create the surrogate by going to the Surrogate Screen, and creating them as you would any other surrogate.
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Hosting Deep Web Links | Dark Web Links for Hosting Service
Planning to launch your own directly, forum, market place at dark web? Looking for best anonymous hosting service deep web links? If yes, then you are going to love this resource of dark web anonymous hosting service links to start your deep web site.
Below are some best resources to buy hosting. But before buying hosting from any dark web link, make sure to read reviews about them. Or you can join dark web forums and discuss with other members about any particular hosting service so that; you could know everything about anonymous hosting service provider before buying.
All these dark web links are for education purpose, I am not recommending you to buy from them. If you buy, it is your own risk and responsibility.
If you are using older version of Tor Browser, please update this right now.
Now you can browse dark web safely with fully secure environment, no worry about anything.
http://popfilesxuru7lsr.onion/ – filesharing – Popfiles: this onion dark web link provides service related to file hosting, which you can share anonymously with anyone on deep web. But this site have some limitation like you can’t upload here child pornography, malware, violent or racist content!
http://dmru36nvfgtywx47.onion/ – Hosting – HomeHosting – Be your own onion VPS: Do you have own server and looking expert who can setup your onion host then visit here. you can hire some great experts for your host setup, According to website expert will take 3BTC for setup.
http://hosting6iar5zo7c.onion/ – Hosting – RealHosting: This hosting site can prove great alternative for anonymous hosting. Available hosting packages are for 3Month, 6Month, 1 Year and prices are 0.09 BTC for 3Month, 0.15BTC for 6Month, 0.25BTC for 1 Year.
Note: .onion domain will be free for all time, you can choose first 7 letter according to your site.
http://kowloon5aibdbege.onion/ – Hosting – Kowloon Hosting Service: If you are still searching onion hosting then this dark web links can resolve your problem. Visit this site for more information.
http://felixxxboni3mk4a.onion/ – Filesharing/Pastbin – Felixxx.: By the help of this hidden internet site, you can share any images and file anonymously. This file sharing process is so simple, only upload your file, copy your file link and share with anyone on the dark web.
http://occuomegawqtkl6j.onion/ – Hosting – Occulus Omega: if you are looking some other alternative for .onion hosting, then you can try this deep web links, available price plan is $45/3 month.
http://7zzohostingx4mes.onion/ – Hosting – Hidden Host the Best Anonymous .onion hosting Provider: This is anonymous hosting provider, if you want to start your anonymous website .onion domain then may this dark web links will help you. this hosting very cheap, the price will be BTC 0.1/Year.
http://nk3k2rsitogzvk2a.onion/ – FileHosting – Do you want to share your file with good protection or strong password then visit this site and share your file anonymously anywhere on the dark web links.
http://obscuredtzevzthp.onion/ – Filesharing/Pastbin – Obscured Files: This dark web sites can help you, if you want to share any file or images anonymously at darknet. This site allows contents for a specific time like 1 Hr or one day, and this also support secure password files. Support File Formate: 7z (1-10), gif, gz, gzip, jpg, jpeg, png, rar, tar, torrent, txt, webm, zip. Max File Size Support: 500MB.
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Your Cart
Your Cart
PATIENT FORMS
PATIENT FORMS
The buttons below will activate editable PDF form files. Simply fill out the PDF on your computer and email it to [email protected], or print it out and bring it with you to your next appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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Work is Love Made Manifest We Love What We Do, and it Shows
Sunstone Veterinary Specialists is a small group of dedicated veterinary specialists. We provide comprehensive surgery, cardiology, and internal medicine services for cats and dogs in Portland, Oregon. Our knowledgeable veterinarians are board-certified specialists with many years of experience in their areas of expertise. Our facilities are modern yet inviting. Above all, we are passionate about helping our patients live higher quality lives. Here at Sunstone, we love our work—and it shows.
At Sunstone Veterinary Specialists, we are committed to providing exceptional internal medicine services for a wide range of conditions. Our hospital has two internal medicine veterinary specialists and a team of support staff to care for your pet. With an in-house laboratory and diagnostic imaging, we are equipped to accurately diagnose and effectively treat your pet’s condition.
We take pride in providing comprehensive surgical care in a comfortable and friendly environment. Our skilled veterinary surgeon and her team have the well-honed skills needed to perform complex surgical procedures, from cruciate ligament repairs to cancer management.
Our cardiologist and his team work hard to ensure your pet continues to be happy and feeling good, despite his or her heart problem. We offer diagnostic and treatment services for a wide variety of congenital, age-related, and degenerative cardiac conditions.
Our veterinarians and staff are here for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.
