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Raw Materials Round Table
For that reason, we decided to compile our first ever Raw Materials Round Table. The opinions and ideas presented here are just that—they're not based on statistics or detailed analyses of the various raw materials markets. What they are based on is solid experience—experience in the fields that each of these suppliers knows best. Through their opinions and ideas, we can gain a greater glimpse into the world of raw materials and the impact these raw materials have on ceramic manufacturers today and into the future.
What are some of the most recent innovations in raw materials (products, processing techniques, etc.), and how do they affect ceramic manufacturers?A. Kenneth Bougher, Director of International Sales, Clayworld: As a general rule, the raw materials industry is not a dynamically changing industry. The response to change frequently comes through process requirements that require a reevaluation of materials currently available and used by industry. The ball clay producing industry continues to focus on refined product (i.e., slurry) and fine tuning the product to the application. Some companies have also begun expanding into non-clay products; for instance, Clayworld now offers an iron-bearing nepheline syenite that has an established record of performance in the gres tile industry. This product can also be used in the sanitaryware industry as an auxiliary flux in combination with feldspar. The cost savings is substantial, permitting a reduced raw material cost outlay. Progress is slow, as the industry must evaluate aesthetic issues, but once the benefits are accepted, then size reduction concerns will need to be addressed. The gres tile industry has already expanded consumption as many of those plants have grinding equipment in place. Very substantial quantities of the product exist with high uniformity, so this product will continue to be a focal point. Cost versus effect benefits will be the continuing criteria that manufacturers will need to consider when it comes to innovative products and processes.
John Pennington, General Manager ECC International, Imerys, Global Sanitaryware Division: In sanitaryware, the most recent innovations have been developments attached to pressure casting and other improved casting methods, as well as the move toward faster firing. As manufacturing trends have moved into these areas, we've been able to provide raw materials that improve the performance of sanitaryware manufacturing.
Bill Weidman, Sr. Vice President, Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Co. (an operating unit of Imerys): Over the last few years we've been focusing on better selection and tighter control of process variables. Additionally, specifications have gotten more precise—we're measuring more things than we ever have. These changes are leading to less variation in the raw materials that we ship to our customers, which also leads to fewer problems in manufacturing.
John Torbic, Vice President Inorganic Salts, OMG Worldwide: In the advanced ceramics markets, recent innovations are mainly in the electronics area where materials such as varistors and thermistors are providing improved performance for today's applications.
Randy Johnson, Vice President – Minerals Sales, R. T. Vanderbilt Inc.: The biggest issue in this industry is controlling costs, so we're always trying to cut prices and save our customers money so that they're better able to compete against imports. We've made processing changes in our operation to help ensure that we deliver a first-quality product while keeping our raw material costs down, so that there aren't a lot of price increases hitting our customers. For example, we've recently invested in some new and larger crushing equipment, which makes hard rock processing more efficient.
Other changes in raw materials include a move toward super sacks, which have allowed manufacturers to get rid of paper bags and avoid filling landfills with disposable paper bags. Additionally, more and more people are looking at going to bulk, and the trucking industry has accommodated those needs by providing more bulk trucks. The railroad also has gone through much consolidation and is working on their delivery and service, too.
Martin Stentiford, Technical Services Manager, The WBB Group: Suppliers have developed niche products for process-specific applications that might require smaller volumes or higher values, and we've also begun customizing products for individual customers. Many suppliers have moved toward offering "one-stop, whole clay solutions," such as ball/china clay blends. We're also looking toward developing more economic extraction techniques to control our costs.
Bill Rogers, Vice President-Sales/Marketing, Zemex Corp.: The technologies associated with beneficiation of feldspars and silicas, and even the way that we process kaolin clay and talc and other materials, haven't really changed. There have, however, been some new manufacturing trends. A number of companies, mostly in the tile industry, have begun to decide that they want to buy materials in the crudest form they can and process it themselves in the course of doing their body preparation work; in other words, they're buying granular feldspar instead of ground and shredded clay instead of air-floated. They feel that they can save enough money on the lower processing stage of the materials that they buy and justify spending a lot more money on capital. I think that's backwards. Why not save the half a million to a million dollars in capital and buy already processed goods?
How have the standards for quality and consistency of raw materials changed over the past several decades, and what has driven this change?Bougher (Clayworld): The ball clay industry's raw material base is finite deposits of diverse varieties. Early mining procedures focused little on the tested quality of the deposits and, as a result, the clays were high graded with little concern as to the full use of the available stratas. When demand escalated on key grades, it forced the clay producers to extend the life of the deposit, as well as control costs through full employment of the available selections. This latter step has had a major impact on the consistency of clay products for an established period of time. More recently, the adoption of SPC [statistical process control] methods by the ceramic manufacturers has required a focus on clay consistency. Concentrating on the full use of clay reserves and meeting the demands of manufacturing process control have been two important events driving the standards of quality and consistency.
Pennington (ECC): In part, the demands from the manufacturers have driven these changes (new manufacturing processes, etc.). But at the same time, accreditation to standards like ISO 9002 have meant that quality systems have had to be put in place so that the end user can see that their raw material producers don't just have a "quality image"—they can actually see what is being done. There is obviously an ongoing demand on the part of the raw materials suppliers to produce more consistent raw materials, notwithstanding the fact that we are dealing with a naturally occurring raw material.
Weidman (K-T Clay): The standards have become more stringent—higher levels of testing are required. A lot of it is driven by the different processes that we see coming through, such as pressure casting and faster firing cycles. We're also measuring characteristics such as carbon and sulphur content, as well as particle packing indices and other parameters that will improve raw material performance.
Torbic (OMG): Today's applications require a more customized/fine product. As a result, there has been a reduction of trace elements for improved purity and a more finely controlled particle distribution.
Johnson (R. T. Vanderbilt): With computers and e-mail in this information age, everyone wants more information. As a result, we're generating more information. We're doing more testing, providing more quality control and tracing products made lot to lot to make sure we provide the consistency that everyone is looking for.
Dr. Graham Lawson, Chief Executive Officer, The WBB Group: Quality standards have increased for numerous reasons. There has been a geographical shift of some ceramic production sectors (sanitaryware and tableware, for example) from the mature markets of Western Europe and the U.S. toward Eastern Europe, Asia and South America. There has also been a replacement of some production in mature markets by outsourcing to lower-cost regions. Industry consolidation, particularly (but not only) in the sanitaryware industry, and increased price pressures on ceramic manufacturers have also become major issues. Other trends include an increased technical competency on the part of ceramic manufacturers based on process engineering (automation, process control, etc.) with a concurrent loss in competency in in-house ceramic technology; an increased focus on customers in core businesses (product design and manufacture, and marketing); a lower value placed on the technical qualities of raw materials; and increasing environmental pressure on ceramic manufacturers (reduced emissions, waste, energy consumption, toxic oxides in glazes, etc.). Additionally there have been early signs of a trend away from buying and processing raw materials towards the purchase of more complex blends of processed minerals and complete bodies.
While such trends present opportunities for suppliers to take proactive steps to make positive changes, they also present threats to raw material suppliers who are not prepared to change. Demands are increasing for more closely specified materials delivered with increasing levels of consistency within the specified parameters. Additionally, the loss of ceramic expertise and craft has reduced the in-house ability of many ceramic manufacturers to modify processes (and the specificity of the process itself) to accommodate the "natural variation" inherent in raw materials.
Rogers (Zemex): The technology in testing and quality control is getting to be a lot better. Twenty years ago we didn't have surface area analyzers and sedigraphs and the other equipment that has really improved our ability to characterize some of the materials that are in the marketplace.
Many suppliers have become or are in the process of becoming certified to ISO standards. What does this mean for ceramic manufacturers?Bougher (Clayworld): To the manufacturer and consumer of the raw material products, this means that the supplier has documented procedures intact and that the product is traceable throughout the process until it reaches the consumer. The certifying body evaluates the certification annually, and this should provide protective assurance to the consumer.
Pennington (ECC): We believe it gives our customers a lot more confidence to know that they're dealing with a company that has an auditable quality system in place. They can come and see exactly what we're doing, and know that we have to conform to the inspector's requirements and keep our systems up to date and assured to the quality system to which we are certified.
Weidman (K-T Clay): Manufacturers will see more consistency in their product quality, but they'll also get better service. The focus of ISO is on the total process—not just the process of making the product and testing, but also customer service, accounting and all aspects of how we do business. It means a lot more paperwork, but we see some benefits internally in terms of having more consistent processes and our workers having a better understanding of our processes and our customers' requirements.
Johnson (R. T. Vanderbilt): Becoming certified to the ISO standards is a labor-intensive process for any company, but it will have a positive effect for our customers in the long-term as a result of intensive monitoring and control of processes and the generation of quality control data in every step of our operations.
Stentiford (WBB): Most of our (European) customers are ISO 9000 certified and have been for many years. Such systems place demands upon them and on us as suppliers to agree to specifications, maintain them, and allow free access to our customers to audit our systems and processes. This drives us to be vigilant and rigorous in our application of our systems, as well as to ensure that those systems are ones that best reflect our needs and the needs of our customers. Many companies are also pursuing certification to ISO 14000 (environmental) standards, and these will also affect the ways in which we manage our processes and products. There will be a move to integrate ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 procedures to avoid conflicts and promote synergy.
Rogers (Zemex): We're in the process of getting each of our plants certified to ISO 9002. I'm not sure that it's going to have an impact on the quality of the materials that we produce, but I think it's going to make us more efficient, and I think that it's going to enable us to offer products that are more consistent over a long period of time. Becoming certified to the ISO standards provides an opportunity to really review what we do and why we do it. It gives us an opportunity to quit doing things that don't add value and to add things that improve the process in the long-term. And this will help us keep the cost of our products down.
What are some of the biggest challenges ceramic manufacturers currently face in terms of raw materials, and what are suppliers doing to address those challenges?Bougher (Clayworld): Costs of processing the raw materials and the cost of transportation are important issues influencing manufacturing. However, the real cost of raw materials must be evaluated in view of the benefits associated with the product. If a more costly raw material product can reduce defects and improve yields and productivity, then obviously it is less expensive in the long run. Likewise, if a lower cost raw material product appears to meet the criteria of the intended use, then it should be considered on those merits. Reputable and established raw material producers have maintained qualified staff to serve the customer base. To maintain and improve communications, manufacturing concerns should involve management, technical and purchasing personnel to make the correct raw material decisions.
Pennington (ECC): Any manufacturer would probably give you a different answer to that question. It depends on where they are. In Western Europe and North America, some of the biggest challenges that are being faced are the supply of goods from lower-labor-cost areas. The world now is a much smaller place than it was many years ago. Twenty-five years ago, the thought of bringing sanitaryware into Europe or North America from China seemed impossible—but today it is happening. As a result, all manufacturers have to keep their costs down so that they can retain their competitive edge in a worldwide market. But of course there's no use in manufacturers moving toward lower-labor-cost areas if the necessary raw materials are not available. So the raw materials suppliers have to be in a position to satisfy this ever-moving market from locally sourced raw materials. That is a challenge because we don't control where the sanitaryware manufacturers go, and we can't always guarantee that there are going to be raw materials there. But what we try to do is move ahead of the market; in other words, we want to be in a position to anticipate where raw materials will be required and be in a position to supply them, as well as provide materials that deliver improved performance and efficiency benefits to the manufacturers. We can't simply follow—we have to lead. That's what we are doing and intend to keep doing.
Weidman (K-T Clay): Manufacturers are competing with other producers in other parts of the world who have much lower labor costs. To remain competitive, domestic manufacturers need to find ways to keep their total costs down. As suppliers, our goal is to give manufacturers better and more consistent raw materials to help them remain competitive in terms of product quality. We also provide technical service to assist in improving production efficiencies and yields. We believe this is an effective and long-term method to reduce costs.
