text:
Chicken Cordon Bleu, a french food classic stuffed with Black Forest Ham and sliced Swiss Cheese. A Delicious favorite to serve in Main Dish Recipes.
This is one excellent choice in easy meals to dazzle anyone with. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, stuffed with Black Forest Ham and Swiss Cheese rolled into delicious bundles and topped with Parmesan Cheese and lightly seasoned Italian Bread Crumbs, would be a favorite to serve either friends or family.
Chicken Cordon Bleu, sounds extravagant and a bit hard to make doesn't it? Really it isn't, this version is one of the easy meals to make. How about serving these tasty bundles-of-tummy-smiles with a fresh made Caesar Salad? A great suggestion in dinner ideas when having guests over or even for the family for something different.
Are You having a barbeque party? A nifty little cooking tip would be to make these delightful tasty stuffed bundles in advance for a great idea in timesavers. Entertaining friends and family? Start with a couple of choices in Appetizer Recipes and serve up a favorite in Mixed Drinks for the guests. Dinner wouldn't be complete without a Dessert right? How about a light fluffy Chocolate Mousse or a Classic Apple Pie? No matter what you choose, have fun and enjoy your tasty menu choices!
8 boneless chicken breasts
8 slices black forest ham
8 slices Swiss Cheese or gruyere cheese
1/2 cup real mayonnaise
1/4 cup parmesan cheese or asiago cheese
1/4 cup Italian Bread Crumbs
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground peppercorns
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
poultry seasoning
Place chicken breasts one at a time in between folded plastic wrap or inside medium zip lock bag.
Gently flatten with meat mallet until about 1/2 thick, repeat with each piece.
Wash chicken breasts and pat dray with paper towels.
Place 1 slice each of black forest ham and swiss cheese on chicken, roll and fasten with meat skewers or wooden toothpicks.
Mix together in small bowl or flat pie plate or dish, parmesan cheese, italian bread crumbs, salt, pepper, fresh garlic, dried dill weed, dried oregano and onion powder.
Rub each rolled bundle with mayonnaise to coat and then roll meat in dry ingredients to coat each piece.
Place in greased baking dish and dot each piece with butter.
With remaining dry ingredients sprinkle over tops of chicken breats.
Bake at 375 F for 40 - 45 minutes.
Makes 8 servings.
Back to Main Dish Recipes and More like Chicken Cordon Bleu...
Chicken Cordon Bleu is a great pick and so easy to make in fact you will be able to squeeze in one of the choices in refreshing Drink Recipes to sip on while chatting with family or friends, How about a Refreshing Margarita Recipe or maybe a favorite from the Martini Recipes? For something special a choice from one of the Mixed Drinks would be a great.
How about one of the favorites in Dessert Recipes? For a excellent suggestion, how about the Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream? A great ending to a menu that will have your guests talking for weeks!
For the Chocolate Lovers a choice in Chocolate Recipes would be fantastic. The Ice Cream Cake Chocolate Cookies with Belgian Chocolate and Macadamia Nuts are a mouth watering treat to add on to this fabulous pick in Main Dish Recipes, a great line-up that will have your guests talking for weeks!
Back to Fun Food Recipes in the Cooks-Cozy-Kitchen


text:
European Antennas Limited01638 731888
European Antennas design and manufacture antennas in the 250MHz to 40GHz frequency range for commercial, defense, satellite and security communication systems. Applications include WLAN, WiFi, WiMAX, RFID, Link16, TETRA, PMR, telemetry, surveillance, marine, outside broadcast and cellular. Antennas are installed in airports, railway stations, buoys, race cars, tunnels, helicopters, UAVs, broadcast equipment, satellites, and integrated into systems. Antennas are tested to ensure specification conformance with full performance documentation available. Antenna development projects undertaken - our engineering team provides an antenna development service for customer specific programs. Based in the UK, European Antennas is part of Cobham Defence Electronic Systems.
Getting in contact with European Antennas Limited
Lambda House
Tel: 01638 731888
European Antennas Limited Products & Services

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tonight, for the second year in a row, I will be donating my time and photography services to the Jewels for a Cause charity event in West Vancouver. The event was started 10 years ago by Jennifer Rainnie and Teri-Ann Donaldson, as a very grass roots way to gather friends, ...Read More »
Recent Posts
A Tiny Taste of my May Long Weekend…
May Long 2011, a set on Flickr.Read More »
Bangkok: Grand Palace
Bangkok: Grand Palace, a set on Flickr. New photos posted to Flickr of my visit to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.Read More »
Off to a Rough Start…
My trip to Thailand didn't have the greatest start… For starters, the morning of my flight to Bangkok I woke up to find that my car window had been smashed. I had to leave for the airport at 10:30am, and found my smashed window at 8am while taking the dog ...Read More »
Travel on the Horizon
There is travel on the horizon, so close, I can almost touch it! T minus 6 days and I will be leaving Vancouver for 46 days! I'll be flying from Vancouver to Bangkok, Thailand. I'll spend a month exploring Thailand and then will make my way to Bali, Indonesia for ...Read More »
Everything Happens for a Reason…
"Everything happens for a reason." When "shit" happens this is something we tell ourselves and want to believe. Is it true? Who knows? But it is something we cling to because it is somehow comforting and helps get us through the rough patches of life… The last two and a ...Read More »
A Taste of the Yukon
In the short time I spent on the whirlwind Whitehorse Olympic media day last February, there was much to see and do! (This post is well overdue….) The trip started right from the moment we checked in at YVR. The woman handing out the boarding passes was dressed in traditional ...Read More »
Daily Photo: Off the Beach in Sanur, Bali
On my last day in Bali, Indonesia, I visited Sanur on the way to the Denpasar airport. This was one of the views I was faced with. Bali is truly beautiful island, I look forward to the day I will visit again.Read More »
Daily Photo: Spanish Fisherman
This fisherman was mending the nets just off the docks in Cartagena, Spain.Read More »
Daily Photo (Video): Roxie's Snow Angels!
This morning's snow play in the park! (yes… I'm one of those crazy dog people…)Read More »


text:
Carmen Armchair (Indent)
The Siesta Carmen Armchair is produced by the latest generation of air moulding technology with a single injection of polypropylene reinforced with glass fibre providing this chair with extraordinary strength. The backrest is made in transparent polycarbonate. UV Stabilised this chair will not fade or go brittle under direct sunlight. Suitable for indoor and outdoor commercial use.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Indent items are items imported to order therefore an approx.. 12 – 14 week lead time and minimum order quantity will apply.
- Brand: Siesta
- Made in Europe
- 2 Year Warranty
- Stackable up to 4 high
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor commercial use
- Seat: Made of UV stabilised polypropylene reinforced with glass fibre
- Backrest: Made in transparent polycarbonate
- Dimensions: 490W x 530D x 790H x 450 Seat Height
- Unit Weight: 4.76 kg
- SWL: 150 kg
- Supplied assembled
- Weather resistant, UV Stabilised, Glass fibre reinforced
Available In: White/Glossy White, White/Red Transparent, White/ Voilet Transparent, White/Black Transparent, White/Clear Transparent, White/Amber Transparent, Black/Clear Transparent, Black/Black Transparent, Black/Amber Transparent
- Replaceable feet
- Minimum Order Quantity: 4
Need help? Need further information/images? Call us on 1300 559 965


text:
The Twitterverse has questions about retirement. What's the best way for young people to get started saving? Are target-date funds good or bad? Should we expand Social Security to help low-wage workers?
Those are just a few of the great questions I fielded during a retirement Tweet-up convened this week by my colleagues at Reuters. Since my column allows for responses beyond Twitter's 140-character limit, today I'm expanding on answers to five questions I found especially interesting. You can view the entire chat —which included advice from personal finance gurus from Reuters and Charles Schwab—on Twitter at #ReutersRetire.
Q: What's the best way for parents to help young adult children save for the long term? How about Roth IRAs?
Roth IRAs are no-brainers for young people. With a traditional IRA, you pay taxes at the end of the line, when you withdraw the money. With a Roth, you invest with after-tax money, and withdrawals (principal and returns) are tax-free in most situations. That's especially beneficial for young retirement investors, since most people move into higher income-tax brackets as they get older and make more money.
Q: How would you expand Social Security? Any current proposal appealing?
This question was posed during Twitter chatter about the difficulty low-income workers face building retirement saving, and ways to make our retirement system more equitable. Expanding Social Security may fly in the face of conventional wisdom, which argues that rising longevity should dictate reductions in future benefits, not increases. But this is a case where the conventional wisdom is wrong.
An expanded Social Security system is the most logical response to our looming retirement security crisis because of its risk pooling and progressive approach to income distribution. Social Security replaces the highest percentage of pre-retirement income for workers at the low end of the wealth scale.
Several ideas are kicking around Congress. Most would raise revenue by gradually phasing out the cap on wages subject to the payroll tax ($117,000 in 2014) and raising payroll tax rates over a 20-year period. Some advocates also would like to see a surtax on annual incomes over $1 million. On the benefits side, advocates want to increase benefits across the board by 10%, recognize the value of family caregivers by awarding work credits toward Social Security benefits and adopt a more generous annual cost-of-living adjustment formula.
Q: With the myriad questions about retirement, can "live" advisers really be replaced by automated advice and data-driven programs?
Online software-driven services—so-called robo-adviser services – can't fully replace human advice. But they address a key problem: how to deploy retirement guidance to mass audiences at a low cost. Services like Wealthfront and Betterment interact with clients online using algorithms, with low fee structures—typically 0.25% of assets under management or less.
Another variation on this theme: services that deliver advice through a combination of software and human advice, such as LearnVest. One of the most interesting tech-enabled experiments is Vanguard's Personal Advisor Services, which provides access to a managed portfolio of Vanguard index funds and exchange-traded funds, along with portfolio management services from a human adviser.
Vanguard charges just 0.3% of assets under management for the service. The service is in test mode with a small group of clients, and only available to clients with $100,000 to invest. The minimum will be reduced when the service expands, and it should be rolled out more broadly over the next 12 to 18 months, a spokeswoman says. Given Vanguard's huge scale, it's a venture worth watching.
Q: What's the final verdict on target-date funds—good or evil?
We don't have a final verdict yet, but target-date funds (TDFs) are doing more good than evil—though they generate plenty of controversy, confusion and misunderstanding. The general idea is to reduce the risk you're taking as retirement approaches by cutting your exposure to stocks in favor of fixed-income investments—the "glide path." But some TDFs glide "to" your retirement date, while others glide "through it." Experts debate which is better, but you should at least know which type of fund you own.
Many retirement investors misuse TDFs by mixing them with other funds, a recent survey found. These funds are designed as one-stop investment solutions that automatically keep your account balanced; doing otherwise will hurt your returns.
Bottom line? TDFs do more good than harm by automatically keeping millions of retirement portfolios balanced with reasonably good equity-to-fixed-income allocations. And they are the fastest-growing product in the market: Some $618 billion was invested in TDFs at the end of 2013, according to the Investment Company Institute, up from $160 billion in 2008.
Q: Anyone know what the highest Social Security income is for a retiree today versus what's expected 30 years from now?
This year's maximum monthly benefit at full retirement age (66) is $2,642. The Social Security Administration doesn't have projections for future benefit levels, but the answer certainly will depend on how Congress decides to deal with the program's long-term projected shortfalls. Solutions could include tax increases (discussed above) or higher retirement ages. Boosting the retirement age would mean a lower benefit at age 66.


