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Daily dose (of medication)
In keeping with the drug theme of the week, let me announce that January 2010 makes it official - I've now been diagnosed with systemic lupus for 9 years. And with that diagnosis has come 9 years of daily medication. There hasn't been one day since January of 2001 that I haven't taken medication for my disease. Today, I'm on the fewest number of prescriptions since my diagnosis (just two, plus a baby aspirin and calcium), so the idea of taking as few as 3-4 pills in the morning and another 4 at night makes me pretty darn happy. Because I've taken as many as 17 pills at a time, all prescribed and per doctor's orders, of course, I consider myself a pro when it comes to pill popping. But, I know, even if a doctor tells you that you need them, and even when they're working, the idea of ingesting all of those pills can still be, pardon the pun, tough to swallow. But in all of my days of pill popping, I've learned a few things. Here are just a few pointers for those of you suffering from medication mayhem:
1) Don't self-medicate (i.e. take medications NOT as prescribed). I know it's tempting, but it's in your best interest to follow doctor's orders, particularly where your medications are concerned. There's a reason your doctor is prescribing the pills in the manner in which he or she has, and it's going to make solving your lupus enigma a whole lot easier if you're doing what the doctor has intended. If you self-medicate, you're taking away the control that your doctor has put into place in order to determine how active your disease is, how your body is responding to the treatment thus far, and whether or not the treatment should continue. It also helps to determine what courses of treatment should be explored in the future - if medicine A doesn't work, medicine B might become an option. But if medicine A hasn't been taken as directed, the results you (and your body) are producing aren't accurate, thus muddying the waters as to what drug therapy might do the trick. Self-medicating can only complicate the process of treating and/or controlling your disease - why would you ever want to do that?
2) Get clarification. Assuming that you're putting your complete trust and confidence in your doctor to prescribe your medications appropriately (e.g. choosing NOT to self-medicate), you have every right to make sure you fully understand your doctor's intentions regarding each and every medication he/she prescribes. You should have a complete understanding of what's being prescribed, why, and how it's suppose to work. I'm not saying you have to pore over those little scientific flyers that come along with every medication, but you do need to make sure that all of your unanswered or lingering questions are addressed. Don't know exactly why a drug is being added to your regimen? Ask. Feel like a drug isn't working? Say so. Tend to think the crummy side-effects of a drug outweigh its benefits? Mention it. It's imperative that you work closely with your doctor to determine what the best course of treatment is for you. Not all meds work for everyone - and you're really the only one that can help your doctor determine how to proceed.
In fact, you may find that collaborating closely with your doctor opens up options that might not have ever come up. I can think of several instances where my doctor, as a result of my probing and pertinent questions, changed my prescription line-up in order to better address the issues at hand. And each change was for the better.
3) Don't be unduly influenced. I know you're on a lot of medications - probably more than your whole family combined. And maybe your family's not so keen on you taking all of those medications. But, here's the deal - as long as you're not self-medicating, and as long as you and your doctor are working together to ensure that the medications you are taking are necessary and effective, then you don't have anything to worry about. Now, that said - as most of you have read in blog posts past, my family was instrumental in helping me clear up many of my issues with lupus, including some of my medication mysteries. They were concerned about some prescriptions, disagreed about me taking others, but never, and I mean, never countered my decision once my doctor and I had decided on a course of action. I say, if you can explain to your family (or whomever is questioning your cocktail of drugs) why you're taking what you're taking, what each drug is supposed to do, whether or not it's effective, and what the plan is going forward (taking it in the short term, long term, until it reaches a certain level of efficacy), then you're in the clear. You can always consider what your family has to say, weigh their opinions carefully, and if you think they may be on to something, pose their concerns to your doctor or perhaps a pharmacist and see what the professionals have to say.
4) Do what you can, aside from the drugs. As I mentioned in the beginning, there hasn't been a day since 2001 that I haven't been treated with medication for my disease. And, as far as I can tell, that's the way it will be for the foreseeable future. And I'm alright with that. I figure I'm doing everything I can aside from the drugs to live well with lupus (eating healthy, exercising, getting my rest, watching my stress, making sure I understand my doctor's intentions in regard to the drugs I am on), so if I need the prescriptions I do to make my body go, so be it. But I'll tell you one thing - the minute I have to go up on my prednisone because I'm blogging too much, or add a cholesterol medication because I'm not watching what I eat, or introduce an anti-inflammatory because I'm skipping out on my rest - that's the moment I'm going to re-evaluate my drug therapy. Personally, I like my 4 little pills in the morning. And I intend to keep it that way.


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What This Policy Covers
American Golf Corporation (Referred to as "AGC") respects the privacy rights of visitors to the AGC web site. We have created this Privacy Policy to advise our visitors of the types of personal and technical information that is or may be collected on this site and the policies and practices that AGC follows with respect to the use and dissemination of such information. This Privacy Policy governs the AGC web site operated under URL http://www.americangolf.com. This policy does not cover any third party sites, including any third party sites that may, from time to time, be linked to the AGC web site or used to host specific pages on the AGC web site. We do not monitor or make any representation with respect to the practices of these third party sites. If you have any questions regarding the information gathering or dissemination activities of other sites, you should consult the privacy policies contained on those sites.
What Information We Collect
The AGC web site collects personal information from you that you voluntarily provide whenever you make a request for information over the web site, send an e -mail to AGC, complete one of our online forms or questionnaires, or make a purchase on the site. The types of personal information collected include, but may not be limited to, your name, your employer's name, e -mail and U.S. mail addresses, office and home telephone and fax numbers, credit card number and other information that you elect to provide. AGC also collects technical information such as your Internet Protocol ("IP") address and your domain name. AGC may share this data with AGC, Golf Enterprises, Inc., and their respective affiliates. AGC may also share information with:
- Service providers acting on AGC behalf to assist in operating this website.
- Affiliated golf courses or clubs at your request.
- See the opt-out section below if you would like to request AGC not share your information with certain unaffiliated third parties.
How We Collect Information
As mentioned above, when you visit the AGC web site, the site collects certain technical information such as your IP address and domain name. Through the forms you voluntarily complete and e -mails you send us, we also collect personal and company information as described above. If you choose to disclose your e-mail address through any request for information or other correspondence, we may use it to periodically send you information about our company or other topics of interest. If you would prefer not to receive such information, you can choose to opt out of this service at any time by following the procedure described in the opt-out section below.
Cookies are small bits of information that the AGC web site may place on the hard drive of your computer. AGC may use cookies to identify your Internet browser and to enable you to login to the site and use various features. Service providers acting on AGC's behalf to assist in operating this website may also set cookies on your computer in order to facilitate your use of the site.
You can program your computer to warn you each time a cookie is being sent or to refuse cookies completely. However, without cookies you may not have access to certain features on the AGC web site. We may use third-party advertising companies to help us tailor site content to users or to serve ads on our behalf. These companies may employ cookies and web beacons to measure advertising effectiveness (such as which web pages are visited or what products are purchased and in what amount). Any information that these third parties collect via cookies and web beacons is not linked to any personal information collected by us.
How Your Information Is Protected
AGC takes steps that it believes to be reasonable and consistent with customary business practice to protect the information under our control from loss, misuse and alteration.
Opt-Out Election
To opt-out of receiving future communications from americangolf.com or to request AGC not share your information with certain unaffiliated third parties, just send an e-mail to email@example.com. Please note that AGC may still share your information with its affiliates and with service providers.
Sale Of AGC
If AGC sells all or part of its business or makes a sale or transfer of assets or is otherwise involved in a merger or business transfer, AGC may transfer your personal information to a third party as part of that transaction.
Changes To Policy
AGC reserves the right to change this Private Policy at any time to reflect changes in its business practices. If we elect to change our business practices in a way that materially impacts this Privacy Policy, we will notify you by posting a notice on the front page of this web site.
Contact Information
We welcome your feedback. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your experiences with the AGC web site, you can contact
909 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 600
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subset: commoncrawl


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For Seniors: Apply AutoFormats to a Microsoft Works Spreadsheet
You can format the cells in Microsoft Works spreadsheet manually, or with an AutoFormat. AutoFormat applies a set of number formats, fonts, cell colors (shading), and borders to selected cells with a single click.
Even after applying an AutoFormat, you can apply manual formats to the same cells. For example, you might apply an AutoFormat and then decide that your spreadsheet might look better if the totals row had a light blue shading (fill color). Some formats, such as font and font size, can be applied using the buttons on the toolbar. Other formats are applied using the options on the Format menu.
1Select the cells you want to format.
To select multiple cells (a range), click a cell and drag up, down, right, or left.
2Choose Format→AutoFormat.
The AutoFormat dialog box appears.
3Select a format from the list provided.
You see a preview of the design. If you like, you can modify the settings for including column and row headings and totals by selecting or deselecting any of the four check boxes on the right side of the dialog box.
4Click OK.
The formats associated with the AutoFormat you choose are applied to the selected range of cells.


