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At Medlock Primary we believe that children should be happy, challenged and secure. We aim to inspire our children to become confident, independent learners who can achieve their full potential.
We believe learning should be fun, purposeful and challenging, we aim to equip each child with the skills they need for lifelong learning through interesting and memorable learning opportunities each day.
We have designed our curriculum to enable children to think creatively and take pride in their achievements. At Medlock Primary children enjoy coming to school and having fun learning.
We are a school that whole heartedly believe in every child as an individual and developing their skills. We will encourage and celebrate creativity, original thinking and imagination as well as effort and achievement. We will teach the importance of moral values and consideration of others.
We believe that at the end of their time at Medlock, our children will be confident young people, ready to seize new opportunities and make a positive contribution to their community.


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Last weekend, we took an electric motorcycle trip from Beijing to Tianjin. We covered 140km of highway riding along the Jingjin Highway and Jinghu Highway that starts from Beijing City Center and cuts through the Tianjin City Center. The group was heading down to the International Electric Bike Exhibition to check out the low speed EV market development and to meet a few suppliers.
The 5 riders in our group were riding 2 Evoke Urban S' and 2 Evoke Urban Classics, with 1 riding pillion. Average speeds on the highway for the group was about 90km/h, with some passing speeds in excess of 120km/h. Battery pack usage was going quite well, as the wind's were low, the highway was fairly smooth, we had no luggage or panniers to cause additional wind resistance, and rider's were fairly light (most of us).
To alleviate any sort of range anxiety, we decided to break the trip into 2 parts, with a charge up in the middle. The Evoke Urban S and Urban Classic usually gets around 200km in the city and 120km on the highway. We finished off our 1st leg at about 100km into the journey and the bikes still had 40% SoC. But we wanted to also rip around the city when we got there, so we decided to charge up at a small charging station at the edge of the city.
The trip itself was fairly smooth; the Evoke bikes are fast enough to get onto the highway and the highway tolls are about half the price of cars. The only hiccup was that the toll booth operators said that bringing a pillion rider on the bike is technically illegal on China highways, but in the end, they still let us on the highway.
With a fun-filled weekend of riding, fresh, clean air, bikes, buds, open roads and charging stations, we'll definitely be doing more mid to long distance trips aboard Evoke electric motorcycles as the weather gets warmer.
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Well, this wasn't supposed to be a top of standings clash. But it is.
The Hawks face the West's leader and next year's division rival in the Minnesota Wild. The Wild were predicted by lots to maybe be the worst team in the conference, and they've flipped that on its head.
They played Tuesday night at the arena of another future division opponent in the form of Winnipeg, losing 2-1 after giving up a late power play goal. They still hold a three point lead on the Hawks for top of the West, so the Hawks can't catch them. However, Minny has played one game more.
How have the Wild done it? Putting up Lady Luck at The Ritz-Carlton and showering her with jewelry would have to be a part of it. Every metric anyone would use shows a middling hockey team at best. The Wild give up the most shots per game in the league, and they also block the most, which means the other team has the puck for long stretches. They're 24th in goal scoring in the league.
Their special teams are middle of the pack, basically.
But they have three goalies with save-percentages over .930. They keep a lot of those shots to the outside, and don't allow a lot of rebound chances. They've gone back to the old Wild ways of clogging the neutral zone. The attempted switch over the past couple years to a more attacking team didn't work because they didn't have the personnel. But they do have it to play a conservative, suffocating system, and new coach Mike Yeo has returned to that. He also gets them to skate every shift like their job depends on it. If you play hard, don't leave a lot of space, and get some other wordly goaltending, you can win games in this league.
For the Hawks, Ray Emery gets the start. Apparently, John Scott will also be inserted into the lineup for five minutes of hoping he doesn't fall down or actually have to do anything before returning to the bench for the last 40 minutes of the game where he can yap all he likes. And I'll continue to just be at a loss for words.
It's the same plan the Hawks have had against the Predators or Coyotes. They can't try and be cute in the neutral zone. They're going to have to be patient. The Wild defense isn't actually the biggest, it's more swift. so the Hawks are going to have to get the puck behind them and not shirk being physical with them. They can't make mistakes in their own zone, it's the only way the Wild can consistently score. No passes from a standing still position to another player standing still. Crisp passes, and quickly done. You've heard it all before. It's just a question of if you see it.
Sam Fels is the proprietor of The Committed Indian, an unofficial program for the Blackhawks. You may have seen him hocking the magazine outside the United Center at Gate 3. The program is also available for purchase online. Fels is a lifelong 'Hawks fan and he also writes for Second City Hockey .


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A mixture of sounds from across the world, explored in the most flavorful of ways, can best describe the collaboration undertaken by Aldo Carrillo, Eduardo Duran and Alejo Castaneda since 2016. Generating an eclectic collection of music influenced by the sounds found in South America and through the Caribbean, Vena Kava experiments with styles found in Latin Jazz, Indie-Soul, Ska and Punk, providing a mesmerizing world trip.
Including the brass lungs of Christian Reátegui, percussionist David Espinal and the multi-talented Alejo Castano, Vena Kava is a band of many styles, many talents, and many nations.
Enjoy this trip with us.


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DDL offers state-of-the-art expertise to design, develop, validate and apply diagnostic methods for human diagnostics.
DDL is recognized by pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and key opinion leaders as a top-quality diagnostic service and development company and as a reliable business partner providing superior service.
Just give us a call, send us an e-mail or make an appointment!


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Nestled inside of Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Jump Labs connects the brightest minds at UIUC to the biggest challenges within the Jump Capital portfolio. Through part-time and full-time projects, current students, PhD candidates and leading UIUC professors collaborate with portfolio companies to solve problems across data mining, software development, and high-performance computing.
