text:
Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!!
>> Friday, April 10, 2009
Well it's a bit late, but Happy Birthday to my baby Boy C!!!! He turned 2 Thursday, in a day that flew by way to fast! Kids really do grow up too fast, and if you blink, you will miss soo much! My big boy weighed in at 8lbs 14 oz. I will post his current weight after his 2 year check-up on Monday :)
Thursday was a crazy day! I really wanted to take the day off, as I usually do on my kid's birthdays, but of course it was the day of the meeting that I had to go to. Well the meeting was over at 4, then I had to drive back to work to take my office manager back. Well the tunnel traffic was backed up as usual, so we sat in that for a while. The entire time I was sweating it b/c K had her school spring program last night. (why they don't clear hings with me, I will never know...) Got back to work at about 5:20....had to be at the school BY 6:45....drove home, got K dressed only to realize she didn't have any white dress shoes / sandals. Got everyone ready, minus her shoes, ran to target, C fell asleep on the way to Target b/c he didn't have a nap today at my dad's >:/ Ugh...so ran k into target, threw her in the back of a shopping cart, and off we went to the shoes....THANKFULLY I found a pair of dressy white sandals that would work, so we hurried over to the checkout line. There were 3 lines open and ALL 3 had problems....it took us almost 10 minutes to check out!!! UGH We finally got to the truck, threw her in her carseat, and off we went to school....Her class had already lined up, but I got her there in time...threw the top of her hair up in a ponytail, and took my seat. The play went very well, and we went to Applebees afterwards for C's birthday! It was a long night! LOL


text:
Miscellaneous Products
In addition to high-quality raw materials and ingredients for the food and feed industries, Niche capitalises on its extensive supplier network to offer a diverse range of associated products. We offer our customers the advantage of a single point of contact for various commodities from rubber and construction materials to paint and coatings.
Are you looking to source a specific product or raw material for your operations? Contact us today to discuss the possibilities and profit from our market leading solutions in shipping and distribution.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Utility Jacket: Queenshop (similar here) / Polka Dot Sweater: J. Crew (similar here) / Scuba Skater Skirt: H&M (similar here) / Bracelet: Michael Kors (pink no longer available; rose gold here) / Shoes: Ecote (similar here)
These photos were taken during that sudden onslaught of snow we received in New York City. Being stuck at home because of weather really sucks, so my bud and I decided to brace the cold and snap a few shots for fun. I've been totally obsessed with this utility jacket lately. The cut of the sleeve is so comfortable, and the oversized pockets have definitely come in handy (mostly for shoveling candy bars into during Netflix marathons). Although the weather seriously makes going outside such a pain, I couldn't help really admiring the beauty of all that snow. Of course, I admire the most from the safety and warmth of my apartment.
Can I also say that I'm totally infatuated with the lens my pal used to take these photos?! For the first time in my picture taking life, the snowfall was actually captured. You can even see the flakes in my hair (no, that wasn't not dandruff). He helped me take a few sets, which I can't wait to share. I'm totally having camera envy though, and wish that the lens didn't leave with him. Does anybody else ever get camera envy? I'm seriously contemplating saving up for an upgrade now (although learning how to use the more sophisticated cameras is a whole different issue)!
I hope everybody stays dry this weekend!


text:
50 years ago, nightclub star Frances Faye recorded her live LP, Caught In The Act," featuring The Jack Costanzo Band, at The Crescendo, a former nightclub on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, California. In her 2007 Backstage Magazine Bistro-Award winning show, Terese Genecco pays tribute to the spirit, sound, and style of Faye, adding to her 7-piece band roster the talents of the highly acclaimed Latin percussionist, Jack Costanzo.
Called one of the TOP TEN BEST SHOWS of 2006 by Time Out New York Magazine, Drunk With Love" was recorded live at The Metropolitan Room in New York City, over a four-night run, last October. It has been released on the BUG:OUT:MUSIC label.
Introducing Jack Costanzo onstage, in the same way Frances Faye introduced him fifty years ago, sent chills up my spine. It was absolutely magical!" said Genecco, following their first performance together at San Francisco's Empire Plush Room last month.
When asked what he thought of Genecco's act, Costanzo said, I never thought anyone could capture the spirit of Frances Faye until I heard Terese Genecco. What a gem!"
After winning a San Francisco singing competition in 2003, where she was named Entertainer of the Year," Genecco created this loving tribute show in honor of her idol, Frances Faye. A huge hit with critics and audiences alike, the show has seen more than fifty performances in New York City and San Francisco, garnering more and more acclaim and an adoring fan base.
Music Critic, Rob Lester, writes in his talkinbroadway.com CD review column: Listening to some old Frances Faye records in between exposures to Terese's Bistro Award-winning tribute, made me appreciate again how refreshing the work is, and also how studiously the singer did her homework. The style and substance are recycled with relish, and the brazen, in-your-face but teasing attitude, that sounds so off the cuff with Terese, were all etched in vinyl. One need not be a student of the Faye heyday to appreciate the pure entertainment value of Terese Genecco and her very hot and swinging little big band." Adding the authenticity of Costanzo's bongo playing to the act has created the final conduit between the two performers, whose careers are separated by fifty years.
Genecco is also joined onstage by San Francisco jazz pianist/arranger/ conductor, Mike Greensill, who shares duties with Genecco at the piano. Her rhythm section is all Costanzo, with his band members Mikey Holguin on drums, and Rene Camacho on bass. The brass and woodwind section travels with Genecco from San Francisco, and features Max Perkoff on trombone, Fil Lorenz on tenor sax, and Rich Armstrong on trumpet.
Genecco and band perform one show only at M Bar & Restaurant in Hollywood. In the audience, cheering on their old friend, and celebrating the work of this fresh new singer, will be Russell Garcia (composer/arranger/conductor on many of Faye's albums,) Gene Norman, (GNP Crescendo Records - producer of Faye's Caught In The Act" LP) and Teri Shepherd, (Faye's surviving partner of 31 years.) Old school Hollywood gets a fresh update in Genecco's swingin' hands, and we're all the better for meeting both artists in this loving tribute performance.
WHAT: Terese Genecco in Drunk With Love: A Tribute To Frances Faye!" CD RELEASE CONCERT featuring The JACK COSTANZO little big band!
WHERE: M Bar & Restaurant, 1253 N Vine St (in the Fountain & Vine Plaza), Hollywood, CA 90038 (323.856.0036)
WHEN: Thursday, August 30, 2007 * doors/dinner 7PM * concert at 8PM
COST: $25 per person plus $10 food/drink minimum
TICKETS: toll free at 800.838.3006
DINNER RESERVATIONS: 323.856.0036 (must be made in advance, in addition to the phone or online concert ticket purchase.)
This story appears courtesy of Mulligan Productions LLC.
Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved.


text:
Hospital Clinica Biblica is the largest and most comprehensive private hospital in Costa Rica. Iy was wstablished in 1929. The hospital´s mission and vision focus on the health of each one of its clients, thereby achieving a hospital experience characterized by professionalism, tranquility, and patient well-being. In keeping your best interests in mind, Hospital Clinica Biblica is constantly growing in the areas of quality improvement of services and infrastructure.
Hospital Clinica Biblica is distinguished because it has obtained the recertification given by Joint Commission International for the second time, and was ranked as the fifth best hospital in Latin America in 2011 by América Economía magazine.
Some of the advantages offered to the clients of Hospital Clinica Biblica include the following:
- Highly specialized and dedicated care
- Immediate information regarding our services and benefits
- English-speaking coordinators and personnel
- Same-day appointments
- All specialized services under one same roof
- Direct access to a specialist when needed, with no need for a referral by a general practitioner
- International Department with friendly and knowledgeable personnel


