text:
Conventional training wisdom has taught us the importance of proper hydration. (Get STACK's All-Day Hydration Game Plan.)
Both endurance and non-endurance athletes require sufficient amounts of fluid intake around the clock for a healthy lifestyle and maximum performance. But that is where the similarities end.
Several factors determine an individual's specific needs, including exercise intensity and training venue (indoors or out). Learn the rules of hydration. This will not only ensure you always train at your best but also that you stay healthy. (Learn how to Individualize Your Hydration Schedule.)
Hydration Rules
You probably already know that a two percent loss in body weight from sweat loss can cause a 20 percent drop in performance.
Our bodies are not made to hold on to fluids. Throughout the day, we lose water through sweating, urinating and even breathing. Athletes in particular need to pay attention to how much they sweat, because as soon as they start sweating during exercise, they begin to dehydrate. (See how to Boost Your Game With Proper Pre-Activity Fueling.)
On average, our bodies convert 75 percent of the energy we expend exercising into heat [1]. This is why we feel hot during training. We sweat to keep our core body temperature within safe limits. The more we sweat, the more fluid we lose and the more crucial it becomes to hydrate. If you fail to consume enough fluid, your blood can thicken and your fluid level can drop dramatically. This places more stress on your heart since it must work harder to pump a sufficient amount of blood [2]. If this occurs, you could ultimately face some serious health issues such as cramping, fatigue, dizziness, heat exhaustion or stroke.
General Hydration Recommendations
Your specific hydration needs will vary by:
- How much fluid you drink throughout the day
- Your level of perspiration
- How quickly and how often you replace fluids
- The intensity and duration of your training
How to tell if you're getting enough fluids
- Watch your urine color. The lighter the better. (See The Truth About Dehydration.)
- Weigh yourself and note your weight before and after training. If you drop in weight, you need to rehydrate.
How to Hydrate
- Drink eight ounces of fluid for each 20 minutes of exercise.
- If you train for longer than 45 minutes, consume a sports drink to rehydrate and restore lost electrolytes.
- Choose wisely when hydrating. Water and sports drinks are important, but so is the food you eat. Caffeine before exercise can cause dehydration. Stick with vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Plant-based foods naturally contain higher amounts of water. Whole grains require less water for digestion compared to processed grains, which rob your body of fluid during the digestion process.
Proper hydration is always in season. Drink plenty of fluids, never let yourself get thirsty and eat a diet rich in whole foods.
[1] Mitchell, J. W. (1977). Energy Exchanges During Exercise. New York: Academic Press, pp. 11-26.
[2] Greene, L. S., Greene, L., & Pate, R. R. (2004). Training for Young Distance Runners. Human Kinetics 1.
Photo Credit: Getty Images // Thinkstock


text:
Where is Olivier Dacourt now?
Leeds United legend Olivier Dacourt retired from playing in 2010 after a six-month spell playing in Belgium with Standard Liege.
Check out these great deals on replica football shirts and grab yourself a bargain.
Dacourt was also a fan's favourite during his time at Everton but left under a cloud after becoming disillusioned with the club's lack of ambition and what he claimed were a string of broken promises made by the management.
Returning to France with Lens, Dacourt's impressive performances for the club earned him a move back to the Premier League with Leeds United who paid a club record £7.2 million in 2000 for his services.
Dacourt's tenacious style and ball winning play was a big factor in helping the club secure a top four finish in the Premier League and a Champions League semi final in his first season.
Upon retiring from playing professionally, Dacourt went straight into the world of media in his native France with RMC Radio.
Dacourt's frank and direct style proved to be a huge hit with listeners and he left after just three months to join television station Eurosport as a pundit for their coverage of the Coupe de France which is the French equivalent of the FA Cup.
He also worked for French football television show Telefoot going behind the scenes at some of the biggest clubs and interviewing some of the top European players.
After five years working for Eurosport, Dacourt left the station in 2016 to work in a similar capacity at French station Canal +.
Alongside his media work, Dacourt has also completed a diploma in professional sports club general management.
In 2010, Dacourt was one of a number of investors who successfully sued Donald Trump after a deal to open a luxury hotel project in Lower Manhattan called "Trump SoHo" never materialised.
In July 2017 Olivier Dacourt will be representing France in Star Sixes, a new six-a-side indoor international tournament at the O2 in London featuring some of the world's most iconic footballers.
He will be playing against former Leeds United team mates Rio Ferdinand and Dominic Matteo who are representing England and Scotland.
Follow Olivier Dacourt on Twitter @dacourtolivier
Back to Everton / Leeds United
Olivier Dacourt: Premier League Statistics
|Goals Scored
|Yellow Cards
|Red Cards
|Premier League Teams Played for
|Everton, Fulham, Leeds United
Statistics courtesy of www.premierleague.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Link To Us
Development Tools
Screen Savers
Security & Privacy
Web Authoring
More E-Mail Clients
What's Hot
Advanced SMTP Server
Mokum Mail
Email Grabber & Sender
Colorful Email Creator
WebMail Assistant for Hotmail and Yahoo EMail
Whois Extractor
Email Verifier
1st Email Searcher
Rich Mailer
Public ShareFolder for Outlook
1st Mass Mailer
HighVIP Protected Email
Duplicates Remover for Outlook
Mail Commander
FXstyle Bulk Email Direct Sender
Bulk Email mailer
007 Email Sender Express
Best Mass Mailer
Public Mail 2 Contact for Outlook
What's New
Rich Mailer
Fast Mailer Pro
Advanced Emailer
Advanced SMTP Server
1st Mass Mailer
MAPILab Toolbox
HighVIP Protected Email
Gmail Peeper
Email Verifier
Postman Professional
Public ShareFolder for Outlook
IncrediMail 2
Duplicates Remover for Outlook
Bulk Email mailer
Whois Extractor
Vista NetMail
Our Partners
E-Mail Clients Search
E-Mail Clients
MR/2 ICE Email and Newsreader Client 2.65
A full featured multithreaded email and newsreader client for Windows. Easy-to-use notebook style used to organize folders and newsgroups. Loaded with features including spell checking and even a...
007 Email Sender Express 4.8
Fast bulk email software. Powerful Direct Email Send ability bypass your ISP. Fast Send bulk email using multi-thread. Automaticly remove duplicate e-mail address. Support Text, Html (Gif)...
Desktop Fay 2.8
Email client, Email notifier, Mailing lists manager, Personalized batch mailer, Reminder and Calculator - all in one cute application with innovative animated interface. Put this virtual personal...
Mail Inspector 4.1
Mail Inspector can check for new emails and notify you. Delete mails directly on the server without downloading them. Includes some powerfull anti-spam filter. You also can send out quick-mails....
Whois Extractor 2.8
Whois extractor is efficient tool for extract information about domain owner.it extracts domains owner email addresses, name servers in use, last update date, expiration date, creation date, and...
Advanced Emailer 6.7
Advanced Emailer is intended for sending electronic mail utilizing mailing lists. It is a great tool for anyone who needs to send information/notifications to a large number of recipients. This...
Fast Mailer Pro 6.7
Ultra fast subscription-based mass mailer used by Internet professionals and online store owners, to notify their customer base about various events and promote their new products and services. It...
Mail Commander 9.0
Mail-Commander is a super-fast email client that does it all - from the everyday sending and receiving of e-mails to managing mailing lists and customer requests. This email client has extensive...
MAPILab Toolbox 3.3.0
A set of 18 "must have" Microsoft Outlook 2000-2010 add-ins for high-performance and useful functionality: you can schedule message sending; access files from your computer through email; manage...
Vista NetMail 10.0
The program can store information on many e-mail accounts. If you have several external mailboxes at different ISPs you will not need to enter a new password and adjust the settings every time.
Recovery for Outlook 2.0.0817
Recovery for Outlook fixes corrupted Microsoft Outlook files (.PST) and Exchange Offline files (.OST). Restores mail, contacts, calendar, tasks, notes. Solves the problem with big (over 2Gb) .PST...
1st Email Searcher 3.2
1st Email Searcher helps you to search for email addresses in files and folders located on a PC or on the Internet, and place emails to text files. The program lets you find all emails you have on...
Duplicates Remover for Outlook 2.6.0
Delete duplicate contacts, notes, tasks, etc. in Microsoft Outlook; searching across folders. A duplicate found can be marked, copied or moved to any folder. Works as an add-in for Microsoft...
Active MediaMagnet 5.6.5
Active Media Magnet is the first software product that completely automates your press releases management and internet publicity strategy! Now submitting your press releases to over 33000 media...
MailOut Professional 10.0.5
Tool for Serial Emails and Email Marketing. Create newsletters, Send newsletter, Create serial emails and send serial emails.