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Does Google have a strategy, or are we just a bunch of mad computer scientists running around building whatever we want? Today this question gets an answer: we've launched our personalized homepage via Google Labs. It's part of a strategic initiative we refer to as 'fusion' to bring together Google functionality, and content from across the web, in useful ways.
The personalized homepage is a complement to the existing Google homepage - not a replacement. Keep using the original Google homepage if you want to. (We expect many people will.) But if you're keen to organize and customize your information, take a stab at designing your own homepage. You can add Gmail, news, stocks, weather and more. Plus you can add great content from websites like the BBC and Wired. We're incorporating feeds from just a few other sites today, but we envision being able to accept any standardized feed very soon.
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API Documentation
This document contains the API (Application Programming Interface)
documentation for Python-LightMediaScanner API. Documentation for the Python
objects defined by the project is divided into separate pages for each
package, module, and class. The API documentation also includes two
pages containing information about the project as a whole: a trees
page, and an index page.
Object Documentation
Each Package Documentation page contains:
A description of the package.
A list of the modules and sub-packages contained by the
package.
A summary of the classes defined by the package.
A summary of the functions defined by the package.
A summary of the variables defined by the package.
A detailed description of each function defined by the
package.
A detailed description of each variable defined by the
package.
Each Module Documentation page contains:
A description of the module.
A summary of the classes defined by the module.
A summary of the functions defined by the module.
A summary of the variables defined by the module.
A detailed description of each function defined by the
module.
A detailed description of each variable defined by the
module.
Each Class Documentation page contains:
A class inheritance diagram.
A list of known subclasses.
A description of the class.
A summary of the methods defined by the class.
A summary of the instance variables defined by the class.
A summary of the class (static) variables defined by the
class.
A detailed description of each method defined by the
class.
A detailed description of each instance variable defined by the
class.
A detailed description of each class (static) variable defined
by the class.
Project Documentation
The Trees page contains the module and class hierarchies:
The module hierarchy lists every package and module, with
modules grouped into packages. At the top level, and within each
package, modules and sub-packages are listed alphabetically.
The class hierarchy lists every class, grouped by base
class. If a class has more than one base class, then it will be
listed under each base class. At the top level, and under each base
class, classes are listed alphabetically.
The Index page contains indices of terms and
identifiers:
The term index lists every term indexed by any object's
documentation. For each term, the index provides links to each
place where the term is indexed.
The identifier index lists the (short) name of every package,
module, class, method, function, variable, and parameter. For each
identifier, the index provides a short description, and a link to
its documentation.
The Table of Contents
The table of contents occupies the two frames on the left side of
the window. The upper-left frame displays the project
contents, and the lower-left frame displays the module
contents:
ProjectContents...
APIDocumentationFrame
ModuleContents...
The project contents frame contains a list of all packages
and modules that are defined by the project. Clicking on an entry
will display its contents in the module contents frame. Clicking on a
special entry, labeled "Everything," will display the contents of
the entire project.
The module contents frame contains a list of every
submodule, class, type, exception, function, and variable defined by a
module or package. Clicking on an entry will display its
documentation in the API documentation frame. Clicking on the name of
the module, at the top of the frame, will display the documentation
for the module itself.
The "frames" and "no frames" buttons below the top
navigation bar can be used to control whether the table of contents is
displayed or not.
The Navigation Bar
A navigation bar is located at the top and bottom of every page.
It indicates what type of page you are currently viewing, and allows
you to go to related pages. The following table describes the labels
on the navigation bar. Note that not some labels (such as
[Parent]) are not displayed on all pages.
Label
Highlighted when...
Links to...
[Parent]
(never highlighted)
the parent of the current package
[Package]
viewing a package
the package containing the current object
[Module]
viewing a module
the module containing the current object
[Class]
viewing a class
the class containing the current object
[Trees]
viewing the trees page
the trees page
[Index]
viewing the index page
the index page
[Help]
viewing the help page
the help page
The "show private" and "hide private" buttons below
the top navigation bar can be used to control whether documentation
for private objects is displayed. Private objects are usually defined
as objects whose (short) names begin with a single underscore, but do
not end with an underscore. For example, "_x",
"__pprint", and "epydoc.epytext._tokenize"
are private objects; but "re.sub",
"__init__", and "type_" are not. However,
if a module defines the "__all__" variable, then its
contents are used to decide which objects are private.
A timestamp below the bottom navigation bar indicates when each
page was last updated.
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Athletic Training/Sports Medicine
The USF Athletic Training Education Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation
of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Graduates from our program establish successful
careers as athletic trainers in secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional
sports programs, sports medicine clinics, and other athletic health care settings.
Interested students should contact our office for informational meetings. Please note
that some of the careers below will require further education.