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OpenTaps is an all in all business solution for business organizations. It is an open source tool that is used as a combined source of ERP and CRM solutions for business houses. OpenTaps is free and enables multiple features and functionalities that a business house may require such as warehouse, inbuilt business intelligence solutions, e-commerce, point-of-sales, general ledger, customer management, accounting, mobility integration, and online store. This low cost ERP and CRM solution is integrated with several additional plugins like Google calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and mobile phone. Integrated with Apache OFBiz Foundation, this tool is flexible to use and customize.
There are four basic components in OpenTaps software that works hand in hand to operate all business processes. They are teamwork processes, unified database, operating process, and enterprise teams. These components work in a cyclic manner in order to connect the business processes with customers.
Features of OpenTaps:
The features of OpenTaps software are mentioned below:
- It is a software that functions as a complete business solution including CRM and ERM systems in an organization.
- It includes marketing, sales, accounting solutions along with managing all customer services.
- Supports online and offline stores, and their catalogs, products, and categories.
- It looks after cross-sells and up-sells of production within an organization.
- Offers support to product management in various ways such as downloadable products, configurable products, physical products, variant products, and digital products.
- It sets separate prices for groups and individuals.
Opentaps is one of the favorite ERP and CRM solutions for most of the small and mid-size companies. From the above discussion, it is evident that it provides a number of solutions besides ERP and CRM solutions. Given below are the reasons why it is opted by small enterprises.
- It is an open source CRM plus ERP system. The small and mid-size business houses do not need to bear additional costs for integrating separate ERP or CRM solution for their business. Moreover, registration and downloading fees are also saved.
- It is a very low price ERP CRM tool. This one solution facilitates small businesses to use all its features with also no fees. This helps them to fix their budget for business more efficiently.
- It runs on an automated system. This feature helps business houses to save time and costs, and resources of the enterprise.
- Runs and supports a dynamic system, since it is a real-time software. The solution can be accessed from anywhere and anytime on the web within the organization.
- Offers proper security within an organization. It has a strong security plugin.
- It is supported by an expert and skilled group and developers.


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Who is the favorite to be the 'Madden 25' cover athlete?
(Photo: Associated Press)
Now that you've likely got all of your NCAA tournament brackets filled out, there's another postseason tourney that needs to determine its Sweet 16.
With the 25th anniversary edition of its Madden series on the horizon, video game manufacturer EA Sports has developed its own 64-person tournament to determine the game's cover athlete, with a mix of "old school" and "new school" athletes in the mix. Over 21 million votes determined which 32 players advanced to the second round of the voting, which began Wednesday.
Joe Montana led all old school players with 640,000 votes, while Adrian Peterson led the new school bracket with 594,000 votes, although the matchups will get a lot tougher in the second round. The official winner will be announced April 24, with people getting the opportunity to vote online in each round until then.
BRACKET BRIEFING:Your guide to Thursday's madness
Here's who we would pick to advance to the Sweet 16:
Old School Region
(1) Joe Montana vs (9) Jerome Bettis
Montana might be one of the best players in NFL history, but his career was waning by the time Madden began to hit its stride in the early to mid 90s. The Steelers back was just as punishing in the early Playstation versions of the game as he was in real life.
Edge: Bettis
(4) Dan Marino vs (5) Marshall Faulk
The same argument against Montana could be made against Marino, as both of those legendary QBs were much more significant in Tecmo Bowl than they ever were in Madden. Faulk, on the other hand, is one of three former cover athletes in the running for the 25th cover.
Edge: Faulk
(3) Barry Sanders vs (6) Marcus Allen
Sanders was one of the first athletes to appear with John Madden on the game, sharing the cover of Madden NFL 2000.
Edge: Sanders
(2) Ray Lewis vs (10) LaDainian Tomlinson
Tomlinson never lost a game to Paul Rudd.
Edge: Tomlinson
(1) Jerry Rice vs (9) Eddie George
The greatest receiver of all-time is one of three 49ers with #1 seeds in the bracket. It's certainly no coincidence that the game's manufacturer is based in the Bay Area, right?
Edge: Rice
(4) Kurt Warner vs (5) Michael Strahan
Warner had an easy first round matchup against current Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. He won't fare as well against the ubiquitous morning show host.
Edge: Strahan
(3) Troy Aikman vs (6) Tim Brown
The Cowboys legend was spotted checking out the annual Madden Bowl with former teammate Moose Johnston during Super Bowl week in February. He might play a bigger role at next year's event.
Edge: Aikman
(2) Deion Sanders vs (10) Terrell Davis
Whether he was with the Falcons, 49ers or Cowboys, Sanders was one of the players who made the original Genesis and Playstation versions of the game so much fun to play.
Edge: Sanders
FAMOUS FACES BRACKET: What if each team's celebrity alums squared off?
Drew Brees (surrounded by fellow NFL players) competes at the 2013 Madden Bowl (Photo: Jack Dempsey/Invision/AP)
New School Region
(1) Colin Kaepernick vs (8) A.J. Green
The multi-faceted quarterback will certainly see his overall player rating skyrocket in the next version of the game, but that may not help him with voters right now.
Edge: Green
(4) Arian Foster vs (5) Julio Jones
Foster complained about his in Madden NFL 13 character's facial resemblance. A place on the next cover would probably help clear that up.
Edge: Foster
(3) Russell Wilson vs (6) Von Miller
Best sub 6 foot Madden QB since Doug Flutie?
Edge: Wilson
(2) Andrew Luck vs (10) Clay Matthews
Is it weird that Peyton Manning wasn't even part of the initial bracket but Luck was a 2 seed? That's weird, right?
Edge: Matthews
(1) Robert Griffin III vs (8) Doug Martin
Even if real-life RGIII isn't ready for the season-opener, virtual RGIII certainly will be.
Edge: Griffin
(4) Dez Bryant vs (5) Ray Rice
The Cowboys' wideout's narrow first-round win over C.J. Spiller doesn't bode well for his chances against the Ravens' fan favorite.
Edge: Rice
(3) Rob Gronkowski vs (11) Darrelle Revis
Unless Madden 25 has a franchise mode that shows virtual Gronk dancing shirtless in a club and virtual Revis holding out every offseason, both players should be disqualified.
Edge: Gronkowski
(2) Adrian Peterson vs (10) Lesean McCoy
All Day. Every Day.
Edge: Peterson


