text: GENERAL PRICE LIST No List Prices 1 Initial infertility consultation 20$ 2 Pelvic Ultrasound 15$ 3 Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI) 250$ 4 Hysterosalpingography (HSG) 200$ 5 Obstetric consultation and ultrasound 20$ - 50$ 6 Consultation regarding OB-GYN (New patients) 20$ 7 Testicular ultrasound 25$ 8 Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA)(CAMBODIAN-FOREIGNER) 750$-1000$ 9 Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) (CAMBODIAN-FOREIGNER) 750$-1000$ 10 Vaginal cleansing 20$ 11 Subsequent consultation (Registered patients) 10$ 12 Consultation (test results from outside) 10$ 13 Pap-smear (Novaprep) 35$ 14 Thin-prep 45$ 15 Thin-prep + HPV 75$ 16 Birth spacing placement [Intra-uterine device (IUD)] 50$ 17 Intra-Uterine device (IUD) removal 20$ 18 Abortion by aspiration and sedation 250$ 19 Vaccine for tetanus 10$ 20 Cervical cancer vaccine 60$ Below is the price with Dr. Delphine from Paris Gynecology Service 1 Consultation 40$ 2 Fast gynecology ultrasound 15$ 3 Complete gynecology ultrasound 40$ 4 Insertive Contraceptive Device 60$ 5 Papsmear (Novaprep Cambodia) 35$ 6 Thin Prep (Thai) 50$ 7 Thin Prep + HPV 80$ 8 Adolescent consultation 20$ Obstetrical Ultrasound with Dr. Delphine 1 First Consultation 50$ 2 Follow up consultation 30$ 3 Prenatal Down's syndrome screening 95$ 4 Ultrasound 1st trimester 60$ 5 Ultrasound 2nd trimester 80$ 6 Ultrasound 3rd trimester 60$ 7 Ultrasound follow up 30$ 100% Refund In-Vitro Fertilization Guarantee Plan Effective from 2nd June 2016 100% money back guarantee cost option. Your money back if it doesn't result in heartbeat. Includes up to 2 fresh cycles Female Age 100% Refund Plan Cost Under 35 $13,000 35-36 $15,000 37-38 $18,000 No Heartbeat (in between 6th & 7th week) Means a Full Refund There are few treatments in medicine that have such a clearly identifiable measure of outcome as in vitro fertilization. This allows the possibility of outcome-based fee schedules. We offer a pricing option with a 100% refund of the fee for the cycle if you do not result heartbeat. High Success Rates and Unbeatable Fees Only a program with high success rates can offer such a guarantee. This makes our program one of the most cost-effective if treatment does not result in heartbeat (for qualifying couples only). How it Works • The program includes as many as 2 ovarian stimulation cycles leading to an egg retrieval and any associated frozen embryo(s) transfer cycles. • Each ovarian stimulation and fresh embryo transfer cycle can possibly result in leftover embryos for freezing for later use. • The couple gets a 100% refund if they do not result in heartbeat. Included services: Medication Consultations with the physician Egg retrieval Sedation ICSI if needed Embryo transfer Embryo freezing and storage of frozen embryos for up to 12 months. Pregnancy testing and monitoring during the first 3 months Excluded services: Pre-procedure screening tests need to qualify Embryo storage after 12 months Frozen embryo transfer cycles done with remaining embryos after heartbeat. Eligibility and tests needed to qualify: Sex selection is not guaranteed. If the female partner is using her own eggs or donor eggs, egg owners must be 38 or younger at the time of enrollment and qualify with some basic tests (see below). Normal ovarian reserve testing: Tests are done on day 2, 3 or 4 of the menstrual cycle: FSH, LH, estradiol and AMH blood tests must be normal Ultrasound must show at least 14 antral follicles on an ovary (or ovaries) accessible for egg retrieval Evaluation of the uterus: These tests are usually done at a visit to our office on about day 14 of the menstrual cycle: Ultrasound evaluation of the uterus - the uterine lining (endometrium) must be at least 8.0 mm thick. Office hysteroscopy to evaluate the uterine cavity if required. Both 1 & 2 qualifying tests for both male and female partner costs 400$. Note that this is not refundable. Other qualifying issues for the plan: The female partner must be a non-smoker. We will accept a smoker if she quits at least 30 days before starting medications. This is documented with urine tests. Women that are significantly overweight (Body Mass Index over 30.0) are not eligible Women that are significantly underweight (Body Mass Index under 19) are not eligible Women that have had an abnormal day 3 FSH test are not eligible Couples that have failed 2 (or more) previous in vitro attempts with fresh embryos (including cancelled stimulation attempts) are not eligible. If in vitro fertilization has been attempted previously, copies of all ovarian stimulation and all embryology records must be submitted for review. Couples with 2 or more previous miscarriages are not eligible. The male partner must have at least 5 million motile sperm in his ejaculate The couple must be willing to have ICSI, transfer 2 embryos, and freeze any leftover potentially viable embryos (frozen embryos are used before another fresh cycle). * We reserve the right to approve or deny entry into our guarantee plans on a case-by-case basis. Program Termination Almost all patients who do not get pregnant from the first in vitro fertilization attempt will be recommended to try again. The main reasons not to do so would be inadequate ovarian response, or very poor egg or embryo quality. We reserve the right to terminate the patient's participation after each completed cycle (very rare). Likewise, the couple has the right to terminate participation after each completed cycle (after all fresh and frozen embryos are transferred). If FCC terminates the couple's 100% refund plan early (before the completion of all attempts), the refundable portion is returned to the couple. Actual cost as appears on the attached pricelist is invoiced. Likewise, the couple can quit the program before they complete all of their allotted fresh cycles. The refundable portion (after deducting the actual costs as appears on the attached pricelist) is given back if they are not pregnant and all frozen embryos have been transferred. Cycle cancellation during stimulation Ovarian response to stimulation must be sufficient to result in a minimum of 5 mature follicles (15-20 mm diameter) or we "cancel" the cycle and do not do the egg retrieval. Rarely, a cycle could be cancelled for over-response of the ovaries A case management fee If the cycle is cancelled during stimulation and before the egg retrieval and if all refunded, the patient shall pay only 1000$ for the case management fee. Payment Method One-time pay all by cash or check when confirmed qualified for the refund plan and contract is signed.