text:
"People didn't die from the smoke. People didn't die from the fire. People died because they didn't know something was coming."
-Joseph Solis, former 911 dispatcher employee and police officer in Sebastopol, CA
The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services recently published a report from an independent assessment of Sonoma County's disaster communication plan following the catastrophic wildfires on October 8, 2017. As these wildfires grew, an estimated 100,000 people were evacuated, more than 5,000 structures burned, and 25 lives were lost making the event the most destructive wildfire in California history.
While the state's Assessment Team determined Sonoma County had in place an established public alert and warning system with the means to alert a wide range of County residents and visitors of the impending dangers, the investigation concluded specific procedures for using those alert and warning capabilities were "uncoordinated and include gaps, overlaps, and redundancies".
The state's independent review found Sonoma County emergency staff failed to prepare for the wildfires and had an outdated understanding of technology, unorganized emergency alerting protocol, and undertrained staff. The report also warns that the weaknesses found in Sonoma County's disaster communication plan are not unique, and many other local agencies could experience similar destruction in the event of another natural disaster.
Below are some of the report's key findings, including how Sonoma County emergency management failed to protect residents before the wildfires started and recommendations for improving the county's disaster communication plan before the next disaster.
(You can access the full report here.)
Report Finds Gaps in Sonoma County's Disaster Communication Plan
The gaps found in Sonoma County's disaster communication plan point towards the same shortcoming - a lack of trust. Alert operators did not trust their ability to issue public warnings because of their lack of training with the system, incident commanders did not trust the WEA capabilities of their notification system to properly alert local residents, and emergency services leaders did not trust the emergency action plan to evacuate residents safely.
Unclear Roles and Responsibilities
The roles of the alert originator, authorized to direct the issuance of public alerts and warnings, and that of an alert operator, trained in the technical operation of the warnings tools, were often confusing. Several individuals interviewed during the investigation reported a lack of clarity with regard to the authority to make decisions and issue warnings. According to the report findings:
"Personnel inferred that those individuals who had received technical training were, at least de-facto, authorized to make alerting decisions. Under the pressure of a fast-moving and complex emergency situation, this ambiguity could lead to delays and inconsistency in alert and warning issuance."
Lack of Social Science Training
The Assessment Team found it troubling that both decision-makers and operators of the county's notification system reported having little or no training on the 'social science' aspect of issuing public warnings. This includes understanding the thresholds and criteria necessary for issuing a public warning as well as how to use effective language in warning messages. These best practices also include effectively communicating pre-designated evacuation routes to local residents, preparing for traffic control, and ensuring shelter center information is readily available to those in need.
Sonoma Emergency Manager Chris Helgren, who was removed from the job days before the release of the state review, said he was afraid a mass alert would trigger mass evacuations and block the narrow roads that firefighters needed to access. Helgren's fears, regardless of their merit, highlight the poor internal education and trust emergency management workers have of local emergency action plans.
Documentation of Procedures and Templates Were Poor
The investigation revealed that checklists or detailed procedures for deciding what warnings to issue, when, and in what form appeared to be almost entirely absent. Alert-message templates that were available were largely focused on flood emergencies or evacuation, leaving alert operators to improvise alert messaging content. This placed more pressure and confusion on alert operates who were already undertrained on the emergency alert system.
Poor Situational Awareness Impacted Alert Messaging
The Assessment Team found the technical alert and warning systems to be functioning adequately, especially considering the impact of the wildfires on the area's communication infrastructure. Unfortunately, emergency management leaders were unable to monitor the progress of firefights on the ground. Lack of knowledge regarding the movement of first responders and resources in the field severely impacted overall situational awareness. Becuase of this lack of communication, decisions were being made on which areas should receive evacuation warning messages without alert operators being fully informed on the state of the wildfires.
Recommendations for Improvement for Sonoma County's Disaster Communication Plan
Based on the assessment of Sonoma County's alert and warning system, the California Office of Emergency Services made eleven recommendations for local officials moving forward - we highlight some of the most important recommendations below.
Improve Training for Emergency Management Workers
The report recommends that all potential public safety incident commanders be trained and authorized to order public warnings and evacuations when necessary. Training should focus on the science of effective warnings and the "when, why, and how" of alerting. This recommendation also includes alert operators and personnel at dispatch centers and emergency operation centers. These workers must know how to compose and transmit effective emergency alert messages during an emergency.
Development of Pre-Scripted Templates
Sonoma County was prepared for emergencies that evolve at a slower pace, such as storms and floods, and less so for fast-moving fires requiring urgent public warnings and rapid evacuations, according to California's top emergency services official Mark Ghilarducci. When it came to the documentation of procedures and templates, the Assessment Team uncovered much-needed room for improvement.
The report recommends pre-scripted message templates be developed to manage short-notice evacuations, care and shelter locations, and other important information residents need during an active emergency. Recommendations also include the development of 'fill-in-the-blank' style templates to be used for other common protective action plans such as prepare-to-evacuate, shelter-in-place, boil-water, and more. Alert-messaging templates during the October wildfires were focused on flooding and left emergency service operates no guidance for crafting an effective alert warning message on the fly.
Establish Refresher Training and Practice Sessions
Operators should practice sending alerts over various systems periodically throughout the year to stay familiar with the process. At the same time, incident commanders and other officials authorized to order public alerts should be reviewing their responsibilities and emergency resources and stay up-to-date on best practices for warning messages.
Underutilization of your alerting system may result in catastrophic consequences for residents. Not only will this prove dangerous during an emergency event, but non-emergency drills by alert operators unfamiliar with the system can result in another false alert like we saw in Hawaii. Annual system reviews by alert operators in Sonoma County could have made them feel more comfortable sending out an alert warning despite the stress of the growing wildfires.
Specify the Use of WEA
State evaluators challenged the county emergency service division staff's reasons against using the Wireless Emergency Alerts, commonly used for Amber Alert child abduction messages. The state review concluded Sonoma County officials decided long before the October wildfires to not trust the WEA system or the WEA integration capabilities their private vendor was charging them $14,500 to utilize. Some residents received their first WEA notifications from the county after the storm and debris flow had already hit. Sonoma County didn't even attempt to use the emergency broadcast system that hits TVs and radios because emergency management officials were unable to trust the system's reliability.
The report suggests Sonoma County officials review the use of WEA for all critical public alert and warnings. Officials should be considerate of residents who are hearing-impaired or have access and functional needs as well as visitors and tourists, all of whom would benefit from WEA alerts.
(Is your vulnerable population's management plan as detailed as your infrastructure resiliency efforts? Here's what to consider.)
Review and Expand Planning for Rapid Evacuations
The county's evacuation planning was based on storm situations and periodic flooding of the Russian River, threats that tend to be more gradual in onset and within a smaller geographic area than fires, the report said. The county's alert procedures and plans "were misunderstood or not directly applicable to this fast-moving, complex fire situation," the report said.
Sonoma Emergency Manager Chris Helgren's fears of mass evacuation ultimately influenced his decision to not use the national Wireless Emergency Alert system, leaving many residents unaware of approaching fires. Recommendations for Sonoma County emergency services include the review and development of rapid evacuation plans for fires, chemical releases, active shooters, and other immediate hazards. This should include estimates of evacuation traffic from neighborhoods and key traffic corridors toward likely shelter locations.
you may also like
Why Lone Worker Security Apps Should Be Available to All Employees
Jackson Lucas
December 17, 2019


text:
Each Flutter Sleeve bodysuits of top comes with 3 flutters on each shoulder and is a bland of 95% Cotton and 5% Elastane. This carefully selected blend gives each outfit the durability and comfort of cotton and enough stretch for daily use.
Our Care Instructions
- Do not soak
- Hand wash or gentle machine wash on cold in a bra bag
- Do not tumble dry


text:
The hottest little lace number has landed at House of CB and it's top of our summer hot-list.
Gorgeous white on white stretch lace featuring sheer lace side panels & a cute lace hemline make this a total beauty. Team with ruby red heels or sky-high nude pump heels to complete this super-cute look.
Need it? Shop the Jenaca dress HERE


text:
Contact us!
Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries, Inc.
710 North Post Oak Road, Suite 210
Houston, Texas 77024
(713) 640-5192 Main Line
ACAM provides support and services to ministries
and does not provide financial assistance directly
to the general public. Please call 2-1-1 for basic needs and financial assistance.
About ACAM
ACAM Introduction Presentation
Mission: The ACAM Network advances collaboration to create community-wide solutions for thriving nonprofits, neighborhoods and families.
Vision: An innovative, connected network that ensures families in need have a path to stability, health, and wealth.
We do this through:
- • Creating state of the art programming and initiatives that fosters evaluation and builds a learning community
- • Aligning and garnering talent and resources to support the expanding reach of the Network
- • Developing technology and data-driven solutions with the Network
- • Strategically supporting and leveraging leadership and assets
- • Building the brand of the Network as a whole
- • Communicating results to increase the impact of our network
• Premier and expert providers of basic needs services
ACAM Members are:
• Held to a higher standard, and
• Community partners who mentor peer ACAM members to benefit the network and the community
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about ACAM.
ACAM's CORE PROGRAM COMPONENTS:
Capacity Building: ACAM promotes sound practices in nonprofit operations and programming. Organizational assessments inform members on areas of strength and weakness and are used to develop capacity building plans. ACAM supports plan implementation through stipends for training and consulting and direct grants to develop organizational infrastructure.
Networking and Training: This component promotes best practice knowledge, peer learning and information exchange for the following groups: executive directors, resource development, volunteer management, program development and Thrift Store Institute. Peer mentoring relationships are developed among executive directors. This component also helps to build relationships between ACAM members and funders.
Advocacy and Outreach: This component is aimed at increasing membership by reaching out to underserved parts of Greater Houston, raising the profile of member organizations as service hubs in their communities and raising awareness around the issues affecting the people served by the CAMs. Activities are focused on rallying support for initiatives and funding that will provide pathways out of poverty for ACAM's member ministries' clients.
Collaborative Initiatives: ACAM helps members use their collective strength to develop city-wide service streams and service models that address root causes of poverty. ACAM also organizes member- and funder-driven initiatives to provide immediate response to member needs. ACAM is effective in coordinating efforts to address emergency situations affecting the lives of the clients served by member organizations, including but not limited to disaster relief.
Management Support: From its beginnings as a funder-initiated project, ACAM has a deeply ingrained appreciation and recognition that ongoing strategic discussion, development and evaluation is critical to the continued success of any organization or collaborative. ACAM's client organizations and collaborative partners receive an array of supports from ACAM including fiduciary policy and procedure development, case management development assistance, resource development, and leadership and staff mentoring and training.
For a one page overview of ACAM program components, click here.
ACAMs Awards and Affiliations• 25thAnnual Governor's Volunteer Awards – Community Capacity Builder
- • March 13th – Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries of Greater Houston
Day as proclaimed by the City of Houston and Harris County
- • Coalition for the Homeless Faith Breakfast Sponsor
- • Click here for Funder Testimonials
- • For a list of funders and other specifics about ACAM, please review our
Annual Reports on the REPORTS page.
Ongoing evaluation is critical to the continued success of any program. Through the services of trained consultants, ACAM members complete comprehensive on-site assessments to determine whether increased collaboration, new learning and growth in services resulted from their participation.
ACAM also enables ministries to evaluate their own programs by offering specialized training, one-on-one coaching, organizational assessment tools and the services of an external evaluator. Participants review specific client outcomes and capacity building efforts in order to develop actionable goals and indicators that better measure community impact.
ACAM and its members designed and implemented the Nine Elements Assessment Tool (NEAT©), an evidence-based system for assessing nonprofit organizational capacity. The project team that designed NEAT© included three categories of stakeholders: 1) executive directors representing the nonprofits that would use the system, 2) the Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries (ACAM), and 3) external evaluators who facilitate the assessments.
ACAM builds nonprofit capacity to increase organizational
sustainability and help groups proactively respond to growing
and changing community needs.
ACAM is part of the growing field of management support organizations (MSOs) that assist nonprofits in developing capacity. MSOs like ACAM have a challenging role with responsibilities to two sets of clients: the nonprofits to which they provide capacity building assistance and the funding community, which expects measurable results from their investment in these programs. The active involvement of nonprofits in "setting the agenda" for capacity building is challenging but important to creating effective programs. Organizational development requires commitment and the nonprofits involved must be confident that the expected outcomes are relevant for their organizations. Their input on content and format can help ensure that the program is customized to fit their context and needs, a factor that can increase program impact. Both ACAM and its nonprofit members are equally charged with identifying goals that that are achievable, but also exciting to funders and board members.