text:
SAMSUNG F-ARR-US-2Samsung F-ARR-US-2 SmartThings Arrival Sensor for Keeping Track
Check for local offers
Please enter your Delivery Zip Code below for options in your area .
Or contact us at (480)-968-4999 .
Payments Available Through
Samsung F-ARR-US-2 SmartThings Arrival Sensor - Keep Mind at Ease - Tracking - Automatic Actions - Range (50-100ft) - (1.9"W x 1.0"D x 0.5"H) - (White)
2017 SAMSUNG TV MODELSPosted on 9:51am on Friday 26th May 2017 by Walts
The 2017 Samsung TVs have reinvented Quantum Dot Technology with the new QLED Line. The new QLED TVs are available in 55",65",75"& 88" models. They feature 100% Color Volume, which keeps the color the same at all levels of brightness. Also [..]
Dolby Atmos - What is it? Why would you want it?Posted on 8:28am on Tuesday 31st January 2017 by Walts
Dolby Atmos is a Sound System that adds Ceiling Speakers to a Dolby 5.1 or 7.1 Sound System. The 5.1 System is comprised of 2 Front & 2 Rear Speakers with an additional Front Center Speaker and a Subwoofer. The 7.1 adds 2 additional Side Speakers. In order to set [..]
New Line for Pioneer ElitePosted on 9:27am on Monday 27th February 2017 by Walts
Pioneer Elite has added 3 new Receiver/Amps to their new line. All 3 Models are Dolby Atmos and DTS:X ready. The top of the line can handle 11.2 channel Dolby Atmos. The remaining 2 are 9.2 channel Dolby Atmos ready. Dolby Atmos gives you true 3 dimensional [..]


text:
Image: substation near Yellowknife, Yukon/WinterCity296/WinterforceMedia
The way that we interact with the power grid here in the industrialized/post-industrial world is such that it might as well just be a property of the earth itself. Take your light bulb and dig it a little hole, like it's a tomato plant seedling, and watch the light bloom. It's miraculous. Even standing beneath a buzzing high-voltage transmission tower, it seems just too abstract, as if the tower is more a representation of electricity than the thing itself. To really get it, to live fully with the daunting reality of a power grid serving many hundreds of millions of people with baffling consistency, maybe it takes electrophobia, an irrational fear for an irrational system (in this case: one devised for an unlimited world).
Chicago's Radius Project is a radio show of sorts—a radio show about radio and the physical reality behind the phenomenon. The most recent Radius epiode focuses on power transmission, and the electromagnetic fields that result. Ethan Rose, a musique concrète-rooted ambient artist that's done work with source materials ranging from ancient tower bells to snow, was commissioned to produce a a temporary installation of sorts based around Chicago's Jefferson Substation. The station's step-down transformers—which convert high-transmission voltage to the voltage found in regular household circuits—emit an audible hum at about 60 Hz, somewhere in between a very low B and a very low B-flat. The result is "Hum."
Rose chose to interact with the station's low buzz via the human voice; instead of capturing and manipulating the sound, he harmonized with it. Or, rather, he assembled a choir to harmonize with it, adding additional overtones and, in effect, desynthesizing. The result was then captured and reproduced (live) via small, low-power handhold radios, which site visitors carried around the site with them. The radios in turn became another aspect of the performance as they mediated the relationship between choir vocals and bare electricity. A visitor, coming closer to and then further from the station itself, would experience the choir and the station's hum modulating each other.
"I have been working with voice a bit more in the last few years," Rose told me over the weekend. "I did a larger choral work at City Hall in Portland a few years ago, and, more recently, I was working on a piece with a small choir in a WWII bunker field and prairie reclamation near Joliet, Illinois. So, I've had voices on the mind. Positioning singing bodies in relationship to worldly conditions simply seemed like the right thing to do. I love the strangeness of it—I think the coupling of strangeness and beauty is something to aspire to. But I follow my intuition above anything else."
The effect of adding human voices and overtones to the substation hum feels both a move toward mystification, the electrically buzzing first-world soil alluded to above, and toward the lucidity of cold engineering. It's less of a move toward some wholly new understanding of power than it is toward a deeper understanding of the deeply strange relationship we, as the connected, have with electricity.
"I think 'Hum' asks questions as opposed to making explicit statements," Rose said. "'Hum' plays with fundamental forces—the human voice and electric power. It brings these forces into contact and blurs their boundaries. Through an embodied resonance, 'Hum' connects the human body and the audible throb of electricity, evoking the power grid as a construct of human potential.
"One might say that the power grid paradoxically constrains and frees us—'Hum' speaks to the humanness of this apparent predicament," Rose said. "It does this not by denying that duality, but by opening out from it towards elusively beautiful and unusual harmonies. It situates the musical against the worldly. The small against the large. It is sincere and playful. Hopeful and tragic."
Rose noted that the neighborhood where 'Hum' takes place, a pocket just outside of Chicago's Loop district, isn't exactly a crowded urban locale. Most places where the grid becomes exposed in such a brutal (and strangely beautiful) fashion aren't. "[Electrical transformers] are considered noisy and unsightly, all the more reason to bring people to it, to sing with it," Rose said. "Due to the circumstances, we decided to do this piece without permission—a guerrilla approach. About midway through, a security guard came out. I thought he would shut us down, but instead, he was really excited by the project. He started talking with me about overtones, and he just kind of took it all in.
"I love the way a performance like this can momentarily disrupt our daily lives, revealing a kind of transformative potential," Rose continued. "This security guard shed his security guard identity, sidestepping into some other way of being. One couldn't hope for a better outcome."