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5 Reasons Landscape Photographers Have A Screw Loose
I'm a landscape photographer. And I'm part of a crazy lot. I had this realization during a sleep deprived afternoon. My hazy mind was trying to get me through the rest of the day. It was also trying to comprehend how I arrived at the miserable state I was in.
It wasn't hard to come 5 reasons why we landscape photographers definitely have a screw loose.
1. We Work Crazy Hours
Good light happens when it happens. Unless you live at the extreme upper or lower latitudes of our planet, that means sunrise and sunset. Sunrise shots are rough if you like sleep. A 5AM sunrise might mean getting up at 2AM to reach a location. On the good days, we get 30 minutes of excellent light on either side of sunrise. Then trudge out of wherever it is we trudged in. We've put in a full 8 hour day before most folks have had their second cup of coffee.
Getting to that sunrise location might include a significant hike. In utter darkness. Over uneven terrain. On a narrow path along a cliff edge. In coyote or bear country. That's a smart place to be when you're half awake, right?
The sunset shoots don't deprive us of sleep. Instead, they deprive us of food. While most others are enjoying dinner and drinks, we are laden with gear and out at a location. Our stomachs remind us how long ago lunch really way. And our tongues promises to declare mutiny if we reach for another energy bar.
What about astro photography? The best of both worlds. We are sleepy and hungry. And usually cold. If you're a night owl, maybe you're just hungry and cold. It's kinda scary, too. Every stray sound is surely a wild animal that wants to eat us.
2. We Travel Vast Distances For Brief Moments
Landscape photographers will travel hundreds or thousands of miles for brief moments of light. That travel may include multiple planes, trains, and cars. Throw in a physically exerting hike in extreme cold or hot temperatures... you get to wondering pretty quickly "Why am I doing this?" That's of course if we have the mental capacity to compose a sentence due to the sleep deprivation.
Did I mention we are carrying some serious gear all the way? Good glass is heavy. Solid tripods are heavy. Of course, we have a backup camera body. You brought water and energy bars, right? Water is heaviest when it's not in our bodies. Surprisingly heavy. Depending on the weather, we might also be hauling camping gear.
Astro photography is almost a guarantee of a long day's journey. We have to get well outside of any city for a dark sky. And I use the term "city" loosely. The lights of a small town are enough to ruin a night sky photo.
Have you ever felt you've found The Middle Of Nowhere? I have. I also think landscape photographers are mapping the areas of the planet not covered by mobile phones. I've pretty sure I've found half of the 3% of the United States not covered by AT&T.
3. We Get Uncomfortable For Our Photos
Getting out of bed and getting to the location is just the beginning. We want unique angles and strong compositions. We want our own unique take on the landscape before us. Sometimes we push ourselves hard to achieve that.
As a seascape and water lover, that means getting wet. To capture the photo above, I was in rushing ocean water with surges about thigh deep. I was wearing denim. Why? It was January. It was cold on land. It was raining just 40 minutes before I took the photo. I hadn't planned to get in the ocean that morning. However, that's where the photo was. I left cold and damp (and grinning).
The truly dedicated spend several days off the grid for the epic photo. Bug bites. Inclement weather. Blisters. Sunburn. Cuts. Scrapes. Standing still. Yeah... standing still. That's a lot harder than it seems. We find a perch that has the composition we want, set up all the gear, and... wait. Sometimes we wait hours for the light to be just so. I have a deeper appreciation for the unsung folks in museums, banks, and shops that simply stand the majority of their day.
4. We Invest Hours In A Single Frame
The planning, travel, and field time alone are hours of time invested in a photo. There is a bunch of learning we do up front. Countless hours spent learning our camera system. We toil over endless frames to determine the sharpest focal lengths and apertures - for every one of our lenses. We learn filter systems and specialty gear, too.
For our very best work, we invest another large chunk of time in front of our computers post processing. We pixel peep. We root out dust spots. We squint as we adjust tone, color, contrast and sharpness. We selectively brush in effects. We mask. We unmask. We round trip through plug-ins. We blend layers. We retouch again.
How many post processing tools have you learned over the years? I can rattle off close to a dozen without breaking a sweat.
5. We Can't Wait To Do It Again
After the planning, the learning, the traveling, the hiking, the sore muscles, the cuts, the bruises, the joys, the disappointments - the hours invested in a single frame... we cannot wait to head out again for another adventure. When the soreness has left our bodies and the chill has left our bones, we begin planning again. The cycle repeats.
Even after the most dreadful shoot that tests our will and yielded no keeper shots, in a few days we want to try again. Perhaps it's the chase of the next great photo is the thrill. The next amazing frame is just around the next bend in the trail, over the next peak, around the next rock.
I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
Landscape photography is a labor of love. Outings can take days, weeks or even months of planning. Our muscles ache from an arduous journey to reach our chosen location. Mother Nature may or may not cooperate. Some days we leave with no photographs to show for our efforts. Although I'll argue we always leave a shoot with something more. Experience matters in my book.
Landscape photography has hurdles and challenges - like any genre of photography, really. There are pain points. A hefty investment of time is required. It takes focused effort to learn the craft and create a great photo.
We are landscape photographers. We are crazy. We may be certifiably mental. We are genuinely nutty. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
What did I miss? Share your top reason landscape photographers are just a wee bit batty.