Torbic (OMG): One of the major challenges of today is ensuring that products are supplied in the quality required. This is especially challenging when resources come from a developing country.
Johnson (R. T. Vanderbilt): The critical issues for most companies are energy costs, transportation costs, government regulations and foreign imports. Labor is also a problem in some areas, but the way the economy is going that might not be a problem for long. Raw material suppliers are continually seeking cost saving measures in processing and modes of transportation, and providing input to government agencies to try to avoid unnecessary regulations.
Stentiford (WBB): The ceramic industry is shifting its manufacturing base to low-labor-cost markets, and suppliers must adopt the appropriate strategies to manage this. These strategies include possible acquisitions of "local" raw material sources to which developed production and control techniques are applied, as well as importing high value materials from existing production areas to supplement local supplies. Such imports can provide technical properties that are not available in local materials but are essential to the needs of the local ceramic industry. On-site management of the customer's raw material preparation and/or the establishment of regional refining plants to satisfy the needs of localized "clusters'" of industry may also be required.
Rogers (Zemex): One of the biggest concerns is the continued regulation of mining. We have very large, permitted areas with large reserves—most of our mines have been around for years and will be in operation for decades to come. But it's going to be difficult for some companies to find good quality reserves that can be permitted and exploited. On the manufacturing end, however, the high cost of labor and increasing energy prices are really the biggest challenges. Materials, comparatively speaking, are about third or fourth down the list.
Are raw material prices likely to increase this year? If yes, by how much, and what factors affect these increases?Bougher (Clayworld): Prices have increased this year on an average of 5% for ball clays. Factors impacting the cost of production include energy and escalated costs of labor benefits.
Pennington (ECC): Yes, raw material prices are increasing on a global basis. This reflects the economy in some ways, but there are other factors as well. Environmental issues are playing a much bigger role, and we're also seeing very large increases in energy costs. These issues impact our business, and we have to recover some of these costs from our customers. At the same time, we are maximizing our cost-saving efforts in all aspects of the business, from constantly challenging our processes to how we source our heat and power. But at some point we get to the stage where we need a contribution from our customers. That contribution in no way covers our cost increases, but we also understand that our customers, the sanitaryware manufacturers, are dealing with some of these same issues themselves. So we're trying to work with them to identify opportunities that are mutually beneficial.
Weidman (K-T Clay): Like any other manufacturer, we're challenged with high energy and labor costs, environmental and safety regulations, health care, and other cost-related manufacturing issues. We've seen both energy surcharges and price increases as a result.
Johnson (R. T. Vanderbilt): Raw material prices have gone up some already due to the high energy costs, and there will be some additional movement in pricing this year. Everybody's trying to hold their costs, but the price of energy is going to prevent them from holding costs forever. The raw material suppliers are getting hit with the same energy costs that our customers are getting hit with, and it's tough. We've actually made adjustments in our production schedules to try to offset some of these cost increases. We've installed some new crushing equipment to give us more efficiency. We've updated our handling systems so we don't have any waste and spillage, and we've restructured a lot of our operations to try to do more with less. But even on the supply side we have to meet government regulations, and we're not immune from the energy crunch.
Lawson (WBB): For the last three to five years, prices have remained stable. But they are likely to increase by around 7.5% this year due to increased energy costs and environmental regulations, as well as general inflation.
Rogers (Zemex): On an inflation-adjusted basis, the feldspar and other products that we produce today cost only a fraction of what they did back in the 1950s, so there's really not a whole lot of margin there. We survive on volume. I just don't see any way possible for anybody in the industrial minerals business to operate and not have incremental price increases on a regular basis. We've got tremendous regulatory burdens, we've got our cost of operations, general inflation, energy costs—all these things work together. We've got nature as our major supplier, and all the things that we buy one way or another wind up being either petroleum-based or having a significant petroleum impact. Price increases are inevitable.
Over the past several years, numerous mergers and acquisitions have consolidated the materials industry. What effect will this have on ceramic manufacturers?Bougher (Clayworld): One strong benefit of mergers is that they have the potential of supplementing the reserve of material and expanding the managerial resources. This should benefit the manufacturing sector over the long term. The negative aspect is that prices have the potential of escalating rapidly, especially when a very competitive situation has existed over time. This can harshly impact the consumer in the short term and require quick adjustments to compensate. However, the merger and acquisition scenario should insure strong and healthy supplies of raw material that will be a long-term benefit to the industry in general.
Pennington (ECC): Imerys recognizes that it needs to have a global presence in order to compete in a global marketplace and serve customers who are also consolidating and expanding globally. The number of recent acquisitions starts to fulfill that aim. Our customers can only benefit as Imerys brings its technical strength and group synergies to the worldwide market. This means that customers can rely on Imerys to give them value for their money while providing quality materials where they are required.
Weidman (K-T Clay): It's essentially survival of the fittest. I think down the road they [the manufacturers] will end up dealing with healthier companies, but while the quality will continue to get better, you'll also have to pay for that quality. At some point there's a trade-off. Prices have been pretty stable the past 10-12 years, and in real dollar terms, we're selling products now for considerably less than we were selling them when I first came to K-T Clay. But that trend can't continue, and that's one of the reasons that the supplier base market is consolidating.
Torbic (OMG): Fewer suppliers are ultimately providing a larger selection of products. This is ideal for ceramic manufacturers because by decreasing the number of suppliers they need to deal with, they decrease their costs.
Lawson (WBB): The mergers and acquisitions should allow raw material suppliers to offer complete solutions from an even broader portfolio of products. Ceramic suppliers should see reduced transactional costs due to dealing with less people/organizations, and there should also be closer working relationships and more joint developments. Other potential benefits include the creation of "one-stop shops" for raw materials, which eases purchasing and procurement demands; full knowledge of component materials is centrally available, making technical and commercial servicing much more seamless; and better control possibilities for inventory.
Rogers (Zemex): Consolidation on both the manufacturing and supply sides in the ceramic industry are responses to today's markets. To drive down fixed costs, you have to get bigger. With regulatory burdens and other challenges, small companies are going to have a hard time surviving. There is a risk of becoming too large and being unable to provide the more individualized quality products and services that a lot of people in our industry have really come to expect. But small suppliers are under a lot of pressure from a profitability standpoint because their costs are going up and their pricing isn't going anywhere—and may even be going down. About the only way these companies can survive is to partner with somebody.
Does your company currently participate in an e-procurement forum (Quadrem, CeramicSources, etc.), where ceramic manufacturers and other materials users can buy your products online? If not, do you have plans to participate in e-procurement in the future? Why/why not?Bougher (Clayworld): Old Hickory Clay Co. and the marketing division of Clayworld do not currently have e-procurement. However, we are investigating this option as equipment and communication trends continue to move in this direction.
Pennington (ECC): Yes—we have joined the Quadrem marketplace, but only just at the end of 2000. We believe it will bring significant benefits to the industry, but it is too early to quantify the full extent of the benefits to Imerys.
Weidman (K-T Clay): We had discussed it internally, but it never really became a major strategic issue for us before we became part of Imerys. Of course, now that we're part of a bigger group we'll join whatever effort they're making. We already do some things electronically with some of our large customers in terms of certificates of analysis and things like that to try to reduce paperwork. But we haven't really taken it to the e-commerce level.
Torbic (OMG): OMG is not pursuing e-procurement at this time. Performance issues require customized products, and a close working relationship with our customers is needed to develop each product.
Johnson (R. T. Vanderbilt): E-commerce is already a reality at R.T. Vanderbilt Co. Our new website is constantly under renovation, and we have a lot of customers that are signing up, getting a PIN code and getting registered on our system so that they can check availability and place and track orders electronically. This format is really helping the smaller companies that don't have a staff of people to do the work for them. We're constantly holding meetings to review and determine how to best upgrade our system to meet our customers' needs.
Lawson (WBB): We don't currently participate in e-commerce or e-procurement, but this is something we are looking at.
Rogers (Zemex): While we haven't been involved in electronic commerce on the ceramic side of the business, we have had some experience with online auctions. But we haven't really felt the need up to this point to have an e-commerce site because people can call, fax, or even e-mail us, and that's how they want to do business with us.
While e-procurement and e-commerce forums provide a way for ceramic manufacturers to identify other potential suppliers on a global basis, you have to consider where the material is coming from and what risks you might encounter, such as the potential for quality problems. All feldspars are not created equal, and what you're looking for is large, consistent supplies of materials that will fit your manufacturing process. If our customers tell us that this is the way they want to do business, then of course, we'll give them what they want. But you can really be penny-wise and pound-foolish when it comes to raw materials. What I mean by that is if you do business with a supplier, that supplier will learn what's important to you as a consumer and can tailor their products to your needs. If you're specifying those products online as a commodity, it will be difficult to get that kind of customization.
What other issues are currently affecting raw material suppliers that will affect ceramic manufacturers downstream?Bougher (Clayworld): Two issues of major importance that affect raw material suppliers and, in turn, manufacturers are regulatory efforts and the influence of developing raw material deposits in other parts of the world. Regulatory efforts have the potential of eliminating important sources of raw materials and making it difficult to find other approved substitutes. These may, in some cases, alter production processes either negatively or positively, but nevertheless, it impacts the ceramic manufacturer. The investigations and efforts needed to address these concerns result in higher costs for the supplier, which impacts the total product cost.
Additionally, raw material sources that have been developed in other parts of the world are increasing the competition in the manufacturing sector. This will continue as low-cost regions enter into production. For domestic ceramic product manufacturers, the quality of products versus cost and productivity will play a major role in market position. Partnerships between the raw material producer and ceramic product manufacturer should be a focal point.
Pennington (ECC): The two biggest issues are increasing legislation and the environment. One common factor wherever we produce our clays and kaolins is that the production processes generate waste in varying degrees. That waste has to be disposed of—and the environmentalists are making it increasingly difficult to obtain tipping land where we would like it, adding unavoidable costs to the process. These issues are very prevalent in the UK and Europe, and are becoming more so across the world. The manufacturers need to recognize the value of the materials and the increasing complexity we have to endure to supply them.
Weidman (K-T Clay): Aside from the consolidation and the globalization issues, one of the things I've noticed is that we're all doing more with fewer people. There just don't seem to be that many people in traditional ceramic companies ready to step into the next role. One of the major challenges for all of us will be to attract and retain talent.
Another serious issue we all face is that of government regulation. If environmental compliance and regulations continue to grow, along with proposed legislation for workplace ergonomics and clean air regulations, it will be more difficult to comply and maintain cost control. We're quite willing to remain compliant and provide a safe and healthy working environment, but over the last 10 years it's become more and more difficult to deal with all the regulations and the litigious nature of our society. At K-T, we have an excellent track record in terms of our lost-time accident program and our environmental compliance record, but I know how many resources we have to put into these programs to maintain them, and it's a daily challenge.
Torbic (OMG): New and increased applications are requiring new developments to satisfy performance needs.
Johnson (R. T. Vanderbilt): Government regulations, energy costs and transportation are really the three key factors.
Lawson (WBB): Most of these issues are covered above. The ceramics producer and the raw material supplier are inextricably linked. This is a longstanding and special relationship, but right now that relationship is under severe pressure. Ceramics producers are being pushed by global market and environmental forces outside their control to reduce costs, both by productivity measures and by downward pressure on raw material prices. Ultimately, these two measures cannot be sustained because cheaper raw materials will reduce productivity.
The commoditization of raw materials leads to a reduction in quality, lower investment in their production processes and a lack of exploration for new sources. This satisfies no one. But equally, simply increasing the price of raw materials satisfies no one. The answer to this dilemma must be in achieving a win-win situation where both parties benefit. This will come from a closer relationship between supplier and customer, not a more distant one. But within this closer relationship, the specific challenge for the raw material supplier in the 21st century will be to understand specifically what problems face the ceramics industry and then provide products and services that contribute to their solution.
Rogers (Zemex): Environmental issues, legislation and energy costs—these are really the big issues. These things make us less competitive globally and add to the pricing pressures.