text:
Hand protection type
Food industry
What is chlorination?
This involves washing in water containing dissolved chlorine, followed by neutralisation and rinsing to eliminate any residue. Chlorination can be carried out on the production line (in which case the inside of the glove is chlorinated) or at the post-manufacturing phase (the glove is chlorinated both inside and out). The chlorine modifies the chemical structure of the glove's surface. The process is permanent and irreversible. Chlorination is also sometimes termed halogenation and can refer to smooth finished gloves.
Why chlorination?
Rubber does not slip, particularly natural latex. Chlorination makes the glove surface slippery thus making it easier to put on. It is therefore an essential process for gloves without a cotton flocklined interior or where there is no powder to help ease them on. Single-use, "non-powdered" disposable gloves made of natural or synthetic (nitrile, etc.) rubber are chlorinated.
What are its advantages?
Does chlorination have other advantages apart from this slippery quality? Clean gloves, no powder or fibres? Food Processing, Cleanrooms, etc? Elimination of extractible soluble substances (including natural latex proteins) and adjustment to a neutral pH? Excellent skin tolerance.
Are there any drawbacks?
The fact that chlorine is used in this process can create environmental problems for the manufacturer. In addition gloves treated in this way are generally more expensive than the "powdered" version. Finally, gloves which have had their external surface chlorinated could be slippery and the grip is thus less reliable.
Used gloves as well as their packaging must not have adverse impact on the environment.
Construction industry
What is DMF?
Dimethylformamide (or DMF) is a solvent used in a variety of applications in the chemical industry. DMF is also used in the manufacturing process for gloves made of polyurethane (PU) and derivatives. DMF is a chemical which, during use, can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. It is classified as harmful by inhalation and skin contact. In case of long-term or repeated exposure, DMF may have effects on the liver. Occupational exposure limits have been defined in several countries and these limits indicate maximum concentration in the air with which MAPA gloves in polyurethane are compliant.
To eradicate the risk of exposure to DMF, MAPA offers a full range of nitrile gloves (Ultrane 553, Ultrane 562, Krynit 563, Krynit 582, etc.).
Local authorities
What is BEA (Blood Exposure Accidents)?
Blood Exposure Accidents refer to any percutaneous injury or contact of mucus or damaged skin with blood or a biological liquid liable to contain any type of pathogenic agent.
The most obvious risks are highly pathogenic viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B, the very serious consequences of which lead both employers and employees to be constantly on their guard.
The Mapa Professionnel innovation, the BioPro glove, is designed to reduce the gravity of a Blood Exposure Accident.
Gloves to protect against avian flu.
The avian influenza is caused by a virus (here the highly pathogenic H5N1) which is spreading among birds. The flu has been proven transmissible to humans primarily through inhalation but also through contact contamination. Until now, no human-to-human transmission has been evidenced, but this could change through a genetic mutation of the virus. Such contamination is possible in the environment of dead or infected birds, through airborne or contact contamination of bird secretions or feces. Typical applications where the risk exists is the removal of dead birds, slaughtering and elimination of suspected infected birds, post-mortem examination of birds, medical care to suspected infected persons (precaution).
Which gloves will protect?
The first requirement applicable to gloves to protect against the avian flu virus is to be liquidproof, i.e. in compliance with EN 374-1 for the penetration tests. Besides, the gloves must remain liquidproof during the full period of exposure. It must thus offer sufficient mechanical strength in order to prevent any damage on the glove such as cut, snag or tear that would break down the barrier. Of course, the gloves are disposable ones; they shall be discarded after use in a proper manner to prevent further contamination.
Thus thin disposable gloves (such as Trilites 994, 993 or Solo Ultra 997) are acceptable only if there are no mechanical stresses or risks associated in the job, e.g. limited to laboratory works.
Selection of the proper glove will depend upon the job to be performed, i.e. mechanical stresses and functionality required. For collecting and disposing of dead birds, as well as decontamination works of surfaces and soil, gloves such as Classics L200 or L210, Two-Tone NS-53, Optinit 472 or StanSolv A-10 are appropriate, but other gloves from the Mapa-Professionnel range may also be selected depending on the functionality requirements.
What is DMF?
Dimethylformamide (or DMF) is a solvent used in a variety of applications in the chemical industry. DMF is also used in the manufacturing process for gloves made of polyurethane (PU) and derivatives. DMF is a chemical which, during use, can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. It is classified as harmful by inhalation and skin contact. In case of long-term or repeated exposure, DMF may have effects on the liver. Occupational exposure limits have been defined in several countries and these limits indicate maximum concentration in the air with which MAPA gloves in polyurethane are compliant.
To eradicate the risk of exposure to DMF, MAPA offers a full range of nitrile gloves (Ultrane 553, Ultrane 562, Krynit 563, Krynit 582, etc.).
Critical environments
How to read chemical table of resistance?
Mapa Professional product brochures provide detailed information on the performance of protective gloves in contact with chemicals. What is the process involved?
There are two phenomenons which characterize a glove's resistance to contact with a given chemical:
Degradation: deterioration of the glove, manifested by modification of physical properties (eg. softening, hardening).
Permeation: a phenomenon which is characteristic of solvents which, depending on the type, may gradually penetrate the glove, sometimes with no visible signs of degradation.
The Mapa Professional tables also show the results of degradation and permeation tests conducted in a laboratory (see description of tests below):
> Degradation index of 1 to 4 with a high score representing low degradation of the glove in contact with the chemical.
> Transit time: in minutes, obtained on the basis of the permeation test conducted as per standard ASTM F739 or EN 374 unless otherwise stipulated.
> Permeation index of 1 to 6 as per standard EN 374 where the higher the score the longer the time taken for the chemical to permeate the glove.
In order to help you choose the most appropriate gloves, Mapa offers a Chemical Resistance Index. The key to the index is as follows:
+ + Prolonged contact of the glove with the chemical is possible (within the limit of the transit time)
+ Intermittent contact of the glove with the chemical is possible (for a total period which is less than the breakthrough time)
= The glove may be used against chemical splashes
- Use of the glove is not recommended.
Explain how to interpret chemical resistance data
Your Mapa catalog offers a guide describing performance of the 5 main materials of which gloves are made in relation to numerous chemicals. This enables you to identify the material which, in theory, is best adapted to your application.
The chemical resistance charts show numerous test results obtained primarily with pure solvents, but also with acids, bases, disinfectants, etc., and where the degree of dilution in water is indicated. Mapa is continually striving to add to this information by regularly updating the charts with new test results on the chemicals used by you, the customer.
These charts cannot be used to calculate detailed data on more complex products such as solvent mixtures. Please contact Mapa's Customer Technical Service for information on which glove is best suited to such products.
The data are based on laboratory test results and should not be seen as evidence of performance in actual working conditions. You are therefore advised to run a preliminary test to ensure that the gloves are appropriate to the application?
If you would like to know which glove is best suited to a chemical application not yet included in the Mapa charts you should contact the Customer Technical Service in your particular country and provide details as follows:
• Chemical(s) concerned: indicate the chemical name or CAS # for the chemical, along with any other chemicals used in a mix (provide a Health & Safety datasheet for the mixture). Indicate the temperature, type of contact (splash, intermittent contact, etc.), mechanical resistance required, heat, cold, etc.
• Other hazards: i.e. other chemical contacts (chemical products, type of contact...).
• Constraints related to work station: handling operations (dexterity, touch sensitivity required), glove length, anti-slip coating, contact with food, etc…


text:
I dreamed that I was in an old house and it was raining really heavy outside. There was someone knocking on the door which was heavy dark wood, with a small window.
The person knocking was female, and she said, "Hello! Let me in!" repeatedly with a sweet small voice. Then it stopped. I didn't trust the vibrations I felt coming through the door. I could feel her on the other side mirroring me; like we were touching our hands together with our ears to the door. Then I looked up and there was a hole in the small window. The voice came again but it sounded like a sneer. Suddenly I felt cold air on my left breast nipple, it felt wet-like. I woke up.
I still felt the vibration of the dream, my nipple was hard and cold—and exposed. I pulled the covers up to my neck.


text:
Taunton native capped off a terrific career with Wheaton softball
It was a fitting capstone to a terrific career.
Taunton's own Jessica DePolito ended her collegiate playing days with Wheaton softball by becoming just the eighth Lyon in program history to be named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's (NFCA) All-America team.
The Coyle-Cassidy High graduate earned a spot on the NFCA's third team and was one of only four New England-based players to receive the honor.
As a co-captain and Wheaton's starting first baseman, DePolito batted a career-high .463 with a .514 on-base percentage. She also eclipsed personal-bests in hits (57), runs (37), home runs (14) and RBI (42). The former Warrior was 12th in all of Division III in slugging percentage with a .894 mark.
DePolito also took home her third NFCA All-New England and New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference nominations in her final season.
LeBlanc All-Star selection
BSC sophomore Allie LeBlanc, of Somerset, was named a Division III Second Team All-Star by the New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association.
LeBlanc finished the season on a 26-game hitting streak. Overall, she hit .395 while starting all 43 games for the Bears. LeBlanc had two home runs with 12 doubles, 26 runs scored and 22 runs batted in while playing steady defense in the outfield.
A First Team MASCAC, All-Conference selection, LeBlanc led the league in hits and doubles in just her second year. She also was an NFCA All-New England Third Team honoree.
Hrenko captures title
Bridgewater State College junior Chrissy Hrenko placed first in the javelin at the ECAC Division III Championships last weekend.
The Stoughton native's throw of 131.33 feet set a facility record at Oneonta State University and qualified her for the NCAA Division III Championships.
In addition to her top finish in the javelin, Hrenko was an All-ECAC selection. She finished eighth in the heptathlon with a total of 3,260 points.
Lyons baseball upset
Wheaton College baseball's season drew to a close on Saturday after the Lyons suffered their second loss to Keene State College in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Before bowing out, Wheaton won a 16-inning battle against Curry College in the tournament's opening round last Wednesday in a 7-6 thriller and took another 7-1 decision over Williams.
However, Keene State had the Lyons' number — twice.
The Owls first claimed a 6-3 win over Wheaton last Thursday and then eliminated the Lyons from play with a 4-1 victory on Saturday.
It was Wheaton's seventh appearance in the tournament.
Despite falling short of last year's run toward a national title, the Lyons did compile 34 wins on the season — third most in team history. They finished the season ranked sixth in Division III and first in the New England Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Wheaton acclaims
Freshman track star Howard Powell was named the Men's Track Athlete of the Year in Division III by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Tuesday. Powell — a Brooklyn, N.Y. native — received the honor after taking second in 110-meter hurdles at both the All New England and Division III New England championship meets. His time of 14.59 seconds at the Division III's set a school record by 0.17 seconds. ... Lyons tennis standout Payum Payman became the program's first participant in the NCAA Division III Championship on Friday. The Pleasant Valley N.Y. native won his opening match, rallying back in a 5-7, 6-4 6-3 victory, but was later knocked out of the competition in a 6-2, 7-5 defeat. There was a bright spot, however, as Payman became the first Wheaton player to reach Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-America status with his opening-round win.


text:
Sal "kjmann" Esquivel messing with a cable. His "Tempest Xtreem" for 8-bit computers seen on the left.
|<< First
|< Previous
|^ Gallery ^
|Next >
|Last >>
"Atari" is a trademark of Infogrames Entertainment, SA.
"Atari Games" is a trademark of Warner Bros..
Game console names and game titles are trademarks of their respective owners.
This event is a not-for-profit event, put together by volunteers and is free and open t o the public.


text:
My girl is pretty gassy. She has always been this way. She also has food allergies, although I'm not sure exactly what they are because I can't afford $300+ for tests (I'm disabled & she is my service dog). I'm not sure if the allergies are related to the gas or not. She gets boneless chicken, boneless beef and boneless turkey. She also gets chicken carcasses for her bone content, beef liver for her liver content, and beef kidney for her organ content. Is there anything I can give her to help lessen her gas? It's bad enough having a pet dog with gas, but since she's a service dog and sometimes has gas in public... well, it's pretty embarrassing... lol. Suggestions please?
Welcome to Prey Model RawRegister now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. This message will be removed once you have signed in.
Login to Account Create an Account
Is There Anything That Helps With Gas?
Started by Kaona , Jan 27 2015 04:51 PM
Posted 27 January 2015 - 04:51 PM
Posted 27 January 2015 - 10:11 PM
You could try probiotics and enzymes.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
Tree fruits are beginning to ripen this month, so we asked an expert on the subject how to harvest fruit at its absolute peak. Here's what R. Scott Johnson, stone fruit specialist, Kearney Agricultural Center, California, recommends if you want to harvest perfect peaches, plums, and nectarines:
Don't overwater. Johnson notes that most home gardeners tend to overwater their fruit trees, especially as fruits mature. His research reveals that reduced watering four to six weeks before harvest results in smaller, but tastier, fruits. A gradual reduction in the amount of water a tree receives during this period will increase the fruits' sugar content without affecting texture. And more than anything else, sugar content correlates to the perception of flavorful fruit.
Reduce water carefully, however. If you overdo it, instead of improving your fruit, you'll stress the fruit, perhaps even the tree, and diminish overall fruit quality.
Don't hurry to harvest. For the best flavor, leave fruits on the branches as long as possible to maximize the ratio of sugar to acid. The fruit is at its peak ripeness when the flesh yields to gentle pressure.
Pick from the top. For the highest quality fruits, go straight to the top of the tree. When Kearney researchers evaluated sugar content, acidity, size, and appearance of fruits picked from various parts of the trees, they discovered that the fruits at the top and outer edges of the trees not only matured earliest but were the largest and most flavorful.
Shila Patel is a former managing editor at National Gardening.
Photography by National Gardening Association.