Jump Capital works closely with University of Illinois Medical School and OSF St Francis Medical Center, where Jump has established the Jump Simulation Center. Through the Jump Simulation Center, Jump Capital and our entrepreneurs have access to unparalleled resources for product development, medical simulation and training and clinical expertise. There, provider-based technology companies are afforded the ability to work closely with OSF to assess viability/use in a large provider center setting.
Jump Trading offers an unparalleled infrastructure of hardware and software to power one of the largest supercomputers in the world, as well as high performance trading on dozens of financial exchanges. Combining market intuition with the latest ideas in data science and statistical research, Jump Trading builds predictive models and trading strategies that are tested against world-class competition.
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A bipartisan group of legislators has introduced a bill would restore key parts of the Voting Rights Act that the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional.
Under the proposal, four states—Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas—would again have to get approval from the Justice Department before making any changes in the way they hold elections.
The proposal would undo some of the damage of a Supreme Court ruling last June that eliminated a provision requiring federal clearance by the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia as well as certain counties in California, Florida, New York, North Carolina and South Dakota and some local jurisdictions in Michigan.
The bill should help modernize and improve the civil rights legislation by updating the formulas used to require certain states with a history of discrimination to get federal approval before changing election laws and practices.
The bill would now require clearances only from states where there have been at least five Voting Rights Act violations—with at least one committed by the state itself. Bill supporters said only Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas fall into that category. States could seek a "bailout" from the clearance requirement after 10 years.


text: Adult Circulatory SupportHemodynamic and Metabolic Effects of Para- versus Intraaortic Counterpulsatile Circulation SupportsLu, Pong-Jeu*†; Lin, Pao-Yen‡; Yang, Chi-Fu Jeffrey§; Hung, Chun-Hao*; Chan, Ming-Yao*†; Hsu, Tzu-Cheng*†Author Information From the *Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics; †Heart Science and Medical Devices Research Center; ‡Cardiovascular Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; and §Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts. Submitted for consideration August 2010; accepted for publication in revised form September 2010. Reprint Requests: Pong-Jeu Lu, PhD, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 701, Taiwan. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com. ASAIO Journal: January-February 2011 - Volume 57 - Issue 1 - p 19-25 doi: 10.1097/MAT.0b013e3181fcbc7d Free Metrics Abstract Despite the success of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation, data on physiologic indices and optimal inflation/deflation timing control of chronic counterpulsation devices are unclear. This study explored the acute hemodynamic and metabolic efficacy of a novel 40-ml stroke volume paraaortic blood pump (PABP) versus a standard intraaortic balloon pump (IABP). Acute porcine model was used with eight pigs randomly divided into PABP (n = 4) and IABP (n = 4) groups. Hemodynamic and metabolic measurements were obtained with and without mechanical assistance. In one pig, the inflation/deflation control was adjusted to different settings, with corresponding performance indices measured. The PABP significantly improved classical counterpulsation indices (p ≤ 0.05) and achieved an average beneficial effect on these indices 1.5–3.5 times greater than that of the IABP. Classical metabolic indices (tension time index and endocardial viability ratio [EVR]), and indices new to chronic counterpulsation research (coronary perfusion, left ventricular stroke work (SW), and a newly derived EVR) were also used in assessment. Both IABP assistance and PABP assistance improved these physiologic indices, with a trend toward PABP superiority in reducing left ventricular SW (p = 0.08). An optimal PABP deflation timing occurs during systole (25 milliseconds after the R-wave) and can minimize coronary regurgitation. The intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) is the most widely used mechanical circulatory support device with well-documented beneficial hemodynamic and metabolic effects.1–5 However, it is rarely used long term due to several drawbacks, including immobility, limb ischemia (it is especially not tolerated in patients with preexisting peripheral vascular disease), and limited effectiveness in the face of severe cardiogenic shock and low aortic pressures.1,3,5,6 There have been continuing efforts to design a counterpulsation device more suitable for long-term use7–15 given the potential for chronic contraction unloading to induce reverse modeling and myocardial recovery and offer benefit to patients with early- or intermediate-stage heart failure.13,16–18 Preliminarily, there is growing evidence to suggest that a counterpulsation device could be safer, simpler to implant, and far less costly, than the typical left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) available today, while providing greater hemodynamic benefit than the IABP.7–15 Current counterpulsation research focuses on hemodynamic indices, such as the reduction of end-diastolic aortic pressure, to assess efficacy.1–3 However, emphasizing a few hemodynamic indices in isolation without examining other key issues—such as coronary blood regurgitation (coronary blood steal),14 myocardial oxygen demand/supply calculations, and inflation/deflation timing control—can lead to bias in performance interpretation. The purposes of this study were 1) to compare the performance of the IABP to a novel paraaortic blood pump (PABP)11 using traditional performance indices and 2) to introduce more physiologic performance indices and a timing optimization scheme that heretofore have not been applied to counterpulsation research. Materials and Methods Counterpulsation Device The present PABP device, which is made from polyurethane, is depicted in Figure 1. It consists of a T-manifold connected seamlessly on top of an oval-shaped bladder. The T-manifold conduit and bladder assembly is housed within a semirigid outer shell on which a deairing stub and a drive line are installed. The