text:
Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) will resign from Congress later this summer to take a position with the University of Alabama system, according to two Republican sources, setting up a likely competitive primary to replace him in the safe GOP seat.
Bonner's retirement was first reported by the Mobile Press-Register.
A former House Ethics committee chairman, Bonner was first elected to Congress from the Mobile district in 2002. Bonner had worked his way up to chief of staff for his predecessor, Rep. Sonny Callahan, and was easily elected to replace him when he retired.
Bonner will step down Aug. 15 for a newly created job as vice chancellor of government relations and economic development at the University of Alabama system.
"I trust you know that serving as your congressman this past decade has truly been one of the highest honors of my life," Bonner said in a statement to constituents.
The first district is solidly Republican, and voted 62 percent for Mitt Romney in 2012 and just 37 percent for President Obama. Bonner didn't even face a Democratic challenger last year, and this isn't a race the national party would look to play in.
Republican Gov. Robert Bentley has a wide purview to set the special election to replace Bonner. According to state election law, "all special elections shall be held on such day as the Governor may direct."
A crowded GOP primary and subsequent runoff is expected. Potential candidates, according to Republican sources, could include former state Sen. Bradley Byrne, who lost the 2010 gubernatorial primary to Bentley; businessman Dean Young, who got 25% against Bonner in last year's primary; and state Sens. Trip Pittman, Bill Hightower and Rusty Glover.
Bonner said he "was not looking for another job" and that the opportunity "was both unexpected and certainly unsolicited."
"I also firmly believe there are many ways you can serve your state and nation without having your name on a ballot," Bonner continued. "That said, while I had every intention of completing this term, sometimes opportunities come along that are so rare – and so special – that it forces you to alter even your best-made plans."
In 2011, the head of government relations at Alabama made $217,016. As a congressman, Bonner makes $174,000.


text:
You've already chosen your study programme? Apply online now.
Out of sight, out of mind? That would not only be a pity, but also a lost potential for our former and current students. It is with great pleasure that we welcome back alumni to our campus! They provide not only their "successors" with insights into their professional lives, but also report on their careers and share their experiences. Within the context of our corporate cooperation our alumni have the excellent opportunity to present their employers or publish internships and vacancies in the EMS career portal. On the other hand, we take pride in supporting our "freshly-brewed" alumni in their career entry with application checks and career counseling. In short, relationships only hurt those who do not have them.
With our alumni network, we create a living forum in which our former students stay connected and in contact with our newcomers. Meet former fellow students at regular alumni events such as our traditional yearly meeting at the Mainz Christmas market. Or network with our students at our business breakfast, at our summer parties or a special or educational event on campus.
With the following form you can be quickly and easily informed about our alumni network and exciting news and events at the EMS free of charge.
You can look forward to, amongst others, the following:
Connect with the EMS and our students on social media:


text:
Meet Nely Galán, Keynote Speaker for the Make the Connection! IHCC Business Conference Lunch Session
Meet Nely Galán, Keynote Speaker for the Make the Connection!® IHCC Business Conference Lunch Session
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Sheraton Grand Chicago
Save the date! Thursday, September 15, 2016 for The Make the Connection!® IHCC Business Conference.
Previously the Hispanic Business Expo, we've redesigned the event to deliver more value to sponsors and participants, and we've created more opportunities to hear from inspiring leaders, learn about new business trends and opportunities and connect with resources and entrepreneurs.
This year we're adding a lunch event and we're thrilled to announce our keynote speaker for the lunch – Nely Galán, founder of The Adelante Movement, author of New York Times Bestseller Self Made, Emmy Award winning producer, media dynamo, advocate for gender equity, self-made entrepreneur, real estate mogul, inspiring teacher, speaker and mother. To read a recent interview, please click here.
IHCC's marquee event brings together our vast community of thousands of business owners, thought leaders and decision makers for this one-day showcase and conference. We invite you to Connect, Collaborate and Create at the 2016 Make the Connection!® IHCC Business Conference on Thursday, September 15th at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.
Sponsored by:
The Adelante Movement is part of Coca-Cola's global 5by20 initiative to empower 5 million women entrepreneurs by the year 2020. To learn more about The Adelante Movement, watch here.


text:
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Do One Thing Different
One thing I've learned over the years is the fastest way to fall off of a new program or fail to meet a goal is by doing too many things at one time.
Although I've never read the book, only flipped through it briefly, I was always drawn to a book title on my dad's bookshelf by Bill O' Hanlon titled, 'Do One Thing Different'. Of all the books he's owned, I'm not sure why that one stands out in my mind but that title has come to mind a lot over the past few months and it was only appropriate for today's post title. In my mind, I think the book was meant to be a reminder of the power of focusing on making changes slowly, deliberately and working towards one big goal at a time. Now that I'm revisiting the title and concept, I will finally have to read the book! I actually found a free e-book copy {here}, while looking for the author's name, if anyone else is interested to read it.
It has been proven that we can form new habits in just 28 days. I've personally experienced that to be true in the past. Before I ever became a Personal Trainer 8 years ago, it was my regular workouts and the results that I got that had me excited about teaching others how to get the body they wanted also. Working out 6 days per week for 60-90 mins each day was not even something that I really had to think about after a while. Every morning before work, at about 6:30am I met up with a colleague, who became my workout/ accountability partner and who also wanted to work out in the early morning. Just like that, I had formed a new habit that was as natural to me as brushing my teeth each morning. The key was choosing a time that made the most sense with my schedule. Obviously, this isn't realistic for everyone, especially if you havce children but as a single woman at the time, it was the perfect schedule.
Once we master something that was once difficult, and then becomes like second nature, we can move onto the our next challenge with great success, with recent progress and accomplishment under our belt to build confidence.
Think of New Year's resolutions. Some people go to the extreme- they have grandiose plans of losing a large amount of weight, to quit smoking AND do a cleanse to cut out as much sugar as possible and remove bodily toxins. The word deprivation comes to mind. Our bodies cannot handle so many new changes at one time, we'd only be setting ourselves up for failure with an overly ambitious resolution like this. It's best to do one thing at a time and slowly phase in each new goal after conquering the first.
Everyone's goals are different. Some want to lose 10 lbs or become more organized and yet others want to read more or vow to get at least 6 hours sleep per night. Each of these goals involves a certain level of planning in order to be successful. They need not be drastic changes or ones that make you feel as though you have to rearrange your life in one fell swoop. You can begin by walking for just 15 minutes per day or setting a timer for just 10 minutes of drawer organizing. However, it's important to start somewhere and have a plan. As they say, if you fail to plan then you plan to fail and boy is that ever true!
Now think about your own life. What things do you want to change? What dreams do you want to achieve? What's one thing right now that you'd love to change or see an improvement in that would make you really happy? Pick just one thing that you want to focus on first, perhaps a smaller or easier goal for yourself to get started.
For me, the bigger picture is balancing a proper schedule and minimizing distractions (since I can be easily distracted) so that I can get more done in my day and go to sleep/wake up at the hour that I need to. When I go to bed really late, I tend to either get up too early and have less energy before the day has even begun or I'll give myself the extra sleep I need at the expense of shortening my workday and hours of daylight-this has not proven to be helpful in accomplishing all that I want to do in my day.
My ultimate goal is to truly be balanced by spending more time planning my days and designating specific time for design work, writing, blogging, surfing the web, web banking, etc., so that I can become more focused and accomplish my most important tasks. But first, going to bed at a reasonable hour will be my 'one thing different' that needs to precede everything else. No matter how awake I feel or how much work I think I still need to do, bedtime will be 11pm, no ifs ands or buts so I can get up at 6am feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. I'll be honest, lately my bedtimes have been ranging from midnight to 3:30am and my waking hours have been between 5:30am and 10am (for the nights I go to bed at 3:30am). Can you see how this daily pattern can easily become a habit and spiral out of control? lol.
I have been working out lightly in the evenings, mostly to regain strength after an injury I experienced during the end of January. However, learning from my previous fitness success, I know that morning workouts (once completed and out of the way) give me more energy for my day. So, this goal will serve many other areas of my life in a more positive way.
Let's tackle this challenge together, shall we? I'd love for you to join me and commit to doing one thing different for at least the next 7 days and I'd love to hear how it's going for you! It would be great if you could try it out for the next 28 days with me. Take a day or two to get yourself organized or set up for your new goal. I'm beginning tonight and I'll share with you all how it goes.
Here's to getting more out of life by doing just one thing differently!
*images (1),(2),(3)
6 comments :
There are so many areas where I could make a change in my life. I'll give this some thought and decide which area should be at the top of my priority list.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 4, 2011 at 10:15 AM
I really need to get back into working out. I used to work out at 8 at night after the boys went to bed but due to financial issues, I had to cancel my gym membership. We recently bought an xbox kinect and I am going to go buy The Biggest Loser tonight. I am hoping to get up early in the morning to do this before work. It will be hard because I already wake up at 5:15 and I have to be out of the house around 6AM so hopefully I can get my butt out of bed in time. No time at night with two little ones running around. I am usually in bed shortly after they are.ReplyDelete
This is really timely for me Karla. Only this week I placed some objectives on a list and decided I would do it baby-steps at a time (the same way I would eat an elephant) which is how big some of my goals feel at the beginning.ReplyDelete
Like you, I am usually quite strict about bedtime. I LOVE reading in bed, so I factor that in and then work out what time I need to go to bed.As I'm not a big TV watcher it's quite easy.
Great post Karla
This is a great post.I think it is a good idea to make lists and see where we need to change things then take action!!ReplyDelete
I didn't realize you were a trainer! What certifications did you have? Do you mind posting about your experiences? I'm currently working on my ACE certification and would love to know what you thought about training!ReplyDelete
I really love this post! It's definitely something I'm constantly working on myself.ReplyDelete
Thanks for stopping by, your comments make my day! I read every single one and will answer any questions you have. I hope you'll visit again soon! :)