subset: commoncrawl


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11 Reasons Why Real Estate is the BEST Business in the World!
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Monday, November 4, 2013
album review: 'the marshall mathers lp 2' by eminem
And yet I don't think anyone has told Eminem that, as recent releases seem to have taken the form of an artist trying to recapture the spirit of something that he once had and is now gone, and he's never quite managed to find it in the same way. And this is speaking as an Eminem fan who will defend all of his albums. Yes, even Encore and Relapse, a pair of albums that aren't quite as bad as certain folks have made them out to be. Yes, Encore is incredibly uneven and contains some of the worst raps of Eminem's career, but it's also an album that does exactly what it was designed to do: a ritualistic endpoint for Eminem's career (characterized by his drug-induced spiral of depression) capped off by artistic suicide on the last track. And yet, the fans hated it and demanded the return of Slim Shady, and Eminem did just that five years later on Relapse, a tortured and punishingly bleak album where Eminem brought all of the sick nastiness behind Slim Shady to the forefront and said, 'You wanted it, you got it'. The mistakes he made with both of these albums is that stylized artistic ugliness works best with a good core framework, and the haphazard rapping and accents damaged that core and compromised those albums.
Fortunately, Eminem corrected this with 2010's Recovery, his spiritual revival where he finally put to bed some of the demons that had been haunting him over the past several years - primarily finding his place in the modern hip-hop landscape, his drug overdose in 2007, his constant issues with women, and finally the death of his best friend Proof in 2006. However, a new problem began cropping up here and on his team-up with Royce de 5'9'' the next year: the instrumentation always felt a little too polished and slick for Eminem, and lacked that gritty edge that made so much of his old material compelling. Furthermore, despite superb technical skills, Eminem's anger now felt directionless as he had solved the majority of his issues, and the resulting albums felt unfocused and too dour for their own good. The nadir of this was 'Lighters', a momentum-killing turd of a song that didn't work for me in the slightest and epitomized the worst symptoms of both poor instrumentation and unfocused rage.
And I've got to be honest here, when I heard about The Marshall Mathers LP 2, I was more than a little concerned that these problems were going to get worse. I mean, I love The Marshall Mathers LP, the album is a goddamn classic, so why besmirch it by making an record that's probably guaranteed not to be a follow-up aligned with the original on a thematic level? That album's dark madness had a lot to say about Eminem's personal psychoses and his issues with fame, pop culture, women, and his audience - and I was willing to bet that Eminem, despite being a great rapper of superb technical skill, probably would not return to this well of influences. And coupled with the list of guest stars and my own natural skepticism, I was dreading this album's release and I expected the worst. Did I get it?
Well, no, not really. In fact, this Eminem album was certainly an interesting endeavour, and one that I think I should really sit on for the next couple weeks to truly let it sink in -
No, I'm just messing with you all here, so let me give you the fast and dirty. Is The Marshall Mathers LP 2 good? Yes. Is it great? Yes. Is it better than The Marshall Mathers LP? No. Is it one of the best albums of the year? Well, no. Look, it's a strong album and one that surprised me in a good way - it's easily Eminem's best album in over a decade - but it's far from perfect and hampered by a number of real problems that will seriously put off a lot of critics and listeners (although I do suspect my personal favourites on this album might differ from most). Still, if you're a fan of hip-hop and rap, and especially Eminem, you're probably going to love this album regardless and it does a recommendation - just a qualified one. I will say this, though, if you're going into this album without having listened to Eminem's material in a while, you'll definitely want to go back through the discography (including mixtapes) before tackling this record, because the number of callbacks to previous albums all throughout his career is a little astounding.
Let's address the big problems first, most of which aren't really linked to Eminem himself as a rapper. No, this is in the instrumentation and production, which is really a mixed bag. Some songs harken back to the old school grime of The Marshall Mathers LP, some are decidedly more in the bombastic vein of Recovery, and others go in a completely offbeat direction that I don't think anyone would suspect, to decidedly mixed results. This is mostly an issue in the synth melody lines - there are points where it feels decidedly too polished and slick, which leeches some of the great moments of texture that used to be the hallmark of Eminem's beats. What I suspect more critics will take issue with are the occasional usage of 'heavier' instrumentation, mostly electric guitars and pounding, cacophonous drums that's very reminiscent of early Beastie Boys as the lead-off single 'Berzerk' proved. Overall, it leads to a much lighter tone on the album that's a defiant contrast to the pitch-darkness of The Marshall Mathers LP, or even the dour seriousness of Recovery. Hell, 'So Far...' and 'Love Game' are borderline comedy songs, and while I can appreciate the lighter tone, most critics are going to find them silly as hell (which they are). What's more striking is that songs like 'So Far...' and the bonus track 'Desperation' have a distinctly country twang that, well, I didn't mind it, but then again I'm the only country music critic on YouTube and I can guarantee these will be the ones largely castigated by the fanbase (which is kind of frustrating because they have a lot of flavour and 'Desperation' has a great hook). And then you have 'Love Game' which samples the 1965 classic 'Game of Love' by Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, and sure, I thought it was a nifty choice and it adds a ton of personality, but you can bet most angry white boys or critics aren't going to love that particular choice. But there's a downside of moving more in a heavy direction, and that is a certain amount of subtlety is lost and the songs can lose some of their edge in favour of a broad wallop that doesn't quite match Eminem's wordplay.
And, on that note, the guest stars aren't particularly strong either. I don't understand Eminem's obsession with female singers on his choruses, but as with Recovery, it's rare that they work well together and can make some of the songs feel a little overblown. Skylar Grey is serviceable enough (although someone really needs to lend that girl some personality), and Rihanna is better on 'The Monster' than she's been in months, but Sia doesn't really impress on her bonus track, and Liz Rodrigues proves shocking anonymous on 'Survival'. I think the biggest disappointment comes from Nate Ruess - he's already an awkward fit on an Eminem song, and while his chorus isn't bad, whose bright idea was it to slather his vocals in distracting Autotune? As for rappers on this album, the only one who shows up is Kendrick Lamar on 'Love Game', and while it's not the worst verse he's ever dropped, it's definitely not his best.
So what about Eminem himself? Well, as I've said in the past, the man is a master with flow and wordplay, and the number of punchlines and insane references he crams his songs with are enough to make anyone's head spin - although I will say it got quite annoying when the music dropped out more than one time in a song on a punchline (you lose some of the impact when you do it over and over again). But I do have one big issue with Eminem here and that's the singing - and while he's more on tune than he used to be, it's distracting as all hell and it gets more than a little embarrassing on 'Stronger Than I Was', which seems to be a much less subtle take on Encore's 'Love You More' with an R&B twist and playing it almost entirely straight. Em, you said on 'Hallie's Song' that you can't sing, and you know you can rap your hooks, so why on earth did you include this? It's easily the worst song on this record, and the sad fact is that it had some pretty decent instrumentation.
But let's look at the larger picture - I said back in my Pusha T review that technical rapping proficiency and talent is my baseline for good rap, with the content being what puts it above and beyond in my books. And much to my surprise, Eminem delivers here more than I expected he would. I'm not going to spoil all of the little moments - including the one in the opening track 'Bad Guy' that will hit you like a sack of bricks when you pick up on it (one of the reasons that despite its slow build, it works incredibly well as an album opener in establishing themes and the narrative throughline) - but I will say that targets for Eminem's anger do materialize, mostly courtesy of his absentee father, bullies that made his life hell in school, and yes, women in the perpetually bad relationships that materialize on Eminem albums. And yes, I'd be lying by omission if I didn't say the latter doesn't kind of reek of some misogyny, although it's so broadly over-the-top that it's impossible to take seriously, although Eminem does toe the line between reality and fiction with his intensity and you can bet there'll be a whole slew of guys who'll take it at face value.
Although the funny thing is that this album is probably Eminem's least controversial to date - there aren't that many of the twisted horrorcore fantasies that were so big on The Marshall Mathers LP, and the elements of gay-bashing are significantly cranked back and confined to the Slim Shady persona. Hell, after years of diss tracks, he includes 'Headlights', which is basically a longform reconciliation track directed at his mother, not so much an apology but a change of heart I don't think anyone could have seen coming. And much to pleasant surprise, the social commentary comes back in a big way, but now with an interesting twist. While Slim Shady in the past took aim at the vapidness of pop culture in the late 90s, now he's living in a world shaped by his music and there are significant segments of the tracks taking the subtext of his previous works and turning it into straight-up text: that Slim Shady is not a role model, never was, and that it's perversely sickening that so many people empathize and idolize him. That's always been the strength of Eminem's best work: intelligently framing himself as the villain and asshole, way too open about his most personal emotions (which makes the female-driven choruses make too much sense), and completely devoid of a filter. And really, the tracks that focus in on Eminem's reflexive analysis of his fame are some of the best on the album, with 'Bad Guy', 'Asshole', 'Rap God', 'Brainless', especially 'Evil Twin' and even 'The Monster' are great critiques of the perverse effects of his own success. 'Wicked Ways', even, on the bonus disc, is worthy of some analysis as Eminem drops the fact that he might have Asperger's Syndrome, a disorder on the autism spectrum - and considering his obsessiveness, his introversion and desire to be left alone, his crippling social awkwardness outside of music, and his complete openness regardless of consequence (amongst other reasons...), I'm inclined to buy it. What's more impressive is that he never uses it as an excuse - it's just something he had to deal with, and I can respect that. Now some might argue that 'Evil Twin' is a direct refutation of the separation between Slim Shady and Eminem, particularly given the final lines, but it works because the underlying message is still here: even if there was no separation and the terrible things Slim Shady said were a manifestation of real, genuine thoughts Eminem had, he has always stressed that nobody should have bought into it because of his framing - it was the subtext behind Relapse and now he's finally made it the main text of this entire album.
So does Eminem have a solution to the culture he's been instrumental in crafting? Well, outside of pitch-black nihilism, not really. If he has any goals with this album, however, it's these: he wants to set the record straight regarding Slim Shady and how anyone who bought into the ugly surface messages of his music never got the point; and he wants to leave behind some inspiration for kids growing up just like him. On multiple tracks he articulates the choices he made to harness his talent early on and how it's brought him a success he never could have dreamed, playing with the same self-deprecating comedy that he's always had, particularly on the riotously hilarious 'So Far...'. From a larger thematic viewpoint, this is definitely an album designed to look backwards on the past, from the intimate within Eminem's personal life and psyche to the music that made him a legend to the cultural impact he's had at large, good and bad. Some might argue that this album takes him to task for some of it, especially the opening track 'Bad Guy' (which really is damn great as I've been emphasizing and is one of the best album openers I've heard all year, if only for nailing the dramatic build and payoff), but really it's just making explicit everything Eminem said between the lines on previous albums, and while there is a certain lack of subtlety to that, Eminem hammers the basic message home so effectively that it almost doesn't matter.
So in the end, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is a great album - a flawed album, to be sure, but a great one all the same. If you're a hardcore fan of Eminem, you'll definitely see it as a return to form and there's enough little shifts in direction that make it refreshing. There will be plenty of critics who will deride some of the album's unabashed sincerity and occasional bad jokes as corny and well, they aren't wrong, but it didn't bother me as much. I was more annoyed by the singing, the occasionally lackluster guest star, and the frustrating lack of texture and instrumental prowess on some tracks. But even with that, the flow and wordplay are some of the best you'll find in rap today, and it's such a welcome sight to have Eminem actually have something fresh to say. This album gets an 8/10, and a solid recommendation from me.
Folks, Shady's back. Tell your friends, and get this album.
3 comments:
- AnonymousNovember 5, 2013 at 10:19 PM
Brilliant review. Nothing more to addReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 20, 2015 at 9:52 PM
Excellent review, possibly the best MMLP2 review I heard aside from MAYBE Rap Critic. A few things though:ReplyDelete
1) Your top three, while I can respect, were kinda weird. So Far, Love Game, and A*****e? Well don't get me wrong, I love all of them (I think So Far and A*****e are 5 out of 5 songs( but I think those three are among the worst on the album. My top three are Bad Guy, Rap God, and Wicked Ways.
2) Your reasoning for disliking Stronger Than I Was is probably the least valid of any critic I've seen so far. You don't dislike it because it's corny. You don't dislike it because of the Recovery-like subject matter. You dislike it because Eminem is singing. That could've been justified if you didn't bring up Hailie's Song right before it. I think STIW is a 9 out of 10 song.
3) Can you please stop bringing up Lighters? I mean, you put it on your worst of 2011 list, but you've bashed it in EVERY review having to do with Eminem. It's kinda annoying.
4) Nate Ruess was an excellent choice for Headlights. It was the closest thing Eminem had to having his brother Nate in a song. I thought Headlights was one of the five best songs from the album.
5) I think you focused on production a little TOO much. His rhymes and wordplay were immaculate, as you said.
Other than that, 10/10 review.
- AnonymousMarch 6, 2016 at 10:14 AM
oh my god what the hell is this eminem 10/10 bullshitReplyDelete