thin (3 mm diameter) drive line accepts pneumatically driven gases percutaneously, provided either by bedside console or by wearable driver. The present T-manifold is valveless and has a sharp-edged, compliance-matching graft-host juncture design.11 When anastomosed to the aorta with appropriate oversizing, this inserted manifold can snuggly be embraced by the lumen of the aortic wall. The streamlined, sharp-edged conduit ends (∼0.1 mm in thickness) can dilate and recoil in concert with the aortic pressure, potentially reducing the possibility of graft complications associated with the pump inflow and outflow tract design.19Figure 1.: Paraaortic blood pump (PABP). A: A sketch showing the components and the insertion in the descending aorta. B: A photograph of a PABP prototype (40 ml stroke volume) showing the semirigid outer shell.The PABP was implanted in the descending aorta by left thoracotomy; implantation was performed without cardiopulmonary support. During pump insertion, the proximal and distal ends of the device implant site were temporarily cross-clamped. Only simple suture was needed to secure the PABP after intraaortic T-manifold embedment followed by the subsequent release of the cross-clamp. The cross-clamped period, hence, was generally maintained for <3 minutes. Animal Model and Instrumentation The acute studies were performed on eight domestic Lanyu mini pigs, weighing from 60 to 80 kg (mean: 67.4 ± 2.7 kg). This study was approved by the Experimental Animal Committee of National Cheng Kung University Medical Center. The animals received humane care in compliance with the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" (NIH publication no. 86-23, revised 1996). These pigs were randomly divided into two study groups: IABP group (n = 4) and PABP group (n = 4). Animals were premedicated by subcutaneous injection of the mixture of 6 mg/kg Zoletil plus 1.5 mg/kg Rompan and 0.02 mg/kg Atropine. Anesthesia was maintained using isoflurane in oxygen after endotracheal intubation. Left thoracotomy was performed at the fifth intercostal space with the fifth and sixth ribs removed to obtain chest access and to create space for the installation of measurement probes. Pericardium was incised, and a cradle was made to expose the heart. Cannulations were made in the left carotid artery and jugular vein to measure ascending aortic pressure (AoP) and central venous pressure (CVP), respectively; the right atrium apex to measure the right ventricular pressure (RVP); the left atrium apex to measure the left ventricular pressure (LVP). The left anterior descending (LAD) artery was dissected free for the coronary flow rate (CoF) measurement using a Transonic perivascular probe MA 2.5PSS (Transonic Systems Inc., Ithaca, NY). Both aortic (AoF) and pulmonary arterial (PAF) flow rates were measured using the Transonic probes MA20PAX. Additional pressure and flow rate measurements (for the PABP group only) were performed in the up- and downstream sites around the anastomosed T-manifold. For the IABP counterpulsatile study, Datascope Fidelity 8Fr. 40cc IAB catheters (Maquet Cardiovascular LLC, Wayne, NJ) were inserted through the left femoral artery following the standard deployment protocol. IABPs were positioned in the descending aortic area. PABP placement was in the same location as IABP placement. Pumping action was initiated using the Datascope System 98XT console (Maquet Cardiovascular LLC, Wayne, NJ), for both IABP and PABP experiments. Except for occasional monitoring line flushing, no anticoagulant was administered. Data Reduction and Statistical Analysis All blood pressure measurements were obtained using a pressure transducer system DPT-248 (Utah Medical Products Inc., West Midvale, UT). We transmitted all acquired pressure and flow rate data into a data acquisition (DAQ) card PCI-6229 (National Instrument, Austin, TX) driven by Labview (National Instrument, Austin, TX) software system. Postprocessing filter software available in MATLAB (MathWorks, Natric, MA) was adopted to precondition the data. Throughout the present comparison study, counterpulsatile support enforced either by IABP or by PABP was carried out in a 1:3 (1 pumping assistance/3 heart beats) fashion. The R-wave recognized on the electrocardiogram (ECG) was taken as the initiation time of each beat cycle. For every three heart beats, diastolic augmentation and systolic unloading occurred over the diastolic and systolic phases pertaining to the first and the second beats, respectively; whereas the third beat was taken as the unassisted control beat. Counterpulsatile support effectiveness was thus evaluated using data taken from the first two assisted beats and then compared against those obtained from the third unassisted control beat. Data were phase averaged over 60 beats (20 periods) after hemodynamic states stabilized with periodicity established. All time scales of the figures were normalized into 1 second per beat, so as to ease the presentation of comparison. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows (Version 11.0, SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL), and Mann-Whitney U test was adopted for comparisons between the IABP and PABP groups; Student's t-test for the paired data obtained under assisted and control conditions within the same device group. Counterpulsation Performance Indices End-Diastolic and Peak Diastolic Aortic Pressures. Traditionally, decreases in end-diastolic aortic pressure are taken as a measure of systolic unloading and considered beneficial.1,2 Higher peak diastolic aortic pressure is interpreted as a stronger driving potential for myocardial perfusion augmentation.1,2 Tension Time Index. Tension time index (TTI) is an approximation of the effort exerted by the left ventricle (LV) in ejection, indicating myocardial oxygen consumption, which is defined as a time integration of the LVP in systole1,20,21: Endocardial Viability Ratio. Oxygen supply has been approximated to be in proportion to coronary perfusion and, hence, depends on the mean diastolic aortic pressure in the aorta. As a result, the concept of oxygen supply to consumption ratio in the myocardium is given the name endocardial viability ratio (EVR), which is defined by: The most critical index for counterpulsation optimization is thought to be the EVR.1,21,22 However, both TTI and EVR are derived from general approximations, based on the availability of LV and aortic pressures, rather than from rigorous physiologic energy considerations. Further, the numerator of Equation 2 ignores the systolic contribution to oxygen supply and the possible coronary regurgitation ("blood steal") penalty caused by a strong systolic unloading. LV Stroke