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Adult Services
A variety of programs are offered for adult residents of Chester. On-going programs include Friday Afternoon at the Movies, Senior Lunch 'n' Learn (offered in conjunction with the Senior Resource Center), computer classes, book discussion groups, and Great Decisions, a foreign policy discussion group. In addition, speakers, musical programs, and other free events are offered several times each month.
Youth Services
Children's programs are offered throughout the year, including story times, craft programs, Paws for Reading (reading with a therapy dog), Summer Reading Club, as well as special performances at our monthly Family Programs.
Middle school and high school students meet monthly (first Wed. of the month) for a variety of programs.


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Some visual conditions cannot be treated adequately with just glasses, contact lenses and/or patching, and are best resolved through a program of Vision Therapy.
What Is Vision Therapy?
Vision Therapy is an individualized, supervised, treatment program designed to correct visual-motor and/or perceptual-cognitive deficiencies. Vision Therapy sessions include procedures designed to enhance the brain's ability to control:
- eye alignment
- eye teaming
- eye focusing abilities
- eye movements
- visual processing
Visual-motor skills and endurance are developed through the use of specialized computer and optical devices, including therapeutic lenses, prisms, and filters. During the final stages of therapy, the patient's newly acquired visual skills are reinforced and made automatic through repetition and by integration with motor and cognitive skills.
Who Can Benefit From Vision Therapy?
Patients of all ages can benefit from vision therapy. The nature of the therapy program varies with the condition treated. For example, a three-year-old child with amblyopia, or "lazy eye", may simply have the better eye patched for a short period of time. An eight-year-old child with strabismus, or "crossed eye", may require therapy for a period of a year. A thirty-year-old computer programmer may require three to six months to solve a visual problem that causes significant eye strain.
Children and adults with visual challenges such as the following are often benefitted by vision therapy.
- Learning-related Vision Problems
Vision Therapy can help those individuals who lack the necessary visual skills for effective reading, writing, and learning (i.e., eye movement and focusing skills, convergence, eye-hand activity, visual memory skills, etc.).
- Poor Binocular Coordination
Vision Therapy helps individuals develop normal coordination and teamwork of the two eyes (binocular vision). When the two eyes fail to work together as an effective team, performance in many areas can suffer (reading, sports, depth perception, eye contact, etc.).
- Strabismus and Amblyopia
Vision Therapy programs offer much higher cure rates for turned eyes and/or lazy eye when compared to eye surgery, glasses, and/or patching, without therapy. The earlier the patient receives Vision Therapy the better, however, our office has successfully treated patients well past 21 years of age.
- Stress-induced Visual Difficulties
21st century lifestyles demand more from our vision than ever before. Children and adults in our technological society constantly use their near vision at work and at home. C.V.S. (Computer Vision Syndrome) is one of the fastest growing health concerns in the workplace today. Environmental stresses on the visual system (including excessive computer use or close work) can induce eyestrain, headaches, and/or visual difficulties which can be effectively treated with corrective lenses and/or Vision Therapy.
- Visual Rehabilitation for Special Populations
Vision can be compromised as a result of neurological disorders or trauma to the nervous system (such as traumatic brain injuries, stroke, whiplash, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, etc.). Vision Therapy can effectively treat the visual consequences of trauma (including double vision).
- Sports Vision Improvement
Strong visual skills are critical to sports success. Not much happens in sports until your eyes instruct your hands and body what to do! Accurate vision and athletic visual skills can be measured, developed, and enhanced through Vision Therapy. We measure and successfully improve eye-hand coordination, visual reaction time, peripheral awareness, eye teaming, focusing, tracking, and visualization skills (to mention just a few).
For more information about vision therapy, speak to your Sault Ste. Marie eye doctor today.