text:
Up 'n' UnderFri 23 - Sat 24 March 2018
Sat Matinee 2.30pm
The Wheatsheaf Arms rugby team, the laughing stock of Castleford's Amateur Rugby League 7-a-Side tournament have never won a game, don't have seven players and spend more time in the pub than on the pitch. With just 5 weeks to go, our hero coach Arthur has to convince them they can beat the mighty Cobblers Arms, but first he has to work out how to communicate with them…
John Godber's award winning comedy, Up 'n' Under, is given fingersmiths' spin with a cast of Deaf and hearing actors using British Sign Language and spoken English to delight all audiences.
Listen to the Audio Introduction here.
Praise for fingersmiths work:
"Extraordinary practice that transforms contemporary classics for a 21stC audience"
"a production that sharpens your hearing by making you see language"
THE GUARDIAN on Frozen


text:
CONTACT firstname.lastname@example.com
1-800-742-4412, Option 1
Fax: 402-872-2296
Peru State Admissions
Admin Building, Room 213
600 Hoyt Street
Peru, NE 68421
Group Visits are designed specifically for school or organization sponsored visits and should be set up by the sponsor.
We are excited that you and your group have chosen to explore the opportunities available at Peru State College! Your group will have an opportunity to receive a custom visit experience. On the web request form you may indicate what options you would like available on your visit.
Campus Visit Times
Monday – Friday
Visit begins at 10 AM
Visit Concludes Around 1:30 PM
If other times are needed, please contact Admissions for availability. Please be advised that these times are requests only and cannot be confirmed until approved by the Office of Admissions. Visits scheduled 1-2 weeks in advance are preferred to ensure academic and athletic appointment availability. While scheduling your appointment, it is important to remember dates and times that campus will be closed. These dates are listed on the academic calendar.
Parking & Lodging information:
Busses will be directed to park in the Centennial Complex lot after drop off. If you are traveling in a car or van, parking spots may be reserved for you. Contact the Office of Admissions prior to your arrival to campus at 402-872-2221.
The Admissions Office is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday — Friday and is available to answer any questions regarding your campus visit. Please call our office at 402-872-2221 or send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com to let us know how we can make your first experience at Peru State College one to remember!


text:
Lofted Barn Cabins
We have a number of colors available for you to choose from. Contact a Sales Associate for more information or if you have any questions on customizing a building to fit your needs.
Our service area includes but is not limited to:
Farmington, MO
Arnold, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO
Fredericktown, MO
Troy, MO
Warrenton, MO
O'Fallon, MO
Washington, MO
Sullivan, MO
Rolla, MO
Belleville, IL
Waterloo, IL
Chester, IL
Carbondale, IL
Anna, IL
Festus, MO
Desoto, MO
Hillsboro, MO
St Clair, MO
Potosi, MO
Bonne Terre, MO
Ironton, MO
Sikeston, MO
Perryville, MO
Bloomsdale, MO
Sainte Genevieve, MO
Imperial, MO
Godfrey. IL
Paint Colors
Metal Roof Colors
Vinyl Colors
Shingle Roof Colors


text:
Dec 22, 2013
The world's biggest exercise to count the number of tigers left in India started this week even as 2013 turned out to be a nightmare year for the big cats. Around 39 tigers have been poached in India so far this year — the highest since 2005. Two de-skinned tigers were found earlier this week near Jim Corbett National Park. The year also saw the environment ministry clearing projects in vital tiger corridors in central India, which endanger their free movement from one wildlife zone to another.Though states estimate tiger population within the boundaries of a reserve every year, this is a National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) survey where the whole habitat is surveyed. The exercise has been split into four phases across five major landscapes spanning 5,00,000 sq km of forests that house more than 90% of the country's tigers. Over 2,000 experts will work with forest officials to count the tigers. The year-long exercise will be the most "intensive" ever with a one kilometer search for the big cats for every square kilometer of the forest surveyed, said SP Yadav, NTCA's deputy inspector general. In 2010 census, India was home to 1,706 tigers or half the world's tiger population. Every tiger spotted in the 2013-2014 census will have to pass through three tests including camera trap and DNA testing of tiger scat to minimise duplicate counting. The new population estimate will also help the NTCA to expand its digital database of tigers and make a first comparative analysis on individual tigers. "Every tiger caught on camera will be given a unique identification number based on their stripe patterns using computer software and a database maintained for the entire country," Yadav said, adding that they already have picture database of 80% of tigers living inside 42 reserves. But the tiger estimation methodology adopted by the NTCA has some critics. K Ullas Karanth, director of Bangalore-based Wildlife Conservation Society, said the methodology may not give the best results. "The NTCA has not updated the basic methodology. But the one positive is introduction that it allows state governments to choose from a basket of protocols for final estimation," he told HT. NTCA, however, refuted his contention and said no other wildlife survey at this scale enjoys better tools or techniques. "Latest tools available have been provided," a NTCA official said. The NCTA survey will provide a holistic overview of the wildlife population in the landscapes being surveyed and provide information on leopards, dhole, bears and elephants.
As Posted in -HT


text:
The Department of Local Affairs partnered with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to promote the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites around the state. The result of the focused collaboration funded by EPA was the publication of The Colorado Brownfields Handbook: A Local Government Guide to Site Reuse and Economic Development. The handbook incorporates lessons learned from pilot brownfield cleanup and redevelopment efforts in Arapahoe County and the municipalities of Rangley and Alamosa. It provides a comprehensive list of financial and technical resources available, frequently asked questions, anda suggested methodology for brownfield cleanup and redevelopment.
For more information on brownfield redevelopment, please visit:
The Colorado Brownfields Foundation
CDPHE (Brownfields program section)
EPA Brownfields and Revitalization


text:
Dublin1 - 1 of 1 listings
Business Loan - Apply For Quick Personal LoansLoans & Mortgages - Dublin (Dublin) - July 9, 2017 100000.00 US$
Hello, Are you looking for a business loan, personal loan, home loan, auto loan, student loan, debt consolidation loan, unsecured loan, venture capital etc. Or Were you refused a loan by a bank or any financial institution for one or more reasons. Yo...
- 1


text:
Instant installation and usage by just insert the shortcode.
Integrate a multilangual bot powered by Dialogflow.
Alert users and agents by email when a reply is received.
Fast, powerful and simple to use tickets system.
Add and edit users and agents on the admin side.
Indipendent users system, add, edit, delete users and agents.
WordPress version support also the original WordPress users.
Both front-end and admin side, front end already translated.
Show or hide the profile image on registration and conversation.
Change the color, the layout and the text of the chat.
Simple to use but powerful api are available.
New awesome features will be available in future.


text:
Customer Testimonials
"I used to have so many different types of insurance that I lost track of them all. With Robinson Insurance Centre, I have found the right types of insurance for me. It's great how you can save money so easily and still be properly covered."
"After our first friendly meeting, I knew that I was in expert hands with Robinson Insurance Centre and I will take out the right types of insurance for my company in the future."
"It only took one phone call but as soon as I the staff greeted me I felt I was a somebody"
"It has been a pleasure dealing with Robinson Insurance Centre these past few years. The staff here takes such good care of their customers and always makes me feel appreciated."
"The staff at Robinson Insurance go beyond the call of duty. It's nice to come to a place where you are greeted with a smile and a willingness to help in a time of need."
"The staff at Robinson Insurance have always provided me with great service. They really show a high level of dedication and compassion."


text:
I use Kent Moore Cabinets in all my custom homes. The quality and craftsmanship of these cabinets add a touch of elegance, style and sophistication that my homebuyers are looking for in today's homes.
Kent Moore Cabinets offer a wide variety of cabinet styles, wood choices and custom finishes. The Kent Moore staff takes the time to listen to what the homebuyer wants, and they design, build and install cabinets that produces that "Wow" effect.
I love the beauty of Kent Moore Cabinets in my homes!
Windmill Custom Homes


text: A little drizzle didn't stop Christina and Marc from having an amazing wedding day at St. David's Episcopal Church in Roland Park. Surrounded by family and friends they said their "I do's" and danced the night away. Luckily, the rain let up at the end of the evening for the sparkler exit.


text:
Emergency crews were busy clearing wrecks and tending to fender benders.
Fransisco Sanchez with Houston TranStar says water on the roadways lead to all kinds of challenges.
"Any time you get a significant amount of rain in a short period of time, we're gonna have road flooding here. And then another challenge is the roadways have been dry for some time, so once they get wet again, it becomes so slick, because the oil and some of the residue that's on there."
Some street flooding came after the clouds opened up.
"Anytime we get 2-3 inches of rain in an hour or two, we're going to see water ponding on the streets. But that is to be expected when we do get that kind of rain."
That's Heather Saucier with the Harris County Flood Control District. She says the Buffalo Bayou watershed fared well, considering all the rain.
"The only channel that got kind of high was a little channel called Brickhouse Gulley, which is a tributary of White Oak Bayou. It never came out of its banks, but it certainly responded with all of the rain that that particular watershed received."
Meteorologist Gene Hafele with the National Weather Service says conditions remain unstable as a mild cold front approaches the Houston area.
"Next couple of days, we expect the frontal system to actually move through the Houston area, but we're gonna probably remain cloudy. We're gonna have periods of rain, showers and thunderstorms…probably through Friday."
Enjoy the cooler conditions. Hafele says early next week — sunny skies and no rain.
PH, KUHF-Houston Public Radio News.