Work. Stroke work (SW) represents the work delivered to the ejected blood stream per heart beat23 and is defined as follows: in which dV denotes differential volume change and can be related to ventricular ejection flow rate AoF by dV = −AoFdτ. The subscript "loop" indicates a line integral of the pressure-volume loop (P-V loop) of the LV. Note, the aforementioned index TTI can be viewed as a quantity proportional to SW produced under a constant ejection volume flow rate—this is obviously not true in any realistic blood ejection motion, and therefore, we propose that LV SW is a more physiologic approximation of myocardial oxygen demand than TTI. For our present interest of LV SW, the systolic left ventricular volume (LVV) was defined as follows: where Ved indicates the end-diastolic LVV. A P-V loop plot can thus be generated using this integrated LVV and the measured LVP. Stroke volume, cardiac output enhancement, and LV SW can be deduced accordingly using this P-V loop. Coronary Perfusion. In general, epicardial CoF represents a gross approximation of the oxygen and nutrition that is supplied to the myocardium as a whole. Thus, in this study, the coronary perfusion performance was assessed using the time integration of the LAD flow rate in an entire beat cycle, as defined by: This method of calculation has its advantages over traditional approaches that rely on aortic pressure measurements, because it is able to account for the regurgitated CoF that may occur near systole onset due to the unloading-induced reduction of the end-diastolic aortic pressure generated by the counterpulsation device. Revised Endocardial Viability Ratio. In our experiments, sufficient relevant pressure and flow measurements were available, hence allowing the calculation of coronary perfusion and SW and allowing calculation of a more physiologically compatible index that may better describe the oxygen supply and demand ratio of the heart. This revised EVR is termed EVRnew and is given by: Timing of IABP and PABP Deflation A conventional IABP timing1,2—where inflation of balloon begins at the dicrotic notch and deflation of the balloon occurs immediately before ventricular systole—was used. For PABP actuation, we adopted the same inflation timing control as that of the IABP. As for our PABP deflation timing control, however, the deflation timing was delayed one count (25 milliseconds) relative to that of the IABP unloading control. This was because in our preliminary testing, when the standard IABP deflation timing was applied to the PABP, excessively low end-diastolic pressure and regurgitated CoF were observed. Therefore, to reasonably compare the counterpulsation effectiveness, we delayed the PABP deflation timing by one count, so as to make the end-diastolic pressures achieved by IABP and PABP deflation comparable. We also experimented with different deflation timing possibilities in one pig model, using deflation timing options at 1) one count (25 milliseconds) preceding the R-wave, 2) the R-wave, 3) one count (25 milliseconds) after the R-wave, and 4) two counts (50 milliseconds) after the R-wave. Results Classical Counterpulsation Performance Indices Figure 2 shows representative hemodynamic waveforms of a pig supported by IABP or PABP counterpulsation. Counterpulsation efficacy can be evaluated by comparing the data pertaining to assisted and unassisted beats. Classical performance indices are summarized in Table 1. The classical quantification of systolic unloading (decrease of end-diastolic aortic pressure [AoPed] or peak systolic LV pressure [LVPpksys]) and the measure of diastolic augmentation by the increase of the peak diastolic aortic pressure (AoPpkdias) were demonstrated by both the IABP- and the PABP-assisted groups. It can be observed that the present PABP outperformed the IABP in counterpulsation efficacy, according to classical measures. It is observed that the decrease in AoPed contributed by IABP and PABP is −13.2% ± 9.9% vs. −34.0% ± 17.1%, p = 0.2; the decrease in LVPpksys is −8.50% ± 5.9% for IABP vs. −26.3% ± 14.0% for PABP, p = 0.05; and the increase in AoPpkdias is 27.5% ± 11.7% for IABP vs. 41.4% ± 3.3% for PABP, p = 0.03.Figure 2.: Hemodynamic characteristics of representative porcine blood flow circulation under 1:3 counterpulsation support. A: IABP supported. B: PABP supported. AoP, aortic pressure measured at ascending aorta; LVP, left ventricular pressure; RVP, right ventricular pressure; PAF, pulmonary arterial flow rate; AoF, ascending aortic flow rate; CoF, coronary flowrate measured at left anterior descending coronary artery; ECG, electrocardiogram; PABP, paraaortic blood pump; IABP, intraaortic balloon pump.Table 1: Comparison of Counterpulsation Performance between IABP and PABP Groups (Classical Indices)Physiologic Counterpulsation Performance Indices In this study, TTI, EVR, EVRnew, CoPerf, and LV SW were selected as the major metabolic counterpulsation indices that were computed postoperatively for both the IABP (n = 4) and PABP (n = 4) groups. Generally, both IABP assistance and PABP assistance improved physiologic indices (Table 2). However, the PABP-supported group had a greater reduction in LV SW than did the IABP-supported group (−6.2% ± 2.9% for IABP vs. −14.6% ± 7.7% for PABP), a finding that approached statistical significance (p = 0.08).Table 2: Comparison of Counterpulsation Performance between IABP and PABP Groups (Physiologic Indices)Both counterpulsation modalities were effective in increasing coronary perfusion and had periods of reversed coronary waveforms using the standard IABP inflation/deflation timing. However, when we adjusted the timing of the PABP control to allow for delayed pump deflation, reversed CoF could be reduced to a minimum (Figure 3).Figure 3.: Effect of deflation timing on PABP-supported coronary perfusion. Inflation timing is set on the dicrotic notch, and zero-deflation timing is timed on the R-wave. AoP, aortic pressure measured in the ascending aorta; CoF, coronary flow rate measured at left anterior descending coronary artery; PABP, paraaortic blood pump.Deflation Timing Optimization A preliminary PABP deflation optimization was demonstrated for pig 8 with corresponding results in LV SW, TTI, EVR, EVRnew, and CoPerf, listed in Table 3. The dependence of coronary regurgitation (blood steal) on deflation timing is illustrated in Figure 3. It can be observed that early deflation may result in shortening of the diastolic perfusion period and increasing the reversed coronary blood flow before systole.Table 3: Effect of Deflation Timing on PABP Counterpulsation PerformanceDiscussion Traditionally, counterpulsation performance is determined using classical hemodynamic indices based