X-Mailer Direct 1.3
X-Mailer Direct is a productivity-tool made for the professional e-marketer. ++It guides trough the 4 steps of creating personalized e-newsletters. ++It allows sending e-mails from the datasources...
Postman Professional 9
Whether you want to send ten or millions of emails, HTML or text, with or without attachments, our Postman manages this for you. You can also define a time scale or limit the sending of the emails.
ResponseAnalizer 9.2
Some hours or days after sending a newsletters to all your customers your mailbox will be filled with messages like "sorry user does not exists" or "user unknown". This happens because some mail...
WebMail Assistant for Hotmail and Yahoo EMail 1.5
Dramatically improves Yahoo Mail/Hotmail! Save messages to folders on your computer, kill spam, save space in your account, maintain a fast address book that works with multiple accounts, mail...
Advanced SMTP Server 5.25
Advanced SMTP Server is a system-tray local SMTP server program for Windows that lets you send email messages directly from your computer to recipient mailboxes. Along with a mass mailer the...
Software: 1 to 20 of 60 | Pages:
Link to us


text:
Top 10 Iron Deficiency Symptoms
When one begins to suffer from an iron deficiency, the symptoms are noticeably present until the right treatment is found. Iron deficiency symptoms are presented in a wide range of levels from minor to life-altering. There are various measures which are taken to reverse the symptoms from this condition and the anemia resulting from an iron deficiency. Some will include iron rich foods for anemia in their daily diet. Others may choose to use a natural iron supplement on a daily basis with hopes of easing the iron deficiency symptoms. Of course, a supplement combined with the proper diet will present a better chance of overcoming the deficiency.
There are the 10 common iron deficiency symptoms:
1. The most common of the iron deficiency symptoms is the severe feeling of fatigue.
2. The skin will lose its healthy glow as it begins to present a pale cast. The tongue can become sore or inflamed.
3. Beside the allover weakness that is another highly common symptom of an iron deficiency, an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia may be experienced as well.
4. Headaches will begin to creep up more often.
5. With or without activity, shortness of breath may be commonly experienced.
6. If lightheaded or dizzy, one may become suspicious of an iron deficiency being present.
7. When your hands and feet seem to never warm up no matter what, an iron deficiency may be the culprit of such annoying symptoms.
8. Besides brittle nails, iron deficiency and hair loss is another ordinary symptom of an iron deficiency.
9. Irritably from that overall feeling of exhaustion caused by an iron deficiency is common by those suffering from the condition.
10. Of all the iron deficiency symptoms, the strangest sign is the craving for non-food substances like dirt, solid starch, or ice.
The only way to be sure there is an iron deficiency present is to see a doctor who will initiate the proper examination and tests to confirm the diagnosis before treatment begins.


text:
Tag Archive: negotiate
April 7, 2016 / Money
How to pay off your home loan faster
It's too easy to set and forget your mortgage. Sign the papers, set up the payments and move on to... View Article
October 28, 2015 / Masterclass
Be MoneyBrilliant – Managing your Money Step 5
Step 5 – turning insights in to action Congratulations for coming this far. I would be surprised to hear that... View Article


text:
Arctic Steel Stainless Water Strainer WS-AC 70WS-SISO-200-S
|Thread Size - 2.00" NPT
|Solid 316 Stainless Lid
|Lid Width - 7.80"
|Overall Height - 10.59"
|Body Width - 5.24"
|Weight - 13.67 lb
|Flow Rate @ 0.015psi - 7.9 gpm
|Flow Rate @ 14.5 psi - 282.2 gpm
- Electro-polished AISI duplex Cast Stainless Steel
- BSP or NPT thread available
- Secured by 5 x 316 wing nuts for easy access
- Swing down 316 eye bolts eliminates need to remove nuts
- Solid electro-polished 316 stainless steel lid
- Rugged ABS basket. High impact resistance. Stainless basket available for finer screening
- Durable silicone gasket
- Cast anode connection point for electrolysis resistance
- Designed for applications that require a header tank or mounting above the waterline (aircond/genset)
Want to be sure you're paying the lowest price?
We guarantee it.
We are doing everything possible to provide you the best products at the lowest prices possible. Due to the high number of products in our store it is possible some of the prices on our products are not up to date.
If you find one of our products with a lower price than ours, please use this form. We will compare the prices and will offer you the product at the same price!
*Valid for U.S. websites only!
Please fill in the form below:
* Required fields
* Required fields


text:
REHEARSAL ROOMSMusic practice facilities at Lamp House Music
Professionally soundproofed and acoustically engineered, our rehearsal rooms are clean, modern and truly stunning facilities offering musicians the utmost sound and the perfect environment for practice and band rehearsals.
£15 per hour (off-peak) and £18 (peak)*
- Mapex Drum Kit
- Blackstar HT40 Guitar Amp
- VOX AC30 Amp
- Gallien and Kruger Bass Amp
- Peavey Vocal PA and Desk
- Yamaha Arius Electronic piano with weighted keys
- 2 Mics and stands Hi-hat, crash and ride cymbals plus snare drum included – no extra charge!
to book please call 01620 825630
£14 per hour (off-peak) and £17 (peak)*
- Mapex Drum Kit
- Marshall Valve Amp
- Crate 120w Amp
- Gallien and Kruger Bass Amp
- Peavey Vocal PA and Desk
- 2 Mics and stands Hi-hat, crash and ride cymbals plus snare drum included – no extra charge!
to book please call 01620 825630
What you need to know
Studios are available to hire by the hour (minimum two hour booking during peak hours).
During term times, due to music lessons, rooms are only available at limited times
Bookings are taken on a first come, first served basis.
Off Peak Hours – *9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Peak Hours – *5pm to 11pm, Monday to Friday and all day Sat and Sun.
Advance and last minute bookings welcome.
If you wish to cancel a session we require at least 48 hours-notice, if less than 24 hours notice – full payment is required.
We recommend drummers bring their own cymbals, though we will provide these should you wish.
We have a range of snacks and refreshments for sale.
Musical spares and gift vouchers available to buy.
Free Membership.
Free Parking.
For more information or to book please call 01620 825630
or email us we're always happy to help.
Subscibe to our Newsletter
Lamp House Music
The Lamp House
Station Yard, Hospital Rd,
Haddington East Lothian,
t: 01620 825630
e: email@example.com
©2018 Lamp House Music
Find Us
Follow us


text:
16.12.2009 – 16:02
EANS-News: Nordex AG
Nordex receives order for first N100/2500 project in the
Special cold climate version for 20 MW wind farm in Wisconsin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company Information
Subtitle: Special cold climate version for 20 MW wind farm in Wisconsin
Norderstedt (euro adhoc) - Chicago, 16 December 2009. Nordex USA, Inc. today announced an order for eight N100 wind turbines to be installed at a 20-megawatt wind farm in Glenmore, Wisconsin outside of Green Bay. Developed by Emerging Energies of Wisconsin, the project will generate nearly 64 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which is enough to power about 8,000 homes and displace an estimated 55,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. The CH Energy Group, owner of the New York utility Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, holds a controlling interest in the project via its unregulated subsidiary Central Hudson Enterprises.
"The project debuts some of the most advanced turbines in the US," said Ralf Sigrist, President and CEO of Nordex, USA. "It´s been a pleasure partnering with Emerging Energies to provide the best technology for the site, designed to make the absolute most of Glenmore´s wind resources."
The N100s are the latest generation in the Nordex family of 2.5-megawatt N80/N90 turbines. Designed specifically for low to moderate wind speeds, the N100s are ideal for numerous sites across the country, holding great potential in the US. The N100s have a hub height and rotor diameter of 100 meters, with a rotor sweep of 7,823 square meters. That translates into an increase in power yield by up to 20% at average wind speeds of around 7.5 meters per second, compared to the N90.
For the project, called the Shirley Wind Farm, Nordex will supply cold climate models of the N100s, upgraded to operate in temperatures as low as minus 20° Fahrenheit.
"We looked very carefully at the N80/N90/N100 Nordex turbines and were convinced by their great track record, along with the quality and experience Nordex brings to the market," said Bill Rakocy, one of three founders of Emerging Energies. "We selected the N100s because they accomplish two critical project goals - maximizing available land and wind resources by using the largest, tallest turbines available. We´re excited to introduce them in the US and in Wisconsin."
The project also represents a shift in the US market toward larger turbines with higher efficiencies and yields. In 2008, the average installed turbine was 1.67 megawatts. Nordex built the first 2.5-megawatt turbine in 2000 and has the longest track record for reliability in the multi-megawatt class, with over 1,000 installed worldwide.