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Can brain science + several little motors + a cell phone expand the limits of our biology?
I'm Dr. David Eagleman, a neuroscientist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. My graduate student Scott Novich and I are on a mission to see how far we can push the limits of human perception, and what it means to be human in general. We want to invite you along for the ride!
We're undertaking an audacious task: developing the most advanced sensory substitution system to-date. We're building a wearable vest that communicates sound to the brain using the sense of touch. We expect this will be powerful enough to give deaf individuals a new "sense" of hearing. We call it the Versatile Extra-Sensory Transducer, or VEST.
The idea of sensory substitution is not new: it was pioneered by Paul Bach-y-Rita in 1969 with blind participants. He developed a dental chair with an array of push pins on its back, which was attached to a video-camera feed. Blind participants sat in this chair, and felt what was presented in front of the camera. After practice, the participants began to develop a visual intuition for the sensations they felt. Today, the current incarnation of this device is called the Brainport, and blind individuals have been able to use this in complex visual tasks (like obstacle course navigation).
Our goal is to leverage the promise of sensory substitution in the realm of hearing, using the latest algorithms and hardware. We've developed a working prototype and have great preliminary data:
We hypothesize that our device will work for deaf individuals, and even be good enough to provide a new perception of hearing. This itself has a number of societal benefits: such a device would cost orders of magnitude less than cochlear implants (hundreds-to-thousands as a opposed to tens-of-thousands), be discrete, and give the wearer the freedom to not be attached to it all the time. The cost effectiveness of the device would also make it realistic to distribute it widely in developing countries.
More exciting than this, however, is what this proof of principle might enable: the ability to feed all sorts of new and profound sensory information into our brains. Anything from Twitter, stock markets, the weather, and beyond.
Why we want your help
We need your help in taking this study to completion, and are excited about inviting you to share the ride of science. Funds raised will go towards a wide range of costs associated with this endeavor, including:
- Prototype design and refinement costs (from purchasing components to manufacturing circuit boards)
- Funding graduate student salaries for this research (help smart guys like Scott!)
Our research
Visit the website for this project (eaglemanlab.net/sensory-substitution)! We will continually post details and updates here. We are also happy to answer questions on this Kickstarter page about our proposed research plan:
Step I: Prototype Refinement (The hard work!)
We're developing and experimenting to determine the best method of compressing and translating audio so it can be understood using vibrations on the skin. We have engineered several candidate algorithms to be tested and compared against one another. We are also working to optimize the layout of motors on the vest: what is the best mapping between the sensory auditory information and the spatial location and vibration patterns of the vibratory motors?
Step II: Behavioral Testing (The Exciting Part!)
Once we fine-tune the prototype and training procedure, the next step is to quantify how well the device works with deaf participants over a range of ages and types of hearing loss. These results will be published in scientific journals and will be available to you!
Step III: Brain Imaging Studies (Another Exciting Part!)
We'll study the brain mechanisms behind this kind of learning by imaging the brains of participants as they move through training using functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging. Again, our results will be published in scientific journals and will be available to you
Current prototype Q&A
- How long does someone need to wear the VEST to be able to understand something? Our preliminary data hints that leaning to interpret audio likely takes on the order of 2-3 weeks. We hope to gather better estimates and answers thanks to your contributions for this project!
- What are the limits? For audio, it's a matter of the quality of our algorithms, which are designed around the constraints of our sense of touch. Our best algorithms at the moment are able to capture enough information that speech and basic environmental sounds are intelligible. Musical enjoyment is not happening at the moment, but this always has the potential to change!
What can it do now? The current prototype is fully usable with
real-time processing capabilities and is portable. The
effectiveness of the device and our algorithms with long-term usage will be measured thanks to your contributions!
- What does it feel like? Does it hurt or chafe? The device is comfortable enough to wear for extended periods. We'll be making it even more comfortable as we move forward.
- How heavy is it? The Vest currently weighs about 10 lbs (4-5 kg). This weight can also be cut down significantly in future iterations.
- Does this device work for all deaf individuals? This is what we hope to find out with your support! Whether someone is young or old, deaf since birth or deaf as an adult, science will answer these questions for us!
Giving back
We have an assortment of prizes as a way of showing our gratitude for your support of this project. Our graphic-designer extraordinaire friend Ben Mautner has created a stylish VEST logo (the bars are an artistic rendition of the formants of someone saying "vest"), which we're prepared to print up on t-shirts as one of our rewards:
At higher funding levels, we have rewards ranging from signed copies of my books, some one-on-one Google Hangout time, and even getting your very own vest to experiment with.
Highlights/Notes on some of the reward levels:
1. Explorer level ($10): We'll give you an app (Android only) that lets you listen to the audible results of our algorithms in real-time. And we'll send updates so you can track our progress! While the audio we decode may not reflect the actual perceptions one may develop by wearing the VEST, this is one of the diagnostic tools we use in our lab to determine if our algorithms sound good. It is recommended you have a more recent Android device.
2. Hacker level ($25): We'd love to spur others to innovate in this area. We'll help you get started with some of the core functionality that is needed for implementing a real-time sensory substitution device using an Android and Arduino framework. We'll give you well-commented tutorial projects that (i) demonstrate setting up Bluetooth communication between Arduino and Android, (ii) perform real-time audio processing on Android, and (iii) linking both concepts together! This being said, we're not commercial developers, so we make no claims about the optimality or quality of our code. We just know it works!
3. Sense-sationalist ($3000) and Tactile-technician ($3500) levels: We'll wire up and ship you your very own VEST! And we'll send you app-updates as our research progresses. We'll also send you our sound-training apps so you can be a remote participant if you'd like!
Some important notes: (i) You will need to supply your own up-to-date Android tablet or phone (running Ice Cream Sandwich or newer), (ii) The hardware you will receive is in no way a finished product and (ii) we make no warranties on how long it lasts, how well it will work, or how safe it is.
Clear instructions will be provided on how to operate the device. The device will be tested to ensure it is fully operational before being shipped, and troubleshooting applications will be provided. We will do our best to help with fixes and troubleshooting if the Vest breaks at your end.
Video credits
We couldn't have done this without help from Ryan Booth (@ryanbooth) and Henry Proegler (@henryproegler). Many thanks to the both of them for producing our Kickstarter video!
Risks and challenges
This is primarily a *science* project that involves some cool hardware. Our hypothesis, which has been carefully formulated by previous scientific work and years of research, is that deaf individuals can come to gain a new perception of audition using our device. As with any scientific hypothesis, a negative outcome is always a possibility, yet even a negative outcome still counts as scientific progress. One thing is for certain: we'll definitely discover a lot about the flexibility of the brain along the way. Thank you for helping us on the journey!Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Funding period
- (30 days)