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Pages
October 8, 2014
Having to explain helps learning
Have you ever experienced that explaining things to others can be a learning experience for yourself, too? That is a bit paradoxical, isn't it? Our basic idea is that the person to whom the material is explained is the person who is supposed to learn from the process. But if you consider the situation more closely it is not so strange after all that the person who does the explaining also learns.
In order to be able to explain something well you will first have to think deeply about the material. Before you can properly explain you must have a clear idea about what the main points are which you are trying to convey. Also, you have to know which facts you want to mention and how you will structure your explanation. This means you have engage very actively with the material before you will be able to make it accessible to the other person.
For teachers it is good to know these things. Many teachers will, from time to time, deliberately put their students in the role of a teacher. This principle is sometimes referred to as role-reversal education. What is useful about it is that that by explaining things, people construct knowledge again which helps anchor this knowledge better and which makes it easier to connect it to information. One project which deliberately uses this principle is Bètacoach.
New research reveals an additional aspect. John Nestojko and his colleagues (2014) asked 50 undergraduates to study a 1500-word text for 10 minutes. One group of them was told they would be tested afterwards, the other group was told they would afterwards have to explain the material to someone else.
Afterwards, all participants were tested. Students who thought they would have to explain the material were better and faster able to remember the main points of the text as well as specific facts from the text and its structure. Saying upfront to students that you will ask them to explain what they are about to study might thus be a very useful intervention.
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The QueSST design is capable of fulfilling the LBFD aircraft’s mission objectives, which are to fly at supersonic speeds, but create a soft “thump” instead of the disruptive sonic boom associated with supersonic flight today.
The LBFD X-plane will be flown over communities to collect data necessary for regulators to enable supersonic flight over land.
NASA partnered with lead contractor, Lockheed Martin, in February 2016 for the QueSST preliminary design. Last month, a scale model of the QueSST design completed testing in the 8×6-foot supersonic wind tunnel at NASA’s Glenn Research Centre in Cleveland.
“Managing a project like this is all about moving from one milestone to the next,” said David Richwine, manager for the preliminary design effort under NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology Project.
“Our strong partnership with Lockheed Martin helped get us to this point. We’re now one step closer to building an actual X-plane,” said Mr Richwine.
After the success of completing the PDR, NASA can start the process of soliciting proposals and award a contract early next year to build the piloted, single-engine X-plane.
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This guide is strikingly different from other books on Microsoft ADO.NET. Rather than load you down with theory, the new edition of ADO.NET 3.5 Cookbook gives you more than 200 coding solutions and best practices for real problems you're likely to face with this technology using Visual Studio 2008 and the .NET 3.5 platform.
Organized to help you find the topic and specific recipe you need quickly and easily, this book is more than just a handy compilation of cut-and-paste C# code. ADO.NET 3.5 Cookbook also offers clear explanations of how and why each code solution works, and warns you of potential pitfalls so you can learn to adapt the book's problem-solving techniques to different situations.
This collection of timesaving recipes covers vital topics including:
Connecting to data
Retrieving and managing data
Transforming and analyzing data
Modifying data
Binding data to .NET user interfaces
Optimizing .NET data access
Enumerating and maintaining database objects
Maintaining database integrity
Ideal for ADO.NET programmers at all levels, from the relatively inexperienced to the most sophisticated, this new edition covers the significant 3.5 upgrade, including new programming tools such as LINQ. ADO.NET 3.5 Cookbook offers a painless way for those of you who prefer to learn by doing when it comes to expanding your skills and productivity.
Chapter 1 Connecting to Data
Introduction
Storing Connection Strings
Building a Connection String
Connecting to SQL Server
Connecting to a Named Instance of SQL Server
Connecting to SQL Server Using an IP Address
Connecting to SQL Server Using Integrated Security from ASP.NET
Connecting to an Oracle Database
Connecting to an OLE DB Data Source
Connecting to an ODBC Data Source
Connecting to a Microsoft Access Database
Connecting to a Password-Protected Microsoft Access Database
Connecting to a Microsoft Access Database from ASP.NET
Connecting to a Microsoft Excel Workbook
Connecting to a Text File
Changing the Database for an Open Connection
Setting Connection Pooling Options
Taking Advantage of Connection Pooling
Using Transactions with Pooled Connections
Displaying a Connection Property Dialog Box
Displaying the Data Link Properties Dialog Box
Monitoring Connections
Chapter 2 Working with Disconnected Data Objects
Introduction
Creating a DataColumn and Adding It to a DataTable
Creating a DataTable and Adding It to a DataSet
Mapping Table and Column Names Between a Data Source and DataSet
Mapping .NET Data Provider Data Types to .NET Framework Data Types
Adding a Calculated Column to a DataTable
Creating a Unique Constraint
Creating Single- and Multi-Column Primary Keys
Creating an Autoincrementing Primary Key
Creating a Foreign Key Constraint
Creating a Data Relation
Building a DataSet Programmatically
Adding a Column to a Child DataTable That Displays Data from the Parent Table
Adding a Column to a Parent DataTable That Aggregates a Child Table's Column Values
Bill Hamilton
Bill Hamilton is a technology and management consultant who specializes in assessing business objectives and company processes and designing and restructuring technology strategy and enterprise architecture. Bill has been designing and implementing enterprise solutions using both SQL Server and Oracle for over a decade. Bill is the author of other O'Reilly titles including the highly praised Programming SQL Server 2005 and ADO.NET Cookbook, and he also writes for the Microsoft Developer Network. You can email Bill at [email protected].