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Peace and Love by the sea
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Fun and Games, Battles And Wars, Dress Blues
Marjorie Green, thanks for being my mother, for a moment in time, needed a friend to believe in me, just wanted to save the kids. Hello to Chris, my son, 20 now also, saw the pictures that you had, wanted to share again, liked you a lot, when we had time together. The classes at the church, the battles for your place, all the paperwork to do.
Taking a break, have to work tomorrow, horse and pony show, more cash on the table, more paperwork to check, houses to buy. Plans for blue oceans, products and services, known and unknown, worlds to create, that the game for this year. Dreams in motions, dreams of greatness, homes and houses for veterans, you have one of your own now. One of the few, one of the prowd, one that is now married, ways to grow, not alone in the world. God hand and hands to hold, over time and space, way to go, Chris.
Games with boys, games with guys, guys and guns, games of war, great job, like the looks. Charms and graces, faces of a Marine or two, games to share, good time, at peace. American birds, animals under the skin, snacks and treats, tales to be written, good and evil, hats to wars, hats to halos, tricks to turn, pages in a book, bibles, and fairy tales, tales told again.
Cans Of Whip Ass, Frogs In Cans, Eaten For Fun
Songs of chance, winds to fly, American Birds, American Girls, Dogface Butterflies, to take and to give, faces to grow, frogs to eat, dates with frogs, dinner time. Hands to help, hands to lend a hand, eaten alive, earth angels, pixies, and fairy, when you date a frog. Tales in pictures, tales in air, tales written, classes of frogs. Classes of hats to wars, battle cries, blue knights, angels on bikes, angels in bands, angels in the land. Gifts of hands to help, gifts of time and attention.
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Kristi Jarrot
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3 Lessons from Amazon - OpenViewVentureREA AuditadoBill Price, President of Driva Solutions discusses his experiences running the Customer Service team at Amazon. Footage from OpenView Venture Partner's Customer Service Forum in July 2010.Tema: general:
Five biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs makeRE SugeridoJerry Kaplan, serial entrepreneur, executive, technical innovator, and author, elaborates on the five biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make:
1) Having unclear goals and an unclear mission
2) Trying to prove that they are smart
3) Greed - doing it for money.
4) Hiring people that they like rather than people that they need.
5) Not knowing when to let go.
The Difference Between Management and LeadershipRE SugeridoCarly Fiorina was president and chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard Company from 1999 to 2005. She provides an insightful distinction between leadership and management. She describes leadership as changing the order of things and management as the production of acceptable results within known constraints and conditions.
Business Model for a Media CompanyRE SugeridoSlideShare CTO Jonathan Boutelle explains that a media company on the Internet requires a lot of traffic to make it worth the time to make large-scale brand advertising happen, His cofounder Rashmi Sinha said it's important for a Web site to make clear to their users how they intend to generate revenue and whether it's going to be through ads. Even when the site first launched, she continued, they have always had advertising. Sinha describes it as making a pact early on with their users that SlideShare will be an ad-driven service that they can use for free.
Moving Product at Unprecedented ScaleRE SugeridoSheryl Sandberg, Facebook's COO talks about old print media and music and how they've been trumped by the free distribution of the Web. She strongly encourages those venturing into business to take this business angle into account.
Building the Minimum Viable ProductRE SugeridoIn the successful build-out of a lean startup, entrepreneur and author Eric Ries suggests adapting the rules of creating the minimum viable product. Rather than getting the product "right"; or employing the "release early, release often" philosophy of soliciting customer feedback for product development, the road to minimum viable product fuses the two ideas. The challenge for the startup is to figure out the smallest amount of product features and capabilities necessary for release, and then to slowly add more functionality as needed.
Make meaning in your companyRE SugeridoGuy Kawasaki, founder and Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures, believes that those companies who set out to make a positive change in the world are the companies that will ultimately be the most successful. He gives examples of the best way to make meaning: increase quality of life, right a wrong, and prevent the end of something good.
Product Development at FacebookRE SugeridoMark Zuckerberg, founder of TheFacebook, gives an example to demonstrate product development and experience at Facebook and talks about how their product has evolved with the company.
Negotiating with Customers and ClientsRE SugeridoDan Springer, CEO of Responsys, acknowledges that the most frequent and important negotiations often occur with customers. Furthermore, Springer advises that the keys to a successful negotiation with customers include: 1) Preparation to discover what the customer wants and 2) Identifying the few things on which you will stand firm