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Total Shoulder Replacement
Shoulder Replacement
The shoulder is a "ball-and-socket" joint made up of the upper arm bone, shoulder blade, and collarbone. This joint is one of the most flexible joints in the body and allows for a full range of motion, but also makes the shoulder a common source of injury and instability.
While many shoulder conditions can be effectively managed through non-surgical techniques, surgery is often needed to adequately address severe arthritis and correct the condition. Surgery can allow patients to restore an active and healthy life. Total shoulder replacement is a procedure to replace the damaged cartilage within the shoulder joint in order to relieve pain in patients with arthritis. The procedure may also be performed in patients who have rotator cuff tear arthropathy or avascular necrosis, although Dr. Davis will opt for a different approach if the glenoid bone has sustained too much damage. In some cases, Dr. Davis may only replace the ball and leave the glenoid socket untouched, especially if it is still in good condition. The implant itself may be a simple press-fit bone cap if the humeral integrity is good, but may need to use bone cement to ensure attachment if it is not in good shape.
For questions about shoulder replacement surgery, partial shoulder replacement surgery or to schedule a consult with Dr. Davis, call us at (928) 772-5320 or book an appointment online through the link provided above.
Example Photos
ADDRESS: 3237 North Windsong Drive, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Our office is closed during most major holidays.
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 5pm
Friday: 7am – 3pm
Weekends: Closed
DISCLAIMER | Copyright © 2019 Davis Orthopaedics | Website, Mobile, & Online Marketing Services Provided by Connect All Tech LLC


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Data MATRIX in 2016: new CTMS modules, investments and team growth
In 2016 we have completed several goals, and the most important one was the quick development of CTMS modules. In June, we presented our CRF Designer module and safety monitoring solution (Pharmacovigilance) in Moscow. In December, Data MATRIX finished its work on the prototypes of the new CTMS modules, which will be presented to our users in spring 2017. Some of the most important updates include modules supporting investigational sites, feasibility, project information, project team, etc.
In order to accelerate our efforts aimed at finalizing the CTMS, which will allow to keep track of the financial part of a clinical trial, ensure quality, manage the project and many more, we have considerably increased the size of our team—by 50%. Most of our new team members are software developers.
Investments in Data MATRIX by the Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) and Primer Capital venture fund mark yet another significant milestone for our company. This will help us to speed up with the development of our product and enter the foreign market with a strong need for convenient and efficient software solutions for clinical trials.
In 2016 we have participated in 22 industrial events. Our team members participated at 6 conferences as speakers. At the Annual Conference of ISCB in Birmingham, UK, Data MATRIX biostatisticians presented the macro which allows users to generate statistical analysis reports 5-15 times faster than usual. We also regularly take part in workshops and roundtable discussions organized by Skolkovo Foundation.
Apart from the software development, today Data MATRIX still provides full range of clinical data management services, including biostatistics and medical writing. Our portfolio accounts for more than 50 projects in progress, and each of them is an opportunity to find the best approach to the customer's needs and expectations. In 2017 we will continue to focus on these services and improve quality of our services and products.


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Maison de Joelle KSA
Using Data to create delight
In 2017, Maison de Joelle, a leading name in Beauty Salons in the GCC region, is expected to expand into 3 branches in KSA between Riyadh and Jeddah.
Owing to the nature of the new locations, it was important for Blue Hat to turn its attention this year to the brand promise and explore different solutions that could help MDJ achieve brand consistency across all 3 branches, without compromising on aspects of customization by carefully re-assessing current services offerings and updating them in such a way to fit the new target audiences needs and lifestyles.
Blue Hat created a service-design strategy to tackle the following questions:
How to acquire new clients for every branch?
How to design new service experiences to retain MDJ's customers?
How to optimize MDJ's brand communication with its audience?
Enhance current customer experience
Revamp the current loyalty program
Use salon data to create delight
Create specific packages for every branch in order to attract and retain new customers, as well as, increase staff productivity during slow working hours
Set the general direction for brand communication and online reputation to increase awareness about the new branches
Project Type
Communication Design, Innovation Consulting,
Service Design Strategy
Saudi Arabia
Hair & Beauty Salons


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Butterfly Wonderland
Butterfly Wonderland is the largest indoor butterfly conservatory in America. It is an engaging, interactive experience about the wonders of one of Mother Nature's most beloved creatures. Located conveniently off the 101 Freeway and Via de Ventura, as part of the OdySea in the Desert Entertainment Destination, Butterfly Wonderland is a living, sensory experience.
Visitors are welcomed into a magnificent indoor conservatory that brings a tropical rainforest environment to the Arizona desert where thousands of butterflies fly freely amongst lush, tropical plants and flowers. Some of the fascinating species include the beautiful Blue Morpho in brilliant color; the Scarlet Mormon in bold red; and the Julia, with bright orange wings.
This serene environment is also home to tropical finches that hail from exotic regions of the world, as well as more familiar feathered friends like Button Quail, that are native to the desert. The Conservatory also features a central koi pond, flowing waterfall, and seating areas where, if guests sit patiently, a butterfly may stop on their shoulder to rest their wings. Butterfly Wonderland provides an opportunity to reconnect with the natural world and learn about its splendors in a tangible and engaging way.
Interactive Exhibits at Butterfly Wonderland
There are also interactive exhibits including a Butterfly Emergence Gallery showcasing live chrysalis as they emerge naturally into beautiful butterflies; a 3D movie theater featuring the film, "Flight of the Butterflies" about the Monarch migration; a Spineless Giants exhibit highlighting spiders and scorpions as well as the largest species of moths and butterflies.
The onsite Café provides a selection of sweet or savory snacks and beverages while the Gift Shop offers a wide selection of special gifts, books, souvenirs, apparel, jewelry stuffed animals, toys and one-of-a-kind finds for nature lovers.
Butterfly Wonderland has also introduced a new Rainforest Reptile exhibit, the largest expansion since its opening in 2013. The "welcome wall" introduces guests to interesting facts about the rainforest's eco-system including how reptiles interact in the rainforest with the butterflies. Video monitors boast beautiful imagery & educational information about each species. Guests then follow a path to 12 large exhibits, each custom-designed to depict the natural environment of the reptiles and amphibians that hail from the world's most exotic locales displaying Poison Dart Frogs, the Mata Mata Turtle; the Green Tree Lizard; Peacock Tree Frogs; the Asian Water Dragon; the White-eyed Crocodile; Giant Leaf Tail Gecko; and many more. A variety of interactive activities allow guests to become educated in an up-close-and-personal way. There also Animal Talk presentations where guests can marvel as dart frogs zap ants with their tongues and other animal feedings.
Visitor Information
Butterfly Wonderland is open daily from 9:00am-6:00pm. Cameras and photographers are welcome. Butterfly Wonderland is located at 9500 East Via de Ventura in Scottsdale, Arizona 85256 within the OdySea in the Desert Entertainment Destination at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
For more information, call 480-800-3000 or visit the website at www.butterflywonderland.com.
Join the conversation and "like" us on the following social media sites:
[email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ButterflyWonderland
[email protected] ButterflyLandAZ
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ButterflyWndr
[email protected] ButterflyWonderlandAZ