Nordex will deliver and install the turbines in the third quarter of 2010, with project completion slated for the fourth quarter. The order also includes maintenance and technical operation under a 10 year service contract. The project carries a 20-year power purchase agreement contract with Wisconsin Public Service Corporation.
"We believe the Shirley wind investment will provide the stability and predictability in earnings and cash flow that our shareholders value," said Steven Lant, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of CH Energy Group. "It strengthens our portfolio of unregulated ventures, complimenting our utility Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation."
Nordex USA is currently building a manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas, which will produce N90/N100 turbines for the US market beginning in September 2010.
About Nordex As one of the technological leaders in multi-megawatt wind power systems, Nordex is benefiting from the trend in favor of large-scale turbines. The range comprises one of the world´s largest series-produced wind turbines (N80/N90/N100 2,500 kW). To date, over 1,000 turbines of this type have been installed around the world. This experience with multi-megawatt turbines gives Nordex a decisive lead over most of its competitors. Nordex has installed more than 3,900 turbines with an aggregate capacity of around 5,400 MW all around the world. With exports accounting for over 95 percent of its business, Nordex AG plays a key role in international high-growth regions. The Company has offices and subsidiaries in 18 countries around the world. The Group currently has 2,200 employees around the world.
end of announcement euro adhoc --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further inquiry note:
Felix Losada
Tel.: +49 (0)40 300 30 1141
Branche: Alternative energy
Index: TecDAX, CDAX, HDAX, Prime All Share, Technology All Share,
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade
Original content of: Nordex SE, transmitted by news aktuell


text:
If you have an issue to report or need help, please visit store help.
Northern Liberties nolib4 Don Zientara Clocks & Watches
Don Zientara is best known as the owner of Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia. Beginning with Dischord #1
(The Teen Idles "Minor Disturbance" EP), he has worked on most of the label's releases over the past 23 years, including all but one of the Fugazi records. He has engineered hundreds of other sessions and has been instrumental in helping new producers, including J. Robbins (of Jawbox) and Chad Clark (of Beauty Pill and Silver Sonya) get their start.
This is Don's second solo album, following Sixteen SSongs, released on Northern Liberties in 2003.
|1. Somewhere
|2. Situation Vacant
|3. Basement's On Fire
|4. Ms. To Self
|5. The Plot
|6. Places
|7. Rainy Day In Paradise
|8. Darfur
|9. Part And Parcel
|10. Ol' Sparky
|11. Clocks And Watches


text:
The Meriden Public Schools uses many innovative practices to ensure that its data systems are integrated and support the district's mission. Learn more about Meriden's best practices by clicking below.Click Circles To Learn More
Meriden has embraced the integration of instruction and technology and has begun to promote 21st century learning by implementing blended learning in several high school classrooms. The district has a K-12 Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, which allows students to bring technology from home into the classroom to enhance their learning. In addition, both high schools offer each student a tablet that becomes the student's for the school year and is reissued the following year. All Meriden students participate in a digital literacy and internet safety course, and students discuss internet safety and cyberbullying during Advisory. Students at the elementary and secondary levels receive weekly instruction through technology. Meriden is also working to further expand technology literacy among all faculty members.
Importantly, the district works hard to make sure that technology isn't used just for the sake of using technology. Content area technology specialists work closely with teachers to ensure that technology is used to enhance the curriculum. Some teachers use access to technology to flip their classrooms so that students can access instructional materials at home and be more engaged during in-person class time. Meriden students can take ownership of their school work and schedules through online technology platforms, gaining the freedom to work around extracurricular activities and make up work that was assigned if they were sick or on vacation. High school students use sites such as Moodle for assignment retrieval and tracking, giving the students exposure to online learning platforms. A history class might open up the classroom walls through Twitter, using hashtags such as #Syria to facilitate real-time connections to current events and other students across America who are studying the same topic.
Meriden Public Schools has done an outstanding job of creating and nurturing a relationship with the Meriden teacher's union, Meriden Federation of Teachers (MFT). Superintendent Mark Benigni and Teacher Union President Erin Benham have built a strong relationship between the teachers and administrators by collaborating on initiatives throughout the district that help students.
Through this partnership, Meriden has been able to negotiate a contract in which teachers and building administrators extend the day by an hour on Thursdays to meet in teams and review student data. This information gathered during these data reviews helps teachers adjust instruction so that they are meeting the learning needs of all students.
Meriden has been effectively tracking teacher success in several ways for a number of years. For instance, the district uses a tool called the Meriden Teacher Dashboard, which is not evaluative, but rather serves as the basis for conversations about professional growth. Principals can see each individual teacher's data on personal absences and student discipline (number of referrals written), as compared to their peer school and district averages. This allows principals and teachers to work together to change behaviors for more positive outcomes in the school and classroom.
Additionally, Meriden collects data on the classroom effectiveness of teachers and can highlight teachers who are high performers through the Meriden Teachers Sharing Success program. This program asks high-performing teachers to open up their classrooms as models for other teachers. Through a Peer Coaching program, teachers in the same content area and grade-level can also volunteer to support each other. Both of these programs provide individualized professional development that is based on the premise that Meriden's best teachers are, in fact, their teachers.
Meriden tracks academic, emotional, climate, and behavioral data to monitor students' progress in meeting success.
As an example, the district uses the School-Wide Information System (SWIS) to display longitudinal data on student behavior in meaningful ways. The system allows administrators and teachers to observe trends in behavior, which prompts data-driven decisions about the types of interventions that will improve outcomes for students. SWIS and other data points are discussed in regular data team meetings that Meriden holds to make sure all students stay on track.
Over the last several years, Meriden has worked to develop "of moment" assessments. These assessments are called Key Concepts. These quick assessments help teachers to know whether students understand a concept they are teaching immediately. They also help teachers to understand the common mistakes students are making, so they can correct those errors.
Key Concepts allow teachers to "survey" the class on comprehension through the use of online software. Answers are collected through handheld clickers, laptops, tablets and/or cell phones. The "of moment" assessments allow teachers to adjust instruction in real time, based on student feedback. They can also notice if there are patterns in the types of mistakes students are making, which can help them to make adjustments to how they teach a particular concept in the future.
Meriden Public Schools has developed a survey that can effectively measure school climate. Students take the 10-minute survey twice a year. The results of the survey are confidential, but not anonymous.
They allow schools to measure students' engagement in school, respect, caring, fairness and pro-social behavior. It also alerts school administrators to students who may have mental health needs or who are being bullied. An automatic email is triggered by certain responses or by overall scores that indicate a cause for concern. This email is sent to the school counselor and principal, who will keep it confidential, but ensure that a caring adult can contact the child quickly.
Student profiles are also monitored over time for dramatic changes, so that school officials can intervene if they believe that student may be having difficulty.


text:
Reuniting the Pandas3 min read
One of the attractions of The Chief's Runaway Bride by Bijou Li is the insights it gives to daily living in a country as vast and underdeveloped as China. China is a rapidly developing country but this story takes place in 1942 at a time when there was a war in progress with the Japanese and a revolution in progress led by Mao Tse Tung. Marriage was the best time-tested and true way to stabilize shifting loyalties between factions and tribes. That is the situation Magnolia found herself in when she learned that Zhaxi, chief of the Mosuo tribe, had selected her to be his wife. Her father surprised her by saying that he could do nothing. If she did not marry the chief, the entire family fortune and social standing would suffer.
This is a very "safe" book for readers whose sensibilities do not want to be invaded by graphic sex and violence. There is nothing of the sort in this book. This is a sensitive, yet romantic, depiction of a portion of reality in a bygone age. I recommend this book to the YA crowd of course, but also to those who just want to read a good story without worrying what shock the next paragraph might bring. There are a few realities worth mentioning.
There is a tradition of a "walking marriage" as described in this novel. I became aware of it a few years ago in a CNN presentation from an author (it could have been this one) who described this tradition. When I came across it in this novel I attempted, unsuccessfully, to determine if this was the same source. In this novel Sadama, aunt of Zhaxi and confidant of Magnolia, mentions to Magnolia that the tradition of the "walking marriage" was good for the Mosuo women. Because they would never be dependent on a man for life's necessities, they had to develop skills that would serve them as they existed independently.
I "bought" this book from Amazon at the great price of USD 0.00. When I get something for free, can I say I bought it? I gave this five Amazon stars due to the uniqueness of presentation, the well-written presentation, and just the good feeling I got from reading this novel. It is a "feel good" novel. And why not? It is not necessary that everything we read starkly challenges everything in the everyday reality we encounter. This novel is comfortable. It even has pandas that escape evil poachers. Things couldn't be much cuter.