The animal on the cover of ADO.NET 3.5 Cookbook, Second Edition, is a white spoonbill (Platelea leucorodia), also called the common or Eurasian white spoonbill, named for its large, spatulate bill. Spoonbills feed by wading through the shallow waters of their marshy habitats, moving their partly opened bills from side to side to filter out mud and water. When the sensitive nerve endings inside their bills detect an edible morsel, they snap them shut. A spoonbill's typical diet includes insects, larvae, small crustaceans, and tiny fish.
Mature white spoonbills are about 85 centimeters long from the tips of their tails to the tips of their bills, and their wingspans average 125 centimeters. As the name suggests, white spoonbill feathers are a creamy white. During breeding season, however, adults develop yellow patches on their breasts, faces, and bills.
White spoonbills are found in northeast Africa and much of Europe and Asia. They nest in trees and reed beds, typically in large colonies and sometimes with other bird species in the Threskiornithidae family, such as herons and storks. Males gather nesting materials, and females weave these sticks and reeds into shallow, bowl-shaped nests. Females generally lay a clutch of three to four eggs per year and share incubation duties with their mates.
Although the white spoonbill is an endangered species, conservation efforts have led to a slow increase in population in some areas, particularly in northwestern Europe. Loss of breeding sites due to land clearance and pesticide use are the main threats to the white spoonbill's survival.
This edition (Second - Mar 2008) covers ADO.NET very well including excellent sections on connecting to various data sources and working with data containers (data tables, data set, etc.) Overall, there are topics on making connections, selecting, updating, inserting data, working with data containers, working with XML, and integrating with SQL Server. Through out the book are useful sections on securing data connection strings, and optimizing connections. Additionally, there is a chapter on CLR integration and an appendix that covers changes in ADO.NET since version 1.0. This is a worthy reference for .NET programmers since most non-trivial projects require access to data sources. The most common issues seen in blogs and message boards are covered; often in the first chapters. ADO.NET Cookbook is a nice addition to the programmers library.
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"Starting from the 27th March, PS TV will offer even greater value for money when it becomes available for only £44.99," a Sony spokesperson told Dealspwn.com. "Now with an even more accessible price, you can benefit from the advanced features and technology that PS TV brings to your home entertainment experience.
By bringing new innovation into the home, you can have the freedom to play whenever and in whichever room you wish. PS TV has never been more accessible, and there has truly never been a better time to expand your PlayStation experience."
The official site reads: "PlayStation TV. Now from £44.99. Stream your PS4 games to any TV in your home at a great new price."
You can read our PlayStation TV review for more details on the odd yet loveable little gadget, which allows you to stream PS4 gameplay to other rooms and play PS Vita games on your telly.
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I am so very disappointed!!! ALL of Trey's Angels know how important Mother's Day is to him. And what's being offered for the Mother's Day Bundle is ridiculous. A 2011 Property of Trey Songz sleeper!?!! Really!?!?! It's 2013. Please come out with more updated items for the store. This is so embarrassing!!!!!
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Decor Advice for Commitment-Phobes
“Permanent” decor can be intimidating. We’ve all been there—that first “designer” sofa you invest in gets a large stain, or the bedroom set you had to have ends up being made of plywood and falls apart after a year. So, you’re not alone if you consider yourself a “decor commitment-phobe.” Some aspects of interior design can help alleviate this fear—you can find easy, short-term design commitments to make those longer-term decisions easier to make. Furniture and accessories don’t fall into one single category. Here’s a breakdown of how to think about those decor commitments.
Long term: Window treatments
If we could only pick one decor item to invest in for the long run, window treatments would be it. Unlike furniture and accessories, windows are fixed—your house will always have windows. So why not invest in some quality shades or draperies that will do the job for years? Treatments like shutters, shades, blinds and draperies have timeless options that can work in every style. Whether your home is a contemporary haven or a traditional estate, there are endless patterns, fabric and material choices, like woven wood, linen and bamboo that can complement every aesthetic. Don’t think they’re only good for their looks—quality treatments are key for keeping out sun and maximizing your privacy.