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Time: July 6, 2018 at 3pm to September 7, 2018 at 7pm
Location: South Street Seaport Museum
Street: 12 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038
City/Town: New York
Website or Map: https://southstreetseaportmus…
Phone: firstname.lastname@example.com
Event Discipline: museums
Organized By: Michelle Tabnick PR
Latest Activity: Jun 5, 2018
South Street Seaport Museum
presents Free Fridays
July 6, 2018 - September 7, 2018 from 3pm - 7pm
Every Friday
The South Street Seaport Museum announces Free Fridays, with free admission to theMuseum every Friday from July 6, 2018 - September 22, 2018 from 3pm-7pm at 12 Fulton Street, NYC.
Join the South Street Seaport Museum for a summer of Free Fridays presented by The Howard Hughes Corporation! Every Friday beginning July 6, between 3-7pm the Seaport Museum will offer free admission to its exhibitions and historic ships!
The 2018 Free Fridays program is presented by The Howard Hughes Corporation.
Please e-mail email@example.com for more information.
By subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, Z to Fulton Street station
Bus: M15, M15-SBS to Fulton Street. Downtown Connection to Pearl Street and Fulton Street.
*As the museum is located in an historic district please contact the museum regarding accessibility needs prior to visiting.
© 2019 Created by a4 - Network Admin. Powered by


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Cheap Seats
'View from the Cheap Seats' Cardinals blog returns
Have you missed me? I'm back!
I started this blog nearly a decade ago, on Super Bowl weekend 2007 to be exact.
Along the way, I've worked through the many highs and occasional lows of being a St. Louis Cardinals fan alongside fellow Redbirds rooters across the country.
It was with a lot of pride that I didn't miss a single day of blogging for the first nine years. I wrote on Christmas mornings, the day my son was born and, of course, many, many days on which the beloved home team won. Or lost.
But it was time for a break. After more than two decades as a journalist — including the last 18 years working for my hometown newspaper, the Belleville News-Democrat, I embarked on a new career in public relations and web design work at Lindenwood University.
I don't think I've watched as little baseball any summer in the past 30 years as I did last year because of other preoccupations. But now I'm refreshed and reinspired to kick things into gear once again. A new year and a new season is time for a new beginning.
It's been tough keeping my Cardinals thoughts to myself over a turbulent end to the 2016 and a similarly angst-filled offseason.
Since we last talked, the Cardinals, unfortunately, felt they needed to say goodbye to one of the hardest-working, most accomplished players to ever have worn the Birds on the Bat: Matt Holliday.
It made sense from a dollars and cents perspective. Holliday was set to make $17 million as his skills inevitably lost the battle against time. But the Birds, long built on a philosophy of keeping three-pillar players in the middle of the roster, surrounded by a steady stream of solid, home-grown talent, have so far failed to find a legitimate middle of the order bat to replace their departed star.
The team did add Dexter Fowler, who is certainly a nice boost for the lineup. But I don't think anyone expects him to be the guy who carries the team.
Fowler allows Matt Carpenter to slide down the order to attempt to fill in Holliday's spot. And he also allows Randal Grichuk, who struggled at times in 2016, to move over to left field where he can concentrate on his hitting by playing a less-demanding defensive position.
The affable Fowler ought to make the St. Louis offense much more multidimensional. He's a more traditional leadoff man than Carpenter with the ability to steal bases in bunches. And he ought to lighten things up in the clubhouse.
I just wish the Cardinals would have added a prototypical slugger, too.
With Holliday, Jaime Garcia and Jordan Walden shed from the payroll, and the possibility that Lance Lynn, Jonathan Broxton and even — gasp — Yadier Molina could be gone after next season means the local club has a ton of financial flexibility.
So, that's where we pick things back up.
It's going to be a season of change for the Cardinals. People in these parts don't like to use buzzwords like "rebuilding." But, while this might not be a Chicago White Sox-style fire sale, it's pretty obvious that the front office has stepped back to take a wide-angle view of how this team will be configured as it heads into the third decade of the 21st century.
While I believe the Birds could have — should have — done more, that doesn't mean they can't compete. I am excited to see what Grichuk can do, if only the manager would leave him alone and let him play. I'm also curious to see whether Kolten Wong can keep his swing and his fragile ego sorted out well enough to become the player his physical talents would support.
I want to know whether ace Adam Wainwright and one-time future ace Michael Wacha can put injuries behind them. It's the difference between the Cardinals having one of the best three rotations in baseball and a total train wreck.
There's nothing more fun in sports than to shock the world to prove you're better than what the "experts" think of you.
So, anyway … I'm planning to write at least three times a week as we move forward, most likely on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. But I'm sure there will be a lot more when the season or the action on and off the field warrant. So, please, bookmark this page and come back often.
I've really appreciated the way fellow Cardinals fans have supported this blog over the years, and I'm glad to be back. I hope you'll rejoin me.
I have honestly missed it.
But at least it's a good thing that absolutely nothing of significance happened in the world of Major League Baseball since we last talked!
I'll see you in the cheap seats!


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An Open Apology to Yoga
By Kristy Ojala
Editor, Tips on Healthy Living
Are you there, Yoga? It's me, Slacky. I keep saying I'll stop by sometime. I make plans, then I flake on them. I bring my clothes to sleep over and then I leave them hanging in my office. My mat is as clean as the day it was born. All three of them. I guess my point is, I really miss you. I realize how I took you for granted, and I really am at your feet, on that pristine mat, begging for you to take me back. I'll be good, I promise. OK?
If yoga were a friend, I would be in deep, deep you know what. But instead, I'm here with all of my misplaced guilt and a plan. When the summer solstice hit, I set the alarm for the ungodly hour of 5:45AM, threw on my most humidity-friendly outfit, and set out for the most unlikely place to do yoga: Times Square in New York City.
After three weeks of working late, feeling low on energy and stressed out by the idea of rushing uptown on two trains to get to my studio, and generally overscheduling myself like a fool, I realized that I now needed yoga more than ever. My back was killing me. My hamstrings were moaning. My hips barked like two dogs at 3 a.m., just begging for a shoe to be tossed out a tenement window. I've been missing my favorite Iyengar teacher. I miss my restorative Friday night class, a.k.a. "adult nap time." I miss slow flow and the gentle jokes and dry wit of my studio manager.
When I stopped by an Athleta store and saw a card advertising free Mind over Madness Yoga on the summer solstice, with thousands of urban yoga practitioners in the most disgusting, noisy, dirty, packed, stress-inducing place on earth… I could hardly say no. It was also due to come on one of the hottest, stickiest days this year. In a sick way, I love to be tested.
So I took my claustrophobic, rusting hulk to Times Square. I took my place on a mat next to a lovely editor from Fitness magazine, and found myself looking squarely in the eyes of our teacher that morning, her beautiful face framed on the Jumbotron. Drisana Carey is a model you have seen many, many times in an Athleta catalog. I always snort at her ripped, ridiculously pretzeled body and suspect Photoshop. My friends, she was about to prove me wrong. And her dad and mom, too… dad did Crow pose quite nicely, I might add.
I took in Drisana's dazzling smile, the thousands of different shapes and sizes of people around me, and the tourists snapping photos of us all sweating in Downward Facing Dog as Mack trucks rumbled by. I saw Snooki being interviewed next door on Good Morning America. And I watched a plane flying overhead as I laid out in Shavasana (corpse pose, everyone's favorite), happy and unafraid of my day.
It was then that I realized that I have not always been there for yoga, but yoga has always been there for me. I'm coming back home, and this time, I promise baby, I'll be on my best behavior.
Photos by Greg Kessler
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Today's post is from my new book Love Like Jesus: How Jesus Loved People (and how you can love like Jesus). Last Saturday we posted Chapter 11: Guard Your Heart Like Jesus. Love Like Jesus is due to be published later this year.
Love Like Jesus: Go Deep Like Jesus Continue reading


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Hey… you free tonight?
Perhaps we should be more specific. Are you still playing Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer? Got an Xbox 360? And $15 to burn on DLC? Most importantly, does slaughtering and humiliating your favorite GamesRadar editors sound like a perfect evening of entertainment? Then have we got an offer for you…
From 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EST today, we'll be testing out the five new maps just made available through the release of Modern Warfare 2's Stimulus Package DLC. If you'd like to join us, look for the following 360 Gamertags:
We'll be clearing our friends lists to make room for newcomers, so send us a request if you're hoping to play today. Any other questions, ask in the comments below.
Mar 30, 2010