text:
Quaternions. The mere mention of these mathematical constructs would've sent shivers down my spine a couple of years ago. They're really weird and complex. However, when you're making a game engine and you have to model the rotations of objects, you'd be crazy not to use them for several reasons.
The easiest way for people to think about an arbitrary rotation in 3D space is to think of three separate rotations around the x-, y- and z-axes respectively. This way of representing a rotation is commonly known as Euler angles. The advantage is that it's easy for someone to reason about a rotation represented in Euler angles because they're so simple – I just rotate around x, then y, then z, it's that easy. However, this brings a couple of problems with it too; namely, it's inefficient to do three separate rotations for every single rotation you apply, and Euler angles can run into a problem called Gimbal lock.
In a system where three gimbals each provide an axis of movement around a central point, it is possible to lose one degree of freedom by rotating one of the gimbals 90° such that its axis converges on one of the other gimbals. When this happens, the other two gimbals will rotate along the same axis. The word 'lock' is a tad misleading, because you can fix the problem simply by rotating the first gimbal back, but it still leads to weird behaviour sometimes. It's best explained through an animated diagram.
Quaternions fix both of these issues. Firstly, Euler's rotation theorem (Yes, Euler got around a lot) tells us that we can represent any rotation or sequence of rotations around a fixed point as one single composite rotation around some axis through that point. As it turns out, we can model rotations around an arbitrary axis as a quaternion!
Rotating around an axis rather than three rotations around x, y and z axes.
To understand how this works, we first need to know what a quaternion is. I'm not going to go into too much detail, because I want to keep this post relevant to how we can use them for rotations. At their most basic level, a quaternion, q, is made up of four real numbers, x, y, z and w, where:
q = w + xi + yj + zk
Here, i, j and k represent versors, or unit quaternions. Don't worry about what they mean too much, because your head might go nuclear trying to wrap your brain around them. What we want to do is represent x, y, z and w in a way that's useful to us. Luckily, it's really simple: take our axis to be a three-dimensional vector (a, b, c) and our angle to be θ. Then our quaternion's real number parts are:
x = a * sin(θ/2) y = b * sin(θ/2) z = c * sin(θ/2) w = cos(θ/2)
Now we have a quaternion that represents an angle-axis rotation, immune from the problem of gimbal lock. To apply the rotation to an object, we multiply the point we want to rotate by the rotation quaternion. To figure out what the quaternion is doing, we can take x, y, z and w and calculate the angle and axis from them – first of all we can find the angle:
θ = 2 * cos⁻¹(w)
Then, we can use this angle to figure out what the rotational axis – a 3D vector – is:
a = x / sin(θ/2) b = y / sin(θ/2) c = z / sin(θ/2)
With this in mind, it's a little easier to reason about what quaternions are doing. Keep in mind that all these rotations are about the origin, so if you want to rotate around an arbitrary point, you'll need to translate your object by the inverse position vector of the point, do the rotation, then translate by the position vector of the point to undo the first translation.
This image is about 2D translations, but the general idea still applies.
To make a rotation by compositing two different rotations, we can just multiply their respective quaternion rotations together, paying attention to the order:
new_rotation = second_rotation * first_rotation
The other great thing about quaternions is that we can mix between two rotations really easily, with more believable results that using Euler angles. Whereas we'd use a regular lerp operation (linear interpolation) to move from one rotation vector to another if we were using Euler angles, we can use the more sophisticated slerp (spherical linear interpolation) technique for quaternion-based rotations.
To imagine the difference between these two techniques, imagine you were stood on a completely flat world, whether it be in 2D or 3D, and I asked you to walk from point A to point B on that surface in a straight line at a constant speed – that's you using a lerp. Now imagine doing the same, but on the surface of a perfectly spherical meteorite instead – of course, walking in a straight line would end up with you inside the meteorite, which is impossible, but if you walk across the surface directly to your destination, that's what a slerp is doing. Super simple stuff!
The flag looks like the USB logo, but it's supposed to be an angle-axis diagram.
That rounds off pretty much all I know about quaternions and how much I could be bothered to look up online. If I got anything wrong, please do tell me because it's definitely possible. Remember, if quaternions start to hurt your head, which happened plenty of times to me, keep in mind the most important thing: Don't Worry About It™. You don't need to know them inside out to be able to use them.


text:
VANCOUVER - The sister of a retired soldier who was shot by RCMP in British Columbia says the investigation into Greg Matters' death in Prince George should be reopened.
Tracey Matters says she is not satisfied with a review into how B.C's police watchdog handled the case because it is not re-examining the facts in her brother's death.
She says she is also concerned about conflict of interest because retired officers work in the Independent Investigations Office.
Last week, the agency appointed a third party to review its investigation because it first reported Matters was shot in the chest, while a pathologist later told a coroner's inquest the soldier was shot in the back.
Agency spokesman Richard Rosenthal says Vancouver lawyer Mark Jette's review will not reopen the investigation into Matters' death but will focus only on the agency's actions.
The watchdog cleared officers of criminal wrongdoing in a supplemental report released this month, where it blamed unclear language for the difference between its report and the pathologist's testimony.
Matters was being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder when he was shot by officers in September 2012.
Police were attempting to arrest him on a charge of attacking his brother.
Officers said they had no choice but to shoot Matters because he was brandishing a hatchet and approaching an officer who had fallen and could not defend himself.


text:
Each year, the annual Budget raises hopes all around. Once announced, it becomes clear that while a few expectations may have been met, others sometimes remain belied. Budget 2017-18 appears to have followed a similar pattern. To begin with, from the LED manufacturing industry's perspective, the Finance Minister needs to be commended for the reduction in excise duty on manufacture of LED lights in India and reduction of import duties on input materials required to manufacture LED lights.
In this case, excise duty has been reduced to 6%, basic customs duty to 5% and countervailing duty is now 6% from the previously much higher rates. The lower rates will certainly act as an incentive of sorts not only for the manufacturers of LED lighting products but also enable the manufacturers to make these products available to users at competitive prices compared to the products imported from East Asian countries. For small-scale manufacturers across sectors with a turnover of less than Rs 50 crore, the Budget had additional good news, with tax provisions being lowered from 10% to 5%.
Besides this, the Government has done well to retain the overall customs duty at 10% on imports of finished LED products. The custom duty retention would be instrumental in helping the domestic LED lighting industry maintain its competitiveness against imports that could impact Indian manufacturers. The above measures would certainly boost the government's 'Make in India' mission.
These announcements would have been good in themselves at any other time. Considering the conditions prevalent after the demonetisation drive, however, one sincerely believes more sweeping measures were called for to revive growth in the economy, which has been pegged back to the later half of this fiscal. Demonetisation has indeed fast-forwarded India towards a less-cash society and will bring dividends to our economy in the long run. But in short term, growth in the stalled sectors needs be revived.
The Budget could have been the ideal medium to stimulate our economy. Similarly, specific incentives were needed to power the country's lighting industry, rather than simply lowering duties on some components, though these are welcome due to their incremental benefits. Nonetheless, one needs to remember that the government has set some stiff growth targets in the energy sector. These include 100% electrification of villages by May 2018, 'Power for All' by 2019 and other major goals in conventional and renewable energy.
Given their tight target timelines, these ambitious programmes will require contributions from every quarter to achieve them. Simply boosting power generation is not enough. It is also important to boost the contribution of the energy-efficiency segment in meeting tough targets. This is where select incentives such as interest rate concessions for companies manufacturing LED lights and allied components could play a critical role in ensuring that the country moves faster towards energy security by driving energy conservation.
The other request the government could have considered on priority was the establishment of SEZs (Special Economic Zones) for manufacturers in the LED lighting domain. SEZs could help manufacturers reduce their production costs, driving economies of scale. These factors are critical for the success of India's LED lighting industry, which faces fierce competition from global quarters, particularly China. With Chinese companies receiving robust state subsidies, they can afford to price products much cheaper, as they have done for quite some time. Therefore, the Indian government should seriously consider the creation of SEZs for the LED segment of the lighting industry. 'Power for All' could then become a reality sooner rather than later.
As things presently stand, while the Budget will have a beneficial impact on the LED lighting industry, more remains to be done for the impact to be significant on this sector's growth.
The author is chairman and managing director, Eon Electric Ltd. Views expressed are personal.