on the principles that during counterpulsation: 1) diastolic augmentation elevates the aortic pressure in diastole to enhance coronary perfusion and 2) systolic unloading provides the heart with a reduced afterload during ventricular contraction and ejection. Thus, typical hemodynamic indices used to determine counterpulsation efficacy include: 1) the end-diastolic aortic pressure reduction and/or peak systolic LVP reduction achieved (a measure of systolic unloading) and 2) the increase in peak diastolic aortic pressure (a measure of diastolic augmentation).1,2 In this study, we found a novel PABP to have an average beneficial effect on these hemodynamic indices 1.5–3.5 times greater than that of the IABP in an acute porcine model. Many counterpulsation studies draw their conclusions primarily on these aforementioned pressure variations, which provide limited physiologic information. For example, large reductions in end-diastolic aortic pressure achieved by aortic unloading typically is seen as positive but can lead to retrograde CoF,14 where blood originally flowing to the heart through the coronary arteries is instead "sucked" back into the aorta. To further assess performance on a more physiologic basis, we have incorporated the metabolic indices of TTI (a measure of myocardial oxygen demand) and EVR (the ratio between myocardial oxygen supply and demand) in our analysis. During the systolic unloading phases of both the IABP and PABP supports, the TTI decreased, suggesting that both devices decreased myocardial oxygen consumption. Both the IABP and PABP supports increased the EVR, a sign that the myocardial supply/demand equilibrium and coronary perfusion improved during both approaches. However, because the TTI and EVR are derived solely on pressure measurements, and because EVR is based only on diastolic measurements in the evaluation of coronary perfusion, they are not precise physiologic approximations of myocardial oxygen demand and supply. Despite these limitations, previous studies still used TTI and EVR because flow measurements were unavailable. In our study, we were able to measure flow rates and pressures, which allowed us to quantify true coronary perfusion (during both systole and diastole) and ventricular effort in a more direct manner. In addition, we derived EVRnew, which is a closer portrait of the supply/demand condition for the assisted myocardium than EVR. This is because, as described in detail earlier in the text, coronary perfusion (used in EVRnew) is a better approximation of myocardial oxygen supply than the integration of the diastolic aortic pressures (used in EVR) and SW is a better approximation of oxygen demand than myocardial TTI. The modification of these classical counterpulsation performance indices, hence, resulted in the proposition of using coronary perfusion (a measure of myocardial oxygen supply), left ventricular SW (a measure of myocardial oxygen demand), and EVRnew (the supply to demand ratio for the heart) as the main criteria for the evaluation of counterpulsation performance. Based on these criteria, the IABP and PABP were found to be comparable and to have a beneficial effect—both decreased TTI and SW, and increased EVR and EVRnew. The main difference was, compared with the IABP, the PABP was able to achieve greater reduction in myocardial oxygen demand through greater SW reduction, a finding that approached statistical significance (p = 0.08). Both the IABP and PABP caused periods of reversed CoF, despite the net CoF for both the IABP and PABP having increased due to diastolic augmentation. Previous studies, including ours, use a traditional timing approach for the PABP, which is similar to that used in an IABP device. This approach, however, may be suboptimal for PABP because it can lead to excessively low end-diastolic aortic pressure and coronary blood steal. Counterpulsation effectiveness depends sensitively on the inflation/deflation timing selected for the control system of the driving console.1,2,21 Because the IABP is in the lumen of the aorta, its inflation and deflation must be timed, so that it does not occlude the aorta during systole. The PABP is nonocclusive, in that the pump is outside of the aorta; the deflation timing interval can thus extend into systole. This can allow for experimentation with a new optimal PABP inflation/deflation timing. To our knowledge, there have been no previous studies of chronic counterpulsation (non-IABP) devices quantifying the effect of timing control on physiologic performance indices. Our preliminary PABP deflation optimization experiment (Table 3) demonstrated that the indices of TTI, SW, and EVRnew achieved optimal scores when the pump deflation was delayed one count into LV ejection (25 milliseconds after the R-wave); this is in contrast to the conventional IABP timing where deflation is usually set before the R-wave. Coronary perfusion augmentation was found to be most sensitive to PABP deflation control—the percent perfusion augmentation (0.0% ± 3.6%) was lowest using a standard IABP deflation setting, and increased to as high as 15.5% ± 3.6% when deflation was two counts after LV ejection. The corresponding coronary waveforms (Figure 3) show that a two-count delay in the deflation control setting (50 milliseconds after R-wave) was able to almost completely eliminate coronary blood steal during systolic ejection. This demonstrates the inherent flexibility of PABP deflation timing with respect to coronary perfusion—which is that device-induced coronary regurgitation or blood steal can be avoided with a sensible manipulation of the deflation control. The present findings suggest that optimized PABP deflation, depending on how much coronary augmentation is desired, may course into the LV ejection phase without incurring the traditional performance degradation of ejection obstruction associated originally with IABP. We have demonstrated that classical counterpulsation indices typically used in counterpulsation research, when interpreted in isolation can be inadequate. Future research of counterpulsation may benefit from a combined examination of 1) traditional hemodynamic indices, 2) traditional oxygen supply/demand indices such as TTI and EVR, 3) more physiologic approaches to the evaluation of myocardial oxygen supply and demand, using coronary perfusion, SW, and EVRnew, 4) examination of coronary waveforms to measure coronary blood steal, and 5) timing control, with future research studying timing control optimization under selected objective functions in different clinical settings including those of heart failure and/or stenosed coronary arteries. Note that the number of pigs used in this study was small (n = 8). Further animal