text:
Ever feel like you have no idea where the day goes? Or do you sometimes have trouble remembering how you got home after a particularly stressful day? We all, at some point or another, experience blanks in our memory. We space out, forget certain details or just simply don't remember events. But for Helene, the heroine in D.L. McDermott's latest book Silver Skin, it's a bit worse than that. See, she blacks out. Totally and completely. For hours at a time. And she can't remember a thing …
Read below for a sneak peek at Silver Skin, and don't forget to check out Cold Iron too!
Helene Whitney was losing time. Not losing track of time, but missing hours, finding whole blank spaces in her day that she could not account for.
And it terrified her.
The first incident, after a party at the university museum where she worked as the director of development, had been easy enough to explain away. The annual gala was the highlight of the fundraising year, a white-tie dinner with dancing to follow, held in the museum's grand atrium.
It took six months to plan, an army of caterers, musicians, decorators, and florists to execute, and disrupted almost every aspect of the institution's operations.
For Helene, it was the most important date on the calendar. Her professional life, the direction of her career, forward or back, turned on the success of this one, all-consuming night.
During the day the marble and granite halls of the museum were hushed temples to art, the quiet broken only occasionally by schoolchildren. For the gala Helene had transformed the place into a pleasure palace, awash in flowers and music, dotted with white tablecloths and gilded chairs, champagne always close at hand. She moved through this enchanted realm in a column of pale blue silk chosen to complement the party's decor.
It was only natural, once the dessert had been served (lemon soufflé—excellent), the speeches delivered (by the director—tendentious, and by the curators—pedantic), the pledges made (miraculous—considering the speeches), that she should reward herself for a job well done with a glass of wine. Or two. She had not remembered drinking more than that. Not at the gala, anyway.
A small group of important donors and the director had moved on to a bar in the square afterward and she had gone with them. It was the kind of place the students shunned, the preserve of well-heeled academics and successful alumni, attached to an overpriced restaurant in a converted town house.
She didn't think she had ordered a cocktail, but she couldn't be certain. She could recall the patio where they sat, small lights twinkling in the trees, the airy country-club atmosphere, and talking to a man whose face she couldn't remember. When she tried to picture him, the scene blurred, and she was left with only a vague sense of charisma—and then after that, nothing—until the next morning, when she'd woken up at home.
With no hangover. Her only souvenir of the evening was a bug bite—a mosquito from the late night drinks on the patio, probably, although she couldn't find a welt—on her right shoulder that itched like mad.
At the time she'd just been grateful to wake up with a clear head. There were a thousand details to attend to the day after the event, thank-yous to write, rentals to return, invoices to pay, donors to follow up with, and though her boss, the museum's director, treated her like a glorified social planner, she took her job seriously.
Helene wasn't in it for the parties. She'd started out on a curatorial track, as a collections manager in the European paintings department. She'd quickly discovered that there was never enough money for the things that mattered in a museum: access for schoolchildren and the poor; conservation; exhibitions; sometimes even to keep the lights on. The curator she worked for was an able scholar, but he didn't have the knack for bringing in money or for cultivating collectors and donors.
Helene did. And when money began to flow into her neglected department, the director, Dave Monroe, noticed. He'd plucked her out of her entry-level job, fired his existing director of development, and installed Helene. She had struggled at first to earn the respect of her colleagues, who thought her too young and inexperienced for the job, but since that time she'd run six annual galas for the museum, each one more successful than the last, and won over most of the staff.
The gala itself was a means to an end. The real thrill, Helene found, came in the days afterward, when money, art, and expertise flowed into the museum. It was the best part of her job.
But not this year. Two days after the gala, she'd looked up from her desk to realize that she had no idea what she'd been doing since ten that morning. A similar occurrence had followed the next day. Then nothing for a week. Then three days in a row she'd simply lost the hours from twelve to two.
The blackouts left her with a feeling of having been violated, a sense that hours of her life had been stolen. She was afraid to confide her fears to any of her friends or family, because no one would believe her.
Except for Beth Carter, and Beth Carter was three thousand miles away. There might be another source of help nearer by, but he was a man—no, he wasn't a man, he was a Fae sorcerer—whom Helene dared not trust.
She was on her own.
Helene had dated a lawyer once whose firm required him to account for all of his time, his billable hours, in fifteen-minute increments. Recalling his method, she'd bought a ledger like the one he used and begun recording the minutiae of her day. There were exhibition planning meetings and docent lunches and hours spent at her desk drafting brochure copy and press releases, all written in the neat block capitals she liked to use at work.
And then nothing. Blank spaces where she had ceased to record her activities, as if someone had simply flipped a switch and turned Helene Whitney off.
She always woke up from these episodes, apart from the very first, sitting at her desk in her office or standing in one of the galleries at the museum. Safe places. So far, anyway. But she had suffered from claustrophobia since childhood and feared waking up in a confined space, such as one of the small, cramped public elevators, or the crowded storage rooms with their floor-to-ceiling shelves full of objects and their tiny, narrow aisles.
She was never certain where she had been when she'd blanked out, but the last thing she always remembered was that she was always on her own. So she tried, for as many hours of the day as she could manage, to spend time with other people—her colleagues or donors or docents—but at some point she was always left alone. And then it would happen: a yawning black hole in her day.
She was a rational woman, so she had looked for a rational explanation, an environmental or medical cause. Tests on her office and home had come up negative for mold or toxins. Her doctor had given her a complete physical and declared her healthy. She'd consulted a psychologist, discreetly, off campus, because she did not want to jeopardize her job. He'd recommended counseling for alcoholism. She hadn't gone back.
That was when she had forced herself to face the undeniable truth: there was no rational explanation for what had been happening. Unfortunately, and much as she had tried to forget, she already knew that the world was not an entirely rational place.
Last autumn, Beth Carter, curator of Celtic antiquities at the museum, had brought more than artifacts back from her dig in Ireland. She'd brought a man back with her as well. Tall, strong, inhumanly handsome, Conn was one of the Fae. The Good Neighbors. The Fair Folk. The Tuatha Dé Danann. The People of the Mounds. The Aes Sídhe. They had many names because no one wanted to call them what they really were: ancient, immoral, tricksy, and jaded. The ancient god kings of Ireland were a mythic race apart: impossibly beautiful, long-lived, seductive, and cruel.
Her first instinct, once she acknowledged that her problem was not mundane, was to call Beth. The young archaeologist possessed some magic herself—she was descended from the Druids who had banished the Aes Sídhe. Beth would not only believe Helene, she might even be able to help.
Helene picked up the phone in her office, a space she had once loved, with its pale carpets, spare decor, and large plate-glass windows. It now felt frighteningly open and exposed. She dialed the country code for Ireland, then Beth's number.
Her friend answered at once. Helene had been ready to spill her problems. The tale had been on the tip of her tongue. But when she opened her mouth, nothing but small talk came out. She asked Beth about the dig—an Iron Age burial mound—and Conn and the weather.
And Beth told her how much she was enjoying having a real partner—her first husband had been an archaeologist like Beth, but had made his reputation by stealing her work—and finally being seen as a major player in her field. Helene told her about the gala and the latest antics of their executive director.
Every time Helene tried to say something is happening to me and I need your help, other words came out. Later, when she tried to email Beth, she typed the same nonsense.
Something was very, very wrong. She was scared. Scared enough to turn to the man—no, the creature—she had hoped never to see again: the Fae sorcerer and criminal who lived in South Boston, who had staked his claim to Helene's body and soul and only given it up when Beth had threatened to use her newfound Druid powers against him—Miach MacCecht.


text:
Interview with Dr Reubin
Breast reduction is no longer just a women's issue. More and more men suffer from a genetic or hormonal augmented breast. Dr. Reubin is a specialist in male aesthetic surgery and performs also other gynecomastia treatments in Opus Surgical Center.
What exactly is gynecomastia ? Also knows as MOOB.." men's boobs"
Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the mammary gland in men. The so-called " true gynecomastia" by increasing the glandular tissue is heated from a " false gynecomastia" by fat deposition - to distinguish - as occurs in overweight and obesity (adiposity).
What are the causes of gynecomastia? Is the fat pad of the chest genetic or does it develops through an unhealthy eating habits?
OC : True gynecomastia is caused by a proliferation of mammary gland tissue or caused by increased fat accumulation.
Usually we perform a liposuction in gynecomastia treatment in the OC. With this addition the glandular tissue is removed as well.
When gynecomastia surgery in the OC no distinctive grain pattern is stalled because the Smart Vaser Lipo . The scar only has a diameter of about 2-3 cm.
Surgical treatment is done in day case under IVs -intravenous monitored sedation technique; a chest bandage applied. No Drains, The end result is perfect at 6 weeks postop.
' A very rewarding procedure..is what I often hear"..
which is obviously the most pleasing comment you want to hear as a doctor.