text:
- Treehouse
- Safari Lodges
- Relaxing
- Family
- Sports & activity
- Balcony
- Swimming Pool
- Linen provided
- Maid Service
- Birdwatching
- Walking
- Safari
- Cook available
- Ideal for honeymoons
- Short breaks available
Situated within a private game reserve, Pezulu is a small and exclusive game lodge made up of eight unique thatch and reed tree houses. This is the ideal place to escape from today's hectic world and enjoy the tranquillity of the unspoilt African bush.
The lodge comprises 8 tree houses, each of which has been designed to blend in with the environment whilst maintaining an air of luxury. Built around the trees, enormous (and still growing) branches pass through the houses, and they are all far away from each other and hidden from view to ensure privacy. Early morning and late afternoon game drives are conducted in open 4x4 vehicles with our knowledgeable rangers, you can relax at the magnificent rock swimming pool, or you can enjoy a sundowner at the lookout point or in the treetop bar. And after all that, savour a 3 course dinner served in traditional style around a log fire in the outdoor boma. Pezulu is an unforgettable bush and safari experience.
At Pezulu itself you can take advantage of bush walks, bird watching and game drives with experienced rangers, as well as visits to the bordering Thornybush reserve. From here you can also visit the famous Kruger National Park, just 40 minutes away, and the Panorama Route, where you can see the natural wonders of Pilgrims Rest, God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels and Blyde River Canyon. The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre is only a 20 minute drive away and the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre, 40 minutes away, is well worth a visit. Take the Blyde Dam Boat Trip and spot hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles, or treat yourself to a hot air balloon trip, perhaps the best way to view both scenery and game.
Getting There:
The lodge is in the Limpopo region, just 40 minutes from Kruger National Park. The nearest airport is Eastgate, about 30 minutes away. South African Airways offers daily flights from Johannesburg to Eastgate Airport and transfers can be arranged on request. For detailed driving directions from Johannesburg, Orpen Gate, Hoedspruit or Nelspruit, please see the website.
Nearest Airport:
Eastgate 30 minutes
Nearest Restaurant:
On site
Nearest Shop:
On site
Car Hire:
Interior Details
The 8 tree houses can accommodate up to 25 guests in total and are all en-suite, with either an outdoor shower overlooking the bush or a bath. The romantic Dream Tree House has a spacious main bedroom with a four poster king-size bed, a cosy lounge and a bathroom with a Jacuzzi bath. The Mountain View Tree House also has a bedroom with a king-size bed and a Jacuzzi bath. The Honeymoon Tree House is built over 2 levels, with a king-size bed, a sitting area, a bathroom and a sunken bath with a view over the bush. And the Marula Suite has a beautiful lounge and a huge bathroom. And there are also 3 family tree houses. All houses are supplied with running (hot) water, electricity, tea and coffee facilities, electronic safes, overhead fans, heaters and mosquito nets.
Exterior Details
Each tree house has a spacious balcony from where you can view herds of animals passing below or view a giraffe eye to eye. They also each have a wooden walkway leading up to the door. The Dream Tree House has a fantastic twin outdoor shower and a view over an African savannah as well as a waterhole. The Mountain View Tree House also has an outside bathroom and a panoramic view over the northern Drakensberg Mountains, and the Honeymoon Tree House has hanging chairs on the balcony which overlook a waterhole. The thatched main building, entwined around a large Marula tree, comprises a lounge with a pool table, a dining area, a reception with curio shop and a treetop bar. The rock swimming pool, surrounded by loungers and hammocks, is the perfect place to cool off on hot summer days, or you could go to the lookout point and watch the sunset.
Further Details
A typical day starts with an early morning wake up between 5-6am, after which you head out into the bush. On our big 3 game drives you can observe rhinos, buffalos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, a variety of antelopes, ostriches, birds and if you are lucky leopards and hyenas. On the big 5 game drives you can also spot elephants and lions. The middle of the day can be spent as you wish and then high tea is served at about 3pm before heading out for the afternoon game drive. We enjoy the sunset behind the northern Drakensberg Mountains with a refreshing drink and then we continue the game drive, trying to view nocturnal animals by spotlight, before returning to the lodge at 7pm for drinks and dinner.
Conditions of Rental
Rates include a full English breakfast, a high tea (light meal) and a delicious 3 course dinner. Children under 3 years are free of charge. Children under 12 cost 550 rand per night. Big 5 game drive costs 580 rand per person.
Have you stayed at this place? Write a review and share your experience.