text:
Now for a selection of embroidery pattern books! While originality and creativity are the ultimate aims, if you are new to hand embroidery or just want a quick pattern for a gift, then it is great to have a few embroidery pattern books available and you can always vary the materials, threads, colour schemes and projects. Having said that, I often find projects of my own designs are easier, as there is total control over the whole process. When you are following a pattern, it is easy to lose your confidence and feel that it has to be exactly perfect to get the required result, resulting in a more stressful experience!!!
Beginner Embroidery Pattern Books
First up are two terrific books, which I used at the start of my embroidery journey:
Decorative Embroidery: Forty Projects and Designs For the Home by Mary Nordern 1997 and
Embroidery With Wool : 40 Decorative Designs For the Contemporary Home by Mary Nordern 1998.
I loved both these books and could make all of their designs and projects! Both books follow a similar format with patterns categorised into different subject headings, followed by techniques and stitches in the back.
In Decorative Embroidery, 15 elementary stitches are used in a range of different projects including : Laundry Bags; Curtains and Tie Backs; Chair Back Covers; Bed Linen, Blankets and Pillow Cases; Cushion Covers; Basket Cloths, Shelving Cloths and Tray Cloths; Tea Towels and Hand Towels; Table cloths and Serviettes; Tea Cosies; Buttons; Beaded Jug Cloths; and Cutlery Rolls.
The separate sections are:
Posies and Sprigs: Posies, Garlands; Scattered Leaves; Summer Sprigs Wildflower Sprays; and Abstract Stylised Flowers;
Nature's Harvest: Cockerels; Wheat Sheaves; Strawberries and Cherries; Lemons; Carrots and Pea Pods;
Geometrics and Initials: Crosses; Swirls; Hearts; Snowflakes; and Initials and Monograms; and
Home and Hearth: Kitchen (Kettles, Jugs, Mugs and Irons); Curlicue Chairs; Bathtime (Brushes; Perfume Bottles; Hand Mirrors; Water Jug and Bowl); and Afternoon Tea (Tea Cup and Saucer).
Each project details materials and threads; stitches used and techniques to work the pattern and make up the project. The photo below is for a cushion cover based on her design for Contemporary Circles in her second book Embroidery With Wool.The final section at the back of the book includes notes on:
Fabrics and Threads;
Needles; Frames and Additional Equipment (Scissors; Tracing Paper; Dressmaker's Carbon; Water-Soluble Marking Pen; Transfer Paper and Light Source);
Transferring Patterns;
Starting and Finishing Work;
Washing Embroidery; and
Stitches, with excellent diagrams of each stitch (Back Stitch; Blanket Stitch; Chain Stitch; Chevron Stitch; Couching Stitch; Fern Stitch; Fly Stitch ; French Knot Stitch; Lazy Daisy Stitch; Long and Short Stitch; Running Stitch; Satin Stitch; and Padded Satin Stitch; Stem Stitch; and Straight Stitch); and a
DMC/ Anchor Conversion Chart.Embroidery With Wool uses crewel wool (DMC or Appleton), 18 decorative stitches and 20 embroidery designs with 20 variations to decorate hats, gloves and slippers; pyjama cases; drawstring and shopping bags; bed linen and throw rugs; curtains and tiebacks; shelf borders; cushion covers and lampshades; hot water bottle covers; table cloths and table runners; buttons; gardener's aprons; and hat bands and shoe bags.
Like her previous book, the designs are divided into four chapters:
Repeating Curls: Paisley Curls (photo below); Coral Lines; Crescent Moons; Reflecting Swirls; and Sea Waves;
Petals and Tendrils: Jacobean Blooms; Indian Sprigs; Autumn Leaves; Trailing Flowers; and Wispy Tendrils;
Graphic Lines: Spirals and Pin Wheels; Noughts and Crosses; Contemporary Circles; Stars and Stripes; and Mystic Symbols; and
Frippery: Hats; Slippers; Gloves; Handbags; Pyjamas; and Socks.The section on Techniques and Stitches is identical to her previous book, with the addition of sections titled :
Drawing Guidelines;
Making Up Cushions;
Lampshades: Making a Pattern or Covering Existing Lampshades;
Extra stitches (Algerian Eye; Cable Chain Stitch; Double Cross Stitch; Eyelet Buttonhole Stitch; Guilloche Stitch; Laced Running Stitch; and Pekinese Stitch); and a
DMC/Appleton Conversion Chart for Crewel and Tapestry Wools.Heirloom Embroidery : Inspired Designer Projects With Beautiful Stitching Techniques by Jan Constantine 2008
Another great book, which is particularly good for beginner embroiderers, with seven basic stitches and more than 25 projects, including blankets and throw rugs; cushions; laundry and drawstring bags; table runners and napkins; aprons; shopping and beach bags; lavender sachets and hearts; tea cosies; scarves; pictures; and Christmas stockings and decorations.
Like the previous books, the designs are also sorted into chapters of separate themes:
Country Garden: Apples; Daisies; Strawberries; Cottage Garden Border
Seaside: Lighthouse; Yachts; Anchors ; Fish and Shells;
Botanicals and Bugs: Lavender; Lilies; Roses; Bees; and Dragonflies; and
Celebrations: Snowflakes; Stars and Stripes; Berry Wreath; and Reindeer and Dove.
I particularly loved the Cottage Border Tea Cosy; the Stem Rose Cushion Pad; the Woollen Snowflake Hearts and the Christmas Dove Cushion.
Each project has design templates, illustrated stitch diagrams and notes on materials and equipment; stitches used; preparation and cutting out; tracing the design; working the embroidery; and making up and finishing the project. Even though each design details specific projects, obviously they can also be worked on different projects throughout the book.
In the back is a Stitch Glossary with excellent diagrams for seven basic embroidery stitches with variations (Blanket Stitch and Buttonhole Stitch; Straight Stitch and Running Stitch; Stem Stitch; Cross Stitch; French Knots and Bullion Knots; Basic/ Irregular/ and Padded Satin Stitch; Chain Stitch and Zigzag Chain Stitch), as well as general sewing stitches ( Slip Stitch, Loop Stitch and Overcast Stitch) and notes on Tools and Materials (Needles, Threads, Hoops and Frames, and Sewing Kits); Resizing designs; Cutting out; Transferring designs; Embroidering designs; Washing and pressing the finished embroidery; Using bonding web; Making up; Making bias strips for piping; and Pressing the finished item.Colourful Stitchery: 65 Hot Embroidery Projects to Personalize Your Home by Kristin Nicholas 2005
Kristin LOVES colour , which she explores in both knitting (discussed in: https://candeloblooms.com/2018/06/26/books-for-winter-knitting-part-two/) and embroidery. In her introductory chapter, she discusses :
Different Fabrics and Threads;
Tools (Pins and needles; scissors; hoops; rulers; masking tape; fabric glue; tracing paper; water-soluble markers; pencils and chalks; sewing machine and light source);
Centreing Patterns and Transferring Designs;
Beginnings and Endings;
Mastering Stitches;
Finding Inspiration; and
Working with Colour.
She covers a range of projects in the following chapters from pillows, aprons and tea towels, tea and coffee cosies, egg cosies, pot holders, table cloths and napkins, pillow cases, curtains, blankets and throws, teddy bears, hot water bottle covers, scissor cases, espadrilles, and boxes and cards. Each project specifies the fabric, threads, notions and stitches used in a coloured box and includes notes on cutting and preparation; stitching the design and making up and finishing the project, with templates in the back.
While a bit basic for me, it is an excellent book for beginners, as the designs are all very simple, bold and colourful.Stitch With Love: 11 Simple Stitches and Over 20 Easy-To-Throw Projects by Mandy Shaw 2011
This is also an excellent book for beginners, but all the designs are limited to and executed in red or white on cream, ecru (raw or unbleached) or red linens, cottons, wool and felts, which looks so effective. Like the books by Mary Nordern, I love the designs in this book and could easily embroider any one of the twenty projects, which range from cushions and blankets to wrist pin cushions and bracelets, sewing and gardening tidies, bags, aprons, book covers and shelf bunting, crib and Christmas decorations and wreaths and luggage and gift tags!I also really like the practical and logical presentation of this book, which starts with Fabrics, Buttons and Braids; and Needles and Threads; to Transferring the Motifs; Making the Projects; and Working the Stitches, with detailed diagrams of 10 basic embroidery stitches (Running Stitch and Whipped Running Stitch; Back Stitch; Stem Stitch; Chain Stitch; Lazy Daisy; Blanket Stitch; Herringbone Stitch; French Knots; Cross Stitch; and Satin Stitch) for both right-handers and left-handers.
The designs are then grouped into themes: Hearts and Buttons; Sewing Paraphernalia; Cooking themes; Bunnies and Daisies; Garden themes; Travel designs and Christmas.
In the back are notes on techniques, including using a sewing machines; working with fusible webbing; edging with ric-rac braid; custom-made binding; bias binding; covered buttons; and design motifs.Intermediate Embroiderers
Secret Garden Embroidery: 15 Projects for your Stitching Pleasure presented by What Delilah Did 2015
What Delilah Did (http://whatdelilahdid.bigcartel.com/product/secret-garden-embroidery) is the brain child of designer Sophie Simpson. This book is a whimsical collection of 15 botanically-inspired needlework projects based on counted stitch techniques including straight stitch, back stitch, cross stitch, herringbone stitch, Smyrna stitch, daisy stitch and French Knots.
These stitches are described in the first chapter, along with materials (counted thread fabrics: linen, evenweave cotton, Aida and waste canvas; and felt); threads (stranded cotton; tapestry wool; and metallic braids); needles; hoops and frames and other equipment (scissors, rotary cutters and shears; measuring tapes; pins; tailor's chalk and water-erasable pens; tracing paper; and haemostats and point turners); and the basics of counted embroidery: reading counted embroidery charts; starting to stitch; preparing the thread and starting and finishing a thread.
Themes include buds and blossoms; birds, bees, bugs and butterflies; and rabbits and vegetable gardens) and I love the quirky tales about Miss Miranda Merriweather at the beginning of each chapter. Design templates are found in the back of the book, while the counted charts have their own special envelope. There is even a handwritten recipe for Miranda Merriweather's Rose Petal Jam!
The designs are used to decorate 15 different projects from bracelets, lockets and jewellery rolls to purses, clutch bags and sash belts; sachets, pin cushions, cushions and bunting; spectacle cases and book bands; and triptychs, pictures and magnets.
I am very tempted to try making the cute bug magnets; the butterfly cross stitch hoop pictures; and the honey bee pin cushion.Little Stitches: 100 + Sweet Embroidery Designs. 12 Projects by Aneela Hoey 2012
Very appropriately titled, it is indeed a sweet little book with lots of cute everyday designs for toys and balloons; houses and streetscapes; boats and cars; leaves and flowers; animals (snails, birds, mice, dogs, cats, squirrels and foxes); children and leisure activities (scooters and bicycles, swings, hobby horses, hoops, kites and rowing); fish bowls and snow globes; and sewing, knitting and washing lines.
Projects include: Pin cushions, needle cases, jar cozies and zip pouches; two cushion covers, baby quilts and Christmas Stockings; Coasters, hoop pictures, tissue box covers and hot water bottle covers.
It divides embroidery stitches into outline and filling stitches and discusses variations (number of floss strands and combining stitches); alternative embroidery patterns for each project; and quilt making and binding techniques.Embroidery Pour Le Jardinier: 100 French Designs For the Gardener by Sylvie Blondeau 2010/2013
This small paperback is even better with some wonderful line designs for everything garden-related: Trees and flowers; cats and dogs; houses, sheds, streets and cars; outdoor furniture, watering cans, scarecrows, garden tools and wheel barrows; strawberries and cherries; tomatoes and pumpkins; dog kennels and bird houses; birds and owls, squirrels and hedgehogs; insects and fish; pot plants and fruit baskets; and dog walking and cooking.
Each double page design segment is illustrated with a colour photograph of the design, followed by a line drawing specifying stitches and DMC threads and photographs of suggested projects. These include: Tote bags and purses; cushion covers; badges, bracelets and hat bands; jam jar covers, thermos carriers, place mats and coasters; notebooks, boxes and gift tags; and even, bindle sticks.
In the back is a Collection of Stitches (outline/ filling/ borders and edgings); instructions for making all the projects and a recipe for Red Fruit Jam with a Tea Infusion!Scandinavian Stitches: 21 Playful Projects with Seasonal Flair by Kajsa Wikman 2010
Another delightful book with some lovely projects from quilts and quilted baskets and bowls to wall hangings, pillows, pin cushions, coasters, scarves, pouches, ornaments, dolls and gardening angels. Techniques include quilting, appliqué and machine and hand embroidery. I love the quirky designs, especially the Gardening Angels, Fairy Angel Dolls and Tomte Stuffy and the Merry Mouse Zippered Pouch, which I made for my youngest daughter.
More Advanced Embroidery Patterns
Firstly, two very beautiful books by Japanese embroiderers, followed by four very stylish French books! Sashiko is a beautiful traditional form of Japanese embroidery, as can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc6fA2Gdzvg. I would love to do more, but unfortunately, do not own any books on this topic, though there are many You Tube tutorials online! I do however own the following books:
Artfully Embroidered: Motifs and Patterns For Bags and More by Naoko Shimoda 2012
Naoko uses embroidery and appliqué techniques and raffia, ribbon, beads and sequins to create 25 different designs fror use on handbags, totes, clutches, wallets and coin purses; handkerchiefs and brooches; and clothing and linen. I particularly loved her black on white Japanese Garden Bag, as seen on the front cover of the book. Absolutely stunning! Her coin purses, handkerchiefs and Ribbon Flower Evening Bag are also very pretty and appealing!
Each design is showcased on double page spreads in the front of the book, followed by General Notes on: Tools and Embroidery Supplies; Interfacing; Appliqué; Using soluble canvas; Embroidery with raffia, ribbons and beads; and of course, the embroidery stitches themselves, before addressing the patterns in detail: their materials and tools; cutting instructions; embroidery techniques; construction steps and finishing the project. Patterns are included in an envelope in the back.
120 Original Embroidery Designs by Yoko Saito 2013
This is a lovely book, which uses patches of embroidery and simple outline stitches in 120 different patterns to make 20 different projects, including wall hangings, bags and pouches, coin purses and pencil cases, baskets and keepsake boxes, and even book covers. Using patches is a great idea, as they can be embroidered in limited time and space and also allows for a huge degree of flexibility and versatility in their application. For example, I used her nine dog and cat patches without all the quilting on a patchwork cushion rather than her designated wall hanging!Her patterns are organised into different sections titled: Animals and Living Creatures; Daily Necessities; Trees; Appliqué and Embroidery; Piecing and Embroidery; Numbers From 0 to 9; The Alphabet; Borders and Repeatable Patterns; and Buildings and Trees. There are ant farms and fishing boats; honeybees and jives; Scandinavian flowers and vases; houses and churches; planes and bicycles; tennis racquets, shoes, bags and Nantucket baskets; trees and flowers; and geometric shapes and lines.
Projects are displayed throughout the book, with their patterns at the back (Materials; finished measurements; instructions and tips; and lots of diagrams and template patterns), along with notes on embroidering patterns; using embroidery floss and basic embroidery stitches. I love her muted colour range and will definitely be using more of her designs on future projects!
And while on the subject of Japanese embroiderers, while I don't own any of her books, it is well worth checking out the exquisite work of Yumiko Huguchi at: http://yumikohiguchi.com/.
The next four books, while written by different authors, are all a similar size and shape, all belonging to the Made In France range of books produced by Murdoch Books. I am very tempted by the title of the other embroidery book: Sweet Treats in Cross-stitch by Tinou Le Joly Senoville and there is also a knitting and a patchwork book in the range. I am discussing them in order of publication date.
Linen and Thread: Creating Homewares Embellished with Embroidery and Ribbon by Monique Lyonnet 2007/2009
The use of cross-stitch and counted thread techniques and a very limited thread colour palette of red, white and blue, with the occasional black, on cream/ ivory, ecru (natural), red, slate blue and grey even weave linen, in common with the other books in the series, produces a very stylish, elegant, understated, organic and timeless look to the projects, which include: Cushions, bolsters and footstools; Throw rugs and baby blankets; Bed linen and pillow cases; Pocket Tidies and nappy stackers; Table cloths, runners, place mats and napkins; Aprons and tea towels; Shelf edging; Linen pots and surprise bags; Advent calendars and notepads; Bracelets; Reversible pockets; Toiletry and laundry bags; and even phone pockets.
Each project includes a colour photo of the project, a sidebar detailing dimensions, materials, embroidery threads and stitches used; Instructions and cross-stitch charts.
Designs include: Written messages; numbers; abstract patterns; feathers; birds (swans and seagulls); and simple stylised trees.
In the back is a glossary of haberdashery terms; a few diagrams on mitred-corner hems; and a few tips between friends.
Made in France: Cross Stitch and Embroidery in Red, White and Blue by Agn è s Delage-Calvet, Anne Sohier-Fournel, Muriel Brunet and Françoise Ritz 2009
I loved the cross-stitch and embroidery designs in this book, again executed in red, white and blue threads on white and cream, ecru and natural, and navy blue and red cotton and linen fabrics. There is perhaps a little more instruction on basic embroidery techniques than the last book, with introductory notes on getting started and centreing designs; transferring motifs; and a limited stitch library: cross-stitch; stem stitch; back stitch; straight stitch; French knots and detached chain stitch.
The majority of the book and all the projects are divided into three main sections based on colour: Red; White and Blue, though obviously the designs in each section could be embroidered in different colours and on different projects from the other sections.
Projects include: Cushions and lampshades; Bed linen, towels, throw rugs and pillow cases; Bags; Aprons and tea towels; Table cloths, runners and napkins; Clothing from vests and shoes to scarves, dresses, smocks and jackets; Pictures and samplers; and handkerchiefs, jam jar covers, markers, book covers and Christmas decorations.
There is a wealth of design ideas from flowers, fruits, animals (insects, snails, birds, fish, shells, marine life, tortoises, mice, sheep and cats), feathers, bows, stars, hearts and snowflakes to fairies and angels; Matryoshka dolls, toys and childhood games; figures and leisure activities; silhouettes; the built environment (houses, windmills and lighthouses); teapots and teacups; sewing tools; nautical and seasonal themes; and Christmas, Easter and Good Luck symbols. So many wonderful designs to choose and a great resource for embroiderers!
Cross-Stitch and Embroidery For Babies, Toddlers and Children by Isabelle Leloup 2010/2011
This book contains some lovely designs for children's clothing and rooms and uses a bit more colour, with the inclusion of pinks, greens and aquas. There are cot canopies, cot bumpers and curtains; bed linen; basket cloths and change mats; sleeping bags and; bags and purses; cushions; and book covers, samplers and pictures and a wide variety of clothing from bibs, bathrobes and slippers to vests and tops; pyjamas; jumpsuits and dresses. Designs are classical, traditional and timeless include: Hearts, fruit, leaves and flowers; trees and grasses; feathers, birds and angel wings; suns, moons and stars; hot air balloons and rockets; and chooks, sheep, butterflies and fish.
Cross- Stitch Samplers: Elegant and Timeless Needlecraft Designs in Red and Blue by Marjorie Massey 2012
My final book in this range and perhaps my favourite in the series, even though it focuses solely on cross-stitched samplers with no other projects in mind! Designs include a variety of alphabets and abstract motifs; flowers and roses; fruit; snails, insects and birds (including a magnificent French cockerel); cats, sheep, donkeys, foxes, rabbits and deer; houses and human figures; and wreaths, garlands and bows. The monochrome designs look so effective in just red or blue, though some include different shades of blue.
I loved cross-stitching my heart with two doves! This book is also an ideal lead in to my final section:
Other Cross-Stitch Patterns.
Storybook Favourites in Cross-Stitch by Gillian Souter 1995
Another great book for embroiderers with kids in their lives! The introduction includes notes on types of fabrics (evenweave linen and Aida); estimating fabric size; preparing the fabric; embroidery threads; needles and thread holders; reading charts; basic techniques (cross-stitch, back stitch and half-stitch); useful tips; and teaching cross-stitch to children.
In the Nursery, Peter Rabbit and other Beatrix Potter favourites adorn birth samplers, pincushions and lidded boxes; Blinky Bill features on cards and framed pictures; and Babar and his family are embroidered on toys, growth charts and bath wraps.
Toddlers enjoy bibs, towels, art folders, satchels and book bags, decorated with Spot, while Miffy, Pussy Nell and Snuffy decorate napkin rings, gift sacks, pyjamas and finger puppets and Stephen Cartwright's Duck is stitched onto wash bags and cloth books. My youngest daughter loved Paddington Bear, who features on skivvies, place mats, shopping bags and aprons, while her older sister loved Rupert, who features in the next section: Growing Up.I started making a Rupert Christmas stocking, though unfortunately, never finished it, though perhaps it is waiting for her child! It is also used for a patch, a pillowcase and a photo frame, while Peter Pan's projects include a pyjama case and an album cover and Angelina, the ballerina, dances her way across ballet shoe bags, pictures, doorplates and cards.
I loved the Apple Tree Farm Alphabet sampler. Roll on, grandkids!!! I strongly suspect that I will be using this book extensively!!!
The next two books are old favourites from the Danish Handcraft Guild (https://www.danish-handcraft-guild-uk.com/) and written by Gerda Bengtsson (1900-1995), an internationally famous Danish embroiderer:
Flower Designs in Cross-Stitch by Gerda Bengtsson and Elsie Thordur-Hansen 1973
Birds, flowers, trees, garlands and wreaths are cross-stitched in Danish Flower Threads on small mats, runners, table cloths, tray cloths, cushions and wall hangings, made of coarse or fine open weave linen. The right-hand page has a colour plate of the design with a black-and-white cross-stitch chart on the left-hand page.
I love all the designs in this book, particularly the seasonal birds (photo below), Spring bulbs and rose wreaths!Cross-Stitch Patterns in Color by Gerda Bengtsson 1974
This book follows a similar presentation and features more beautiful rose patterns; seasonal countryside and town scenes; and house plants in pots in window frames, which can be used to decorate doilies, table cloths, bell pulls, pillows and wall pictures.
I have also used a number of pattern sheets over the years, like this wonderful pig cushion in the photo below:
which was stitched from the Never Eat More design in Oink, a Jeanette Crews pattern booklet by Mary Ellen Yanich, but was particularly drawn to patterns by The Prairie Schooler (http://www.prairieschooler.com/), which started in 1984, but has unfortunately now closed. Their old patterns can be seen at: http://www.prairieschooler.com/inventory.htm and https://www.thesilverneedle.com/prairieschooler.html.
Some of their patterns, which I own and have worked include:
Book No. 10 A Prairie Christmas Jen's camel needle case;
Book No. 32 Christmas Ark Yet to do;
Book No. 35 A Prairie Garden;
Book No. 49 Garden Verses Yet to do;
Book No. 54 Garden Beasties Snail, frog etc;Book No. 61 Garden Alphabet Yet to Do;
Book No. 63 Christmas Samplers Donkey, camel and cow;
The Prairie Schooler: Book No. 75: A Prairie Garden II; Flowers;
Book No. 94 Barnyard Christmas Yet to Do; and
Prairie Fairies from 1994 (Blackbird); 1995 (Swallow); 1996 (Snail) and 1997 (Hare).And finally, for those of you who would like to design your own cross-stitch, there is this last book:
Design Your Own Cross-Stitch To Complement Your Home by Shirley Watts 1997
Really, it's very easy! It's all about playing with pattern. Grab that grid paper and your coloured pencils and off you go!! However, if you need some inspiration or ideas for projects, then this book should help!
Two of her first projects (a bell pull and a book cover), which are both very appealing and attractive, use simple geometric flower motifs in a range of four shades of the same colour, the selection made easier by the use of manufacturers shade cards. Shirley uses six-stranded DMC and single-stranded Danish Flower Threads on 14-count and 18-count Aida and 28-count Jobelan.
She is also inspired by Turkish kilims; folk art motifs; foliage and fruit; sea creatures and single-colour themes like blue and white Dutch windmills. Shirley gives lots of practical advice on cross-stitch design and choice and preparation of of fabrics, as well as instructions for over 20 projects from trinket boxes, pendants, luggage tags and key rings to tablecloths, bath mats, guest towels, aprons, desk sets, framed pictures, footstools and mobiles.And finally, do not forget that wonderful tool, the computer, for converting your favourite photos and images to cross-stitch patterns. There are numerous sites, including: https://www.pixel-stitch.net/; http://www.myphotostitch.com/; http://www.picturecraftwork.com/en; and https://www.stitchfiddle.com/en.
Applique, patchwork and quilting often go hand in and with embroidery, so next month, I am introducing you to some of my favourite books in these areas! In the meantime, Happy Stitching!