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Home > Your body > How do you become you? > What do your genes do?
What do your genes do?
Your genes are instructions, inherited from your parents. Half your genes came from your mother and half from your father. Genes tell your body how to make all its proteins. Each new cell in the growing embryo receives a full set of genes. But not every cell needs to make every protein and cells make some proteins only at certain times. Some genes are instructions for proteins that regulate the activity of other genes. Such 'control genes' govern important events in the developing embryo.


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While drunkenly shopping on second life, my usual week day activity, I stumbled upon a great store! A discount shop with two locations, one called The Dressing Room and the other is called The Dressing Room BLUE.
Every week they change their collection They have a blog too (with SLURLS) so that you can keep up with all the latest deals: http://thedressingroom-shop.blogspot.com/
This dress from The Dressing Room BLUE was 70L!!! Prices are between 40-70L and never higher!
Girls, I would have easily sold a kidney and pay 200L for this! The prices are absolutely insane and I love it. I was so excited at how much I saved on a dress that I went out and bought new hair (which also happen to be a steal at 100L.) Being cheap is no longer have an excuse to wear the same thing every day.
Dress: Mimikri - Ylvi Dress espresso from TDR blue
Lashes: Shortsies from ZsaZsa's House of Beauty
Hair: aurora hair 003 from Aurora Shop
Shoes: Baby T's - Plain - Silver Heels from [PM] Pixel Mode


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While everyone does the same act, so that I decide to do the opposite.
To reach the top of the most famous tower in the world was such a great experience.
If you guys following all my journey. Did you notice something ?
I do following the movie "Dear Galileo" .. from London, Paris, Rome and then Pisa at the end. (but I miss Venice and Stonehenge)
Sent from my Mac
ps. I did not drop anything from the tower (security would killing me).
ps2. Please don't try to guess what I prey at top of the tower :P


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An interesting little film, worth the 14 minutes I think. It speaks to a different time, a different sort of England that existed before the country turned itself into America Part II.
UPDATE: I've taken down the video embed because the damn thing was playing automatically and I couldn't figure out how to make it stop. So, here's the URL instead. Go watch the film. It's worth your time.


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For this service design project, our team worked with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Center for Quality Improvement and Innovation to identify design opportunities for Dr. Amin Kassam's Neurosurgery Clinic. Due to being able to perform a rare brain surgery by going through the patient's nose rather than cutting open the skull, Dr. Kassam's once-a-week clinic is overwhelmed with patients.
Our team spent a fair amount of time at the clinic observing and interacting with patients. We worked closely with the staff and shared our process and insights with them every step of the way, which built trust and gained their support. This enabled us to gain access to patients in the exam room and interactions between Dr. Kassam, his staff, and patients. We also shared our concepts with the patients, iterating as much as we could to refine our ideas and final solution.
- Melissa Cliver
Interaction Design
- Jamin Hegeman
Interaction Design
- Kipum Lee
Interaction Design
- Leanne Libert
Communication Planning and Information Design
- Kara Tennant
Communication Planning and Information Design
- Dr. Kassam welcome booklet
- Concept and process documentation
- Clinic Chat concept video
[kml_flashembed movie="/portfolio/service-design/clinic-chat.swf" height="220″ width="450″ base="/portfolio/service-design/" fversion="9″ play="false" fvars=" play = false " /]
After many visits to the clinic, we had to sort hundreds of photos and observations.
Me, during a group meeting to synthesize the data.
Service blueprint of the patient experience highlighting opportunities for engagement.
We engaged with patients to get input and feedback as our concepts developed.
We generated and visualized numerous concepts through words and sketches.
Concept storyboards generating to solicit patient feedback.
In trying to understand the emotions and needs of the patients during their journey, we created this visualization, which we included in our final book for UPMC.
Page layout from the welcome booklet we created as an artifact UPMC could implement right now.
Visualization of the ideal interaction between patients, Dr. Kassam, and his staff.
Page from the book delivered to UPMC.
A system overview of Clinic Chat.
A part of our research, we went to the OR to see Dr. Kassam perform brain surgery.