Short term: Decorative pillows
Pillows are our go-to for decor that you can switch out easily—in fact, we promote it! Like the weather, decorative pillows are seasonal, and celebrating their variety keeps things interesting. In the spring and summer, play around with pattern and color. Bring in breezy fabrics like linen and cotton, and don’t forget to accessorize with colorful tassels or vacation-inspired patterns. When the fall and winter roll in, the changing leaves mean it’s time to swap them out. For colder months we love texture, especially fuzzy faux-fur, tweeds and wool plaids reminiscent of a favorite pea coat. The beauty of pillows is that, no matter what, if you grow tired of them you can move on to something new.
Short term: New linens and sheets
Craving a new look in the bedroom but don’t necessarily want to commit to new furniture? Time to swap out linens and sheets. Like decorative pillows, linens and sheets are ideal for changing out seasonally or whenever you decide. Lighter, breezy linens are ideal for hot summer nights, and cozier fabrics are better suited for snuggling during a cold winter’s night. If you find yourself constantly wanting to switch up your look, linens and sheets are quick and affordable ways to add an instant change to your room. Start with patterned sheets for a gradual introduction. In our book, it’s always nice to swap out your linens every few months—it keeps things interesting!
Long term: A quality statement piece
A quality framed statement art piece or two is a must-have in a home. When professionally framed, these pieces can withstand dust and aging far longer than a standard poster thrown up on a wall or mounted in a $15 discount-store frame. These can include maps, heirloom prints, blown-up photographs, event posters, or other memorable artwork that can easily be handed down to future generations with a story in hand. A comfortable home is one that combines sentimental pieces with some trendy pieces—the same goes for the artwork in your home.
Short term: Mix-and-match gallery wall
There’s no need to cover your whole home in expensive art pieces. While some people consider the gallery style to be overdone, there is no denying that a gallery wall is an ideal situation for decor commitment-phobes who don’t want to commit to a single piece for the next few years. Part of why gallery walls have become so popular is that they allow a hodgepodge collection of artwork and frames to come cohesively together on one wall — a great option for those that get nervous at the idea of swapping out 50 frames in one sitting. Take your aesthetic and run with it — paint old frames for a mix-and-match look or invest in some sleek matching frames. When all’s said and done, you can swap out prints, framed postcards, and photos and move them around when you need a change.
Long term: Houseplants
In our world, you can never have too many houseplants. Not only are they decorative “sculptures” of their own, endless studies have shown that many houseplants bring health benefits to a home. From succulents and jade plants to ferns and fiddle leaf fig trees, there’s a huge variety of shapes and sizes that can fit any sized space. Convinced you have a black thumb? Head to your neighborhood home improvement store or nursery and chat with the knowledgeable staff—many indoor varieties are available that require very little maintenance and that can withstand even the least experienced gardeners.
Short term: A mirror
Mirrors work magic. While they may seem like simple decor pieces, mirrors work to visually expand your space. They add depth, can be hung anywhere, and are great additions for smaller apartments and rentals where you can’t necessarily knock walls down. For hallways and powder rooms, have fun with a trendy mirror and make a statement. For dark-lit rooms, take advantage of a mirror’s ability to throw light by mounting one on a wall directly opposite of a window.
Long term: Area rugs
A good quality area rug can go a long way in a space. Not only do they instantly cover up old or dirty flooring that would otherwise need refinishing, but they also serve as an anchor for living and dining areas, reading nooks, offices and bedrooms. They can also instantly add a pop of pattern or color to a space and are ideal for bringing in some much-needed texture to dull spaces. Area rugs are like window treatments—investing in a quality area rug means you’re set for years, making you less prone to have to buy a new one a year later after it gets destroyed by claws or muddy feet. If you’re looking for even more flexibility, consider an indoor/outdoor rug. Made of durable material, these easy-to-clean rugs are great for homes with pets and children, and can also be moved around both inside and out.
Short term: Hardware
Instantly upgrade the look of kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities or an old piece of furniture with some new hardware. The beauty of hardware is its ability to breathe new life into cabinetry or a furniture piece while still allowing flexibility. No hardware is permanent—have fun and know that when inspiration strikes next, you can add the latest and greatest at a relatively minimal cost.
If you’re looking to update your home, consider adding some of the furniture and accessories mentioned above to your ever-changing decor. For more ideas on how to choose window shades or other window treatments for your home, visit Blinds.com.