text:
for Health Care Providers
Natural History - Hepatitis C
The natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains incompletely understood, in part due to differing research methods used to determine disease course across studies. There also seems to be variability in natural history between infected groups. For example, the risk of progression to cirrhosis after an estimated 20 years of HCV infection was approximately 22% in studies of patients from liver clinics, as compared with 4% in patients from cohort studies of transfusion of infected blood products.(1) In general, HCV infection is characterized by the following:
- Frequent asymptomatic acute infection
- Persistent infection following acute infection in 60-85% of those infected (2,3)
- Persistently elevated or fluctuating ALT elevations*
*Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are elevated in approximately 60-70% of patients with chronic infection, indicating intrahepatic inflammation, but these levels are highly variable and may fluctuate over time. The remaining 30-40% of patients have persistently normal ALT values, with positive anti-HCV and HCV RNA results
- Generally slow, but variable, disease progression
The average time from HCV exposure to seroconversion (detectability of anti-HCV antibody) is between 5 and 12 weeks.(2) HCV RNA is detectable within 1-2 weeks after exposure.
- tests for anti-HCV antibodies (serologic tests), including enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA)
- tests for HCV itself (virologic tests), which include qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and branched DNA (bDNA) assay
- In the veteran population, an ELISA test does not necessarily need to be followed with a confirmatory RIBA test unless the patient is in a low-risk category or has normal ALT levels. Instead, accurate confirmation of infection status is determined by qPCR, which, when positive, indicates viremia.
- If a patient is ELISA positive but qPCR negative, a confirmatory RIBA may be used to determine whether the initial ELISA was a false positive or the patient has spontaneously cleared virus.
- qPCR is also used to monitor patients on treatment, because the primary treatment endpoint is sustained virological response (SVR), defined as RNA negativity 6 months after interferon-based therapy has stopped.
Of patients exposed to HCV, 15-40% seem to clear the infection spontaneously, as evidenced by positive anti-HCV serology but negative HCV RNA and normal ALT levels.(2,3,5) Women and children may be more likely than men to clear the infection.(6,7,8) In recent years, acute HCV infection has been more readily identified due to increased screening in high-risk patients. In such cases, symptomatic patients seem to have rates of spontaneous clearance of 30-55%.(8,9,10) Genotype 3 infection may also be more readily cleared spontaneously than are other genotypes.(10)
Symptoms and Clinical Manifestations
Patients with chronic HCV may have nonspecific symptoms including fatigue and malaise. Disease course is slow, with the majority of patients showing few signs or symptoms during the first 20 years of infection.(3,5) Diagnosis of chronic HCV infection is often made when elevated ALT levels are detected during routine blood testing. HCV RNA is always detectable in any patient with chronic infection, but levels may also fluctuate, and may or may not be accompanied by ALT changes.(11) Additionally, serum HCV RNA can be present in patients with normal transaminases and minimal histological evidence of liver injury.
Extrahepatic Manifestations
Disease outside the liver due to HCV can be seen in some patients. Such HCV-associated conditions include:
- diabetes mellitus
- rheumatoid arthritis
- keratoconjuctivitis sicca
- mixed cryoglobulinemia
- membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
- nephrotic syndrome
- porphyria cutanea tarda
Although over a third of all HCV patients likely have detectable cryoglobulins, few develop clinical features of cryoglobulinemia.(12,13) Interferon-based therapies may be helpful in improving some forms of extrahepatic disease due to HCV, but their use needs to be individualized based on the individual condition.(14,15)
Factors Associated with Liver Disease Progression
Although the factors involved in the development and progression of chronic infection are incompletely understood, a number of studies have identified variables that contribute to progressive liver disease.
One frequently cited prospective study examined the relationship between fibrosis progression (defined as the ratio between the stage of fibrosis and the estimated duration of infection) and 9 possible contributory factors: gender, age at biopsy, infection duration, estimated age at infection, alcohol consumption, HCV genotype, level of HCV viremia, mode of acquisition, and histological activity score.(16) Of these potential contributory factors, 3 were independently associated with increased rates of fibrosis:
- Age at infection >40 years
- Male gender
- Daily alcohol consumption >50 grams per day
Median time for progression to cirrhosis was 30 years. Among males over 40 years old who consumed more than 50 grams of alcohol per day, the mean time for progression to cirrhosis was 13 years. In contrast, among HCV-positive women less than 40 years old who consumed no alcohol, the mean time to cirrhosis was 42 years. Because of the variability in rates of progression, it has been suggested that there may be 3 outcome groups: rapid, intermediate, and slow fibrosers. Rapid fibrosers may progress to cirrhosis in 10-15 years, while slow fibrosers may not progress to cirrhosis despite many years of infection.(16) It is hypothesized that more severe liver injury among alcohol users is due to alcohol-induced enhancement of viral replication or increased susceptibility of cells to viral injury.(17)
Another factor that has become accepted as a contributor to fibrosis is fat within the liver (steatosis), which is felt to be either a marker of or a contributor to oxidative stress in the liver.(18,19) Steatosis is linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, so control of these factors has also become accepted as having a role in limiting fibrosis in patients with HCV.
Hepatitis C Cirrhosis
Of concern is the presence of hepatic fibrosis that may progress to the development of cirrhosis. It is estimated that 20-30% of patients with chronic HCV infection will develop cirrhosis over the course of 20-30 years,(1,3,5,6) but that the majority will never progress to this stage. Cirrhosis is associated with portal hypertension and can also lead to the following complications:
- Ascites
- Encephalopathy
- Variceal bleeding
- Coagulopathy
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Once patients have experienced one of these "decompensating events," their survival is impaired.
- In one recent longitudinal study, 53% of a group of patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis decompensated during 6.5 years of follow-up. Once they decompensated, however, their subsequent 5-year survival without a liver transplant was only 28%.(20)
- The 2 principal forms of decompensation in cirrhotic patients are the development of ascites and hepatocellular carcinoma, with rates of 2-5% and 1-4% per year, respectively, in patients with Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis.(21)
- Estimating the outcomes of the nearly 4 million Americans with chronic HCV on the basis of current disease progression and Markov modeling, Davis and colleagues(22) project that the number of patients with cirrhosis will almost double between 2000 and 2030 (472,000 to 879,000), and liver-related deaths will more than triple during this time (13,000 to 39,875). They stress the importance of consideration of antiviral therapy in all patients and screening for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients as means to decrease these numbers.
- Despite these findings, there is also evidence that, in some patients, cirrhosis may be present for decades with relatively few complications.(23)
Research continues to be performed to better understand the natural history of HCV infection and the variables that affect disease progression. Several features of the natural history of HCV infection can be incorporated into patient management. These include an understanding that:
- Rapid liver disease progression is not universal, and is affected by a variety of known and unknown factors.
- Uncertainty exists as to whether the disease progresses linearly in all patients.
- Predictive factors for disease progression include:
- alcoholism
- age greater than 40 years at infection
- male gender
- presence of fat (steatosis) within the liver
- HCV cirrhosis is common, and will become more of a problem over time, so aggressive attempts at HCV eradication and close follow-up of patients with cirrhosis are important management steps.
- Freeman AJ, Dore GL, Law MG, et al. Estimating progression to cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatology 2001;34:809-816.
- Puoti M, Zonaro A, Ravaggi A, et al. Hepatitis C virus RNA and antibody response in the clinical course of acute hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatology 1992;16:877-881.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and HCV-Related Chronic Disease. MMWR 1998;47 (No. RR-19):14.
- Pawlotsky JM. Use and interpretation of virological tests for hepatitis C. Hepatology 2002;36:S65-S73.
- Alter, MJ, Kruszon-Moran D, Nainan OV, et al. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the United States, 1988 through 1994. N Engl J Med 1999;341: 556-562.
- Vogt M, Lant T, Frosner G, et al. Prevalence and clinical outcome of hepatitis C infection in children who underwent cardiac surgery before implementation of blood-donor screening. N Engl J Med 1999;341:866-870.
- Losasciulli A, Testa M, Pontisso P, et al. Prevalence and natural history of hepatitis C infection in patients cured of childhood leukemia. Blood 1997;11:4628-4633.
- Spada E, Mele A, Berton A, et al. Multispecific T cell response and negative HCV RNA tests during acute HCV infection are early prognostic factors of spontaneous clearance. Gut 2004;53:1673-1681.
- Gerlach JT, Diepolder HM, Zachoval R, et al. Acute hepatitis C: high rate of both spontaneous and treatment-induced viral clearance. Gastroenterology 2003;125:80-88.
- Lehmann M, Meyer MF, Monazahian M, et al. High rate of spontaneous clearance of acute hepatitis C virus genotype 3 infection. J Med Virol 2004;73:387-391.
- Nguyen TT, Sedghi-Vaziri A, Wilkes LB, et al. Fluctuations in viral load (HCV RNA) are relatively insignificant in untreated patients with chronic HCV infection. J Viral Hepatitis 1996;3:75-78.
- Kayali Z, Buckwold VE, Zimmerman B, Schmidt WN. Hepatitis C infection, cryoglobulinemia, and cirrhosis: a meta-analysis. Hepatology 2002;36:978-985.
- Agnello V, DeRosa FG. Extrahepatic disease manifestations of HCV infection: some current issues. J Hepatol 2004;40:341-352.
- Vassilopoulos D, Calabrese LH. Hepatitis C virus infection and vasculitis. Implications of antiviral and immunosuppressive therapies. Arthritis Rheum 2002;46:585-597.
- Ramos-Casals M, Trejo O, Garcia-Carrasco M, Font J. Therapeutic management of extrahepatic manifestations in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Rheumatology 2003;42:818-828.
- Poynard T, Bedossa P, Opolon P, for the OBSVIRC, METAVIR, CLINIVIR, and DOSVIRC groups. Natural history of liver fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Lancet 1997;349:825-32.
- Lieber CS. Hepatitis C and alcohol. J Clin Gastroenterol 2003;36:100-102.
- Hourigan LF, Macdonald GA, Purdie D, et al. Fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C correlates significantly with body mass index and steatosis. Hepatology 1999;29:1215-1219.
- Monto A, Alonzo J, Watson JJ, et al. Steatosis in chronic hepatitis C: relative contributions of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and alcohol. Hepatology 2002;36:729-736.
- Fattovich G, Pantalena M, Zagni I, et al. Effect of hepatitis B and C virus infections on the natural history of compensated cirrhosis: a cohort study of 297 patients. Am J Gastroenterol 2002;112:463-472.
- Bennett WG, Inoue Y, Beck JR, et al. Estimates of the cost-effectiveness of a single course of interferon-alpha 2b in patients with histologically mild chronic hepatitis C. Ann Intern Med 1997;127:855-865.
- Davis GL, Albright JE, Cook SF, Rosenberg DM. Projecting future complications of chronic hepatitis C in the United States. Liver Transpl 2003;9:331-338.
- Niederau C, Lange S, Heintges T, et al. Prognosis of chronic hepatitis C: results of a large, prospective cohort study. Hepatology 1998;28:1687-1695.