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Programs and Sessions
Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Experience
Saturday, July 11, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at McCormick Place West, W-192B
Learn about the history of African American in baseball, the focus of a new traveling exhibition made available to libraries through the ALA Public Programs Office and on display during Conference.
Speakers: Kadir Nelson, author and illustrator of "We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball"; representatives of Major League Baseball; Susan Brandehoff, ALA Public Programs Office.
Picturing America Programs in Public Libraries
Saturday, July 11, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at McCormick Place West, W-178B
By June 2009, the National Endowment for the Humanities will have distributed Picturing America grants to more than 3,600 public libraries. Participating public librarians are invited to learn more about conducting humanities programs that focus on this collection of American artwork. Current Picturing America project directors will share their experiences and programming ideas with attendees.
Speakers: Tom Phelps, Director of the Division of Public Programs, National Endowment for the Humanities; Mary Chute, Deputy Director, Library Services, Institute of Museum and Library Services; Nancy Davenport, Acting Director of Library Services, District of Columbia Public Library; Lainie Castle, Project Director, ALA Public Programs Office.
YALSA Downloadable Technology: Current and Future Trends
Saturday 1:30 to 3:00
Panel review of current trends in downloadable and streaming technology for teens. Their suggested implementations for programming and services in public and school libraries will be demonstrated. Consultant Beth Gallaway will talk about downloadable gaming technologies. Librarian Kate Pritchard will showcase and streaming music. Karen Potash will demonstrate OverDrive and downloadable products for teens.
ACRL University Libraries Section Program: "Millennials in Graduate School: How do We Support Them?"
Saturday 1:30 to 3:00, McCormick Place West, W-196c
Millennials, those born between 1982 and 1994, are entering graduate school and doctoral programs. Surveys suggest that these students use libraries heavily and are less than satisfied with the experience. What do these digital multi-taskers want and expect? How can university libraries support their needs? This program will bring together a panel of speakers to discuss trends in graduate education, the expectations of this cohort and the successful approaches that will engage them.
Speakers include Susan Gibbons from University of Rochester, reporting on her latest ethnographic study of graduate students, Joan K. Lippincott from the Coalition for Networked information and Barbara Dewey, Dean of Libraries at the University of Tennessee. The program will also feature a video montage of graduate students making their case to librarians. All attendees will receive a chance to win an iPod Touch!
ALCTS CRS Holdings Update Forum: the changing Landscape of Serials Holdings Information
Saturday July 11, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Chicago Hilton, Continental B
The forum will be a roundup of information about holdings data in its various forms and across a variety of systems. It will examine the current state of serials holdings in library systems and electronic coverage data in journal databases and access management knowledge bases.
Steve Knowlton (ProQuest)-- How ProQuest handles original data provided by the publishers and how they present it in the full-text aggregator's databases.
Moshe Efron (TDNet) --TDNet's implementation of ONIX SOH version 1.1. How they provide both enumeration and chronology data for e-journal coverage at the level of holdings details that is comparable to the level of details in MARC 21 Holdings standard.
Les Hawkins (Library of Congress) -- This presentation discusses CONSER publication patterns initiative and its future directions. It also explores new ideas of developing a universal holdings database and making use of OCLC local holdings records to support mass digitization and preservation projects.
PR Forum: Breaking Through the Message Clutter @ your library
Sunday, July 12, 8 -10 a.m., McCormick Place West, Room W-196a
A panel of industry experts offers powerful tips and strategies on how to deliver library messages to the public. Topics include how to reach multi-cultural audiences, using social media to connect with key audiences, how radio is a growing channel through which you can deliver your messages and using letters to the editor and op-eds to communicate your library's story. Co-sponsored by the PR Assembly, in collaboration with the Campaign for America's Libraries' subcommittee.
Speakers include: Tom McNamee, editorial page editor, Chicago Sun Times; Dave Baum, Chicago broadcaster and media trainer; Eric Friedenwald-Fishman, creative director/president, Metropolitan Group; Kevin Kirkpatrick, executive vice president, Metropolitan Group; George Eberhart, editor, American Libraries Direct; and Megan Humphrey, manager, Campaign for America's Libraries.
Saying What We Do and Doing What We Say: Preservation Issues (Metadata and Otherwise) in Institutional Repositories
Sunday, July 12, 10:30 -12 a.m., Chicago Hilton, Northwest 1 Room
"Good preservation metadata is informed by the real needs of the digital repository."
Please join the Intellectual Access to Preservation Metadata Interest Group for its program "Saying What We Do and Doing What We Say: Preservation Issues (Metadata and Otherwise) in Institutional Repositories"
Sarah Shreeves, the Coordinator for IDEALS--the Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship--will discuss her real world experience in trying to meet the preservation needs of an institutional repository. The challenges facing a repository responsible for the distribution and preservation of the wide variety of resources and formats contributed by faculty, students, and staff are formidable. Sarah's reflections will be embedded in an overview of the current preservation environment for institutional repositories.
The Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (IDEALS) is a set of services and collections supporting scholarly communication (including the institutional repository) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Shreeves is active on the MODS/MADS Editorial Committee for the Library of Congress, the DSpace Global Outreach Committee, and co-leads the Dublin Core Collections Application Profile Task Force with Muriel Foulonneau.
Shreeves' presentation will be followed by reports, a business meeting and an election.
Exciting NASA Matierals for Libraries
Sunday, July 12, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at McCormick Place West, W-194A
Find out about NASA educational materials for libraries, amazing Web sites about astromony, and the traveling exhibit "Visions of the Universe" funded by NASA and developed by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore and the ALA Public Programs Office.
Speakers: Denise Smith, Manager, Special Projects, and Frank Summers, astrophysicist, Space Telescope Science Institute; Susan Brandehoff, ALA Public Programs Office.
PRIME TIME Family Reading Time: A Model Program from Strengthening Families and Building Communities
Sunday, July 12, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at McCormick Place West, W-192B
Attend this sesion to learn how PRIME TIME continues to reach underserved-or never served-families and establishes community partnerships with the agencies serving them. PRIME TIME staff, public librarians, and ALA and NEH representatives will discuss this award-winning program, including community partnerships, bilingual initiatives, evaluative outcomes, funding opporutnities, and strategies to bring this model outreach program to your community.
Speakers: Miranda Restovic, PRIME TIME Co-Project Director; Thomas Phelps, Division of Public Programs Director, National Endowment for the Humanities; Lainie Castle, ALA Public Programs Office; Sue Warner, Youth and Neighborhood Services Head, Kalamazoo (Mich.) Public Library
Great Programs with Poets and Poetry
Sunday, July 12, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at McCormick Place West, W-178B
Join this discussion of best practicies in peotry programming for public audiences. Representatives from the Academy of American Poets, the Greensboro Public Library, and award-winning poet Jane Hirshfield will explore ideas for expanding your library's programming beyond National Poetry Month by working with poets, partner organizations, and target audiences.
Speakers: Jane Hirshfield, poet; Robin Beth Schaer, Cheif Online Editor, the Academy of American Poets; Steve Sumerford, Assistant Director of the Greensboro (N.C.) Public Library and Poetry GSO Director; and Mary Davis Fournier, ALA Public Programs Office.
"Helping High School Students Become 'College Ready'"
On Sunday, July 12, immediately following the LIRT Conference Program, "Preparing Yourself to Teach: Touching All the Bases," there will be an informal brownbag discussion from 12-1:00 sponsored by the LIRT Transitions to College Committee. Discussion will focus on issues, ideas and opportunities for collaborations to help students with the transition from high school to college.
All interested school, public, academic and special librarians are invited to attend. David Barr, Founding Director of 21CIF (the 21st Century Information Fluency project in IL), will facilitate the discussion, which will draw from "Rethinking College Readiness," by David T. Conley, in the Spring 2008 issue of The New England Journal of Higher Education. The article is available at http://www.nebhe.org/info/pdf/nejhe/NEJHE_Spring08.pdf
Summer Reading Online
Sunday, July 12, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at McCormick Place West - W-178a
Whether for kids, teens, or adults, many libraries are taking their summer reading programs online. Patrons help themselves through online registration and reading logs, while libraries benefit from automated reports that are more detailed than ever before. Come hear about the experiences of several libraries and consortia venturing into this area.
Panelists: Maureen Ambrosino, Central Massachusetts Regional Library System; Irmgarde Brown, Harford County Public Library; Rosanne Cerny, Queens Library; Eric Sisler, Westminster Public Library
Moderator: Carole Fiore, Library Consultant & Trainer
Soul of a People: Writing America's Story
Sunday, July 12, 3:30 pm. to 5:30p.m. at McCormick Place South-S-101A
Screening and discussion of a documentary about the WPA Federal Writers' Project produced by Spark Media, Washington, D.C., and broadcast on the Smithsonian Channel HD. "Soul of a People" outreach programs are being held in 30 libraries, sponsored by the ALA Public Programs Office with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Speakers: Andrea Kalin, President, Spark Media; Tom Phelps, Director of the Division of Public Programs, National Endowment for the Humanities; Harry Ross, National-Louis University; Maureen Liebenson, Highland Park (IL) Public Library.
ACRL Instruction Section Featured Program: Illuminating New Instruction Research: Applying Research to Practice
Sunday 3:30 to 5:30
This program will shed light on the thinking processes central to the development of an evidence- or research-based instructional practice. Panelists will use recent instruction-related research as the basis for an interactive discussion. Panelists will summarize the findings of 2-3 studies and collaborate with each other and the audience to apply those findings to an instructional scenario. Using "think-aloud" strategies, the panelists will highlight how they identify key elements from research to improve instructional practice. This program is co-sponsored by the ACRL Community and Junior College Libraries Section.
Speakers: Randy Hensley, Student Learning Programs & Services Librarian, University of Hawai'i at Manoa Library; Heidi Julien, Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton; Merinda McLure, Applied Human Sciences Librarian & Assistant Professor, Colorado State University; Michelle Morton, Librarian, Cañada College
And Now for Something Completely Different: Innovations in Library Stacks Management
Sunday, July 12, 3:30-5:30p at McCormick Place West, Room W-192c
Is it possible to develop new approaches to managing library stacks workflow? The answer is a resounding YES! The management of stacks workflow continues to be a reality for libraries. Learn how to apply "lean manufacturing" concepts to workflow challenges, develop "wayfinding" assessment methods, manage automated stacks storage and retrieval, and integrate wireless workstation technology. Speakers will inspire with tools that can be applied to managing stacks in all types of libraries.
Speakers: Nancy Kress, Access and Delivery Services Librarian, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Donna Resetar, Associate Dean of Library Services, Valparaiso University Library; Johnny Weyand, Head of Stacks, Widener Library, Harvard University Libraries
Campaign for America's Libraries Training
Sunday, July 12, 3:30-5:30 p.m., McCormick Place West, Room W-194b
Legendary Chicago broadcaster and media trainer Dave Baum offers his popular media relations training session. Baum will provide concrete tips on how librarians can effectively deliver their key messages and garner favorable media coverage. Baum has trained dozens of ALA presidents and division president-elects since 2000.
Going Global! Finding Non-English Language Specialists
The Report of the ALCTS Non-English Language Task Force acknowledged difficulties in the recruiting of Non-English language specialists. In keeping with ALA's commitment to a diverse library workplace, this program brings together speakers who have substantial experience in dealing with this issue. Presentations will discuss how to find the right non-English language specialists; how to maintain sufficient quality control of (and access to) records for non-English materials; and how to employ creative, alternative staffing solutions in this area. The program is geared toward library administrators, managers and catalogers from different types of libraries who will obtain first-hand knowledge of the issues. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the discussion and share experiences.
Speakers: • Amy Hart, Head of Bibliographic Services, Minuteman Library Network • Patricia Stelter, Vice President, Bibliographic Services, Backstage Library Works • Sherab Chen, Coordinator, Non-Roman Languages, Ohio State University Libraries • Alena Aissing, Slavic Studies Librarian, University of Florida • Hikaru Nakano, East Asian Cataloger, University of Florida
The program will take place on July 13, 8-10 am, McCormick Place West, W-180. It is sponsored by the ALCTS Steering Committee to Oversees the Implementation of Non-English Task Force Recommendations and is co-sponsored by ACRL AAMES, WEES, SEES, and LLAMA. ALCTS Thanks Casalini libri for Sponsoring this Program.
The ALCTS Continuing Resources Cataloging Committee invites you to the
Monday Update Forum at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago,
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, in Room W-474 at McCormick Place West.
After a short update on current news in the serials cataloging world from representatives of the ISSN program, CONSER, and the Library of Congress, and a quick digest of the news from CC:DA by CRS's liaison, Jennifer Baxmeyer,
the Committee is pleased to present a special panel on
Article-Level Access
Panelists : Diane Boehr, Head of the Cataloging Section at the National Library of Medicine,
Glenn Patton, Director of WorldCat Quality Management at OCLC,
Paul Burley, Technical Services Librarian at Northwestern University's Transportation Library
Whether we are contributing records for institutional repositories, special collections material,or trying to smooth federated searching among the information silos, many of us confront a gathering expectation that detailed information about article-level resources should be available to our patrons. These panelists will address some of the avenues through which these expectations are being met.
We expect this topic may be of interest to the entire resource description community, so please plan to join us in Chicago for what may be an eye-opening peek into the future.