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The girls over at Le blog de Sushi are giving away a pair of Members Only Leggings which just happen to be the most comfortable pair of leggings ever! Check out their site and feel free to enter for a pair of leggings!http://leblogdesushi.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaway-members-only-luxe-velvet.html
Giveaway: Member's Only Leggings!
By Tiffany M* At 11:00:00 AM 1
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Fans Will Not Be Happy About This Male R&B Singer Calling Out Beyoncé, SZA And Cardi B
"Stop using that f**king pain to make it OK to say some bullsh** on your record and get nominated for a Grammy..."
Amid crowning "Kissing On" as the winner of September's Hidden Hills Ever Green Sessions Townies' Choice, Next Town Down also surprised fans with the announcement of their first headlining tour this winter.
Leon Outlaw Jr., Malik Knighten, Terence Thomas, Tre'Von Waters and Chris Louis are gearing up for their 8-city tour beginning at the end of November and wrapping in early December with tickets are on sale now. In preparation for tour, NTD are also announcing a new segment: NTD TV.
Every episode, the guys will talk about a new topic and have some fun games or light-hearted "punishments" at the end. For today's premiere episode, (Sept. 28), the boys are sharing their first and favorite concert experiences with an amusing round of Slapjack at the end. Terence mentioned a hilarious reflection about his first Lil Wayne concert in Baton Rogue. Being a huge Wayne fan and experiencing that intensity in the sound booth gave him a faux panic attack. "Wayne put on like one of the best shows. I'm like Jesus! The music is literally just like beating in my chest."
Chris, coincidentally, was a first time concert attendee for a budding Chris Brown. Being a second-grader, his biggest fear was the R&B icon not doing a backflip, which he later admits that he did. Malik's first experience is bittersweet to reflect on because that concert headliner was the late Mac Miller. It was at a college in Iowa, despite him being in the eighth grade. Leon, though, has yet to truly experience a concert. The boys quickly reminded him that they're all going to see Canadian legend, Drake, so soon he'll be able to share that adventure with fans.
Tre'Von's sentiments about Chris Brown's FAME tour gets hilariously interrupted by the pizza guy. However, the quintet mentioned their favorite experience, that ultimately seemed to be the Drake vs. Wayne tour of 2014. Plus, they were fortunate enough to meet Drake after. Their goal for the NTD tour is to make their fans feel how they felt, aiming to connect with the audience in a trance-like state through the music. "It's the soundtrack to those people's lives. That's the energy we need."
This series is intended to change of pace from their usual videos and focus more on their lifestyle behind-the-scenes. If you're a diehard NTD fan, hit them up on social media and let them know what their next topic should be! Check out the first installment of NTD TV above.
(Photo: Courtesy of Next Town Down)
"Stop using that f**king pain to make it OK to say some bullsh** on your record and get nominated for a Grammy..."
Here are all the artists who posted tributes to the late R&B singer.


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Today's outfit is a little "little house on the prairie"-ish. Boots, beigey, twirly dress, these new bangs up in my face (the new sparkle hasn't worn off yet). But I'm not ashamed! I also don't have pictures. But the dress I'm wearing came from a reduction sale in a weird warehouse on the south side of downtown that Lindsay and I checked out on Saturday morning.
It was kind of a weird vibe. Lots of the boutiques from the Short North, all together in one space with greatly marked down (up to 90%!) merch. Which is a big deal for a lot of those-kind pricey-places.
I'm totes down for local wares, but seriously, if a cute dress was $300 before, but it's now marked down to $80…still probably not buying it. Definitely not, for that matter. But we looked around, I snatched up a couple of (much cheaper!) things from my favorite shops, and then we hit up The Cheesy Truck (!) which was parked outside.
It was delicious. So delicious. Local cheesy goodness. And orange drank!
Guess which one I got?
Spoiler: had to go English…of course:) They also have a "Jackie-O" that costs $100, and comes with caviar and a mother-of-pearl caviar spoon, haha. I would love to be around to see someone actually order that.
Thank Jesus for food trucks, seriously. I hope I can find some cool ones in Brighton!


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Design Driven Innovation as a Differentiation Strategy - in the Context of Automotive Industry
Though, in the automotive industry, technology is considered as a source of innovation and development, emerging change in consumer perception has brought industry focus on design. Evolution of this industry is closely related to the convergence of technology and design. In such context, implication of design driven innovation strategy in the automotive industry has potential to be explored and to create sustained competitive advantage through balancing customers' need, technological opportunities and product meaning. The aim of this paper is to give a holistic view of design driven innovation as a differentiation strategy in the automotive industry and its implication for strategic management through some relevant research reviews and empirical information. On the contrary, this research lacks detailed description on industry practice to provide greater breadth, since it attempts to correlate the strategic concept of design with the dynamic capability of a firm in that particular industry.
dynamic capability; design; innovation; competitive advantage; automotive industry
Full Text:PDF
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242015000200003
Copyright (c) 2015 Journal of Technology Management & Innovation
2019 © Universidad Alberto Hurtado - Facultad de Economía y Negocios.
Erasmo Escala 1835 - Santiago, Chile.
Economic Analysis Review | Observatorio Económico | Gestión y Tendencias
Journal Supported by


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He Gives and He Withholds
Sometimes in this Dunya (world) we are given what we do not want or ask for, and sometimes that which we wish for is just not attainable. Allah `azza wa jall keeps some things away from us, things which our hearts may ardently request, and yet He at times places the world at our feet. He chooses, He commands and He runs our affairs out of wisdom which belongs only to Him. We thus remain suspended between being given of our wishes and being given other than that. The smart one therefore realises that he or she remains suspended between patience and gratitude…
Were He to let the Dunya loose on us and give us of our every want, will and desire, then indeed we would have forgotten Him and we would have become arrogant in the land without right. So He, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, withholds some things and gives us others in order to keep us as believers, humble ones, constantly in a state of iftiqar (dire need) to His Majesty.
وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن
يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَّا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ
"And if Allah were to expand the provision for His slaves, they would have surely rebelled on the earth, but He sends down what He wills by a due measure. Verily! He is in respect of His slaves, the Well-Aware, the All-Seer." [al-Shura: 27]
Rasulullah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) taught us to say after each prayer the following supplication, and he himself was foremost in saying it:
اللهم لا مَانِعَ لِما أعْطَيتَ ولا مُعْطِي لِما مَنَعْتَ
'O Allah, nothing can withhold what You have given and no-one can give what You have withheld.'
It is a true beauty, which reminds every believer and renews his/her strength, belief and reliance. It's a powerful wall for us to lean on whenever difficulties arise and it is an ascending set of stairs for us to use when we need to walk out of each and every calamity.
And it was once said to me, 'When Allah withholds, He actually gives…' – deep, if only we pondered.
Posted on May 26, 2011, in Allah (God). Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.