text:
Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'multiplug'.
Found 1 result
Possible Credentials Issues?
binboy posted a topic in Resolved Malware Removal LogsHi, i don't know if this is the right place to ask for my problem/concern, but if is not feel free to move to the right section (and sorry for the mistake). So, few days ago i found on my pc an old software unused by me for at least 3 years (between the last usage and now i upgraded win 7 to win 10. i don't know if this can help or can be a problem in the diagnosis). Just for curiosity and to be sure i used virus total scanner on the .exe file of that software and the results revealed for 3 of 67 analysis scanners that there was a Riskware (0040eff71). My reaction to this was to download ADWcleaner (because it helped me in other circustances in the past) to scan my pc. I don't have anymore the log files because i unistalled ADWcleaner (i regret this decision), but i remember the entries. ADWcleaner only found 2 suspicious results in the Registry field (*only things i don't remember are if HKEY was HKLM or HKCU): PUP.Optional.Legacy key registry HK*/Software/Classes/Interface {ID} PUP.Optional.Multiplug key registry HK*/Software/Classes/TypeLib {ID} At this point i cleaned up with ADWcleaner but the PUP.Optional.Legacy came back once. I cleaned again and also this one disappeared. After this i unistalled ADWcleaner and installed Malwarebytes 3 to make sure nothing else remained. I ran the scan and nothing has been found so i supposed the pc was correctly cleaned, but in the runtime protection of the premium trial i was reported with several venturead.com block site events during my daily navigation. I scanned again with Malwarebytes 3 and i also installed and ran Zemana, but nothing has been reported as malevolous. Looking for advise on internet, i reset the browser and the venturead.com events disappeared. The goal of this topic is mainly to understand the tipe of infection that i faced and if i should be worried about my accounting credentials used during this long time that supposedly i was exposed. So, my questions are: 1) what kind of threats were these of mine? (i would like to understand more about every evidence i described just to learn more about this. i searched on internet but nothing was exactly my case) 2) should i be worried about my credencials? (i usually change passwords every 5, 6 month, last time 2 weeks ago, and always sign in in anonymous browser windows, but i understand that if these threats were severe, like a keylogger, these my habits are meaningless) 3) i sometimes connect my external hdd to make a backup of my personal data (mainly photos, videos and docs). I have done this several times before this episode so, my last question is: Should i be worried about my external hdd or data stored? (i don't know if this helps, but i never executed nothing on that device and i made a scan with Malwarebytes 3 after i finished my fight against the venturead.com thing) I'm sorry for this wall of text and for my english (not so good i know) and i hope u can give me good news about my preoccupation. PS: i forgot to say that the only real symptoms (during the infection period) i perceived were failed attempts (blocked by the browser and the adblock extension) from the browser to open popups/browser cards and, i suppose, too much ads on certain websites (too much considering that i had adblock). i don't know if i had some performance issues because this pc has 9 years old so is actually the normal behavior for me seeing lag spikes on videogames or difficulty in some tasks.