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Well now that the Filmation characters are available I think it's time for the good ol witch to get her own thread!
Can't wait to get her! Maybe she can come with the 3 main twiggets as accessories? and broom of course. She will need a new sculpt so I hope they don't delay her too much.


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Medical Coding: Switching from ICD-9 to ICD-10
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a list of medical classifications used in medical coding. ICD-9 has been used in the United States since 1979, but ICD-10 is coming, ready or not. ICD-10 will result in more specific data, which in turn will assist the World Health Organization (WHO) in its efforts to identify viral mutations and other health threats. Currently, healthcare providers worldwide are obligated to be ICD-10 ready by October 2014. This gargantuan task is being implemented in phases:
Phase 1: Develop an implementation plan and identify potential impact on various office operations
Phase 2: Implement preparation, working with software vendors and clearinghouses to ensure compatibility
Phase 3: Go live with the 5010 platform in preparation for ICD-10 file transfer
Phase 4: Address and correct deficiencies identified in Phase 3
Educators and companies that publish coding materials have been working for several years to prepare coders for the transition. The AAPC and AHIMA, the two main credentialing organizations for billers and coders, have sponsored and will continue to sponsor workshops to assist coders in this process. Be sure to check these workshops out. Both organizations will also implement an ICD-10 certification testing process.
Following are some steps you (or your office) can take to prepare for the big switch:
Prepare a report that lists, in order of frequency, currently used ICD-9 codes; then find the ICD-10 codes slated to replace them.
Several online tools, or cross coding translators, map ICD-9 codes to ICD-10 codes. (The AAPC has an ICD-10 code translator and so does Medicare.) This task can help you identifying the ICD-10 codes that your provider will use the most.
After you identify the ICD-10 codes that will soon be part of the daily routine, make the practitioner aware of the specific documentation that is missing from current patient records.
If your office will continue to use super-bills, this process helps identify which codes should be listed on the form.
Work with the billing software vendor to make sure that the ICD-10 codes that are likely to be used immediately upon transition are programmed into the software.
If not, you can make them aware of the codes your billing software will need to accommodate. Doing so ahead of time will help you minimize delays during the early days (or weeks or months) of the actual transition to ICD-10.


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NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Mar 18, 2013) - When investors look into biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies as an investment opportunity, three areas of research stand out as the most favorable for future returns. The big three are cancer, heart disease and diabetes research that can eventually lead to corresponding clinical trials. Well, Nuvilex, Inc. (
While Nuvilex prepares for a large-scale, late-phase clinical trial studying its treatment for patients with advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer, the company is also using the same basic technology to study diabetes. That technology is a unique and proprietary living cell encapsulation process, and the good news for those with diabetes is the basic technology has delivered astounding results in the company's pancreatic cancer trials.
By 2020, the market for diabetes medicines is projected to reach $65 billion worldwide. According to the International Diabetes Federation, 371 million people around the world have been diagnosed with diabetes and another 187 million remain undiagnosed -- leaving many millions susceptible to the debilitating, and even deadly, complications associated with this disease.
If left untreated, complications from diabetes can include; heart disease, vision loss, kidney disease, and nerve damage. Diabetes is characterized by sustained high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Glucose is a source of energy for all cells in the body, and the levels of glucose are regulated by insulin which is produced by islet cells within the pancreas.
Researchers are putting their focus squarely on those islet cells as they are the key to what can only be described as miracle science at Nuvilex. The company is doing some amazing things with its living cell encapsulation technology that could make life much simpler for those who suffer from diabetes.
Continue reading and discover how Nuvilex, Inc. is creating a type of "Artificial Pancreas" at www.stockhousegroup.com/features
About Stock House Group
Stock House Group is a full service Investment Relations firm specializing in Awareness, Research, and Content Development. The firm offers a platform to CEO's to develop their story through the press, Research Reports, and CEO Interviews. At the same time, we're building a library of Research to assist Investors in their due diligence on micro, small and large cap stocks.
Contact Information:
Stock House Group


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Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe double up for 007
NEW YORK — Naomie Harris is personable, eloquent and very, very pretty, with dewy skin and legs longer than the West Side Highway. But her physical attributes aren't why she wound up secretly smitten with James Bond in the latest film, Skyfall.
"I was never cast for hotness. I was cast because they wanted to create this specific character. The hotness factor was never a part of the audition process. All my costumes were practical for a woman in the field," says Harris. "The sexiness of Eve comes out through her wit and intelligence, rather than her wearing slinky dresses."
As a field agent with a crush on 007 (Daniel Craig), Harris, 36, gets stirred and shaken aplenty. And along with Bérénice Marlohe, the French actress who toys with the British secret service agent in Skyfall, Harris — on paper, at least — joins the ranks of such mythically fanciful Bond girls as Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress), Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), May Day (Grace Jones) and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green).
But not so fast. Both actresses say they the wanted the roles because they were substantial, as opposed to merely sensuously superficial, as some have been in years past.
ESSAY:Jane Seymour was in virgin territory in 'Let Die'
ESSAY:Denise Richards remembers 'Enough'
ESSAY:'GoldenEye' an agent of change for Famke Janssen
For Marlohe, 33, "it was very important to get rid of this 'Bond girl' title. It's very abstract, and you can't build anything on that. It was important to create a real human being and a real person and a real story in the real world. It's what makes her modern," she says.
Indeed, director Sam Mendes cast both women precisely because they're earthy, as opposed to otherworldly.
"I was trying to create as much as possible characters that weren't at all what they first appeared," says Mendes. "Traditionally, there are two Bond girls — one is homespun, if you will, and one is exotic. It's a tough one. You have to work hard to give the women in the movie a journey. They are expected, just like gadgets and beautiful locations are expected, to be part of the film. I was helped in that by having two calm and independent women. They are low-key. They are very bright. They don't make a fuss. That immediately endeared them to everyone on set."
In person, both women exude intelligence and confidence. Harris graduated from Cambridge and studied acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, breaking through internationally in Danny Boyle's 2002 zombie flick, 28 Days Later. Marlohe plays the piano and studied at the French arts school Conservatoire de Paris for a decade.
But Marlohe could, perhaps, work on her comic timing. She says that when she met with Mendes, she cracked a bad joke about not being interested in the part, her first in a major international production.
"I was afraid he would take that as me not wanting the job. But he understood. I was extremely happy and peaceful," she says of getting the role of Sévérine.
And satiated. Mendes confirms Marlohe's claim that she can chow down like a lumberjack. "She has an enormous appetite. She eats constantly.She is unspoiled and un-actressy. She makes no fuss. I teased her about the fact that she had no qualms about going in when the food came around," says the director.
Film Naomie vs. real Naomie
As for Harris? "She gets the award for the biggest discrepancy between what you see on-screen and off-screen. She's very gentle and loving and a bit of a ditherer in life. On-screen, she's the reverse: confident and active," says Mendes. "Naomie has earned her spurs in movies. I saw her in Danny's movie 28 Days Later and later on stage in his production of Frankenstein. I called him up and asked if she was nice.He told me that she's delightful. She's an amazing, balanced, calm girl. I had to cast someone who was a match for Bond."
This time, Harris' Eve goes on a journey that makes for a surprising conclusion in the film. Her character isn't your typical Bond vixen: She's fearless, yes, but also a little hapless as an agent and more comfortable being a desk jockey.
"When I was cast, they said they wanted to have a modern Bond girl and wanted to take the character in a new direction. They wanted her to be an equal to Bond. So I felt I had a lot of scope, a lot of room, to create the character," says Harris. "You really felt that you were free to create a character in any way you wanted. It's the most freedom I ever felt. That's one of the reasons the franchise survives so well. It's what they enable you to do."
Not 'arm candy' anymore
According to Michael G. Wilson, who has produced Bond films since 1979's Moonraker, Andress emerging from the water in Dr. No established the iconic image of the quintessential bombshell Bond girl. Since then, there have been hits and misses. The high point? Green as Vesper Lynd, who cracks Bond's heart wide open.
"Over the years, when you had wonderful women playing the parts, the leading roles were always quite interesting. Probably around the time of Octopussy, it got to be arm candy," says Wilson. "There were some times we didn't cast it too well. You have to admit that. In the last few films, we've tried to get away from arm candy. I think the women and the roles written for them are getting better and more challenging. We have to get actresses who can do the job. Sophie Marceau came along in The World Is Not Enough, and she was great. Eva Green in Casino Royale was just spectacular."
The current Bond ladies aren't sure what's ahead for them. They're adjusting to the attention being lavished on them, courtesy of the film, and the seemingly endless press responsibilities that come with being in it. Marlohe hopes Skyfall leads to more American film roles.
"As an actress, I felt way more confident on seeing such talented actors working because they are so able and they're not afraid to question themselves. Being around them made me feel more confident," she says of sharing screen time with Craig and Javier Bardem, who plays the film's villain.
And Harris loved being able to delve into her more adventurous side by playing Eve. "I always think of myself as someone who runs away from danger. She runs into it, and she loves it," she says. "I had to do a lot of physical stuff. It was two months of training before we started. I normally don't do any exercise at all. I was having to exercise five days a week, two hours a day. I did combat and yoga and running. I was covered in bruises. In the beginning, it was hell, and then you get through the pain barrier and you start enjoying it. You feel more alive."
So is she still a gym rat? "It's done. It was so easy when I had this trainer wake me up in the mornings. Now I would have to do that to myself and I can't. The bed's too cozy."
Eve could probably relate.