studies using a bovine model are currently underway to evaluate PABP counterpulsation. A heart failure model and chronic survival tests will be included in those calve investigations. Future studies should also aim to construct a pump that can be implanted using minimally invasive technique and to design a thrombo-resistant PABP that can enforce long-term counterpulsation for patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure. Conclusion In summary, a comparison between the IABP and a novel PABP counterpulsatile circulation support was conducted using acute porcine experiments. Evaluation in terms of traditional hemodynamic indices and metabolic indices of TTI, EVR, coronary perfusion, and left ventricular SW was performed. The PABP counterpulsatile performance, when enforced by way of the standard IABP inflation/deflation control guideline, is comparable, if not superior, to that of the IABP; however, there will still be a period of penalized coronary blood regurgitation, which can be further minimized by optimizing the PABP deflation timing control. This possible elimination of coronary blood steal is not attainable by intravascular IABP counterpulsation. Therefore, PABP counterpulsation may be superior to that of IABP provided that this delayed deflation control is optimized. Acknowledgment Supported partially by National Science Council (Grant NSC 98-2221-E-006-030) of Taiwan and the University Excellence Fund of National Cheng Kung University, and by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Student Fellowship (C.-F.J.Y.). The authors thank Dr. Willard Daggett for reviewing the manuscript and for very useful discussions on counterpulsation.References 1. Papaioannou TG, Stefanadis C: Basic principles of the intraaortic balloon pump and mechanisms affecting its performance. ASAIO J 51: 296–300, 2005. Cited Here | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 2. Bolooki H (ed): Clinical Application of the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump, 3rd ed. New York, Futura, 1998. Cited Here 3. Nanas JN, Moulopoulos SD: Counterpulsation: Historical background, technical improvements, hemodynamic and metabolic effects. Cardiology 84: 156–167, 1994. Cited Here | PubMed | CrossRef 4. Ferguson JJ 3rd, Cohen M, Freedman RJ Jr, et al: The current practice of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation: Results from the benchmark registry. J Am Coll Cardiol 38: 1456–1462, 2001. Cited Here | PubMed | CrossRef 5. Dunkman WB, Leinbach RC, Buckley MJ, et al: Clinical and hemodynamic results of intraaortic balloon pumping and surgery for cardiogenic shock. Circulation 46: 465–477, 1972. Cited Here | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 6. Arafa OE, Pedersen TH, Svennevig JL, et al: Vascular complications of the intraaortic balloon pump in patients undergoing open heart operations: 15-year experience. Ann Thorac Surg 67: 645–651, 1999. Cited Here | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 7. Utoh J: A history of the valveless paraaortic counterpulsation device. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 112: 850–851, 1996. Cited Here | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 8. Legget ME, Peters WS, Milsom FP, et al: Extra-aortic balloon counterpulsation: An intraoperative feasibility study. Circulation 112 (suppl I): I-26–I-31, 2005. Cited Here 9. Nanas SN, Nanas JN, Charitos CE, et al: High stroke volume para-aortic counterpulsation device versus centrifugal pump in cardiogenic shock: Experimental study. World J Surg 21: 318–322, 1997. Cited Here | PubMed | CrossRef 10. Jeevanandam V: The quest for permanent ventricular assistance: The role of aortic counterpulsation, in ASAIO 50th Anniversary Highlights, Awards & Related Articles. ASAIO J 50: xxxvii–xlii, 2004. Cited Here | PubMed 11. Lu PJ, Lin PY, Chern L, et al: Dual-pulsation bi-ventricular assist device. US Pat Appl Publ, US20080300447A1, 2008. Cited Here 12. Terrovitis JV, Charitos CE, Tsolakis EJ, et al: Superior performance of a para-aortic counterpulsation device compared to the intraaortic balloon pump. World J Surg 27: 1311–1316, 2003. Cited Here | PubMed | CrossRef 13. Koenig SC, Spence PA, Pantalos GM, et al: Development and early testing of a simple subcutaneous counterpulsation device. ASAIO J 52: 362–367, 2006. Cited Here | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 14. Koenig SC, Litwak KN, Giridharan GA, et al: Acute hemodynamic efficacy of a 32-ml subcutaneous counterpulsation device in a calf model of diminished cardiac function. ASAIO J 54: 578–584, 2008. Cited Here | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 15. Astra LI, Stephenson LW: Skeletal muscle as a myocardial substitute. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 224: 133–140, 2000. Cited Here | PubMed | CrossRef 16. Heerdt PM, Holmes JW, Cai B, et al: Chronic unloading by left ventricular assist device reverses contractile dysfunction and alters gene expression in end-stage heart failure. Circulation 102: 2713–2719, 2000. Cited Here | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 17. Nakatani S, McCarthy PM, Kottke-Marchant K, et al: Left ventricular echocardiographic and histologic changes: Impact of chronic unloading by an implantable ventricular assist device. J Am Coll Cardiol 15: 894–901, 1996. Cited Here | PubMed | CrossRef 18. Birks EJ, Tansley PD, Hardy J, et al: Left ventricular assist device and drug therapy for reversal of heart failure. N Engl J Med 355: 1873–1884, 2006. Cited Here | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 19. Houël R, Moczar M, Ginat M, Loisance D: Pseudointima in inflow and outflow conduits of a left ventricular assist system: Possible role in clinical outcome. ASAIO J 47: 275–281, 2001. Cited Here | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 20. Sarnoff SJ, Braunwald E, Welch GH Jr, et al: Hemodynamic determinants of oxygen consumption of the heart with special reference to the tension-time index. Am J Physiol 192: 148–156, 1958. Cited Here | PubMed 21. Zelano JA, Li JK, Welkowitz W: A closed-loop control scheme for intraaortic balloon pumping. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 37: 182–192, 1990. Cited Here | PubMed | CrossRef 22. Barnea O, Moore TW, Dubin SE, Jaron D: Cardiac energy considerations during intraaortic balloon pumping. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 37: 170–181, 1990. Cited Here | PubMed | CrossRef 23. Sagawa K, Maughan L, Suga H, Sunagawa K: Cardiac Contraction and the Pressure-Volume Relationship. New York, Oxford University Press, Inc, 1988. Cited Here Copyright © 2011 by the American Society for Artificial Internal OrgansView full article text