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Here what the area's local-centric specialty radio shows were spinning this week. We're currently tracking the playlists a number of different shows including, Radio 1190's Local Shakedown, KTCL's Locals Only, the Colorado Sound, which originates at KRFC and is re-broadcast all over Colorado, 99.5 the Mountain's Homegrown Show, and the Colorado Wave, which is syndicated on a number of stations across the country. See the full playlists posted after the jump.
The Corvairs - "TV" Soul Merchants - "Joanna" Everything Absent or Distorted - "It's This Way" Chain Gang of 1974 - "Devil Is A Lady" Super Band - "Acid Indigestion" Young Coyotes - "1000 Masks" Velveteen Loveseat - "Done Livin' For You" Lady Parts - "Mums for Mice" Breezy Porticos - "Vitchy Sun" Gauntlet Hair - "Our Scenery" Paper Bird - "Livin' Lucky" Houses - "Beach Song" Tudaloos - "Trivial Pursuit: Autopsy" Born in the Flood - "There and Missing" 57 Lesbians - "This Time" Cat-A-Tac - "Past Lies and Former Lives" 32-20 Jug Band - "Step It Up and Go" I Sank Molly Brown - "El Dorado" Shake Mountain - "Dead Man Cover" Jux County - "Scarecrow" 16 Horsepower - "Phyllis Ruth" Vitamins - "Mr. Teets" Gasoline Lollipops - "Nashville" Spell - "Dixie" Tommy Bolin - "Teaser"
Life in Electric - "Halo" Apex Vibe - "Let It Ride" Epilogues - "King Arthur" Battleship Agenda - "Through Teeth" HDP (Hot Dude Party) - "2 Greens 2 Blues" Tyler Ward - "Sunset Dreamer" Stolen Instruments - "Vicarious" Vonnegut - "Vanishing" Missing DuFrenes - "Outrageous Promises" Braddigan - "Customs" King SOUPers - "Save Me From Her Tentacles" Esprit de Corps - "Black Gold"
Resale Concert Tickets
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019 / 2:00pm @ The Garner Galleria Theatre 1050 13th St. Denver CO 802041050 13th St., Denver CO 80204View more dates and times at this location >
Colorado Symphony Orchestra: Celtic Woman - The Best of Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019 / 5:00pm @ Boettcher Concert Hall 1245 Champa Street Denver CO 802041245 Champa Street, Denver CO 80204
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019 / 6:00pm @ The Summit Music Hall 1902 Blake St Denver CO 802021902 Blake St, Denver CO 80202
Gypsy Swing Revue - "Some of These Days" Drag the River - "Having A Party" John Common - "In My Neighborhood" Megan Burtt - "Get to the Bottom of This" Matt Morris - "Don't You Dare" The Congress - "Minutes" Jen Korte & the Loss - "It's A Little Hard, Dear" Motorhome - "Radio" Something Underground - "Mr. Elephant" Other Side of Clearview - "Sweet Release" Slim Cessna's Auto Club - "Children of the Lord" Quillion - "New York Pill" Fred Hess - "Happen Yesterday" Julie & Andy Monley - "My Castle's Rockin'" Chuck Pyle - "Love Will Find A Way" Euforquestra - "Soup" The Jurassicasters - "People Get Ready" Psychodelic Zombiez - "Babaganouj" Old Soul - "Oldest Religion" Sixteen Horsepower - "Black Soul Choir" Carbon Choir - "Measure of Your Madness" Flashbulb Fires - "Ambulance" Romano Paoletti - "Can You Run" Great American Taxi - "New Millennium Blues" The Intervention Band - "Groovin' High"
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The Big Motif - "The Daily Motion" Tequila Mockingbird - "Everything's Not Alright" Torch the Wagon - "Song X" No Bueno - "Soundtrack" Rubber Planet - "Forever" Rubber Planet - "Wish I Could" Rubber Planet - "Brice's Song" Rubber Planet - "She Move" Rubber Planet - "Molecules"
Tim Hanauer - "Answer Me" Jill Stevenson - "Show You" Xiren - "Butterflies" Mike Banta - "Word" Breakaway - "10,000 People" Jude Johnstone - "Hard Lessons" Iko Iko - "The Flood" Brother Love - "Summertime" Lorraine Devon Wilke - "You Say I Say" Dave Preston - "Alone" Cheryl Branz - "Flip Flops" Preston Swift - "Cockledoodledoo" Christopher Jak - "Something"


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The Wellington Wrestling Club competed at the AAU National Duals last week in Orlando.
The team finished 23rd overall, beating its 29th place finish from last year. The event drew 70 teams from around the country.
Five Wellington wrestlers earned All-American honors and took home medals. They are: Joey Grant (Gold, 10-0); Javier Escoto (Bronze, 8-2); Jared Abramson (Copper, 7-3); Christian Goss (Copper, 7-3) and A.J. Lopez (Copper, 7-3).
Team members are: Robert Saldarriaga, Cameryn Townsend, A.J. Lopez, Javier Escoto, Christian Goss, Joey Grant, Jared Abramson, Donovan Ortiz, Roland Kupoluyi, Elroy Taylor, Brandon Petit, Eric Saber, Jacob Treanor, Steele Holman, Parker Steinberg, Eric Reid, Colton Macfarlane and Andrew Mitchell.


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Panic in Puyallup
When Puyallup School District officials announced they would enforce an existing policy banning Halloween festivities, they seemed to be on solid if stolid ground. Costumes and parties distract from important schoolwork, kids who can't afford costumes might feel left out and some younger kids might get scared.
But then came the Wiccan business.
A memo went out to principals saying that they "should not tolerate such inappropriate stereotyping (images such as witches on flying brooms, stirring caldrons, casting spells or with long noses and pointed hats)," because it might offend those for whom Halloween is a religious holiday -- Wiccans.
A quick creep across the Web shows that Wiccans and sundry occultists are offended, all right -- by the school district's ban.
At iamawitch.com, for example, it was tabbed "The Grinch that stole Halloween."
Despite a public appeal Monday night, school officials said the ban stands and that kids who show up in costumes may be sent home.
Now that's scary.


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Valid for daily arrival at Taipei Taoyuan Airport.
Private Service.
4 TO GO Ground Package (minimum 4 adults per booking) or 6 TO GO Ground Package (minimum 6 adults per booking).
Arrival Taipei Taoyuan International Airport then transfer to Taipei hotel for check in and free at own leisure.
Breakfast serve at hotel, proceed to Neiwan. Visit to Neiwan Old Street. This town is transformed to a Hakka spot for tourism. Most residents here are Hakka therefore you can find an extensive variety of hakka and local cuisine such as Hakka rice lath and rice dumpling with ginger lily. Next, proceed to Qingjing Evergreen Grassland (excluded entrance ticket NTD160~200 per person). Endless stretches of green grassland, herds from time to time the shuttle which seems like Northland scenery, it's the central region's most popular tourist attractions. Thereafter, you are invited to enjoy an afternoon high tea at The Old England.
Breakfast serve at hotel, visit to Sun Moon Lake Scenic Park, is the largest natural lake in Taiwan as well as a tourist attraction. The area around the Sun Moon Lake is home to the Shao tribe, one of aboriginal tribes in Taiwan. Sun Moon Lake surrounds a tiny island called Lalu. The east side of the lake looks like a sun and the west side looks like a moon, hence the name. Trip continues to Wen Wu Temple, the temple to enshrine and worship Confucius, Gunan Gong and Yue Fayeand worship Confucius, Gunan Gong and Yue Faye. Then, proceed to Aboriginal Shao Tribe Village and visit to a shopping stop at Aboriginal Products Shop. Next proceed to Chiayi - Alishan and visit to Fenqi Lake Railway, you may try the local famous lunch box. Tonight, stay at Leisure farm.
Breakfast serve at hotel, drive around 2 hours journey to Kaohsiung. Upon arrival, visit to Fo Guang Shan and Buddha Memorial Center, a center of Buddhism in southern Taiwan. Next, visit to The Pier‐2 Art Center. It has been made into a unique open art space, providing artists and students with an environment in which to express themselves and has already become Kaohsiung's most popular cultural spot. Tonight, dinner will transfer to Liuhe Night Market, try the delicous southern local food as dinner and shopping at your own expenses. Then, check in to Kaohsiung hotel.
Breakfast serve at hotel, visit to the Lotus Pond, which you will be amused by gigantic statues of Dragon and Tiger Pagoda & Spring & Autumn Pavillions. Then, visit to a shopping stop at Golden Pineapple Castle. Then, proceed to Tainan. Visit to Blueprint Cultural & Creative Park. Blueprint Culture & Creative Park already has a strong brand and business presence, allowing visitors to see many wooden artworks, postcards depicting Taiwan's various streets and temples, and those that feature recorded sound, as well as cell phone cases and handbags printed with Tainan historic landmarks and tile designs. Next, visit to Anping Old Street. Walking on the streets, you will discover "clod houses", brick houses, and western style houses along the way. Food is the highlight of visiting Anping Old Street. There are so many different street foods that even for locals. Then, drive another 2 hours journey to Taichung. Tonight, visit to the Feng Jia Night Market, here you could shop for the low-price clothes or souvenir and you taste for the local snacks or desserts.
Breakfast served at hotel, drive around 2 hours journey back to Taipei. Upon arrival Taipei, shopping stops at Duty Free Shop. Thereafter, we will bring you to Addiction Aquatic Development. The inside of Addiction Aquatic Development is something like a "laboratory" in which you can see all sorts of seafood in many different sections. For example, the standing eating area, seafood bar, hot pot area, outdoor BBQ area, and supermarket make up just some of the 10 spaces to explore here. Addiction Aquatic Development is not simply a seafood restaurant. In fact it is something of a plaza, where all sorts of delicacies are on display, such as flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables and home furnishings. You may enjoy your lunch at own expenses. Then, visit Martyr's Shrine, to view an elaborate ceremony of changing guards hourly. Tonight, leisure time at Ximending and enjoy for your shopping time, the most popular area where people choose to shop and also enjoy the local delicious and snacks.
Breakfast serve at hotel, free at own leisure, until the meeting time for transfer to airport for flight departure.
|Agency Collection Fee
|Tipping for driver & guide