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Today is Halloween and Google's doodle for the day is generating a lot of buzz online. The doodle represents a Haunted House, with a 4 doors and the number 13 written on top.Like some other Doodles, this one is interactive as well and each time you open the door you get to meet the spook residents of this house. Oh and there's eerie background playing in the background as well, with a door creaking and a ghost going oooooooo. You can click on the doodle though if you want to turn off the sound. So who do you get to meet in the Google Doodle?
On the extreme right door is the blue one-eyed octopus which stands for 'G' in the Google logo. The next door has a pair of red and yellow eyes which represent the two 'Os'. The next is veiled ghost, kind of like the dead haunted brides in ghost stories and this one is shaped like a 'G' is a veiled ghost. In the cage, next to it is the L, which looks like Frankenstein, if you click on it, the monster disappears. The last door has a super-evil smiley face that turns into a monster representing the 'E'.


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Emily Lambert and Alexandra Jumper were the A-division duo at the Captain Hurst Bowl this weekend. (Photo courtesy of Gil Talbot)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Harvard sailing team secured six top-three finishes between the A and B divisions, during the regattas five races, lifting the Crimson to a third-place showing at the Lark Invitational Sunday afternoon. Harvard also sailed in the Captain Hurst Bowl, placing 13th in a field of 22 teams during the two-day regatta.
The all-sophomore team of Ames Lyman and Alice Kenny finished second in three of the five races in the lark Invitational at Tufts, registering 18 points total and third place in the A division. Sophomore Luke O'Conner skippered the B-division team with junior Nicholas Gordon, as the pair secured two third-place finishes and came in first on the last race of the regatta. The duo tallied 20 points, good for third in the division. The Crimson finished the day four points shy of second-place Boston University, with host Tufts winning.
In the Captain Hurst Bowl at Dartmouth, the A-division duo of junior Emily Lambert and senior Alexandra Jumper used a string of four-straight top-10 finishes to place 10th in their division, earning 160 points overall. Harvard went with youth in its B-division squad as freshman Michael Drumm skippered a team with fellow classmates Sara Pierson and Ansel Duff splitting time as crew. The trio completed the weekend with four top-10 finishes and 187 points total. Harvard concluded the regatta with 347 points overall, placing 13th. Roger Williams won, with Dartmouth and Boston University filling out the top three places respectively.
Harvard now prepares for a busy weekend coming up, as five regattas are on tap for the Crimson, with the Hoyt Trophy, Stu Nelson Trophy, Oberg Trophy, BC invitational and BU invitational all taking place Oct. 22-23.


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Compatible with model(s):
- M1 Lite (2014 - 17)
Compatible with model(s):
Compatible with model(s):
All orders are dispatched using UK Mail or Royal Mail for smaller items.
UK Mainland addresses excluding Northern Scotland and The Highlands.
UK Mainland addresses excluding Northern Scotland and The Highlands.
Orders containing an individual Lithium battery are not eligible for next day delivery.
Order before 2pm to receive on the next working day (deliveries are made Mon - Fri only). Orders placed over the weekend and after 2pm on Friday will be delivered on the following Tuesday.
More detailed information and 'Premium Shipping Rates' covering Northern Scotland, The Highlands, Isle of Man, Shetland Islands, Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Wight can be found on our Delivery Information page.


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Cozying up to "Curvy Girl Crochet" author Mary Beth Temple
Finding crochet and knit patterns can be a real hassle for "curvy girls."
The fit is always an issue, and adjusting smaller patterns to suit larger sizes can result in an irregular and ill-fitting garment.
That, in turn, makes all the creative effort feel fruitless.
Little wonder that patterns for "real women" are difficult to find and highly-coveted!
Thankfully, Mary Beth Temple, the woman behind Hooked for Life Publishing, has written a book with curvy folk in mind.
Temple's new book, "Curvy Girl Crochet," provides readers with 25 flattering patterns for sizes 14 and up. Yarn enthusiasts may recognize this author from her work with Interweave Crochet, Crochet Today and Crochet World. She also hosts the interactive podcast, "Getting Loopy."
I had a chance to ask this crochet guru some questions about her new book. She shared her history with crochet and talked about how some crazy Seventies crochet garments helped give this skill a bad rap.
When did you start crocheting? What was your first project?
This is sort-of an all-in-one answer: When I was 11, my mother was crocheting a granny square afghan for a friend, and I thought it looked like a whole lot of fun so I begged her to teach me. As is my tendency, I learned just enough to be dangerous and totally messed up my first granny square… I found out that for 20-plus years, I was wrapping my yarn the wrong way (because) my mother is left-handed and I am right-handed!
Have you always wanted to write a book for plus-size crafters?
I came to crochet and knit design after a long career as a tailor in the entertainment industry. I made and altered clothes for everything from modern dance companies to Broadway shows to feature films and television shows. What interests me most in crochet design is fit, and I learned about fit from creating or altering thousands of sewn garments. There are plenty of books out there for the smaller-size crocheter and knitter, but I really felt like I had a mission to bring good fitting information to women who wear extended sizing.
You've managed to turn around the idea of crochet's unflattering and boxy reputation. Why do you think crochet gets a bad rap?
Thank you for saying that! I think crochet gets a bad rap for a lot of reasons. One is the perception that it's only good for afghans, so any crochet garment is going to look like you are wearing Grandma's bedspread. Another is the fact that many crocheters… started out as afghan or baby clothes (crafters and) tend to start making garments with worsted weight or heavier yarns. But due to the density of most crochet stitches, lighter weight yarns work better. I also think that crochet clothing is associated in many peoples' minds with the wild and crazy crochet fashions of the 1970s. A lot of people don't realize the strides in good design that have been taken in the meantime.
It seems like plus-size patterns are few and far between. You mention in the book that plus-size garments must be made with both measurements and a person's shape in mind. Do you find that many plus-size crafters don't have the tools to even start a handmade project for themselves?
I do think that many crocheters, even those with years of experience, are intimidated by garment patterns because they just don't know where to start, and don't want to invest a ton of time an money in something that may not fit the way they want it to. One of the things I am proud of in Curvy Girl Crochet is the amount of space I was able to give to teaching people how to get started, and explaining how (and why) spending some extra time in the planning stages of a garment will really give you a great chance of loving the outcome. Each pattern also has detailed stitch diagrams, schematics, and yarn information in case you need or want to substitute, or modify. I am trying to take the scary parts out of jumping into making well-fitted garments.
As for availability, writing patterns in many sizes is hard, technical work. It can also take up a lot of space, so there are limits to where they can appear. It's also a different set of skills than smaller size pattern grading, which is simply a matter of adding a set number of inches to each size. And if the book or magazine asks you to design something and make a model garment in a size XS or S because that's what size model they are using, it's almost impossible to take those measurements and easily grade them up… I think great plus-size patterns need to start their lives as plus size patterns, not be afterthought additions to something that was planned as a size 0.
Do you think your book will usher in more options for plus-size crafters?
I certainly hope so! There are some options out there now, but I think there is room for more.


text: Turkey's Prime Minister reacted angrily on Tuesday to a bill passed late on Monday by the French Senate. The measure would make it a crime to deny that Turks committed genocide against Armenians during the First World War. The legislation calls for up to one year in prison – and a fine of more than $50,000 – for anyone in France found guilty of denying a "recognized genocide." It doesn't mention the Turks or Armenians by name. But in 2001, the French government officially declared that the death of more than a million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks during World War I was genocide. Turkey has long maintained that the actual number of those killed was much lower, and that the deaths came in the course of war time. It's a crime in Turkey to refer to those deaths as genocide. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking before Turkey's parliament today, condemned the French vote. "This is the awakening of the values of the Middle Ages, which totally undermines European values and common sense," Erdogan said. "You can't judge or re-write history in parliaments." The French Senate's approval of the measure came after a lengthy debate. Armenia's foreign minister, Edward Nalbandian, applauded the vote. "This day will be written in gold not only in the history of friendship between the Armenian and French peoples, but also in the annals of the history of the protection of human rights worldwide," Nalbandian said. "France reaffirmed its pivotal role as a genuine defender of universal human values." The vote puts French President Nicolas Sarkozy in a tricky spot. A deputy from his own party originally sponsored the bill. Sarkozy is facing re-election this year, and some have accused him of using the genocide legislation to court electoral favor with the nearly 600,000 people of Armenian descent living in France. There are also wider implications for France's position in Europe and beyond. Sarkozy's own foreign minister, Alain Juppe, opposed the bill. "I think this initiative is untimely," Juppe said. "What I would like to do today is to call on our Turkish friends to keep a cool head. Turkey is a big economic power, and we need to have good relations with it." France is Turkey's fifth largest export market. The two countries do more than $13 billion in trade a year. Now, Turkey is threatening a host of military, political and economic sanctions. Turkey's ambassador to France said today that he expected to be recalled. A spokesman for the Turkish embassy in Paris said that "relations in every field have been stopped for the moment." But even before the passage of the genocide legislation, there was some friction between France and Turkey. President Sarkozy has been lukewarm when it comes to Turkey's bid to join the European Union. Soli Ã?zel, a columnist with the Turkish newspaper Haber Turk, said it seems that French president is not especially concerned about having good relations with Turkey. "In the Mediterranean, France considers Turkey a rival power, and would like to cut it down to size. That's how it's seen in Turkey anyway," Ã?zel said. Turkish officials have said they would lobby to have France's constitutional court rule on the genocide legislation. They've also said they wouldn't impose any sanctions until Sarkozy signs the bill into law. Sarkozy's office said on Tuesday that that would happen within two weeks.