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10th Anniversary Family Sculpture, Aluminum Anniversary Gift, Gift for Her, Gift for Him, 10 Year Anniversary Gift, Aluminum Family Portrait
10th Anniversary Family Sculpture, Aluminum Anniversary Gift, Gift for Her, Gift for Him, 10 Year Anniversary Gift, Aluminum Family Portrait
Your 10th Anniversary Family Portrait Sculpture be cold-casted in Aluminum and will have an Aluminum finish.This is a custom listing for a one-of-a-kind family portrait sculpture based off of your family. Please provide a description or a photo of your family for me to use as inspiration for the sculpture I am creating for you. Because this 10 year anniversary gift is custom made and personalized, I need several weeks or longer to create it.
The sculpture is created using a cold -cast aluminum technique. "Cold-Casting" is a term used to describe the process of mixing metal powder with a resin to create castings that give the appearance of solid metal. The metal cold-cast process (also known as "bonded aluminum") is faster and much less expensive compared with foundry casting of molten metal (lost wax process.) Actual aluminum metal is used in the casting and the sculpture is finished with a aluminum metal coating.
Please feel free to ask any questions you have before ordering.
Shipping from United States
Processing time
6-8 weeks
Customs and import taxes
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Payment Options
Returns & Exchanges
I gladly accept returns, exchanges, and cancellations
Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery
Request a cancellation within: 2 days of purchase
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
- Items on sale
Conditions of return
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
Questions about your order?
Please contact me if you have any problems with your order.


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Many local rivers are good choices for steelhead
Fishing continues to be good this week in southwest Washington rivers.
Nice catches of steelhead are being had in the Wynoochee, Chehalis, Humptulips, Cowlitz and Kalama rivers. Steelhead fishing also was good in the Elochoman.
On the down side, fishing in the Lewis has slowed, and heavy downpours Monday evening blew out all of the rivers on the Olympic Peninsula.
Sturgeon effort and catches have been light on the lower Columbia, and recreational smelt fishing continues to be pathetic in the Cowlitz River and not any better in the Columbia.
In the Dalles Pool, boat anglers averaged a walleye kept per rod last week. No effort was observed in Bonneville Pool, and no effort for bass was found in either pool.
Lowland lakes fishing continues to be sluggish. In most waters, trout catches have been poor.
COWLITZ: Good fishing for steelhead at Blue Creek. Anglers are using bobbers/jigs, corkies/yarn and bobber/baits. Colors of choice have been reds, purples, blacks and glows.
Wednesday is the last day to fish in Blue Creek. In addition, beginning Feb. 1, the hatchery steelhead daily limit returns to two fish on the Cowlitz from Mayfield Dam downstream.
Angler activity has been light at barrier dam, but some steelhead are being caught. Bank anglers have been using original Nightmare jigs and also pink and shrimp colored jigs.
The best bite has been during midday hours. There was quite a bit of angler effort observed Saturday on the lower Cowlitz from Rocky Point in Kelso downstream.
Catches of steelhead were good. Last week, 145 adult coho, three coho jacks and 217 winter-run steelhead were recovered during two days of Cowlitz River Salmon Hatchery separator operation.
KALAMA: Fishing has been pretty good, said Wayne Orzel of Mahaffey's Outfitting Store. This past week, boat anglers averaged about one to two fish/hookups per boat. Bank angling also has been good, with the upper canyon producing most of the action.
Bank anglers have been using pink jigs, while boat anglers have been pulling shrimp on divers. The best bite has been midday.
Last week, more than 100 hatchery winter steelhead were recycled to the lower river.
Kress Lake continues to be a local favorite, with multiple hookups being had by boat anglers on Cowlitz River steelhead that have been released into the lake.
TOUTLE: The river is running a little on the high side and has some color. Fishing is reported to be slow.
WYNOOCHEE: Fishing has been very good from the mouth to the white bridge boat launch, said Walt Harvey of Verles Sports. Anglers have been catching steelhead weighing up to 16 pounds using a variety of gear.
HUMPTULIPS: Anglers are doing well. The same gear is being used as in the Wynoochee.
CHEHALIS: The river has been very good from the Porter Bridge upriver. Spin-n-Glo and a variety of colored plugs are being used.
OLYMPIC PENINSULA: Rains on Monday evening have blown out all area rivers, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. The Hoh went up more than 5,000 cubic feet per second overnight. The Bogachiel went the same way, and so did the rest of the rivers, Gooding said. With these conditions, there has not been any angler activity. Hopefully by Friday river conditions will have improved, Gooding said. Anglers can get fishing updates by calling Olympic Sporting Goods at 360-374-6330.
LEWIS: Fishing has hit bottom throughout the river, said Elaine Byrnes of Anglers Workshop. A few anglers are still fishing near the hatchery, but catching has been very slow. The winter steelhead run is just about over. The river is high and very dirty.
RINGOLD: As of Jan. 21, anglers had harvested 81 steelhead. Paul Hoffarth, a Department of Fish and Wildlife fish biologist, said that so far in January, 46 anglers had been sampled with 11 steelhead.
The average for the month is 12.1 hours per steelhead. Twenty-
two percent of the harvest in January was steelhead trapped at Ringold, transported and released in the Tri-Cities.
ELOCHOMAN: Steelhead fishing was good last weekend. Some limits were being had. Most anglers were using bobbers and jigs.
SKOOKUMCHUCK: Pretty quite. The river is at normal levels and in good condition, but there have only been a few steelhead observed in the upper end. Tribal fishers are netting at the lower end.
NEWAUKUM: Anglers report there are fresh steelhead in the river, but they are scattered. Fishing has been fair.
WILLAPA and GRAYS: Fishing has been fair in both rivers.
Commercial landings from the mainstem Columbia have slowed, said Joe Hymer, a fish biologist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office.
The Cowlitz River at Castle Rock has been running in the high 11,000-cubic-feet per second, which is normal for this time of the year. The temperature of the Columbia downstream of the Cowlitz was 39 degrees last weekend, and in the lower Cowlitz River, it was 40 degrees.
Water temperatures have now dropped below ideal levels for smelt movement (42 degrees). On the Cowlitz, there might have been a few fish around the first two Saturdays in January.
A small group of harbor seals were observed feeding on smelt near Gearhart on Friday. Light sport effort was observed Saturday, and no catch was observed; however seals and cormorants were observed in the middle of the river upstream to Kelso.
LAKE SCANEWA boat anglers are still catching some coho, which are showing color. In the murky water, pink and red plugs are working well. As the lake clears baits, blue, green or purple-
colored plugs would be good choices. Last week, 115 coho adults, three coho jacks and 11 winter-run steelhead were released into the lake. The lake remains open until the last day of February.
MAYFIELD LAKE is still murky but starting to show signs of clearing, said Frank Abbruzzese of Fish Country located near Ethel. Trout are starting to bite near the hatchery, but it's still a little on the slow side. Boat anglers trolling the Tilton Arm are having some success, but caution should taken because of debris in the lake. At RIFFE LAKE, there have been a few anglers fishing near the Mossyrock Dam, but results have been poor.
SOUTH LEWIS COUNTY PARK POND near Toledo received a plant of 201 steelhead last week. The steelhead are showing some interest in baits under a bobber. Some boat anglers have caught a few steelhead on Wiggle Warts, said Charles McElroy of Sunbirds in Chehalis.
SPANAWAY LAKE fishing has been very slow for both boat and bank anglers.
OFFUT LAKE angler activity has been light, but those anglers who have been fishing are catching some trout in the 14-inch range, said Becky Pogue of Offut Lake Resort. Power Bait and worms have been the bait of choice, with midday best bite period.
This is the time of the year everyone is thinking about steelhead. Tom Bolender of Fishy Business in west Olympia said he and a couple of friends recently went trout fishing on the Deschutes River. Although Bolender did not pick up a fish, both of his friends did. One caught a 13-inch cutthroat, while the rest of the fish were a bit smaller. The flies of choice were a Beadhead Lightning Bug and a Conehead Woolly Bugger.
As far as steelheading goes, many rivers are fishing well, Bolender said. A few mixed reports have come in from the Wynoochee, with most being good. The river is low enough and has enough clarity that almost every style of fishing has been relatively successful.
The Kalama has been very good. Reports from several anglers said the fish were in the 14-pound-plus range, which are being caught on Fetters jigs. The Skookumchuck just keeps getting better and probably will for the next month or two. Like last year, these steelhead are larger than would be normally expected. Several fish in the 12-pound range have already been caught. Those fish were bright and mostly in great shape.
Fishing for cutthroat is still slow, but resident coho fishing remains great, Bolender said. The fish to the north in the Narrows area have been getting hitting pretty hard and are now feeding selectively on amphipods. Small, little shrimp flies tied mainly in white or pink are working. The fish being caught are averaging 14 to 16 inches with a few 18-inchers also landed.
The coho that are harder to find closer to Olympia do not seem to be quite as picky. One fisher reported that after a trip Saturday the fish surrounded his boat, and it was almost a fish for every cast. A small baitfish pattern was his choice. He felt that as active as the fish were, it did not really matter what was thrown at them.