text:
Monday, February 16, 2015
Random top ten: superheroes who still don't have a franchise
However, even with all of this, there are still quite a few major heroes that have graced the pages of both DC and Marvel Comics who still don't have their own franchises, whether on the big screen or the small. Here are the next ten that should make the leap:
1. Namor the Sub-Mariner
Namor is Marvel's oldest hero, and he's a fascinating and complex character. Because he is a hothead who puts his Atlantean kingdom first, he as often appears as a villain as he does as a hero. DC may have beaten Marvel into the undersea realm by announcing Aquaman already, but the two characters are different enough to warrant both having franchises. Apparently Universal Studios has a stake in the film rights, which could be tying up this project. But hopefully we'll see Namor appear in some role soon, because he's too good a character to leave in limbo.
2. Hawkman and/or Hawkwoman
Hawkman and Hawkwoman have proven difficult to do on screen, because their costumes can look somewhat ridiculous. The answer, of course, is to use mo-cap suits and add the harness and wings in post-production. That will add to the special effects budget, but if done right, this will make the Thanagarians finally look as impressive as they do in the comics. And make no mistake about it, if done right, these two could be DC's equivalent of Wolverine: savage warriors with badass "Nth metal" weapons - and wings! - that they can summon at will. Their back stories have been a mess, and there are at least a dozen different versions of them, but that just means that the films will be able to tell the best story possible without being bound to all of that muddled continuity. Do it.
Update: both characters have been cast in the WB "Arrowverse" and will debut in the fall of 2015 on both Arrow and The Flash. While they could eventually get their own spin-off series, for now they are being set up to feature prominently on the Legends of Tomorrow series, which will debut in early 2016.
3. Moon Knight
Moon Knight is another "street-level" Marvel hero begging for a Netflix show. There's a little gadgetry and special effects involved here, but not so much that it should let the budget get out of hand. Importantly, though, this is not just another Batman retread. Marc Spector is a disturbed man with a tenuous grasp of sanity. A former mercenary who was beaten almost to death, he believes he was visited by the spirit of the ancient Egyptian god of vengeance, who saved him. Whether or not that is true is anyone's guess, but Spector believes he is now the avatar of vengeance, leading to a whole host of interesting plots.
4. The Doom Patrol
Think reject superheroes crossed with The Outer Limits. This series developed a cult following for DC in the 1960s. It has had various incarnations since then, but a film or series should o back to that original line-up and sense of bizarre wonder that made it stand out in the first place. In the final issue of its original run, everybody died - unheard of for a comic book series at that time. Keep that kind of on-the-edge-of-your-seat unpredictability, and this could be a very different kind of hero show.
5. Martian Manhunter
A shape-changing green Martian, the last of his kind, becomes trapped on Earth and uses his powers to blend in. His innate sense of justice leads him to become a police officer, allowing him to target criminals. Unknown to his partner, he's really the mysterious "Martian Manhunter." This well-loved DC character dates back to the 1950s and was an original founding member of the Justice League. In terms of power, J'onn J'onzz is often compared to Superman, but he has an even more glaring weakness than Kryptonite: fire. There's a lot to work with here.
6. The Runaways
A script for Marvel's Runaways has already been written and Marvel is apparently just waiting for the right time to put it into development. The premise is quite good: a group of teenagers discover that their parents are actually supervillains and decide to runaway and strike out on their own as heroes rather than continue the family business.
7. Static
Another teenager, Static originated on a creator-owned comic label and was then eventually folded into the DC universe. He is from Dakota City, where an experimental "crowd control" gas bomb accidentally mutated a bunch of people during a gang fight. Virgil Hawkins was a bystander, but was exposed and gained the power to control electricity. Afterward, he found himself in conflict with both with the numerous supervillains generated by the "Big Bang" event, and with government agents trying to track down all of the "Bang Babies" like himself.
8. Hourman
Hourman is one of DC's "Golden Age" heroes from the WWII era, and it's such a straightforward concept that it's begging to be added to CW's Arrowverse. Rex Tyler invented a drug that, when taken, gave him superhuman strength, stamina and invulnerability for a period of 60 minutes. In later years, there were darker undertones added to the story: the drug became addictive and negatively affected Tyler's health. The TV scripts practically write themselves.
9. Spider-Woman
Despite the similar names, Spider-Woman has an origin story and power set that has that has nothing to do with Spider-Man. I therefore believe that Marvel Studios owns her outright, although Sony may have a stake in her just because of the name. She is a genetically-enhanced superspy with electric "venom blasts" and over the years she has starred in her own, espionage-focused series as well as being a member of the Avengers. She was recently given a new, more reality-friendly, detective-type costume (pictured), as opposed to her traditional skin-tight bodysuit, which makes me think that Marvel is thinking ahead to bringing her to the screen.
10. She-Hulk
In Marvel Comics, Jennifer Walters is Bruce Banner's cousin and became She-Hulk after receiving a blood transfusion from him. However, unlike Banner she retained her full intelligence when she turned green. In addition to being an Avenger and a member of the Fantastic Four, she has maintained a law practice over the years. That's right, it's "Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer" done even better: "Sexy Green Monster Lady Lawyer." Defending superheroes and villains in court is a whole different kind of story, and so this would be a good premise for a Netflix show. After that, we could see Walters pop up elsewhere in the MCU - whether in the court room or in spandex.
Honorable Mentions: The Punisher and Ghost Rider
Technically, the Punisher has had three movies so far and Ghost Rider has had two. However, none of those has been with Marvel Studios and none has really captured the essence of the characters. Now that Marvel has the rights back to both characters, I would love to see what authentic versions of these characters could look like on the screen. While there are a lot of places they could pop up in the MCU, the brutal vigilante and the demon-possessed spirit of vengeance would both be perfect for more mature-audience series on Netflix or even a premium channel like HBO.
Update: the Punisher has been cast in the MCU and will feature prominently on the second season of Daredevil in the spring of 2016. Speculation is that he could get his own Netflix series if he is well received there.
3 comments:
I am not going to lie, I didnt even know any of these existed, however I really like the idea of spider woman, and I think she can really it it off if casted good.ReplyDelete
best trail camera under 50 dollarsReplyDelete
best dash cam dual camera
Simply this site is likely to irrefutably quite possibly possibly be renowned affecting quite a few information sites person's, to help it is conscientious content pieces or it could be viewpoints. fmoviesReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
some old, same oldPosted: July 31, 2013 Filed under: friends, the big IF, travel 8 Comments
I'm not pregnant. Again. I am, however, in sometimes-sunny San Francisco, which is a decent consolation prize. Ok, consolation prize isn't the thing, but aside from a breakdown or two, I honestly am ok.
This leg of the trip I'm staying with a dear friend of (maths….) 27 years (whoa.) and her equally dear girlfriend in their new-ish house and my childless and unpregnant state allows me to do things like sit a bar all afternoon drinking Pimm's cups while reading a graphic novel and chatting with the (hot) bar tender (who was very into talking about guns and how she *needed* them to defend her "female partner and 12 year old asthmatic pug and hairless cat" to which should teach me to judge by appearances.)
Which is to say I am doing ok. The waste of all the money is, well a waste – and there's little I like less than waste – but there it is. I have thrown away the PIO I hauled across the country and my friend has arranged for Lyon-Martin to take my extra needles and syringes so I don't have to throw them away (see waste issues above), so that's all ok.
Which is not to say that this doesn't suck. It does. And I have no idea what happens from here. No fucking idea. But right now, I am in good company, writing and reading and drinking tea. And tonight I get on the train to travel up the coast to Seattle.
Which is to say that the world will continue to turn and I will be ok.
and now I'm feeling a little ill…Posted: July 22, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized 5 Comments
Not in the "oh, pregnancy-related nausea!" way. In the familiar, anxiety related way.
I hate waiting.
holdPosted: July 21, 2013 Filed under: blah, stupidly introspective, the big IF, ttw, western medicine Leave a comment
It's hard to wait, as we often say in my classroom.
Part of the issue, maybe, is that I have no structure to my days now that my stint at summer camp is over. The ttw for this try exists in this limbo state between work and travel and while that seems smart on some levels (rest and relaxation) it seems foolish on others (lack of structure, lack of distractions). Anyway! That's how it is.
The part that becomes the easiest to obsess over is the timing of the beta. My old and dear RE, in combo with the Richmond RE, always did betas at 14 dpo, or 14 days after retrieval. The cheater RE has scheduled one at 16 dpo, in which "o" means retrieval. Which is sort of ok and sort of not.
I mean, I guess I feel them with wanting an unambiguous number, but if there's an early miscarriage – sorry, I mean a "chemical pregnancy", then that's useful information to have, in my mind.
On the other hand, in this case – i.e. Last Best Hope – who the hell cares about useful information?
The other Issue At Hand (you can tell I'm bored by extra capitals), is that I'll be doing the aforementioned traveling when it's 16 dpo. Hell, I'll be doing the aforementioned traveling when it's 14 dpo. But there would still be enough time for a quick trip to the lab before I get on the plane.
I'm of two minds about the testing day:
- make a fuss so they will write me a slip for a beta 14 dpo because knowing shit sooner is better.
- go for the 16 dpo one, even though I'll be out of town because then I can assume I'm pregnant for two extra days.
Y'all. I have gone back and forth about a million times.
Then factor in whether to order more PIO….. (There is enough to get me a couple days past a 16 dpo beta, but it has to be compounded and then shipped, so one needs to order in advance and I'll be, well, traveling.)
And do I try to get a progesterone check thrown in there, too? Because I love labs?
There were some fun pseudo-symtoms earlier: cramps (that's the only one I can actually associate with prior pregnancies, well, that and crying), crazy tired (which could be just my general state), some bloating of sorts (my clothes fit funny at least) and the need to pee all the damn time (decidedly *not* normal for a preschool teacher).
But those all disappeared a couple days ago and were probably just the giant dose of HCG I gave myself before the retrieval.
Now I've got nothing but tiredness and being teary over the million novels I've been reading.
Posted: July 16, 2013 Filed under: 2ww, the big IF, western medicine 1 Comment
Funny how I didn't blog much on bed rest. I was too busy resting. I'm sure you're sorry. It was uneventful, if y'all must know. Well, that's not entirely true. There was a strange event with the furnace (I KNOW!) on Saturday night that caused me some mild panic and then some (few!) tears on Saturday, but my dear roommate ventured down to the crawl space and flipped the emergency off switch and now I think (hope?) I can safely ignore the whole thing until later. Why does my house freak out when I am on bedrest? (Oh, jeeze, I'd forgotten about just how bad that round of bedrest was.)
Anyway, I'm up now. I put on real clothes and went to lunch yesterday and everything, My PIO is going well (the real trick, I've discovered, is not to walk a mile right after shooting oil into your gluteus maximus, just f y'all's i) and, really I do prefer it to prometrium. The mess was just like a waxy smack in the face on top of the misery of IVF. The shots? Well, they are just shots, no mess. Plus, I feel like a bad ass. (Jokes may be left in the comments.) The one down side is I feel like I am not doing enough to make this embryo stick. I mean, a needle in my ass once a day only takes a few minutes and that's with all the clean up. Maybe I'll get some pineapple tomorrow.
My lower abdomen is vaguely crampy, which I am assuming is residual from the retrieval. My boobs re sore and huge(r), which I know is the progesterone. I used a due date calculator today, which I know is stupid. Everything is right on track.
Except Ol' Three Nuclei, who seems to have, well, done something. I'd forgotten that the lab guy told me on Saturday at the transfer that he was going to let the embryos we weren't putting back hang out in their posh petri dish for a few more days, just to see what they did. Valium makes one forget, so it's a good thing M was there for company and mental note taking. Anyway, the lab guy called today, late, and said that Three Nuclei is still growing and is looking *more* normal. Crazy.
If it keeps going until tomorrow, he wants to send it to NJ where they do their PGD and get it tested to see if it is worth freezing. He's pitched it to them as "of academic interest" and the guy at his level there has said he will do the testing for free, but has to run it by his boss. If it looks good, genetically, then pow! Embryo in the freezer. If not, no loss. Boss is on vacation out of the country. The lab guy is going to see if it's still in the game tomorrow and biopsy the bit he'd send off and freeze that as well as freeze dear Three Nuclei so if the genetic testing gets done *and* if it comes back normal, then things are ready to go. So we shall see what we see.
The lab guy seems genuinely fascinated and I really wish I could remember all the technical stuff he said. The one stat I do remember was that it had gone from a 3 cell to a 7 cell in around 14 hours on Saturday, which is crazy fast (unknown if this is "good" or "bad"). It's taken it's tiny self to blast by today, although there is still this extra "micro nucleus" hanging around. So really, this is all a big experiment, which I feel pretty good about. If I get another viable embryo, fab. If this one isn't viable, but can shed even the tiniest bit of light into the darkness that is infertility, fab.
The lab guy also feels like the magical turn around (not his term) of little Three Nuclei bodes well for the continued development of the one (The Good One) they put back in me. And so there's that.
Nothing left but the waiting, y'all.
if i had a nicklePosted: July 13, 2013 Filed under: friends, the big IF, ttc, ttw, western medicine 5 Comments
Alternate Title:
it only takes one
Y'all, I have had a lot of transfers. Six, if my count is correct, plus today, which makes seven. They are, for me, no big deal. Hell, I could do those fuckers in my sleep. With the two valium I took today, it was sort of close to that. Ok, not really, but two valium is fun!
My friend M, of do-your-PIO-shot-while-lying-down fame, was kind enough to drive me this morning. (The appointment was late enough that I got to make my usual trip to the market to pick up my CSA.) I obediently drank a fuck-ton of water – because this is A Full Bladder Appointment, you know – after I got back from the market and took my two valium (I thought three was overkill and told them so) at the correct time and M drove up and collected me and my big bag of medications that I was going to happily unload on the nice people at the cheater RE's (they will donate them to people in their egg donor program). And off we went! It was a fun trip. Because of the valium. And because M is nice.
We were in the same little cold room as I was Wednesday for the retrieval, and then they wheeled me into the adjoining Room Full of Medical Things, which I thought was just an OR, but apparently is used for all sorts of things. Funny. Anyway, the lab guy (to whom I'd spoken on the phone earlier in the morning to get the lay of the embryonic land: ok, but not top of the class – much like me) came in and explained the procedure, which M and I listened to with great seriousness (she was serious in a blue hair net thing) because the lab guy is serious as well as really nice. They covered me a million bankets and used the big girl external ultrasound to see if my bladder was full enough (it was) and then my name and birthdate came up on a tv screen in the corner. Weird! Once I confirmed that was me, the screen showed my embryo. M said it was "very cute". She's a good friend.
And then in went the speculum and then in went a catheter – it was Dr. Soap Opera, btw – and then the lab guy came in the the embryo in it's own little catheter which was threaded through the first catheter that was threaded through my cervix ("straight, or true north" comment Dr. Soap Opera, when I offered that my old RE had said it was NE). There is a name for this sort of transfer, but in my valium-induced fog, I have forgotten it.
And then it was all done and I was wheeled back to the small cold room to lie down for 20 minutes before they would let me up to pee.
M took me to acu, which was pretty much a repeat of Wednesday with the needles in different places. Which is to say, great. And I've been here on the couch ever since. S brought me coconut soup for dinner.
Ways In Which The Cheater RE Is Not Like Richmond:
- transfer takes place in the catch-all room, which is also for retrievals – in Richmond, you stay in the fancy room and they bring the embryos to you in their chariot, aka incubator.
- embryos get screen time – on screen, not watching things themselves; the AAP would never condone that.
- there are fewer staff people – maybe this is a Saturday thing? Today was the lab guy, Dr. Soap Opera and one of the clinic nurses. In Richmond, I'd get at least two nurses, Dr. S, the embryologist and then often a bonus person who was there to do… something? It always felt like a party. Or maybe that was the valium?
For all the times I've done this, for all the cold ultrasound gel and the need to pee, for all the tubes and face masks and the virtual strangers leaning over my nether regions, the moment of seeing that tiny glowing white bit that is my embryo pop into view on the ultrasound monitor will never cease to amaze me. One of the (few) bonuses of infertility, I think, is that there is this feeling of community: everybody seems to be on your team, even with this round robin of doctors; everyone is working toward a goal that we all genuinely *wish* to reach. Who says science is cold and heartless? Not anyone who's be there for that moment of collective breath-holding, as we all watch to see that speck of light appear and then settle into place, carrying any number of people's hope along with it.
Here's to it only taking one.
and your little dog, tooPosted: July 11, 2013 Filed under: 2ww, blah, the big IF, ttc, western medicine 2 Comments
Or not. Not the little dog, too.
As of around 5 this afternoon, there was one lone "classically fertilized" embryo left. Which is one more than I had at this time last week, so that's something, right? Right.
Let's rewind to this morning, after my second shot of PIO (yes, more liquid hurts more, also a mile walk does not equal a serious butt massage with a hot wash cloth; yes, I am still sore; yes, I still like this better than prometrium) when my boss appears on the playground and waits around, patiently, for me to be done dealing with various children and their attendant parents. Turns out she'd gotten two phone calls from the lab because they couldn't get me on my phone and so she was there to take my place on the playground so I could got find out what the fuck was going on.
Not much. That's what was going on. The head lab guy reported that two eggs had fertilized and looked good, that four or five were not really acting like they were going to do anything, but that maybe they might, if pigs could fly and hell froze over. And did I want to do rescue ICSI on those eggs? Well, no. I don't. Thanks, though. That's thousands more dollars and if there are sperm in any of those four or five an extra sperm being injected into them would send them to their proverbial graves. I made clear that I understood what was going on and that I was willing to take my chances.
So then I went on about my day and awaited the afternoon phone call that had been promised. And I missed it. Because I am still weirded out enough by having a phone that it is often not on and so I missed the lab guy's call. His voice mail said to call him on his cell phone. Or at home. He really is very nice. Did I tell y'all he's married to my kindergarten teacher?
Turns out one of the two good looking embryos had taken a turn for the strange and developed three nuclei instead of the usual two. Part of me is all "whoa, shit – that's amazing!" But the other part is "uum, huh. That doesn't bode well," which is the more appropriate response because it doesn't bode well. For normal development, that is. But since there is only the one other good one left, Old Three Nuclei is being left in the petri dish to see if by some miracle, it chances course and begins to move in a more normal direction. Meanwhile, the 4 or 5 Miss Congenialities for whom I'd refused ICSI were showing no signs of cleaving, which might have won any one of them the honor of second runner up, but they also weren't dead, so they are also being left in the petri dish. The nice lab guy says it's stressful for them to be taken in and out of the incubator, so he's going to leave them alone until Saturday.
So cross your fingers that The Good Looking one keeps on keeping on because that's all there is.
seventeenPosted: July 10, 2013 Filed under: 2ww, friends, ivp, stupidly introspective, the big IF, ttc, western medicine 4 Comments
That's how many eggs were retrieved today. Good lord. No wonder my ovaries felt like they might pop through my abdomen yesterday.
Contrary to my dream last night, I arrived at the cheater RE's right on time this morning, maybe a little early, even, thanks to D. Funny, how when one is told that one cannot eat or drink, one is terribly thirsty and hungry. For the record, I am never thirsty.
So anyway, we arrived and found the correct door, helpfully labeled "IVF Room" or some such and then as bonus sign insurance, there was a picture of a 8 celled embryo. Just in case you…. forgot what you were doing there?
So in we went and it was fucking freezing, but that's how that particular cookie crumbles and they had warmed my gown and footies, so it wasn't so bad. The very nice nurse asked me why I was there, which made me give her a funny look when I answered "egg retrieval?" And then she told a story about how that question seriously alarmed some woman once and the nurse had to clarify for her that it was to be sure that the patient knew why she was there and that the staff already knew. "Like a test!" I said. And then I asked if I had passed. And she said yes and then the needle she was trying to put in my arm promptly broke. (Ok, not promptly – there may have been some other chatter and some paper work in there.)
The broken IV needle isn't as dramatic as it sounds, because I'm an easy stick and so I offered her all my other options, which she sweetly didn't want to use because they are all bruised up from me refusing the weird wrap thing they do with blood draws now. She was dear and didn't want to stick me where I was already bruised. As she started examining my hand (saying she hates to do hands because she feel like they sting more with the meds) the anesthesiologist came in and, very pleasantly, took over. And stuck my hand. Which was fine.
And then they ushered D out and wheeled me though a door and there I was in the OR.
And then there I was back in the little cold room (which had a great view of the mountains).
Predictably, I cried and D was sweet and comforting and then I was ready to eat my crackers and drink my ginger ale. Then they let me up to pee, which they said was A Good Sign and so then the nice nurse took out my IV and I could get dressed. There may have been more lying in the bed being sniffly than I am remembering, but really for the most part, it was all pretty fast.
I will admit not a small amount of pride in how I gave myself my first PIO injection. The nice nurse and I had a little teaching session (that is, she gave me A Lesson for the Montessori in you) and then she insisted that I dose myself then and there so she could watch to be sure I got it. And it was so fine. Not a big deal. Whew. My boobs got in the way a bit, in terms of the sight lines to my ass, but my friend M later said she used to do hers lying down and that took care of that problem. Tomorrow's shot will be of a larger volume – same sized needle – which will change things some, but so far I feel like I am much happier with the shots than with the various pessaries and creams and goos and such.
And then I toddled off, well was driven by D, to acu. Which was it's usual fab self; there were some needles, there was some moxibustion, there was a rub down with liniment and there was the surprise revelation that my acu guy likes si-fi!
My aforementioned friend M, of "lie down for your PIO shot" fame, picked me up from acu (I didn't want to take up all of D's day, although she offered several times to stay at acu with me) and treated me to extra strength tylenol, gatorade and a liverwurst bagel. All this after I almost threw up in her car. Y'all, my friends are nice. There was a quick and unpleasant round of nausea as we drive home – I had to ask M to pull over – but once it passed I felt pretty good. Like when you throw up when you're drunk and then you're all "I feel great now! Let's have another drink!" It was weird. Aside from that brief spell of nausea, things were easy. I was good about staying on top of hydration and pain, which I think I wasn't last time. And there were 17 eggs this time, not 21, which also may have made a difference.
The doctor on today wasn't Dr. Hot, much to my sadness, but that all ended up ok, too. It was the guy I like least, but he was friendly and more accessible than he was the other day and damn if he didn't do some loaves and fishes magic with my follicles so I am warming to him. And then we saw Dr. Soap Opera in the elevator as we left, so that was entertaining.
So hooray, the part I was most afraid of is done. (Well, I still have to take some meds that might make me vomit if I don't take them with food, but that will be ok. It will.) Fertility report tomorrow. Transfer Saturday or Monday.
Oh, I forgot to tell you about the hospital grade pad they nicely put out for me in the bathroom at the Cheater RE's and my not-pad-friendly undies. You're welcome.
Ways In Which The Cheater RE Is Not Like Richmond:
- no ipod dock in the room, which was smaller and more sterile looking in general
- nasal cannula was inserted before the meds took effect – I had no idea there was one used on me in Richmond
- sticky monitoring things were stuck on after the meds – in Richmond, they put them on me before I even got to the OR
- my ride/handholder was sent back to the regular waiting room to wait – I think in Richmond, she stayed in the very posh room that was "mine" for the duration of the procedure
- no clock to look at the in OR, while counting down as the anesthesia does it's thing
- nice view of the mountains (no mountains in Richmond, duh)