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- Description
- How to measure?
- Control
- Are motorized shades worth it?
North BO 0537 - Motorized Blinds
Imagine adjusting all your blinds at once comfortably from your sofa in the evening and get the rest that you well deserve. Or wake up to natural sunlight and get the perfect start of the day.
Your motorized shades comes with a built in lithium battery powered motor, which makes them look amazing in the window without the need to charge them for well over a year.
Add the sun sensor with your customized motorized shade and unleash benefits as lower energy costs, more comfortable indoor climate and peace of mind with greener living.
3-year warranty - World Wide Free Shipping - Made in Sweden
North BO is a high-quality blackout fabric in the most popular colors.
Made by 100% premium polyester.
Max size 240 cm x 185 cm or 200 cm x 285 cm.
Light features:
Reflection: 75
Absorption: 25
Transmission: 0
What is included with every motorized roller blind?
- One channel remote control (battery not included)
- Built-in lithium battery pack (2600mAh)
- Battery charging adapter
How long does it take to get my motorized blinds?
All orders will be dispatched within 3 weeks. All motorized blinds are made by professionals in Sweden and delivered worldwide.
How to measure for motorized roller shades
To be sure of the measurements, take a minimum of three dimensions of width and height.
Inside mounted
Inside mounted roller shades are installed inside the window frame or casing. They provide a sleek, clean look which can showcase your window size and moldings. If you want your product inside mounted use this guide please:
- Start by measure the depth of your window frame to make sure the shade will fit. You will need a frame depth of at least 8 cm / 3.15 inches for a snug fitting.
- Measure the width of the window on three points as shown in picture 1. Choose the smallest measurement of the three and write it down, for example "width 100,5 cm / 39,57 inches
- Measure the drop or height of the window on three points as shown in picture 2. Use the largest measurement of the three and write it down, for example 172 cm / 67,72 inches. If that would be your measurement you choose the 185 cm drop / height when ordering your motorized roller shade.
- DEDUCT 0,5 cm / 0,2 inches from the exact measurement so that the shade will fit your window, operate as intended and that you are able to install it correctly. For example your exact width from step 2 was 100,5 cm you type in 100,5 cm - 0,5 cm = 100 cm when you place the order.
- Double check that your measurements follow the Width by Height/Drop format.
Outside mounted
Outside mount motorized roller shades are mounted on the window molding, wall, or ceiling above your window. Outside mounted shades can make your windows appear wider and longer while also providing better light control and privacy options. You may be required to install an outside mount if your windows do not have sufficient mounting depth.
If you want outside mounted motorized roller shade follow this guide please:
- Measure above the window first to make sure you have at least 6 cm / 2.4 inches of flat space on the molding or wall. The shade can be installed on the window molding if there is enough flat surface.
- Next, measure the width you want covered on three points. The fabric is 4 cm / 1.58 inches narrower than your total width measurement.
- Measure the height / drop of the window from the top to where you want the bottom of your motorized shades to rest. For example if your height / drop is 212 cm / 83,5 inches you choose 225 cm / 88,56 inches when you place the order.
- Do NOT take deductions from your measurements.
- Double check that your measurements follow the Width by Height / Drop format.
If you have any questions or need help with the measurements just get in touch with us.
We offer a wide range of control options for truly smart blinds
All of our motorized shades can be automated with the 4 channel remote control, by the sensor or through the smart hub / app.
Through the smart hub you will be able to control your motorized shades in group, one by one, create scenes or with your voice through Alexa or Google.
1. One channel remote control included
With every motorized shade we include a one channel remote control so that you can get your shade up and running right away.
2. Automatic blinds based on a time-schedule
Imagine waking up to natural sunlight or having your smart shades move automatically through the day.
With the four channel remote control you can control your smart shades separately or in group.
Time based automation
Set eight pairs of open and close timing points to enable the automatic timer control.
If you like your motorized shades to move throughout the day just set different open and close time for each single day a week.
If you like a weekly program set the same open and close time for a week or for the working days.
You keep your settings even if you have a power failure.
Solar automation
With the sun sensor your motorized shades will automatically adjust themselves based on the sun.
The sun sensor sticks easily on any glass window.
Included time automation feature
You are also able to set a time schedule for your shades through the sensor, just as the four channel remote control.
With on-device control
With the buttons you can adjust your motorized shades up, stop and down.
Smart Home
With the smart hub you will be able to control your motorized shades from the Magic home app or with your voice if integrated with Alexa or Google.
Get truly smart blinds with app control
From the app you are able to control all your smart blinds at once with one click in the app. With cloud, you can control your shades from wherever you are.
Control your smart blinds one by one, in group based on room or zone, all shades at once or use the sunlight control.
Set personalized scenario such as good morning, go to work, welcome home, vacation etc.
Set a time schedule for automatic shades, on all units or just the once you want.
Voice control with Google Home or Alexa
Turn your motorized shades into really smart shades with voice control.
How can I get motorized shades that work with Google Home or Alexa?
You need the smart home hub to integrate with Alexa and Google Home. It connects easily in just a few minutes then you are good to go!
Get peace of mind knowing that your children are safe
We have listed the top 10 benefits with motorized roller shades. If motorized shades are worth it is up to you.
1. Convenience and accessibility
Wake up to natural sunlight, close all blinds with a touch of a button, set scenes where they lower themselves as you put on your favorite movie or want to watch the most important game of the season? Automate your motorized roller shades based on a time-schedule or by solar automation and arrive from work to a cooler and more comfortable indoor climate.
Hard to reach windows
Easily access those hard to reach windows and adjust them with a touch of a button.
2. Save energy and reduce your energy costs
Connecting your motorized shades to a smart home hub or a smart sun sensor can help to minimize the amount of energy your HVAC system used by allowing the shades to act automatically independently to reading from the sun sensor or weather forecast report.
Perfectly programmed, the blinds will close during the hottest part of the day and open during a sunny day in the winter to allow the sun to enter the room and heat up the house naturally.
Good for your wallet and the environment
Reducing the energy spent is good for your personal economy as well as good for the environment. It also increases the comfort in your home as the temperature will be more in line with what we humans prefer.
3. Childsafety
What most of us fail to consider is the danger of blinds with cords. They are a real danger for our little loved ones. While playing around a child can easily tangle themselves with the cord and it can be life-threatening. According to the US consumer product safety commission, one child under the age of 10 years of age dies every month in the US due to window cord strangulation
Motorized roller shades offers full safety
Cordless blinds offer full safety for children and pets and when it comes to motorized blinds you can rest a sure that your beloved children will not be in any risk of strangulation due to your blinds.
5. Enhance the security of your home
An effective way to protect your home from intrusion is making it appear like its occupied. With automated shades, you can set a time schedule during the day/week so that you simulate that you are home.
Automated shades, or app-controlled shades, gives an empty house the lived-in appearance.
6. Increased freedom for elderly and disabled
As you get older and still living at home you might need extra help, it's sometimes the little things that are very difficult to manage by yourself. One of those things might be adjusting your blinds.
Our elderly are not supposed to lie in bed with their shades down in the morning, waiting for their assistant to arrive and help them, or not be able to close them during the day when they want to rest for a while. Motorized shades will eliminate those issues right away.
7. Protect your interior from sun bleaching
The sun´s UV rays can be damaging to artwork and furniture. Also, your floor, if made by wood, and your expensive rugs.
It can damage our furniture, carpeting, and other decors if it's allowed to stream in through the windows all the time. Unless you want to replace all these interiors from time to time you might wanna invest in motorized shades that will protect and preserve your interior.
8. Privacy at home
With smart shades, you won't have to worry whether your neighbor from across the street or people passing by your house being curious about your whereabouts. They can be set to lower at dusk - or at any other time that's convenient to you - and let you enjoy your free time in private. Or just lower them all at once with one touch on the remote control.
9. Smart Blinds
Motorized shades can be integrated with other smart appliances such as lights, thermostats, awnings, smart locks and more. In this way, you can set scenarios such as "go down" when the awnings close due to much wind. Or you can set a scenario for your blinds to close as you turn on your favorite movie or would like to watch the football game of the year.
Automated blinds
You can automate your blinds based on a time schedule or through solar automation so that you can enjoy all benefits that comes with smart blinds.
10. Maximize the space in your house
Motorized shades can maximize the space in a room. For example, having a motorized shade as a projector screen as well.
You do not need to clear space to the window so that you can manually adjust them, which leads to the opportunity to use all of the surfaces next to your window.
There are probably a lot more clever ideas out there, what is yours?