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text: BUSINESS week in review digest 4:00 AM PST 1/16/2007 by Empty , AP FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Empty China's b.o. up 31% from '05BEIJING — Buoyed by improved distribution, China's 2006 boxoffice sales rose to 2.62 billion yuan ($327.5 million), up 31% over 2005, state-run media said last week, citing the director of the central Film Bureau (HR 1/10). Zhang Yimou's period epic "Curse of the Golden Flower," China's contender in the foreign-language Oscar race, topped last year's boxoffice, earning 250 million yuan ($31.3 million), Film Bureau director Tong Gang said in a report by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television acquired by the Xinhua news agency.Italian producer Ponti dies at 94 ROME — Producer Carlo Ponti, one of the forces behind Italy's postwar film renaissance and the longtime husband of Sophia Loren, died early Wednesday (HR 1/12). He was 94. Ponti produced more than 100 films during a career that spanned nearly 60 years. Among his most famous productions were David Lean's "Doctor Zhivago" (1965), Federico Fellini's "La Strada" (1954) and Vittorio De Sica's 1960 classic "La Ciociara" (Two Women), for which Loren won the 1962 Oscar for best actress. Ponti met Loren, named Sophia Villani Scicolone at the time, during a beauty contest in Naples in the 1950s and persuaded her to change her name to Sophia Loren and begin studying acting and English. They were married in 1957. "La Strada," which he co-produced, won the Academy Award for best foreign-language film. In 1965, he won the Oscar again with "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow."7 pics preen for makeup OscarSeven films — ranging from "Apocalypto" with its tribal Mayan facepaint to "X-Men: The Last Stand" with its multihued superheroes — have advanced to the next round in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' competition for the best makeup Oscar (HR 1/10). The other films on the shortlist are "Click," "Pan's Labyrinth," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "The Prestige" and "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause." On Jan. 20, the makeup award nominating committee will view 10 minutes of excerpts from each film, before voting to nominate three for Oscar consideration.2 mil worship 'Mosque' in CBC premiereTORONTO — The debut of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s "Little Mosque on the Prairie" drew more than 2 million viewers last week, beating its U.S. network competition (HR 1/10). Launched amid a media circus that included coverage from CNN, the BBC and the New York Times, the sitcom about a Muslim community in rural Canada drew an average 2.1 million viewers in its 8:30 p.m. slot. In a TV market where 1 million viewers spells success and homegrown series rarely crack the top 20, "Mosque" topped Fox's "House" on Global Television and popular CTV drama "Degrassi: The Next Generation."CNNI's Cramer stepping downNEW YORK — CNN International president Chris Cramer will retire from the network this spring, CNN said Wednesday (HR 1/12). Cramer has been in charge of CNN International since 1996, hired by Ted Turner and Tom Johnson after a 26-year career at the BBC. He has led CNN International to record distribution and revenues. Cramer will stay on to help with the transition until late March. No replacement has been announced. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Empty firstname.lastname@example.com @thr AP email@example.com @thr


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Los Angeles-based composer and saxophonist, Randy Gist, is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
As a composer, he has had the privilege of writing music for the theatrical campaigns of "Max Steel", "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", "Despicable me 2", "War Dogs", "Evil Dead" and many others. Randy has also arranged for the Costa Rican National Orchestra.
As a saxophonist, Randy has worked with Kesha; Ricky Martin; American Idol winner Phillip Phillips; appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno; performed with Aloe Blacc; performed with Jamie Foxx & Kelly Rowland for President Barack Obama; been featured numerous times on the Fox hit TV show "Glee;" and performed on the soundtrack to Pixar's "Epic."
Randy is proud to play Eastman Winds Saxophones as well as Beechler Mouthpieces.
Randy has a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Western Michigan University; and a Master's Degree in Studio Jazz Writing from the University of Miami.
What They Play
ETS652 Learn More +
The 52nd Street saxophone is a professional instrument and comes un-lacquered for a truly vintage appearance. It is an exceptionally responsive horn in all registers and produces a big, fat sound with precise intonation. A larger bell and rolled-style tone holes contribute to the sound qualities of this instrument that many compare to some of the great vintage horns of the past. Solid construction with comfortable hand position and extras such as adjustable palm keys.
- High F# key
- Upper and lower stack adjustment screws
- Adjustable palm key heights
- Hand-engraved neck and bell
- Double-braced low C, B, and Bb keys on all models
- Metal resonators
- Adjustable metal thumb hook
- Italian leather pads
- Blue steel springs
- Aged un-lacquered brass
- Hand-hammered bell
- Large bell
- 52nd Street scene engraving
- Rolled-style tone holes
- Available with no high F# option
- CASX600 case Included


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Roof Types and Solar Mounting
We have discussed about the benefits of solar panels for your roof when they are properly installed. Many consumers out there wonder how the panels are mounted for the different types of roofs. This is a major concern because this is really the lifeline of your solar panels and if you don't have the right solar mounts, you are in for a rude awakening. Here at TRA, we have several different methods for installing solar panels and take different approaches depending on the roof. Here are some of the mounting techniques we use for different roofs.
Homeowners who are looking for strength and durability will often turn to a seam metal roof. These roofs are often used for commercial buildings because they are so strong and durable. They may be more expensive than composition shingles, but in the long-run they often pay off. The seam metal comes in rolls that can be site-formed or preformed in a factory in order to fit the roof. When we see a roof like this, we tend to use our solar flush mounts that are custom made to fit the standing seam profile. This helps maintain the integrity of the rib/seam.