GYNOS centre is a specialist plastic surgery unit based in Belgium Western Europe; we perform more than 200 cases a year. Therefore have extensive experience with all types of male Boob reduction surgery.
There are 3 types of approaches: mostly a combination of various skill sets.
- Vaser liposuction in cases of Pseudo(fake) gynaecomastia..were only Fat component is treated.
- Gland removal minimally invasive through endoscopes and inconspicuous incisions.
- Mastopexy : if there is shagginess especially after weight loss..whereby a lift of the nipple areola complex is need.
- Additional removal of excess skin fold is also combined to achieve our ultimate goal : a Flat chest without puffy nipples.
Minimal invasive technique allow less to no downtime, performed mostly under long acting local anaesthetic. in combination with general this is called the NO Drain-No Pain Reubinesque technique.
Visuals - photo's or short movie can be send to email@example.com for FREE evaluation and advice initially.
Live consultations can be booked by email attn: Abigail Patijn, secretary GYNOS centre Europe


text: At Integrity Dental, we strive to live up to our name. We value our patients and the relationships we build through honesty, loyalty, and conservative dentistry. When you visit Dr. James Cole at our Farmington general dentistry practice, you will experience integrity in everything we do, from our traditional service values to the excellent standard of care. We like to think we haven't just built a general dentistry practice in Farmington, we've also built a patient family who appreciates our gentleness and compassion.


text:
At the end of this chapter you should:
know the difference between leather and other skin products such as rawhide, parchment and semi-tanned leather;
understand the adverse effects that moulds, insects, inappropriate environmental conditions and excessive lubrication can have on leather;
know the storage and display conditions which are required to minimise the deterioration of leather objects;
understand the need for careful assessment of leather before attempting any treatment including cleaning;
know some cleaning processes that can be used on leather and be aware of the limitations of each method;
know when to lubricate leather objects; and
be able to prepare and apply lubricants to objects which must remain flexible.
Animal skin products have been used since ancient times, and continue to be used. Leather's durability and workability have made it a very important domestic and commercial product.
Leather has been used in the manufacture of an enormous range of objects, including clothing, saddles, boats, thongs, shields, aprons, shoes, upholstery straps and belts, and covers for books. It has been decorated with gold, dyed, moulded and polished.
While most museums, galleries and libraries in Australia do not have examples of ancient leather, many have leather objects of some kind. It is important that you have the information you need to properly care for the leather objects in your collections.
What is leather?
Leather is one of a range of manufactured materials which can be made from the skin of any animal.
Long before genuine tanning methods were used to prepare leather, hides and skins were processed in a variety of ways. The different processes were all designed to preserve the skins; and each process produced skin products with different properties. Working oil, grease and even brain matter into raw skins, softening hides by chewing them and smoking skins were some of the processes used. These methods affected both the look and feel of skins and their resistance to deterioration.
Technically, the term 'leather' refers to skin products which have been fully tanned. Tanning is a process which chemically alters skins, making them more durable and more resistant to rotting. It does this by chemically linking relatively small molecules and fibres in the original skins into groups of larger molecules and fibres. Large molecules take longer to break down than smaller ones.
Some of the other skin-processing methods also link fibres and result in larger molecules; but none of them do it as fully as the various tanning techniques, and none of them produce a material as durable as leather. Other skin products include rawhide, parchment and vellum, and semi-tanned leather.
Leather is made up of tanned collagen—the protein which makes up skin and bones—moisture, oils and fat.
Leather in good condition is naturally acidic: in the range of pH 3–6, with a water content of between 12–20% and a fat content in the range 2–10%.
What are the most common types of damage?
Leather can be damaged in a number of ways.
It can be scuffed, worn, torn, scratched and abraded—for example, during cleaning—and over- lubricated—this reduces the moisture content of the leather and it will become hard, brittle and inflexible.
Leather is also adversely affected by inappropriate environmental conditions and by biological pests.
Light and UV radiation affect leather in a number of ways, including:
providing energy to the chemical breakdown of the collagen that makes up the leather;
interaction with atmospheric pollutants, producing chemicals that damage leather and other materials associated with it;
fading of dyes; and
skin products with hair still attached often suffer hair loss through light-induced damage.
Extremes of relative humidity are damaging to leather. In low relative humidity conditions, leather dries out and can become hard, brittle and cracked. When the relative humidity is over 65%, leather is susceptible to mould attack. Leather is even more attractive to mould if it has been lubricated too much, because mould uses the ingredients of the lubricants as a food source.
Vegetable-tanned leathers, including items of harness, military equipment and bookbindings and upholstery, are susceptible to deterioration known as red rot, caused by pollutants in the atmosphere.
Dust is a major problem for leather objects because it can cause both chemical and mechanical damage. The sharp edges of minute particles are abrasive, and can cause fibre damage if removed by methods other than suction. Dust also attracts fungal spores, and acts as a centre for condensation and subsequent chemical attack.
Moulds, bacteria, rats, termites and many other insects attack leather and the materials incorporated in it.
Leather is often combined with other materials: metal buckles, for example. The interaction of these materials can be damaging.
Many fatty materials incorporated in leather dressings, react with metal components of leather objects, causing them to corrode. Evidence of this corrosion is often seen, for example, the presence of a turquoise, waxy substance on copper fastenings. Metals may have been incorporated into the leather from materials used during the manufacturing process. Deterioration caused by the presence of metals in the leather is hastened when relative humidity is high.
For more information
For more information about adverse environmental effect, please see Damage and Decay.
Common causes of damage
The most common types of damage are caused by:
poor handling;
poor storage methods;
inappropriate display methods;
wear and tear from repeated use;
chemical changes in the materials which make up the leather objects;
chemical changes caused by atmospheric pollutants and by chemicals which are in contact with the leather objects; and
a combination of any or all of these.
Much of the common damage to leather objects can be prevented by care and pre-planning your handling, storage and display.
Storing and displaying leather
Ideal conditions for storing leather
Ideally, objects made from leather, hide and skin should be displayed and stored in a clean, well ventilated environment where temperature is constant and moderate—in the range 18–22°C. If this cannot be maintained, the maximum temperature should be 25°C.
Relative humidity should be kept in the range of 45–55%. In very dry conditions with the relative humidity below 30%, leather dries out and becomes brittle. High humidity, that is, above 65%, encourages mould growth.
Parchment and vellum are very sensitive to changes in relative humidity, and experience considerable dimensional change as they absorb and release moisture.
Leather must be protected from environmental fluctuations and dust and insect attack. Display cases and layers of storage provide this type of protection.
Lighting levels should be kept to a minimum, particularly for dyed leather. The brightness of light on undyed leather should be 150 lux or less; and on dyed leather it should be 50 lux or less.
A UV content below 30 μW/lm and no higher than 75 μW/lm is preferred for undyed and dyed leather.
Avoid exposing any leather to bright spotlights or direct sunlight, because these can cause leather to fade, discoloured and dry out.
General storage guidelines
Good housekeeping is essential in the care of leather. Vacuum and dust regularly. This helps to minimise mould, insect and rodent attack.
Protect leather objects from dust using Tyvek dust covers, unbuffered acid-free boxes or acid-free tissue.
Check objects regularly to detect mould and insect infestations early.
Leather objects should be fully supported in storage and on display. They should be supported in their desired shape, so that if they harden later there will be no need for reshaping.
Store long leather pieces horizontally to make sure they are supported fully and evenly.
If three-dimensional objects are unable to support their own weight, then they should be supported internally. The form of the support depends on the shape of the object and the weight of leather to be supported. You can support and fill rounded items with unbuffered, acid-free tissue paper, or chemically stable polyethylene or polypropylene foams. You can make supports for other shapes using these foams.
Leather clothing and large objects such as saddles should be fitted on a dummy or a mount made-to- measure. Stable materials, such as the above- mentioned foams, linen, Dacron and most metals can be used in the manufacture of these supports.
Avoid sharp folds or creases in the leather. This helps reduce cracking.
Because leather products are naturally acidic, they should not come into contact with buffered, acid- free materials: these materials are alkaline and potentially damaging to leather.
Storage cupboards and furniture should be made of painted metal—these provide a stable and neutral storage environment for leather objects.
If you have wooden storage and display furniture, it should be sealed and lined with impermeable coatings, for example, clear polyurethane or laminates. This reduces the risk of reactive chemicals from the wood affecting the leather objects or the metal components associated with the objects. Remember, sealants and glues should be fully dry and cured before putting objects into the storage environment.
Standard conservation-quality mounting and framing are usually adequate for the protection of art or documents on parchment.
Storing and displaying leather in a well-maintained environment minimises deterioration and the need to treat leather objects. All treatments involve some risk to the object being treated.
Always assess carefully the need for treatment and the type of treatment. If you are in doubt about whether to treat or what treatment to use, ask a conservator for advice.