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Pottery & Porcelain Marks – Crown & Circle Or Oval: Marks of crowns & circles or ovals usually show a crown inside of, on top of, or attached to the circle or oval. The circles or ovals are often made out of lines or letters, and wreaths are commonly shown with the crown. Crowns and circles were first used in the 19th century, crowns & ovals in the 20th and 21st centuries. Occasionally, these marks show the name of the city or country where the porcelain was made, but most are shown with the company name or initials.
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Colorblock Knitted Breathable Lace-Up Yeezy Sneakers
Style: Fashion
Pattern Type: Colorblock
Material: Polyester/Rubber
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March 24th, 2014
News from Free Expression Network members can now be found at NCAC.org
You can browse the new feed at ncac.org/our-network.
The Free Expression Network (FEN) is an alliance of organizations dedicated to protecting the First Amendment right of free expression and the values it represents, and to opposing governmental efforts to suppress constitutionally-protected speech. FEN members provide a wide range of expertise, resources and services to policy-makers, the media, scholars, and the public at large. Members meet on a quarterly basis to share information and strategies.
We also create public programs and events on current free expression issues. This website provides information and descriptions of each member organization, as well as a brief look at the services they provide and the primary issues on which they focus. It is also a means of providing information about First Amendment issues to the public at large and to facilitate private communication among FEN members. FEN meetings and other activities are planned and organized by the FEN Steering Committee, which is composed of volunteers from member organizations. All FEN members are eligible to participate in the steering committee.
Organizational requests to join FEN or nominations for membership will be addressed by the steering committee, which will consider whether the mission of the organization seeking inclusion in FEN is consistent with FEN's goal to protect the First Amendment and promote free expression. FEN is coordinated by the National Coalition Against Censorship. For Inquires Contact the FEN coordinator, Michael O'Neil.


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The Suburbs Get a Permaculture Makeover
By Jude Isabella
Suburbia has long been a dirty word to environmentalists. But what if suburbia proved to be the scene for our next Green Revolution? Permaculture—inventing simple methods to grow food, conserve water and prevent waste—could put us on the road to sustainability and plenty.
These days suburbia is pretty much synonymous with what's wrong with America: sprawl, obesity, dependence on the car culture. Scratch that. The 21st century suburbs could be society's savior.
With their green landscapes and open spaces, the suburbs are a perfect place for a cultural revolution called permaculture—a simple approach to growing food, recycling, reusing, and rethinking the world around us.
Suburban permaculture—seeing nature as if we were part of it, not against it—could help us gracefully adapt to climate change, soaring food prices and a looming water crisis.
Food: Drought early in 2013 caused global dairy prices to soar, pushing food costs two percent higher. That unlikely dry spell forced New Zealand farmers to cull herds or stop milking cows, producing a plunge in milk production, says the U.N. Meat prices are way up too, caused by record drought in the U.S. West.
But lucky suburbanites, if they only knew it, live on potential mini-farms. With little effort, the third-of-an-acre encircling suburban starter castles can be converted to Victory Gardens, like those planted during World War II—providing an organic fresh fruit and vegetable buffer against escalating food prices.
Suburbanites simply need to rethink: Give up the roar of Saturday morning lawnmowers and discover that carrot tops make a great pesto. Trade in dandelion digging for the harvesting of Beefeater tomatoes!
Permaculture offers a template for the banishing of lawns and the planting of gardens.
It starts with observation—there's no rush. Take a year to figure out simple things like where the sun shines in your yard through the day. Then organize the landscape into zones: Zone 1, for example, is closest to the house, a place to grow food you visit daily, like salad greens or herbs. Zone 5, my favorite, is a small patch of yard wilderness left utterly alone, a wild place for the birds, a place to sit and do nothing.
Garbage: NASA scientists, observing decades of satellite data, say we're fast using up world resources. Our consumption of nature (for food, fibers, and fabrication) is rising, with current annual consumption of the planet's plant materials at about 25 percent, and expected to shoot to 55 percent by 2050. Yikes!
Suburban permaculture shows us how not to run out of resources, how to ease pressure on the planet's limited land by using our yards and reusing our trash wisely.
To the uninformed, for example, it may appear that permaculture junkies collect junk. They don't. They know that used PVC pipe and wood scrap lying behind the garage can be crafted into a nifty storage unit for gardening tools—rakes and hoes slide into the piping and stack vertically in a neat wooden frame. Space saver! Suburbanites can creatively reclaim their trash, skipping the gas-guzzling drive to the dump.
Water: You may not know it, but the freshwater pouring from your tap is an endangered resource. Freshwater demand will exceed supply by 40 percent by 2030, says the U.S. State Department. Double yikes!
Yet again, permaculture to the rescue. Remember those zones? Home is Zone 0, where a permie conserves energy and water. And conserving doesn't need to mean pricey solar collectors. It can be a strategically placed rain barrel that makes watering the garden cheaper and easier. Check out Costco for its nifty line of rain barrels, ranging from 100 to 400 liters, and just under $100 to $400.
What's Old Is New: Sure, permaculture critics call it pseudoscientific because it lacks a presence on university campuses or in peer-reviewed journals. But that just gives today's suburbanites more elbowroom with which to experiment and explore its principles.
Permaculture is a blueprint for living based on common sense. It echoes the do-it-yourself lives of our grandparents and great-grandparents who planted Victory Gardens, threw nothing away, and darned socks.
But unlike our elders who lived on isolated farms or in crowded cities, we can enjoy the best of both worlds. Suburbanites have neighbors from whom they can learn and share, and space in which to change and invent. The suburbs just might be a launch point for the Next Big Thing. Bring it on, we're gonna have fun!
Jude Isabella is a science writer and pseudo-permie in Victoria, British Columbia. ©2013 Blue Ridge Press.
Category: Featured Articles, Home & Garden, People & Solutions
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Everyone who can should be doing this. Who wants to mow lawns when you could be harvesting berries?


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Vine Weeds of Missouri - Page 7
Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Japanese honeysuckle escaped from cultivation and has quickly become a pest of landscapes, thickets and rights-of-way. Its aggressive growth outcompetes native vegetation by vigorous above ground runners and underground rhizomes. Planting of Japanese honeysuckle is not recommended in Missouri because of its ability to choke out shrubs and small trees. The leaves of the plant are opposite and ovate with entire margins. Its stems have a reddish brown coloration and are hairy. The flowers are fragrant and range in color from creamy white to yellow. Although some species of honeysuckle in Missouri have bright red or orange berries, Japanese honeysuckle has black fruit that contains two or three seeds.
Although the plant was originally most frequently encountered in southeast Missouri, it is now scattered throughout the state.


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Published at Sunday, April 28th, 2019 - 02:38:03 AM. Curtains. By Solaina Bourdon.
12 x artificial roses (can be bought from most Asian outlets, preferably the same or similar color as the organza curtain, using clashing colors can make the curtain appear disjointed and chaotic. NB Be sure that the rose bud can come apart from the plastic backing of the flower, once the rose and the stem is pushed through the curtain the backing has to be placed back onto the stem on the other side of the curtain in order for the rose to be secured into place.
Tie top curtains are embellishments or small fabric strips attached to the curtain heads. It has the functional value of holding the curtain in place around the curtain rods. The outcome: an informal look and normally employed with light weight fabrics.
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Fluffy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
When Lulu and I first got married, we invited Lulu's uncle and his family over for dinner. I made grilled steaks and pommes mousseline (mashed potatoes in French). Five years later they still talk about the meal, so here is the recipe for my garlic mashed potatoes just in time for Thanksgiving.
The secret to incredibly fluffy mashed potatoes is to use a combination of heavy cream, crème fraîche and butter. I know, it's not the healthiest mashed potato recipe, but once you try it, you'll never want to go back. For added flavor, I roasted a head of garlic and squeezed the contents into the dish, along with chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Try to resist. I dare you!
Yields: 12 servings8 Russet potatoes, about 4 pounds
1 head fresh garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon lemon thyme, finely chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup crème fraîche
3/4 cup heavy cream, as needed
1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 teaspoon lemon zest, freshly grated
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, chopped
1/4 cup parmesan cheese powder (see tips)
3 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white pepper, freshly ground
How to roast garlic:
Preheat the oven at 400°F.
Cut the top off the head of garlic, exposing the cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of thyme and kosher salt. Place in a terra cotta roaster or wrap in aluminum foil. Roast for 1 hour. Allow to cool completely. As soon as it's not too hot to handle, squeeze out the softened garlic cloves. Set aside.
Boiling the potatoes:
Peel the potatoes, cut them into 2-inch chunks and place them in a large pot. Fill it with cold water until the potatoes are barely covered. It's important to start with cold water so the potatoes cook evenly. Bring to a boil, add 1 teaspoon of salt and reduce the heat to medium-high (if you cook the potatoes at a roaring boil, they might fall apart). Cook for about 20-25 minutes. The potatoes should be fork-tender. Remove from the pot and drain; allow the potatoes to cool a little.
Mashed potatoes:
Warm the crème fraîche and the heavy cream, separately, for 30 seconds in the microwave (or in a saucepan).
Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle and have dried thoroughly, return them to the pot over low heat (to ensure there is as little liquid as possible). Turn off the heat. Using a potato masher or a potato ricer, mash the potatoes. Add butter, the puréed roasted garlic, the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and lemon zest. Stir well, using a wooden spoon. Add the warm crème fraîche, then add the heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency (I used 3/4 cup of cream). Finish with the parmesan cheese.
Serve warm with gravy on the side.
Bon appétit!
If you re-heat the mashed potatoes, it's preferable to use a double boiler. For an easy double boiler, place the mashed potatoes in a heat-proof bowl over a larger-sized saucepan filled with simmering water. I always like to add a little kitchen towel underneath the bowl. That way the bowl won't jiggle and there won't be any splatter of water in the mashed potatoes.
With leftover mashed potatoes, you can make a shepherd pie.
A big no-no is to mash the potatoes in a food processor or a blender; the texture will be gooey and sticky and the result won't be good. The best way is to use a food mill, a potato masher or a potato ricer. You can also manually mash the potatoes using food service disposable gloves. And most important, do NOT over-work the mashed potatoes.
You can make your own crème fraîche, check out the recipe by clicking on the link. You can substitute sour cream for the crème fraîche but I find the texture and taste to be different. Quick fact: crème fraîche has more flavor with 28% fat whereas sour cream contains "only" between 12 and 16%.
If you use a terra cotta roaster for the garlic, it's preferable to add 2-3 tablespoons of water at the bottom of the roaster before covering it, for an easy clean-up. Don't worry, the flavor will remain intact.
I finely chop a 3-inch chunk of parmesan and place the morsels in a mini food processor to make parmesan powder.
If you're a `tater lover, check out my oven roasted potatoes!Published By: on November 19, 2009.