text:
SEC Players, Coaches and Fans Set to Invade Media Days
HOOVER - The SEC is expecting to distribute more than 1,200 media credentials as media days get underway Tuesday in Hoover, Alabama.
Before all of the festivities, Commissioner Mike Slive will make a statement around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon. After that, Missouri and Florida will begin their rotations, walking from various interview rooms to greet the media. The way it works is that a player or coach will come into a room and sit at a podium, and then the media has ten minutes to ask questions to that person.
Representing Mizzou this year at media days is head coach Gary Pinkel, senior quarterback James Franklin, senior wide receiver L'Damian Washington, and senior linebacker Andrew Wilson. Other big names expected at media days this year include Heisman Trophy QB Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M, Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, and head coach Nick Saban.
Also, College Football Live and Sportscenter will be broadcasting throughout the week, adding to the chaotic, exciting atmosphere.
Players and coaches are followed by the media swarms as they travel from one interview room to the next. Last year, Alabama Coach Nick Saban was followed by two cameramen into the bathroom, which they mistaken for an interview room.
South Carolina and Ole Miss are the other two teams to speak to the media Tuesday with the remaining ten teams spread out over Wednesday and Thursday.
Two-time defending national champion Alabama is scheduled to go Thursday. The university is only 52 miles from Hoover, so Crimson Tide fans are expected to flood the lobby of the Hyatt Regency with everything from footballs to babies that they want signed.


text:
Preparing for BartPE
BartPE is a great troubleshooting tool to use under any number of circumstances from performing disk checks to virus or spyware removal. This guide will show you how to make a BartPE with virus check and spyware ISO or CD.
Before we get started, you'll need to make sure you have a copy of Windows XP on hand.
- Download the BartPE Builder package. The PE Builder will create a custom XP install that you can run from a disk without affecting your main operating system.
- Download the free edition of Adaware and McAfee Stinger.
- Install Ad-Aware as you would normally. Pay attention to the install location as you will need to point PE Builder to some files when we build the BartPE CD. Be sure to perform an update of Ad-Aware to ensure you have the latest definitions.
- Double click on the PE Builder download from step one. Select the desired language and click OK.
- Click Next on the remaining pages altering options as desired.
Creating the BartPE Disc
Follow these steps to create a bootable CD using BartPE.
- Launch PE Builder by choosing the option to do so when the install has finished or go to Start, Programs and select PE Builder.
- Accept the PE Builder license by clicking I Agree.
- Insert your Windows XP CD into your CD\DVD drive and Click Yes on the "Search Files?" window (Figure 1).
- After a few moments, the search should find the Windows XP installation CD. Click OK. If there were multiple sources found select the one you wish to use and click OK. In Figure 2, you can see I have one source local to my hard drive and one is a CD.
- We now need to copy some files from Ad-Aware and Stinger to a plugin directory for PE Builder. Browse to the location of your Ad-Aware install files and copy "ad-aware.exe" and "defs.ref" to the PE Builder plugin folder. By default this will be under C:\pebuilder3110a\plugin\adawarese.
- Rename the Stinger download file to "Stnger.exe" and copy it to C:\pebuilder3110a\plugin\stinger (Figure 3).
- In the main PE Builder application, you should see the source field filled in. Click Plugins and then select Ad-Aware SE. Click Enable\Disable. The Enabled column for Ad-Aware should now say "Yes". Repeat the process for McAfee Stinger (Figure 4). Click Close to return to the main menu.
- Under the Media Output heading, select the option to create an ISO image or to burn to a CD\DVD. Click Build when you are ready to begin. Accept the Windows license agreement when presented. PE Builder will now create a custom BartPE CD for you. The whole process shouldn't take more than a few minutes. Click Close to complete the process.
Using the BartPE Disc
- To use the new CD to scan for viruses or Spyware, insert the CD in your drive and reboot your computer. Be sure your computer is set to boot from disc.
- When BartPE starts up, click No when asked whether to enable network support (Figure 5).
- You can now go to Go, Programs Ad-Aware SE or McAfee Stinger (Figure 6).
With that, you can now use BartPE to check your computer for Spyware and viruses. Be sure to periodically update your BartPE ISO image in order to keep your virus and spyware definitions current.
Image Credits: Screenshots taken by R. Tetzlaff