Homes.com is the place to dream and discover your ideal home! Are you starting to get the itch to look for your first or next home, but don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place! Browse our real estate and lifestyle blog for home buying tips, mortgage guides, DIY ideas, interior design, lifestyle topics, general home inspiration, or just some homes fun. We are sure you can scratch that itch and find all the information and tools you need to help in your home search. Want to start looking at available real estate right now? Head to our home page and check out homes for sale or rent listings all over the country.
Katie Laird is the Director of Social Marketing for Blinds.com and a frequent public speaker on Social Media Marketing, Social Customer Care and profitable company culture. An active blogger and early social technology adopter, you can find her online as ‘happykatie’ sharing home décor, yoga, parenting and vegetarian cooking tips.
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Oculus Rift's CEO wants you to pay nothing for the VR headset
It's not every day that you hear the CEO of an up-and-coming hardware company say that he'd love to give his goods away for zip, zilch, nada, but Oculus VR honcho Brendan Iribe says that if it's possible, he'd love to give the Oculus Rift headset to users for the absolutely nothing.
Subsidies aren't just for phones, and Oculus Rift's developers want to get create to get their hardware on as many eyes as possible.
It's not every day that you hear the CEO of an up-and-coming hardware company say that he'd love to give his goods away for zip, zilch, nada, but Oculus VR honcho Brendan Iribe says that if it's possible, he'd love to give the Oculus Rift headset to users for the absolutely nothing.
"The lower the price point, the wider the audience," Iribe told Edge magazine. "We have all kinds of fantasy ideas. We'd love it to be free one day, so how do we get it as close to free as possible? Obviously it won't be that in the beginning. We're targeting the $300 price point right now but there's the potential that it could get much less expensive with a few different relationships and strategies."
Iribe went on to cite the way console makers like Microsoft and Sony subsidize their hardware and make up the difference in sales of software and services. A similar model could enable Oculus Rift to land in the hands of the masses for nothing, or Oculus could bundle the VR headset with laptops and other types of hardware.
"We're not there yet, but we're sitting there thinking all the time, how can we make this free?" Iribe pondered.
Off the shelf star
While Iribie's pipe dream may end up being nothing more than wishful thinking, the Oculus Rift headset is already far cheaper than the VR competition at $300 for a developer kit. Oculus VR is able to hit such a low price point by using hardware similar to the type you'd find in a smartphone or tablet. And as these everyday hardware components scale and their manufacturing processes improve, they'll become even cheaper.
Using such common technology not only allows the company to keep prices down, but it also allows Oculus to upgrade the internals of the Rift as mobile technology advances. Witness the updated 1080p display in the Oculus Rift shown off at E3, which is a drastic improvement over the 720p resolution found on the Rift's developer kits. Iribe told PCWorld that when the consumer version eventually ships, its resolution will be 1080p at minimum. He chalked the resolution increase up to--you guessed it--improvements in the component supply chain.
Gaming with the Oculus Rift is a simply stunning experience that must be seen to be fully understood. YouTube videos alone (like the one of CCP's superb EVR space combat game) simply don't do it justice, and Iribe's comments to Edge suggest that one day, most everyone with a PC might indeed be able to slap on a Rift of their own.
But beyond merely twiddling thumbsticks, the arrival of cheap, VR-compatible technology like the Oculus Rift has the power to change lives if it becomes common enough. From medical applications to educational software to virtual journalism, tourism, and entertainment, affordable virtual reality hardware could send beneficial ripples throughout our entire society.
Despite Iribe's talk, don't expect the Oculus Rift to be free any time soon. Heck, it hasn't even been officially released yet. But no matter whether the headset costs nothing or $300 or some point in between, this wallet-friendly VR headset could make seismic waves in the years to come.
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Speaking at a CME Group press briefing, commodity analyst Greg Wagner says the numbers on acreage (http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/Acre/Acre-06-30-2010.txt) and stocks “are very friendly for corn and soybeans. It’s anecdotal, but there is very widespread knowledge that we have very poor feed conversion from last year’s corn crop, and I think that’s where some of the larger consumption in corn is coming from. Certainly, ethanol use and exports are coming into play as well.”
“Because of the heavy short position in corn, new crop corn should migrate up into the $3.80 to $3.90 level over time,” Wagner said. “The trade has been given a very fundamentally supportive report. The market’s job is to follow through.”
Also watch for the impact of late-season weather on corn, Wagner said. “The crop is not made. USDA has already dialed in a U.S. yield estimate for corn that’s 2.7 bushels above trend yields. But what occurred last year won’t necessarily occur this year.”
Wagner says China is having a problem with its corn growing areas, which could translate into higher U.S. exports. “China has become a corn importer. It’s quite apparent they have a need for corn.”