Use detergents, stain removers and similar chemicals only after talking with a qualified conservator.
Cleaning Leather
Even cleaning has the potential to damage leather. For this reason, cleaning should not be considered as an automatic option for leather objects. Cleaning is recommended for:
objects which need cleaning to prevent deterioration of the leather, which can be caused by surface deposits and/or mould growth; and
recently-acquired objects. Before their addition to the collection, they should be inspected and cleaned if necessary. This is essential to reduce the risk of contaminating the rest of the collection.
Before cleaning leather objects, consider:
the type and condition of the surface to be cleaned;
the nature of any contaminants or dirt;
the type of leather; and
exactly what is to be cleaned.
Dirt or other accretions which have accumulated during an object's useful life may be seen as historic evidence of the object's use. You may not want to clean this evidence away.
What to clean
Surface deposits which may need to be removed by cleaning include:
dirt, dust and salts;
fatty spews and gummy spews—materials which migrate to the surface from the lubricants used on leather; and
To identify crystalline salts, spews and mould you may need to examine the leather surface under magnification:
the crystalline nature of salts would be clearly evident;
mould can be identified by the presence of fine, fibrous strands; and
fatty spews appear greasy, and can be difficult to remove; gummy spews look like resin deposits on the surface of the leather.
Cleaning guidelines
Before cleaning any leather objects, remember to assess the condition of the surface being cleaned. If the object is fragile, cleaning can cause further damage; and it might be better to protect the object from further soiling rather than cleaning it.
It is important to remember that cleaning can stain leather, shift dyes as well as dirt within leather, and remove lubricants from leather. Always make sure that cleaning is necessary before starting.
If cleaning is necessary and the object is able to withstand it, there are a number of techniques you can use.
Vacuum cleaning, with the nozzle just above the leather surface and the power on the lowest setting, is probably the safest cleaning method. It is particularly suited to dusty leather which is in good condition. Place a gauze screen on the end of the nozzle when cleaning. This prevents fragments of leather being lost in the vacuum cleaner. If fragments are being lifted, reduce the suction of the vacuum cleaner.
Brushing with a soft, squirrel hair or camel hair brush is another way of removing surface dirt. Note that even using a soft-bristled brush can damage fragile objects—because dust is abrasive and can scratch a fragile surface. Also, small pieces of damaged leather may be dislodged.
Blowing dirt away with compressed air is appropriate for some objects. Take care that the air stream is not too strong, because it could damage fragile surfaces and dislodge leather fragments. Do this either outside or in a fume cupboard: to prevent dust being redeposited on the object.
Granular erasers can be used to remove more stubborn dirt. Use this method only on surfaces which are in good condition. Remember also that some erasers contain chemicals which can contribute to the deterioration of leather; so it is important that you select your eraser carefully. This is particularly important—it can be difficult to remove all traces of the eraser after cleaning.
To remove thick surface deposits such as those occasionally formed by fatty spews, scrape the surface using a soft, wooden spatula. This method should be used only to remove the bulk of the deposit; and care must be taken not to damage the leather surface. Solvents can be used to remove the remainder of the deposit left after scraping. This method is described below.
Residues or thin films of fatty or gummy spews can be removed using petroleum-based solvents such as white spirit or hexane.
Before using hexane and white spirit to clean the surface of the leather, test them on an inconspicuous area of the object to check that any surface finish on the leather is not affected by the solvent.
It is necessary to control the application of these solvents, because they can easily spread into the leather and dissolve fats in the body of the skin. The solvents can be applied with a small brush or cotton bud, or a sponge for larger areas. The solvents will soften the fats which you can then remove with a clean, cotton bud or your wooden spatula.
White spirit and hexane should be used in a well ventilated area. Remember to protect your hands when using these solvents because they will dissolve the oils in your skin, as well as in the leather.
Use a slightly moistened sponge to remove water- soluble dirt from leather objects which are in good condition.
Use this treatment only where the surface of the object is protected by a water-resistant coating, for example, wax, resin or similar. Water can cause permanent darkening of leather and leave tidemarks in dyed leathers.
Alcohol or alcohol/water mixtures can be used to remove surface salts. Water can stain and damage leather, so keep the water content low. Test the mixture to make sure that it has no effect on the leather surface.
An emulsion cleaner is very effective for removing stubborn dirt. Because this formulation contains some water, test it in an inconspicuous area before applying it on a large scale.
Do not wet the surface of the leather itself during cleaning. This increases the likelihood of the leather hardening when it dries, and can cause darkening of the leather surface. Use water-based cleaning methods only if the leather surface is water-resistant.
Saddle soap—a note of caution
Anecdotal evidence suggests that, although saddle soap appears to have little detrimental effect on leather objects which are still in use, museum objects which have been cleaned with this soap often seem to be in a worse condition than untreated objects.
Do not wet the surface of the leather itself during cleaning. This increases the likelihood of the leather hardening when it dries, and can cause darkening of the leather surface. Use water-based cleaning methods only if the leather surface is water-resistant.
Saddle soap—a note of caution
Anecdotal evidence suggests that, although saddle soap appears to have little detrimental effect on leather objects which are still in use, museum objects which have been cleaned with this soap often seem to be in a worse condition than untreated objects.
Of major concern is the alkaline nature of saddle soaps and the effect that the alkalines can have on leather, which is naturally acidic. If saddle soap is the only available cleaning option, it is important to minimise the amount of moisture used. This reduces the penetration of the soap into the leather and minimises the potentially damaging effects of the soap.
Lubrication of leather
Is it necessary?
The usual answer for museum objects is NO!
The main purpose of applying dressings to leather in museums, galleries and libraries is to prevent the leather hardening if the relative humidity fluctuates widely.
If too much lubricant is applied, the leather repels moisture and eventually becomes hard and brittle—the very effects that the application of the dressing was meant to prevent.
Most mould infestation is caused by the presence of too much lubricant.
Some dressings can also darken leather and cause increased stickiness. A sticky surface collects and holds dust, and is very hard to clean.
Lubricants do not provide protection against acidic pollutants.
Consider these points when deciding whether or not to apply a dressing to leather. If the leather is in its required shape, does not need to flex and is in a relatively stable environment, then lubrication is usually not necessary.
As leathers age, their ability to absorb fats and oils effectively is reduced. The amount of fats and oils needed in archaeological and older leathers is less than in their modern counterparts. Lubricating aged leather only causes more problems.
Dressings should not be used to 'feed' leather or as a way of improving its appearance. These approaches inevitably lead to over-lubrication and the development of some of the problems outlined above.
If you want to improve the appearance of a leather object which originally had a polished surface, it is better to use a wax polish. Because this is primarily a surface treatment there should be minimal impact on the leather itself.
When should lubricants be used?
Lubricants are really only necessary if:
- flexibility needs to be restored to an object; and
- the leather is displayed in an environment which experiences repeated and extreme fluctuations in relative humidity.
It is important to realise that museum objects rarely need to be flexible, because they are generally not used. They are usually stored and displayed. If the storage environment is stable, there is little need for lubrication.
To restore flexibility to hardened leather, it is necessary to rehumidify or condition the leather before lubrication. Various procedures may be used (Calnan, 1984). These include:
sponging the surface with an alcohol solution diluted with water or a water-based moisturiser;
covering the leather with damp sawdust overnight; and
placing the leather in a humidity chamber.
If an object needs to be reshaped then humidification often will be enough.
The next step in restoring flexibility to leather is the actual lubrication itself.
Types of lubricants for leather
The fats and oils which lubricate the leather can be applied either in a water-based emulsion or dissolved in organic solvents. Fats and oils dissolved in an organic solvent are known as solutions or dressings.
Vegetable oils are not used as frequently as fats, because in the long term they are more prone to oxidation which results in the oil yellowing and hardening; this is followed by loss of the lubricating properties.
A water-based emulsion is best if tests show that:
water does not discolour the surface; and
the surface absorbs water.
Applying oils in emulsion increases the likelihood of oils remaining evenly distributed throughout the interior of the leather. If an emulsion cannot be applied, use a solvent-based dressing.
Guidelines for the use of lubricants
Only apply lubricants to leather which is:
deformed—the lubricant is used to make the object more flexible and to assist in reshaping the object;
extremely dry; or
cracked due to shrinkage.
Never apply dressings to objects containing untanned or semi-tanned materials such as hides, parchment and vellum.
Always test the lubricant in an inconspicuous area before use.
When the leather is generally in good shape, but is dry and hard, applying a commercial dressing/wax such as Fredelka is useful.
Fredelka should not be used on items with metal attachments or decorations because it causes corrosion of metal.
If the dryness is only a surface condition, or if the leather is very thin—for example, book covers and car seats—then a preparation such as British Museum Leather Dressing adequately restores surface-oil content.