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Columbia IL Real Estate & Information
Columbia IL Real Estate & Information
With the motto, "Good for business, good for life," it's no wonder that Columbia, Illinois is one of the fastest growing suburbs in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Originally founded by Frenchman in the mid-17th century, Columbia was first incorporated as a town in 1859, the majority of its residents being German immigrants. Columbia's German heritage is still cherished today and it even has a German sister-city, Gedern. With a population of approximately 9,818, Columbia has been able to maintain its small-town charm, even as it experiences tremendous economic growth. With responsible, community-minded planning and development and a quality of life that most bedroom towns can't boast, Columbia is the perfect place to call home.
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Shopping and Dining
Columbia's close proximity to the metropolitan mecca of St. Louis is a definite plus. But take a walk down the quaint streets of Columbia and you'll discover that it has a vibrant shopping and dining culture of its own. There are several unique shops and department stores for those everyday essentials and one-of-a-kind gifts. When furnishing your new home, you may want to peruse the eclectic home comforts and antiques of Elements off Main. Whether it's enjoying the company of friends at Reifschneider's Grill & Grape or enjoying a good book over coffee at Mokka Kaffeehaus, there is something for everyone and every occasion in Columbia.
Parks and Recreation
There are three golf courses in town and seven more within twenty minutes of the city, making Columbia a haven for golf lovers. Visit the Columbia Golf Club website for virtual tours of Columbia's courses. Families will be pleased to know that, for the second year in a row, the playground advocacy group, Kaboom, has named Columbia a "Playful City USA." There's always something fun for the whole family happening at Metter Memorial Park, in the heart of downtown Columbia. During the summer, bring a lawn chair to the Sunday concert series, "Music at Metter." And in early fall, "Movies at Metter," is a blast from the past, reinventing the drive-in movie experience. You can visit a number of historic sites and structures throughout Columbia, or drive just a few miles out of town and explore Illinois' oldest communities, Prairie Du-Rocher and the Fort de Chartres historic site.
Easy access to St. Louis via I-255 has made Columbia's real estate particularly in demand, as Columbia enjoys the benefits of a growing, vibrant economy without sacrificing the comforts and perks of small-town life. With a very active chamber of commerce and business support groups like Columbia's Resourceful Organization of Women Networking, or C.R.O.W.N., Columbia demonstrates its commitment to a vibrant economy with community at its heart.
Schools, Health, Transportation
Columbia is part of the pubic Community Unit School District #4, which includes two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Report Cards and School Profiles are available at the district's website. Columbia is also home to the highly respected Immaculate Conception School. The Monroe County Medical Building locally serves the majority of Columbia resident's medical needs and St. Elizabeth's Hospital is located in nearby Belleville. Columbia is served by Metro, which provides public transportation in and around the St. Louis metropolitan area. Sackman Field is Columbia's local, municipal airport and the St. Louis International Airport is only 45 minutes away.


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One of the most challenging factors surrounding customer experience in the pharmaceutical industry is the different types of customers, with diverse needs and expectations. Customer profiles can be further divided into whether the customer is a payor, patient, or prescribing physician. The value proposition, messages, and engagement strategies often vary within individual segments across different markets and geographies.
Mike Bellis, former Customer Experience Lead at Pfizer Europe says "For me, customer experience is an answer to some of the fundamental challenges that face pharma; declining customer engagement, a greater emphasis on profit margin and capabilities that haven't changed in 10, 15, or 20 years and which are bordering on irrelevance." There are various factors that influence an individual's purchasing decision, but brand loyalty is becoming increasingly important.
Ernest & Young has defined customer experience as the interaction between a customer and a company over the time of their particular relationship. As society and technology evolves, the way customers behave and purchase changes with it, making the delivery of customer experience more complex. "The world is changing and we have to change with it," says Bellis.
At least two large pharmaceutical companies have successfully mastered the art of managing customer experience:
Teva has successfully launched a new oral contraceptive in Germany last month without a sales team. The Company focuses on not just selling but on service. "When we bring our medicines to market, we do not lead with product messages, rather we use a service model" says Tim White, Head of Customer Experience. In addition to the product's unique value proposition, White and his team created a customer engagement strategy with lots of good media and editorial content which were distributed on various channels to create a good customer experience, funnelling through inbound marketing into more product-focused discussions with customers. "We were able to gain a lot of brand awareness this way, and now we are combining push and pull using customer experience principles."
The second example has a longer track record – AstraZeneca started a programme changing the way it interacts with its customers seven years ago. "Our focus was to move from products to services to really drive the experience and create customer loyalty, regardless of whether the brand was growth, mature or launch. Our new approach put service at the centre, with selling arranged around that central core, driving customer and patient loyalty." AstraZeneca was facing the same challenges as other pharmaceuticals where access to customers has greatly reduced. As a consequence, AstraZeneca launched a service rep and a call centre. They have shifted their focus to service and customer experience with selling around that central core driving customer and patient loyalty.
Customer experience is worth investing in. Companies that deliver outstanding customer experience will reap the long term benefits. Building trusted and transparent relationships with customers not only creates a loyal customer base, but these customers can also become brand advocates, bringing in further customers. Customer loyalty is highly profitable, as less resources need to be spent on selling and marketing, reducing costs and ultimately improving profit margins.
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In my head, pastry topped pies are the devils food when it comes to loosing weight! Well, amongst other varied devine foods! So in my quest to be able to turn all of my favourite foods into healthy versions of them selves, I had to take this one on! Besides, my other half would eat pie for every meal if he could! A fellow foodie friend came to visit last week so it was the perfect opportunity to take on this one! Try it out, its tasty!
Chicken, Leek and Ham pie
Serves 4, 11pp per serving
- 2 leeks, finely sliced
- 100g ham chunks
- 125g mushrooms, sliced
- 500g cooked chicken breast
- 60ml white wine
- 1 Tbsp plain flour
- 50g Creme Fraiche
- 250ml chicken stock
- Salt and pepper
- 1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry
- Fry the leeks and mushrooms in a little oil until softened.
- Stir in creme fraiche, flour and the white wine until combined.
- Transfer to a large bowl, add the chicken, ham and stock and stir together.
- Season well and taste.
- Spoon into oven dish, cover with the pastry and trim abound the edges.
- Brush the pastry with a little egg.
- Bake in the oven for approx 45 mins at 200 degrees until pastry is golden brown on top.
- I love eating this with lots of yummy cabbage but if your starving you could eat it with mash too!