Jim Bower, Bower Trading Co., added, “The world has changed a great deal. Over the last 10 years, we’ve increased the consumption of corn globally by 200 million metric tons. As long as everything goes smoothly with the corn crop, nothing will be too volatile. But we’re just one step away from a major problem if something happens in the world crop.”
The same situation exists in soybeans, according to Bower. “China alone consumes an additional 6 million metric tons of soybeans, so there’s very little room for error there, particularly if Brazil or Argentina, which tend to make up for that difference, have problems.”
Even though soybean acreage came in a little above the trade estimates, quarterly soybeans stocks came in lower than expected, noted Bower. “So there’s still a bit of a question mark on where we’re going with the old crop soybean situation.”
Bower says Midwest producers were still planting or replanting soybeans on about 2.5 million acres.
Bower says the seasonal lows for corn and soybeans “are probably in.”
Despite USDA’s estimate for an increase in average yield for corn in 2010, there is still quite a bit of uncertainty for the corn crop, Bower said. “Heavy precipitation in June does not guarantee a good harvest. The crop can become shallow rooted, and if you get any kind of dryness in July-September, the crop can suffer.
“The corn crop really looks good right now. But we have to really be careful about telling people you have a record corn yield on June 30.”
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About the SpeakerYael Numark is a Sacramentan born in Mumbai (Bombay) who will discuss the legacy and history of India's Jewish communities. Yael says many of the same Jewish traditions found throughout the world would be found in Mumbai's eight synagogues, although there are also traditions specific to India. The written record of Jews in India goes back to the 1700s.
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The Art of Windowing: Why 4:44 is a Different Kind of Exclusive
This is a guest post from MIDiA’s Media and Music Analyst Zach Fuller.
For a brief moment last year, windowing seemed like the future of music streaming. Already common practice in the film-industry, the strategy was being touted as a way of utilising artist fan engagement to drive registrations (both freemium and paid) to streaming services, thus engendering the payment behaviours that would ultimately grow the industry. Yet, as MIDiA addressed last year, Frank Ocean’s bait-and-switch manoeuvre with Universal in August 2016 sent shockwaves through an industry still acclimatising to streaming economics. Arriving on the coat-tails of a windowing gold-rush that had seen releases by Beyonce, Kanye West and Chance the Rapper all utilising the strategy, Ocean’s move effectively put the brakes on the practice, leaving Universal CEO Lucian Grainge allegedly so infuriated that he ordered a company-wide halt to any further windowing projects.
Fast forward to 2017 and Jay-Z’s 4:44 has brought windowing back to the fore. Whilst numerous personal revelations (as well as receiving Jay-Z’s best critical response since 2003’s The Black Album)have meant blanket press coverage across social and traditional media, it is also notable that 4:44 is the first major windowing project to arrive this year. This is despite 2017 presenting two substantial windowing opportunities with Ed Sheeran’s new album and Harry Styles’ self-titled debut – however neither were windowed on any service. Jay-Z however, is in a very different position to most artists. Aside from owning his own streaming service, Jay-Z’s control over his artistic output extends back to the very beginning of his career. He co-founded his own label, Roc-A-Fella Records (distributed through Universal), to release his debut back in 1996, and as was reported last year, he is now in full control of his own master rights. Such self-determination over one’s career at the scale of his audience is rare, thus enabling 4:44’s window release while the rest of the industry retreats from such practices.
Audience reticence can also be attributed to the unlikelihood this is a move to build TIDAL’s user base. Kanye West claimed his 2016 release ‘The Life of Pablo’, ‘My album will never never never be on Apple. And it will never be for sale… You can only get it on Tidal.’ This position lasted around a week, with Kanye now allegedly having left TIDAL over unpaid royalties. Similarly, Beyonce’s TIDAL exclusive lasted just 24-hours. It is therefore fair to assume that music fans have become naturally suspicious about the nature of windowing and how long they will have access to exclusive content should they subscribe to a particular service. This accounts for the trend of free-trial hopping between streaming services as well as the fact that Jay-Z’s album has already been subject to high levels of piracy.
Streaming services themselves also continue to exhibit agnostic positions on windowing. Apple Music’s Jimmy Iovine earlier this year seemed to infer the company would move away from such practices, stating ‘We’ll still do some stuff with the occasional artist. The labels don’t seem to like it and ultimately it’s their content.’Spotify on the other hand, having previously stated they were against windowing, have in recent months suggested they may transition towards windowing certain releases on their premium tier. For these reasons, 4:44’s window should be considered less about swelling the subscriber base, as was the intention of windowing efforts last year, but rather reaching his most engaged audience first. Jay-Z’s fanbase are likely to be already on the platform when taking into account the immediate rush of subscribers that followed its release last year. Interestingly MIDiA Research’s consumer survey data shows that Tidal subscribers over-indexing as older and more prominently male than on other competing streaming music services. Whilst TIDAL’s problems are therefore unlikely to subside with this release, 4:44 could at the very least resume the dialogue on how windowing will be employed going forward in growing streaming’s paid users.