text:
It's every owners worst fear. On Saturday night Hal and I went down to the field to check the horses last thing, and there was a horse missing! Sapphire and Florence were waiting by the gate, but Leonie was nowhere to be seen. Leo is the worlds most obnoxiously in your face horse, if your there, she's in the way, so something was very wrong.
The thought process went something like this:-
Perhaps she's at the bottom of the field/eating/asleep and hasn't realised what's happening (yeh right). We call, we whistle, we rattle treat bags, but all we achieve is winding up Sapph and Flo.
There's no way on Earth she can have got out – is there? Surely not. This field is totally secure, and anyway, if any horse was going to get out of this field it would be Sapphire, it's almost sport to her. Sapph hasn't got out since we've been here and that's two years now. Also, if it was easy enough for a klutz like Leonie to get out, how come the others haven't gone to?
Oh God, she hasn't been stolen Has she? Surely not. Why only take one there when there were three mares for the taking? Also, our fields do not have any public right-of-way, footpath's, bridal parts, cycle parts, or even roads, anywhere near them. The only way into is either through our garden, or across adjoining fields . Hardly ideal for the opportunist horse theif.
Oh please no! She isn't dead is she?
Hal told me later that he'd had exactly the same though. We were bought. Desperately trying not to panic each other, neither of us gave voice to our shared vision of a heap of dead black fur somewhere out there in the darkness.
Hal had just set off quartering the field in search of her, and I was trying to keep Sapph and Flo calm by the gate, so he didn't get flattened, when I heard hoof beats on the hedge where no horse should be.
Thankfully she was OK. In fact she didn't have so much as a scratch on her! All three horses were confined to the stables until we could check the boundaries by daylight .
Hal and I had plans for Sunday. Instead we spent the day putting up electric fencing, and trying to work out exactly how Madam got out. There no obvious holes in the hedge, hoof prints on the banks, breaks in the stock fencing. The gate, which is barricaded with sacks of rubble, hasn't been disturbed. There is no clue as to how she got out. We put electric fencing along a run from the baracaded gate to next door, down to the stock fencing at the bottom of the field. This is where the Devon Bank is lowest, and the hedge is thinnest. This must be where she got out. Problem solved.
Hal and I had plans for Tuesday. Hal was just on his way out the door to check the horses when one of the neighbours messaged us to say that one of the horses was in the field next door!
Low and behold, there was Leonie!
Once again all three horses were confined to barracks. Hal and I spent Tuesday trying to work out how she was getting out. Once again she did not have a scratch on her. There were no obvious signs of damage to hedges, banks, gates or fences. The fence we put up on Sunday was still in one piece. How is she doing it?
Hal and I spent Tuesday putting up yet more electric fence.
Neither of us are entirely feeling the love right now