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today i'm going to do the beauty blogger tag, i have been nominated by the pineapple tart to do this tag. if you haven't already checked out her blog, make sure to do so because it is beyond amazing.
what is your favorite makeup product ever?
lipsticks all the way, usually from lime crime or bare minerals or bite.
what makeup products do you splurge on?
lipsticks all the way.
whats your favorite perfume?
the chanel chance perfume, it's so beautiful.
do you have a quick makeup tip?
not really, sorry. 😦
whats your go to shampoo and conditioner?
l'oreal, literally anything from that brand is perfect for me.
where do you like to shop?
henri bendel, it has everything you need.
must have moisturizer?
clean and clear dual action.
whats your favorite tv program?
new girl or modern family.
do you have a passion?
at the moment no, i'm still looking though.
tell me something random about yourself?
i'm really into vampires and shadowhunters.
bloggers i nominate are:
questions for you guys:
whats is one thing you cant live without?
favorite tv show?
favorite makeup brand?
eyelash extensions or hair extensions?
are you a visual learner?
when did you start your blog?
headphones or earphones?
what is one place you would love to go to in summer?
describe your style.
your favorite purse?


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Blackwell Lion. (Blackwell, Okla. Terr.), Vol. 1, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 31, 1894
Description: Weekly newspaper from Blackwell, Oklahoma Territory that includes local, territorial, and national news along with advertising.
Date: May 31, 1894
Creator: Blackwell, A. J.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Newspaper
Partner: Oklahoma Historical Society


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What does fact checked mean?
At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
How to Grow Hair Back After Chemo
Chemotherapy is an intense and difficult treatment for cancer that kills cancer cells and healthy cells alike. According to the Mayo Clinic, the drugs used in chemotherapy can destroy the hair roots, making hair stop growing and fall out. If you've recently finished chemotherapy, you may be eager grow your hair back. The Mayo Clinic states that hair usually grows back naturally in three to 10 months. Using the right hair-care techniques and products can help you grow your hair back faster.
Use gentle products on your hair as it grows back. Treating your hair roughly, dyeing it, straightening it or curling it can cause damage, making it grow back more slowly. The Mayo Clinic recommends avoiding heat styling and hair color treatments so the follicles will grow in stronger and faster. Your hair may grow back curlier or in a different color, but if you want to change the way it looks, let it grow in fully before compromising its strength with heat treatments and chemicals.
Consider using a treatment such as minoxidil. Minoxidil, which is sold under the brand names Rogaine, Avacor and Regaine, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for re-growing hair. The Mayo Clinic recommends using the drug during and after chemotherapy treatments. Make sure your doctor knows that you will be using minoxidil so he can advise you of any possible side effects or interactions.
Eat high-protein foods. The beauty website HairBoutique.com states that hair is essentially made up of protein, so eating enough protein in the diet is crucial to growing hair back quickly. Protein-rich foods include meats, beans, eggs, lentils and tofu. However, while eating tofu occasionally has not been proven harmful, the American Cancer Society states that supplementing with soy protein powders or consuming high amounts of soy (found in tofu) can actually fuel cancer cells. Avoiding foods with added sugars, such as candy and chocolate, can also keep the hair follicles nourished, according to HairBoutique.com.
Add extra vitamins and minerals to your diet to nourish your hair from the inside out and speed up its growth. HairBoutique.com states that B vitamins influence cell turnover, so supplementing your diet with vitamins B6 and B12 can lead hair to grow faster. Beta carotene, another vitamin available in supplements, helps protect the fibers of the hair, according to HairBoutique.com.
- Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images


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I recently participated in a panel discussion at Schwab Impact, detailing various ways to streamline your firm's operations to enhance growth either through acquisition or by opening offices in new locations. The session was so well-attended, Schwab needed to scramble to find us a larger room — this is obviously a topic that is on a lot of advisers' minds.
We tell firm owners all the time that before they can start looking to acquire another firm or more advisers, they need to make an honest assessment of their own back office technology and procedures. The No. 1 reason an adviser would look to merge with a larger firm is because he or she is wearing too many hats and wants to outsource all operational responsibilities to the acquiring firm. If you are still running your billing exceptions through an Excel spreadsheet, or if it takes your firm over a week to implement a model change across your client base, you are not going to look attractive to a potential merger candidate.
Assuming you have your house in order, the biggest question from those in attendance was, what should we be looking for in a potential merger candidate? First off, you need to have similar investment styles — if you are an active stock picker, merging with a passive adviser probably won't be a match made in heaven. If you are 100% fee-only, and the candidate's book of business is 75% commission-based, there may be problems with synergies. Also, geography must make sense — the candidate has to create access to a region that you are interested in.
Beyond that, chemistry and cultural fit will be the most important. The best advice I have ever heard regarding mergers: "You will spend 90% of your time pre-close focused on economics, and 10% focused on cultural fit. Once the deal closes, success will be 90% determined by cultural fit and 10% determined by economics." In author Michael Lewis' keynote address, which closed the Impact conference, he discussed the horrible short-term incentives placed on wirehouse advisers — when management wants you to go in one direction, and you want to go in a different direction for the best interest of your clients, big problems can arise very quickly. Be sure to spend some quality time together before signing on the dotted line to ensure that both your short-term and long-term goals are in sync with one another, and you have an agreed-upon road map to reach those goals.
If the stars have aligned thus far, you now need to work together to create a unified client experience. This goes for a merger transaction, or any advisory firm operating from two locations — clients should receive synonymous marketing messages, performance reports, holiday cards, etc. Most importantly, investment management should be consistent across the firm — you do not want two clients of similar risk tolerances or time horizons to experience drastically different investment results. This will not only create a compliance headache (the Securities and Exchange Commission will ask, "Why weren't these clients treated the same?"), but a sales headache as well (imagine if these clients have lunch together — the client with the worse performance will ask, "Why am I not getting your best investment ideas?").
Once you are confidant clients will be happy with the expanded firm you are creating, you want to make sure employees will be satisfied in the new environment. It is only natural for employees to fret and wonder, "Will there be a role for me, post-merger?" If there are two employees with similar roles, clearly define before the merger is complete what each person's duties and responsibilities will be in the "new world." The worst thing you can say to a key employee is, "Let's wait and see. I'm sure a role for you will develop over time." You are asking them to make a commitment to you — the least you can do is commit to them a role that is both challenging and rewarding.
If you have impressed your acquisition target with your ability to relieve him of his current operational headaches; you have identified a target that is both geographically and culturally exciting to you; you have managed to create a uniform client experience across your entire firm; and you have satisfied employees with roles and responsibilities that challenge them and allow for career development, you should be able to attain the elusive merger math of 1 + 1 = 3.
Matt Sonnen is a vice president at Focus Financial Partners.


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