2 thoughts on “The Art of Windowing: Why 4:44 is a Different Kind of Exclusive”
Absent this informed discussion are the economic implications to the master owner and artist (I could also include the publisher(s) but that’s another story. We live in a attention deficit society where fans of any content may only be engaged for a limited time; very limited. Therefore with fractions of a penny accounting for most streaming plays; as an IP owner and certainly a major artist who would presumably have quite a “say” in a release strategy….do I want to significantly limit my revenues by “windowing”? Yes, there are different size windows to be sure. Spotify’s being the largest. That said, as an owner, my goal would be to maximise revenues vs. believe, especially in experimental form with superstars (who are small in #) that I can change consumer behavior.
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Information
Untitled Post
posted Sep 24, 2012, 8:12 AM by Ken Gibson
Photovella piece, Madrid #10, has been culled from the collection of UC Clermont College to be shown in the group exhibit, Exposed: Expectation, Experimentation, Exploration which will be part of Fotofocus Cincinnati during the month of October.
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Full-size utility
Chevrolet Tahoe is an attractive full-size SUV that offers spaciousness and comfort. And for 2013, Chevrolet Tahoe is available in LS, LT, LTZ and Hybrid models, all offered in 2WD and 4WD.
LS, LT and LTZ models are powered by a 5.3L V-8 that uses variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management to optimize performance and efficiency. A fuel-saving Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed is standard on all models and contributes to a 21-mpg highway fuel economy rating. The average city fuel economy rating is 15 mpg.
For even greater fuel economy in a full-size SUV, the Tahoe Hybrid uses GM’s patented two-mode hybrid system to deliver a 33 percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving. The Tahoe Hybrid averages 20 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.
Tahoe design and exterior features
Tahoe features the global face of Chevrolet, with a large gold Chevy bowtie centered on a twin-port horizontal grille. The grille surround is inset with an argent texture or available chrome finish. The lower fascia, incorporating the front license plate holder, is aggressively styled with a skid-plate look that enhances Tahoe’s rugged appearance.
Additional features include heated power-operated outside mirrors, which are standard on LTZ and available on LT; a power-operated liftgate, which is available on LT and standard on LTZ; and a range of 17-inch and 20-inch wheels.
Tahoe interior features
Attention to detail is a hallmark of the Tahoe’s spacious, comfortable cabin.
The accommodating Tahoe has the segment’s largest center console storage bin, a large glove box and numerous storage compartments. Three rows of seating are standard on all models. The second row is available as a three-passenger bench with a 60/40 split or two bucket seats. The third row features a 50/50-split design and is removable.
Additionally, a power-assisted second-row seat release feature is available on LT and standard on LTZ. Other features include leather-appointed seating (standard on LT and LTZ); dual-zone automatic climate control on LT and LTZ; dual-zone manual-control air conditioning on LS; and a rear-seat entertainment system, which is available on LT and LTZ.
Standard on LS and LT is an audio system with AM/FM/CD and USB port, while a Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound system is standard on LTZ.
•••
The starting MSRP for the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe is $39,830 (LS 2WD). To learn more about this four-door sport utility vehicle that is manufactured in Arlington, Texas, visit www.chevrolet.com or your local Southeast Texas Chevrolet dealer.
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us “that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas,” we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We’re of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
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Critical Voices 3 - Speakers - Details
Anjali Sagar
Anjali Sagar was born, lives and works in London. She studied Social Anthropology (BA Hons) at The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and her MFA at Middlesex University. Her work includes film and video compositions, curatorial projects, moderation, and production. She is interested in the relations between sound, text and image, archive and the legacies and potentials of the essay film. Sagar has produced numerous projects including No Arrival No Parking with the German artist and composer Heiner Goebbels. She is co-founder of the artists’ collective The Otolith Group who will co-curate the artists’ cinema as part of the Frieze Art Fair 2006 and the first Retrospective on the Black Audio Film Collective in 2007 at FACT in Liverpool and The Whitechapel Gallery in London. She is the founder of Multitudes, the guerrilla news network established in 2000, and moderator of the Undercurrents list serve.
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Check out the large array of sport and academic trophy designs. Customize each trophy design with your selection of figures, bases, columns, trim, backdrops and more. Over 10,000 possible trophy designs available with our unique trophy builder technology. Simply add a trophy to the shopping cart to customize all aspects of that trophy.
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