Apply it sparingly, using a soft cloth. It can be used on leather with metal attachments or decorations. The beeswax in this dressing forms a thin film on the leather surface which can be polished.
Some surface finishes resist the penetration of oils and fats into the leather, whether you use an emulsion or a dressing. If this happens, it is best to rub an oil emulsion into the flesh side—or underside—of the leather, to encourage penetration.
Although many commercial leather dressings are available, these may not be suitable for museum objects because they are designed for leather objects which are being used. Static museum objects have different needs because flexibility is usually not an important consideration.
Do a careful assessment before applying any treatment to the leather of a book cover. In most cases it is preferable to store the books under the best possible conditions.
For more information
For information about applying dressing to leather book bindings, please see the section on Books in Cultural Material.
Treatments of attached metal fittings
The metals most commonly used with leather are iron and copper alloys. The fats present in leather accelerate the corrosion of these metals.
A turquoise-blue, waxy material which forms on copper fittings is usually the most visible sign of corrosion.
Due to the intimate contact between the metals and the leather, immersion in chemical baths is usually not an option for the removal of disfiguring corrosion products.
In some circumstances, treatment chemicals may be applied using bentonite paste.
Most of the copper corrosion products can be removed easily using a soft, wooden spatula. Residues can then be removed using cotton buds soaked in leather emulsion cleaner.
To prevent further corrosion, coat the fittings with microcrystalline or Renaissance wax. A corrosion inhibitor, benzotriazole—5%—may be added to the wax if additional protection is needed.
Iron fittings are best treated using sanding or brushing methods to remove surface rust. Applying microcrystalline wax to the cleaned surfaces protects against further corrosion.
For more information
For more information on using bentonite paste and microcrystalline wax, please see the section on Metals in Cultural Material.
Summary of conditions for storage and display
Summary of conditions for storage and display
Reasonably constant and preferably 18–22oC. 25oC is the maximum
Reasonably constant and preferably 18–22oC. 25oC is the maximum
Relative Humidity
Brightness of the Light
Dark storage is preferred;
Should be 150 lux or less. If the leather is dyed, the brightness should be 50 lux or less.
UV Content of Light
Dark storage is preferred but if light
Less than 30μW/lm, no more than 75μW/lm
Leather in Australia\'s climatic zones
As leather is affected by changes in temperature and relative humidity, different storage and display strategies may have to be adopted for leather objects in each of Australia's climatic zones.
Leather is physically weakened when it is exposed to frequent cycles of expansion and contraction associated with fluctuations in relative humidity. A combination of high relative humidity and pollutants can cause an accumulation of acids and subsequent chemical attack.
This climate is generally very dry, however, in arid areas, it is often very hot during the day and very cold at night. This wide fluctuation in temperature is matched by wide fluctuations in relative humidity, for example from 75%–20% in a day.
Leather which is exposed to these conditions is likely to become dry, hard and inflexible. Splitting and cracking are also likely. You can overcome these potential problems by adopting the following practices:
A temperate climate is considered a moderate climate, however, temperate climates tend to have a greater range of temperatures than tropical climates and may include extreme climatic variations.
Temperate climatic zones are considered to have moderate conditions. It should therefore be easier to maintain conditions reasonably close to those recommended for leather.
Care does have to be taken, however, to overcome the extreme climatic variations which still occur in these areas.
These climates are characterised by heavy rainfall, high humidity and high temperatures.
In tropical zones high temperatures and relative humidities pose the greatest risk to leather objects. To minimise damage to leather objects in these areas the following strategies may be adopted:
Skin is a complex structure made up of:
sweat glands;
blood vessels; and
a layer of collagen fibre bundles containing protein. In the corium, or the body of the skin, these fibres are large and losely-woven. In the protective grain layer, these fibres are finely and tightly-packed.
The grain layer or hair side is the outside surface layer of the skin. The underside of the skin is known as the flesh side.
Collagen is probably the most abundant protein in the animal kingdom. It is a major component of skin, tendon, cartilage, and is found in bone and teeth.
Collagen molecules are bonded together to produce fibres. In animal skins there is a structure of fibres held together by crosslinks. This structure accounts for the great strength of collagen and the fact that the fibres are insoluble.
These fibres can be broken down to produce a collagen product that has a very random structure—gelatine.
Untanned skin products
Rawhide is the dried skin of an animal which has had all of the flesh removed. It is usually a very rigid, tough material. Despite its inherent toughness rawhide is in many ways the least durable of the skin products.
It is used in the manufacture of suitcases, and for hammer heads, drum coverings, thongs and lashings.
Parchment and vellum
Parchment and vellum are made by stretching the skin on a frame and drying it. The skin is treated with lime to remove fat and hair, and it is washed and scraped repeatedly.
Parchment and vellum are untanned animal skins. Occasionally, tanning solutions are applied to the surface of the parchment or vellum to improve its surface quality.
Parchment and vellum are usually light-coloured, almost opaque, and smooth. They take ink and colours well. Both were widely used as writing materials before the introduction of paper to the West. They have also been used as bookbinding materials. Translucent parchment and vellums were also produced, and sometimes used as window panes.
The terms parchment and vellum are sometimes used interchangeably. Originally vellums came from calf skins—the name vellum comes from the Latin for calf. Vellums tend to be whiter and of better quality than parchments. Modern parchments are generally thought to be inferior to earlier parchments. Many modern parchments tend to be yellowish in colour, a bit greasy and thin. These parchments are often made from split sheepskins.
Never force curled or distorted parchment to open out or to lie flat—this can cause damage. Humidification and drying under tension can restore the parchment but this should only be done by a conservator.
Semi-tanned leather
Semi-tanned leather—buckskin or buff leather—is produced when skin is stretched and an oil and fat emulsion, usually from the brain of an animal, is rubbed into it. The skin is then manipulated until it is dry, soft and flexible. Often it is smoked in the final stage of treatment.
New, semi-tanned leather is soft, suede-like, extremely flexible and durable.
In earlier times, semi-tanned leather was used for clothing, lining, pouches, gloves, saddle seats, and military uniforms and equipment. The most common modern example is chamois or wash leather.
In museums, galleries and libraries, untanned and semi-tanned skin materials must never be allowed to come into contact with water.
Skins are tanned to make leather in order to:
get rid of smaller molecules which will degrade readily, within the skin;
stop biological degradation—that is, rotting; and
produce a product that is, flexible, strong and resistant to deterioration.
Skins which are to be tanned go through a number of pre-tanning processes. The skins are:
cured—dried quickly to achieve a temporary preservation so that they can be transported without rotting;
soaped—this returns the moisture to the dried skins and removes water-soluble materials;
unhaired—this loosens hair and fats so that they can be scraped and pulled away. This process produces a plump hide;
cleaned and the flesh side levelled. During this stage, hair, dirt, grease and remnants of chemicals from previous processes are removed;
delimed—the unhairing process uses lime which makes the skins very alkaline. This stage of the processing reduces the alkalinity, in preparation for the next treatment stages;
bated—this process makes the skins soft and flexible. It also cleans the fibre network of the skins and removes some of the smaller and weaker fibres. Traditionally, dung was used in this process;
drenched—this is similar to bating, but uses weak organic acids. Traditionally, fermented grains were used; and
pickled—this is the final stage that conditions the skins for tanning.
The next stage in making leather is tanning. The tanning process draws collagen fibres together and creates crosslinks between them. This crosslinking on a molecular and fibre level makes the skin much more resistant to deterioration. Generally, leathers are either vegetable-tanned or mineral-tanned.
Vegetable tanning uses tannins which are present in the barks, woods, leaves and fruits of certain plants. The colour of the leather prior to finishing ranges from pale-brown to a reddish brown, depending on the particular tanning agents used. Vegetable-tanned leathers are particularly suitable for bookbinding.
Mineral processing uses mineral salts to chemically stabilise the skin. In the 1880s, chrome salts were used to make leathers which were hard-wearing, stable and water-resistant. The resilience and open texture of chrome-tanned leathers meant that they could not be embossed. These leathers were unsuitable for some kinds of work, particularly bookbinding.
During investigations into the improved durability of leathers, a number of experiments have been carried out using combined tanning techniques.
Another product which is thought of as a leather is alum-tawed leather. These white leathers were produced using a solution of alum and salt. Leather produced by this process is not a true leather, because it does not have the same chemical stability and resistance to water that fully tanned leather has. Zirconium salts are used to produce a white leather that is washable.
Fatty spews
Fatty spews are fatty or greasy materials which migrate to the leather surface. The materials which migrate to the surface are either solid fats or products of the acidic breakdown of solid fats.