text:
Contributed by Priscilla Williams, President, Pumpkin Brook Organic Gardening
Every autumn in New England we get to witness a spectacular show when the leaves turn to bright oranges, reds and yellows. But soon enough the show ends, the leaves begin to fall and what remains is a bounty of nature's very own mulch. Rather than bagging and hauling away this resource, consider the many benefits of shredding the leaves so that they can be used as leaf mulch, right on site.
Using leaf mulch on your property offers several benefits:
- Cuts down on need for watering
- Recycles local leaves
- Controls soil erosion and retains soil moisture
- Regulates soil temperatures
- Reduces weeds
- Mitigates drought stress
- Adds nutrients and improves soil structure while adding beneficial fungi and microorganisms
Leaf mulch can be thought of as compost waiting to happen. Have you ever been out in the middle of the woods and observed the soil? It's a rich brown color with a great earthy smell. It's teeming with beneficial microorganisms and organic matter. This soil is created year after year by decomposed leaves. Fallen leaves contain 50-80% of the nutrients taken from the soil and air during the growing season. As the leaves decompose, those nutrients are released back into the soil and made available to plants. Shredding leaves speeds up the decomposition process and creates uniform, aesthetically pleasing mulch.
Leaf mulch can also be stored to later be used as necessary carbon-rich "browns" balancing out the compost pile. Brown materials can be hard to come by in summer when so many nitrogen- rich "greens" are abundant from weeding and deadheading. If you've planned ahead and stored a few garbage bags of leaves in your garage over the winter, you won't have any problem making an ideal compost come summer.
This fall, consider leaf mulching as an option during a fall cleanup. For example, our company can use a commercial grade leaf shredder, or you can use your own mower to shred a shallow pile of leaves. Leave the results right on your lawn as a natural fertilizer, or put the shredded leaves right back onto your garden beds and reap the benefits!
Or, even easier, don't bother with shredding leaves. Simply leave a 3-4" layer of leaves on garden beds to protect perennials, shrubs and trees over winter. "Bald" or bare soil in the beds, with every scrap of mulch blown away and all leaves removed, can lead to plant losses in harsh winters with widely fluctuating temperatures. Clean up more thoroughly in the spring.


text:
Q&A: H7N9 bird flu
A new type of flu has made the jump from birds to people in China - it is known as H7N9.
The World Health Organization says it as an "unusually dangerous virus", but it is still too soon to say whether it will pose a global threat to human health.
How bad is it?
Scientists have described the new virus as a "serious threat" and a "cause for concern". Since the first case was detected, at the end of March, more than 200 people have been infected. There virus entered the scene with a bang - more than 100 cases in the first month. That was an unusually high rate for a new infection. There has since been a second surge in winter 2013/14. A quarter those infected have died. There is no doubt H7N9 is a dangerous infection.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom is severe pneumonia. The virus can also overload the immune system, causing what is known as cytokine storm. Blood poisoning and organ failure are also possible.
Should I worry?
Not yet. It is a virus that can spread only from a bird to a person, at least for now. It has been detected in chickens, ducks and pigeons at markets in China. Unless you have close contact with birds in the regions affected, the risks are low. However, this can change as the virus mutates. The number of new cases has also slowed with a gap in the middle of May when no new infections were reported for more than two weeks.
What should I keep an eye out for?
The biggest alarm bell with a new bird flu is if it starts to spread among people rather than via birds. The technical phrase is human-to-human transmission. This would give it the capacity to spread around the world in both poor and rich countries. The virus is not there yet, but the concern is that it will mutate.
It will also be a problem if cases soar. This is a numbers game - the more people infected, the more times the virus replicates, the greater the chance of it becoming able to spread in people. Also if the virus jumps to other animals, particularly pigs, this can also increase the chances of dangerous mutations developing.
Has this happened before?
Viruses jump species quite regularly. The last major bird flu, H5N1, made the jump to people in 1997 and has since killed more than 300 people. But H5N1 also remains unable to spread between humans. The most infamous pandemic - the 1918 Spanish flu, which killed perhaps 40 million people - probably came from birds. The fear is that eventually a new virus will sweep the world in a similar fashion. Once again it is simply a numbers game, eventually it will happen and some would argue we are overdue.
How does H7N9 bird flu differ from H5N1?
H7N9 is less deadly than H5N1, which killed 60% of those infected. This is a good thing for people infected, but may be a bigger problem globally as it means more people would be able to spread the infection if it could be passed from person to person.
The other major difference is in the birds. H5N1 killed birds, H7N9 does not. This is important as it is much easier to track the spread of a fatal infection, and H7N9 infected flocks will be harder to detect.
What is a pandemic?
It is when the same strain of an infection is popping up all over the world.
How close to a pandemic are we?
It is impossible to say in weeks or months how far off a pandemic we are. But there is information inside the virus's genetic code which provides some clues. Controversial research to modify the H5N1 virus highlighted five key mutations needed for it to spread between people.
Two of the five have been found in H7N9. It shows the new bird flu has some, but not all, of the mutations which would help if become a pandemic. But that does not mean it will acquire the other three mutations or what will happen if it does.
Where has the virus spread?
No human cases have been detected outside of China.
Is it safe to visit China?
The World Health Organization has not recommended any travel restrictions as the total number of cases so far is still low.
Could there be cases elsewhere?
Yes, the virus could spread through birds to other countries. People could also pick up the infection in China and travel before they start to feel ill. It means countries around the world are preparing for cases.
Do the drugs work?
The H7N9 influenza virus does seem to be susceptible to antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu, but there is little experience of using them in the field. However, a study published in May showed that resistance emerged in three out of 14 people being treated at one hospital. Doctors there raised concerns at the "apparent ease" with which the virus developed resistance to the drug.
Is there a vaccine?
At the moment there is no vaccine, but the earliest stages of developing one are under way. It is not yet known if there will be a need for one. It will be a difficult decision to start manufacturing a vaccine as there is limited global capacity for making influenza vaccines. It is grown in hens' eggs and takes months. An H7N9 vaccine would affect the production of seasonal flu vaccines.
What do those H's and N's mean?
They are used to classify different types of influenza A. The H stands for haemagglutinin and the N stands for neuraminidase. Both are proteins on the surface of the virus which come in different varieties, each of which is given a different number.


text:
Message from the CEO
Thank you for visiting the web site for the Boys and Girls Ranches of Alabama. I hope that you will enjoy learning about our organization and the many deserving children in our care. The Ranch program was founded in the 1960s by the Sheriffs of Alabama to provide homes for children in need.
Our program has grown and changed considerably over the past five decades, but our motto has remained the same: "It's easier to build boys and girls than to repair men and women." That is our goal - to help build children into responsible, productive adults before their home situations become so unbearable that they cross the line and break the law. Many of our children have been physically and/or sexually abused, severely neglected by their families, orphaned or abandoned.
We provide them with a loving home on our four Ranches located in rural areas around the state. The children live in a Christian family home that is as close to a normal family situation as we can provide. When a child comes to live with us, we take on full responsibility for his or her every need including food, shelter, clothes and shoes, medical and dental care, and school supplies.
We raise the funds necessary to care for these children through donations from individuals and corporations, fund-raising events and grants. For more information on how you can help care for the children, please see our Special Events or How to Help sections of our web site.
We maintain an open door policy and welcome all visitors to our facilities. I would like to invite you to stop by and visit with the children and our caring staff members next time you are traveling near one of our Ranch locations. Thank you for your interest in the abandoned, abused and neglected children of Alabama and please contact us if you have questions or need further information.


text:
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) announced that 34 areas in Kuala Lumpur and 109 areas in Gombak experienced water supply disruption following the breakdown in the pumping system at the Wangsa Maju Pump House, yesterday.
Syabas executive director of Corporate Affairs Division Priscilla Alfred said as a result, the Wangsa Maju Pump House had to stop operations at 7pm.
She said 146,875 housing units in the Kuala Lumpur area experienced water supply disruption while 77,206 houses in the Gombak area were affected.
For the Kuala Lumpur Territory, the areas involved included the Flat DBKL Dato Keramat, Jalan Padang Tembak, Jalan Semarak, Jalan Gurney, Wisma Tanah, Jupem, Pusat Latihan Telekom, Jalan U-Thant, Jalan Ampang Hilir, Taman Pandan Jaya, Taman Cempaka, Taman Bakti, Taman Nirwana, Taman Shamelin Perkasa, Taman Tenaga, Taman Miharja, Taman Kobena, Desa Pandan and Taman Pandan Utama.
For the Gombak territory the affected areas were Ampang Avenue, Ampang Jaya, AU 1-5, Bukit Setiawangsa, Bukit Antarabangsa, Danau Kota, Taman Bukit Ampang, Taman Cahaya Indah, Taman Hijau, Kampung Datuk Keramat, Ukay Height and Ukay Perdana.
Priscilla said so far, pumping operations had begun at 50% and would reach 100% when the pump repair had been fully completed.
She said Syabas had activated emergency water supply assistance through tanker lorries to the affected consumers and advised them to consume water prudently during the disruption period.
Source: – Bernama


text:
Teal Pewter Star Pendant
Teal Pewter Star Pendant. Make a statement with this glam pewter star pendant. Ideal as a serious style pick-me-up for causal wear or to finish off an outfit - it's simply wearable anytime.
Availability: Out of stock
Product Information
This pendant is made from a star shaped pewter case finished with polished resin and silverleaf.
The component measures approx. W4cm x H4cm x D0.3cm and is suspended from laminated surgical steel wire. The necklace measures approx. 41cm and is fastened with a lobster clasp with an additional 5cm extension chain for adjusting the necklace length. All the jewellery components are both nickel free and hypo-allergenic.
This pendant is dispatched within 2-3 business days and is gift wrapped in an organza bag.
* All measurements are approximate. Due to the handmade nature of the jewellery, slight variations in the size and colour may occur.
|Made By
|Watch This Space