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Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani and the Yellow Color By A.K. Shaikh Translated by: Bashir Ahmed Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani Sahib has laid the foundation of his claim and movement on two Yellow Sheets (besides other elements). In order to strengthen this colour, he has made all kind of efforts including taking help from "Shirk" [associating others with Allah]. But he forgot that Allah's baton is soundless as His respite is extended. How did Mirza Sahib treat this Hadith and the Yellow Colour, and how much did he distort it in order to achieve his mischievous agenda, and how far was he successful …Read More »
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College of Education
Greetings from the Dean
On behalf of the faculty and staff in the College of Education, welcome to Middle
Tennessee State University. Since its beginning as Middle Tennessee State Normal School
in 1911, preparing teachers has been central to the mission of this institution.
When asked who has made a real difference in our lives, most of us will name at least one teacher. We are proud of MTSU's rich history in teacher education and the many contributions our graduates have made to young people over the past 100 years. Today, preparing future teachers and school leaders is still central to our mission. While building on tradition, we also look to the future by offering students a course of study that focuses on research and best practices, strong content knowledge, and practical experiences in the field. The College of Education faculty and staff are dedicated to providing quality programs in a supportive and student-centered campus environment.
If you are considering a professional career as a teacher, school leader, or counsellor, please contact the college advisors or faculty and staff for assistance and information. Your experiences at MTSU will prepare you to become one of those people who make a difference through teaching.
Dr. Lana C. Seivers
- Read the Current Issue of Aspire, the COE Magazine


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This column originally appeared on Real Money Pro at 8:41 a.m. EST on Jan. 14.NEW YORK ( Real Money) --
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." -- The Holy Bible, Matt. 7:15 (King James Version)Markets move based on how events transpire relative to consensus expectations, and it is my view that many commonly held and more upbeat expectations for 2013 are too optimistic -- perhaps substantially so. To be sure, Mr. Market's momentum from the end of 2012 and year-to-date 2013 has been impressive, but Mr. Market is often fickle and the wolf could emerge out of the sheep's clothing. With higher share prices has come a degree of investor optimism that is all too often associated with previous tops. Most recently, the failure of the fiscal cliff debate to accomplish much of anything has been ignored by investors. I am now convinced that hyper-partisanship will prevent meaningful budget cutting legislation in the months ahead. This is a profound negative, as it relates to our economy and our investments. From my perch, the current degree of bullishness (among other reasons) is founded on the notions that:
- there is a global monetary put that limits the market's downside;
- fund flows will move out of bonds and into stocks (and reverse the trend in place since 2007);
- equities are cheap relative to interest rates;
- the economic recovery is healthy and self-sustaining;
- the growth in corporate profits will continue apace;
- corporate balance sheets are pristine; and
- the housing market will have an above-average 2013 (capable of offsetting some of the Washington induced drag).
An Aging AdvanceThe economic recovery is aging (it is now four years old), and the bull market is maturing (of a similar age). These advances are typical of the life of the previous ones -- both in terms of duration and magnitude. In terms of economic growth, consider that, according to Zero Hedge, fourth-quarter 2012 real GDP estimates were ratcheted down last week:
- Goldman Sachs reduced from +1.8% to +1.3%.
- JPMorgan has gone from +1.5% to +0.8%.
- RBS decreased from +1.5% to +0.7%.
- Nomura went from +2% to +1.3%.


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Puig still adjusting to a new way of life in US
Sure, Yasiel Puig is living life to the fullest, rushing through it all as if the whole thing is some kind of fantasy that could be taken away. Maybe that's exactly how he feels. Do you know where he came from? Have you seen the world through his eyes?
Before Puig fled to the United States, his life was unlike anything most of us can comprehend. It's a world of smothering, all-consuming gray poverty. It is a world in which simple things -- a bottle of aspirin, a fresh apple, a doctor -- are rare and precious treasures.
Sure, Yasiel Puig is living life to the fullest, rushing through it all as if the whole thing is some kind of fantasy that could be taken away. Maybe that's exactly how he feels. Do you know where he came from? Have you seen the world through his eyes?
Before Puig fled to the United States, his life was unlike anything most of us can comprehend. It's a world of smothering, all-consuming gray poverty. It is a world in which simple things -- a bottle of aspirin, a fresh apple, a doctor -- are rare and precious treasures.
In our land of supermarkets and shiny new cars and department stores -- all of it within reach on some level -- Puig seems to be trying to experience it in large bites, all at once. At some point, he may slow down, may accept that this new world is now his world.
No player was more fascinating to watch last season. Swing hard, run hard, go, go, go. If Puig was on first base, he wanted to be at second base. He had the confidence, arrogance -- whatever you want to call it -- to believe no one was good enough to stop him. And so there he went, sprinting, sliding, jumping up, clapping his hands. Given the chance, Puig would take off for third, too, sometimes regardless of the situation.
"You could smell it in the air. The wild horse had to run," Vin Scully said after watching Puig steal second and then promptly get thrown out at third in a sequence not unlike several others.
Puig played the outfield the same way -- crashing into walls, making rocket-like throws, all full speed ahead. He was that way at the plate -- swinging hard, swinging often. Puig clearly drives the Dodgers crazy with some of this stuff, but they'll tell you it was his energy and his drive and his sprint into this new world that got them going last season.
If Puig didn't always play things by the book, it might be because he never had a book. He has enormous talent, scary talent, the kind of talent that doesn't come along very often. Money, fame, success, possession have come almost overnight these past two years.
Puig's challenge in his second season will be to see the game as a teammate, to understand the things he can and can't do, both on the field and off. Whether he can discipline himself -- hit those cutoff men, kid -- may determine how good he's going to be. On the other hand, Puig is blessed with so many gifts that he may accomplish great things anyway.
Those of us lucky enough to see all the amazing talent and unbridled energy are rooting for him, because there haven't been many players who've made the world's most difficult game look utterly easy.
Fifteen years ago this spring, I watched a hundred or so Cuban parents endure an hour or more of a blazing Havana sun and a line that stretched several blocks long to get their kids small dishes of ice cream.
Two memories of that afternoon linger in my heart and mind all these years later. One was how the natives urged me to cut in front of them and experience the moment of delight they were about to experience. Another was how the children squealed happily as they slurped away at the watery ice cream. To you or me -- to your children or mine -- this moment is one we probably take for granted.
To those Cubans, it was a spectacular moment of happiness, one that required no small sacrifice, but one that they seemed to accept.
I was in Havana to cover a game between the Orioles and the Cuban national team. For me, a child of the Cold War, Havana was pretty much what you would have guessed: decaying fighter jets scattered about the airport, immaculately cared-for American cars from the 1950s on the streets, and people getting by without a lot of material possessions.
At the time, Havana's infrastructure was a mess, with roads almost impassable and homes that looked like they hadn't had a coat of paint in 50 or so years. One day as I left the hotel for a morning run, I came upon Sandy Alderson, then an MLB official and now the general manager of the New York Mets, coming back from his run.
"Watch the sidewalks," he said.
I laughed.
"No," he said, "keep your eye on the sidewalks."
Alderson meant that the sidewalks essentially had disintegrated, that they were even worse off than the streets. Those streets were symbolic of a country that had been transformed from one of the most beautiful on earth to devoid of so much.
When Livan Hernandez fled to the United States, he had trouble getting his mind around this new life: supermarkets with rows and rows of fruits and vegetables, drive-through fast-food restaurants, shiny cars, beautiful homes, medical care, on and on and on.
Hernandez had trouble adjusting. He wanted to experience it all. Hernandez had been raised with so little that he ate and drank and spent, perhaps worried that this new world -- this world so different from his own -- would disappear overnight.
Maybe that's how Puig sees it, too. Maybe he's in a world he could never comprehend, and perhaps he's having trouble comprehending it still. Here's hoping Puig can slow himself down a bit, learn to say no, smooth out the rough edges and do the things his manager and coaches ask him to do.
Puig has taken us on a wild ride so far, a really amazing ride. Hopefully, this is just the beginning and the best is yet to come. As you watch Puig this season, don't forget how far he has come in so many ways. Don't forget to take a moment to see the world as he's probably seeing it. And don't forget how much more interesting baseball is with a Puig in it.
Richard Justice is a columnist for MLB.com. Read his blog, Justice4U.