These fatty materials are often present in lubricants used to soften leather. Neatsfoot oil, unless specified as cold-tested, contains a considerable amount of fatty materials. Leather dressings containing neatsfoot oil are a potential source of these spews.
Gummy spews
Gummy spews arise when oils—particularly fish oils—used to lubricate leather, degrade to their constituent fatty acids. These substances migrate to the surface of the leather, where they appear as gummy or resinous deposits. They are unpleasant to touch and handle.
Additional cleaning methods
Cleaning using a granular eraser
In this method an eraser—Artgum 211, Faber Castell, for example—is finely grated using a household grater. It is best to use a plastic grater, because metal graters may rust or shed small, metal particles which could damage the leather.
You could also use Draft Clean Powder, a granulated eraser which is available from suppliers of conservation materials.
The eraser grains are spread over the leather, then lightly rotated with the palm of the hand or the flat of the fingers until the entire area has been covered. Because skin contains oils, or your hands could be dirty, wear cotton gloves. If the area you are cleaning is very small or particularly fragile, use a small brush to move the granulated eraser over the surface.
Vacuum clean thoroughly after cleaning to make sure that the eraser crumbs are removed. This is particularly important, as conservators are concerned about the long-term effects of eraser residues on the texture, colour, pH and wetability of the surface.
Emulsion cleaner
Dirt which is particularly resistant to cleaning can be removed using an emulsion cleaner. This formulation is based closely on one described in the literature (Fogle, 1985).
To make this cleaner, you need:
• 20ml of non-ionic detergent, for example, Teric N9, Arkopal N090;
• 2g of carboxymethylcellulose—CMC; • 1 litre of distilled water; and
• 2 litres of X-4 solvent, hexane.
Mix the non-ionic detergent, CMC, and distilled water vigorously for several minutes before leaving the mixture to stand overnight. This gives the CMC time to swell.
Add 15 parts of this solution to 100 parts of X-4 solvent and shake it vigorously until a creamy emulsion is formed.
This cleaning solution keeps indefinitely, but should be shaken before use.
Before using the cleaner, test it on an inconspicuous area of the object—to make sure that there is no significant effect on the surface coatings on the leather or on the leather itself.
Rub the cleaner onto the surface with a clean cloth, rotating the cloth as it becomes soiled. If the object is very small or delicate, apply the cleaner with cotton buds or some similar soft material. This solution easily removes both fats, oils and water-soluble dirt.
Before using hexane and white spirit to clean the surface of the leather, test them on an inconspicuous area of the object to check that any surface finish on the leather is not affected by the solvent.
Humidity chamber
A simple humidity chamber can be made using plastic sheeting. The object to be humidified is placed in a plastic tent with a jar containing 50:50 water and alcohol—methylated spirits or ethanol. The alcohol prevents mould formation in the high relative humidity environment created inside the tent. The tent is then sealed with tape.
In addition to being used to condition leather, the raised humidity can also be used to help reshape the leather. As the leather softens it can be reshaped slowly. The time taken for softening depends primarily on the leather thickness and the presence of surface coatings. The object should be removed from the chamber periodically, and progressively eased into the required shape. It is usually necessary to use padding during this process.
Lubricant formulations
The formulations and application methods described below are those recommended by conservators at the Central Research Laboratory for Art and Science, Holland (Fogle, 1985).
Emulsion lubricant
2g of lanolin
10g of neatsfoot oil
6g of surfactant—Teric N9
100ml of distilled water
Warm the first two ingredients together at about 60°C until they melt. Cool the mixture to 20°C and add the surfactant. Mix thoroughly and rapidly. While stirring continuously, add the distilled water bit by bit. When all the water has been added, pour the mixture into a glass cylinder.
Observe the mixture for 10 minutes in the glass cylinder. If it remains stable and does not separate, it is ready for use. This mixture contains no preservatives and does not keep long. Refrigeration extends the life of the mixture.
Paint the cooled emulsion onto the leather using a soft-bristled brush. Allow the leather to dry between coats, if more than one coat is needed to achieve the desired flexibility.
Lubricant solution
2g of lanolin
8g of neatsfoot oil
100ml of Shellsol T—aromatic-free white spirit.
Dissolve the lanolin and neatsfoot oil in the Shellsol T. Paint the solution on the leather using a soft-bristled brush.
Some commercial neatsfoot oil products contain significant quantities of fatty impurities. These impurities will settle out on the surface of leather after dressing to form fatty spews. To remove these from your own neatsfoot oil, refrigerate it then discard the solid upper layer.
British Museum leather dressing
• 200g of lanolin
• 30ml of cedar oil
• 15g of beeswax
• 300ml of X-4 solvent or hexane
To prepare the dressing, the first three ingredients are mixed together and melted by careful heating. The molten mixture is then poured rapidly into the cold X-4 solvent and allowed to cool with stirring. The dressing should be applied sparingly and rubbed well into the leather with clean swabs. After two days the leather may be polished with a soft cloth.
If you have a problem relating to the storage or display of leather objects, contact a conservator. Conservators can offer advice and practical solutions.
For further reading
British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association 1957, Hides, Skins and Leather under the Microscope, Griffiths & Sons Ltd, London.
Calnan, C. 1984, 'The Conservation of Social History and Industrial Leather', Taken into Care: The Conservation of Social and Industrial History Items, Proceedings of the Joint UKIC/AMSSEE Meeting, United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, London.
Calnan, C., ed. 1991, 'Conservation of Leather in Transport Collections', Papers given at a UKIC conference, Restoration 1991, United Kingdom Institute of Conservation, London.
Fogle, Sonja, ed. 1985, Recent Advances in Leather Conservation, The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, Washington D.C.
Raphael, T.J. 1993, 'The Care of Leather and Skin Products: A Curatorial Guide', Leather Conservation News, Vol. 9 (1) Materials Conservation Laboratory of the Texas Memorial Museum, Austin, U.S., pp 1–15.
Reed, R. 1972, Ancient Skins, Parchments and Leathers, Seminar Press, London and New York.
Tuck, D.H. 1983, Oils and Lubricants Used on Leather, The Leather Conservation Centre, Northampton, U.K.
Waterer, John W. 1972, A Guide to the Conservation and Restoration of Objects Made Wholly or in Part of Leather, G. Bell & Sons, London.
Self-evaluation quiz
Question 1.
Of the possible cleaning techniques, which is the safest to use on leather objects?
a) Brushing with a soft bristle brush.
b) Swabbing with a slightly moistened sponge.
c) Vacuum cleaning, with the machine set on low power.
d) Gently cleaning using a granular eraser.
Question 2.
Lubrication of leather objects in a museum is only necessary if the leather:
a) is hard and dry;
b) needs protection against changes in relative humidity;
c) surface lacks sheen;
d) needs to be protected against pollutants.
Question 3.
Which of the following statements are true?
a) Tanning softens leather.
b) The term leather only refers to skin products which have been fully tanned.
c) Leather has no fat in it.
d) Tanning is a process that chemically alters skins, making them more durable and more resistant to rotting.
Question 4.
Cleaning of leather objects is recommended:
a) on a regular basis, preferably monthly;
b) for new objects before they are added to the collection, if they could contaminate other objects;
c) if the dirt is disfiguring;
d) before an object is put on display.
Question 5.
Which of the measures listed below will help to minimise mould formation on leather?
a) Avoid over-lubrication.
b) Store in the dark.
c) Maintain good air circulation.
d) Clean regularly.
e) Keep relative humidity below 65%.
Question 6.
The major advantage of water-based emulsion lubricants is that:
a) they promote an even spread of oil through the leather;
b) they do not darken the leather surface;
c) they induce greater flexibility than do solvent-based dressings;
d) they penetrate the leather better than solvent-based dressings.
Question 7.
Which of the following statements about storing leather are correct?
a) Folds and creases should be avoided.
b) Buffered acid-free tissue should be used for support.
c) Long leather pieces should be stored horizontally.
d) Storage cupboards should be made of painted metal.
e) Low light levels are best.
Question 8.
In the long term, over-lubrication of leather can cause:
(i) increased desiccation of the leather;
(ii) formation of fatty spews;
(iii) a leather that is too soft;
(iv) formation of mould under conditions of high RH;
(v) the attraction of dust to a greasy surface.
Which of the above statements are correct?
a) All of them.
b) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv).
c) (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v).
d) (i), (ii), (iv) and (v).
Answers to self-evaluation quiz
Question 1.
Question 2.
Answer: b).
Question 3.
Answer: b), d).
Question 4.
Answer: b).
Question 5.
Answer: a), c).
Question 6.
Answer: a).
Question 7.
Answer: a), c), d), e). b) is not correct. Buffered tissue should not be used as it is alkaline, while leather is naturally acidic.
Question 8.
Answer: d).