Our solar flush mounts are customized to fit the specific profile of a given seam metal roof as they can have different profiles. The mounting includes an under the hem clamping and bolting to give adequate support for panels. No matter what standing seam metal roof you have, we have the mounts that you need.
Shingles and Slate
Most homeowners use asphalt shingle, slate, or some form of wood shake. Because of this, we have a specific solar flush mount that maintains roofing standards while providing sufficient support for solar panels that are installed. With minimal penetration and customized mounts, we are able to secure panels on any shingled or slated roof.
It may seem simple, but the minimal penetration is extremely important especially when you know you are going to have to reroof eventually. While these mounts are completely secure, they can be taken out in during the reroofing process, which makes them an important innovation for any shingled roof homeowner.
For those in warmer climates, tile roofing may be very popular. Haciendas and Mediterranean style homes are popular in some of the sunnier areas of the world. These locations are also prime for solar panels. The way we mount solar panels on tile roofs doesn't require any cutting or special flashing, so the labor isn't nearly as extensive. In fact, tile roofs are one of simplest roofs to secure mounts. Our solar tile mounts are adjustable to 6 inches which allows easier installation and you can be sure that these corrosion-resistant mounts will last!
Enjoy the sunny Mediterranean lifestyle with your tile roof without worrying about whether your solar panels are secure or not. TRA can install your panels with state-of-the-art mounts that will keep your solar energy running for years!
Why you should get the Right Panels Mounts
You may wonder why it even matters what kind of mounts you have. One thing you will soon learn when you start talking to a TRA agent, is that we take weather serious. Our goal is to make it so your solar panels last as long as possible. These are big investments and the right panel mounts are simply insurance. Every roof is different and mounts need to address those differences effectively if they are going to secure your panels properly.
Solar Panel Mounts for Any Roof!
There are many different roof types out there and here at TRA we know that there is no one-size-fits-all in the solar panel industry. It can be intimidating trying to figure out what is best for your solar panels when there are hundreds of companies out there telling you the way to do it. If you are trying to find the right solar panel mounts or system that is right for your roof type the professionals at TRA can help you along the way. You will find a state-of-the-art mount that is specifically designed for your roof. Give us a call today and we will help you secure your solar panels the right way!


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Welcome to episode 29 of the LJS Podcast where today we are introducing Jazz Challenge #4 of our 4 part series of jazz challenges. These challenges will be leading up to the release of our first eCourse 30 Days to Better Jazz Playing in October 2016. Today's challenge is to learn a new jazz lick. Listen in!
Listen to episode 29
In this episode
What is a "lick"?
Benefits of learning jazz licks by ear.
Importance of repetition.
Be able to play it with the recording.
Brent's lick for the week.
Listen to episode 28: Jazz Challenge #3 Write Your Own Jazz Solo
Sonny Rollins lick on "Without a Song"
Starts at 1:30


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SUP Packages. Paddle board packages from the leading brands. We've done the hard work and packaged up the most popular boards together with discounted paddles, leashes and accessories. Huge Savings, free delivery and 0% Finance available.
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We interrupt our coverage of $100 dinners, fancy wine tastings and being generally blessed to remind you (and ourselves) of just how lucky we are to live in Miami (and the United States).
While we're living the "good life" (and pretty much even with recession, unemployment and a general malaise of the economy we're still on the high side), millions of children and adults are starving in the East African nations of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.
According to CNN, as many as ten million people could be affected by this drought.
So what can we do to help the plight of these people, many of whom are abandoning their homes to walk hundreds of miles to overcrowded United Nations refugee camps?
the money you would have spent on a latte and buy a Bob Marley
download. Save The Children, the international organization that helps
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kids in impoverished countries, has set up the site imgonnabeyourfriend.org. On it, you can download the special re-release of the Bob Marley song High Tide or Low Tide or make a donation through PayPal.
We think your next meal is going to taste a little sweeter after the donation.
Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.


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Tardis Police box Dr who Corset dress Size 4 or Small
Dr. Who Corset Dress Size 4, adjustable Back, boning, zipper all the way in the front, Lace up to tighten. Ships via USPS. Usa Only, Sorry Guys!!
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We will be more than happy to offer you assistance with any packages NOT received, and will be as accommodating as possible if an item does not Fit.
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Sekonic Releases New C - 7000 Firmware Redefining Its Versatility and Market ReachTokyo, Japan – October 31st, 2019 – Sekonic Corporation, Industrial Meter Division announced today new firmware plus a host of other features and functions for SPECTROMASTER C-7000, which will become available on November 7th, 2019Read more »
Sekonic Enters Industrial Lighting Market with New Spectromaster C-7000Tokyo, Japan – November 5, 2015 – Sekonic Corporation, Industrial Light Measurement Division, announced the release of the NEW SpectroMaster C-7000 spectrometer designed for industrial applications. The SPECTROMASTER C-7000 is the first industrial meter from Sekonic to lead the way into the diverse and expanding lighting industrial industry. Read more »


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NSW Art Gallery
Address | Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney NSW
Project Budget | $4.3m
Area | 1,200m²
Designer | Johnson Pilton Walker
Located on level 2 of the Gallery, the office upgrade and fit-out has re-juvenated the former office space and created an open plan with additional space for work stations, contemporary break-out and kitchen space, large panoramic views of Sydney harbour overlooking the Domain and Botanic gardens and passage for natural light through a central atrium to the Gallery space below.
"The project certainly involved numerous levels of difficulty, however the commitment and drive by the delivery team has been appreciated throughout the process. I extend my praise to Ben Stanbury, Ben Stupkin and Jason Valastro for their efforts."
– ANNE TREGEAGLE | Project Manager Building Services, NSW Art Gallery
The project was completed over 3 stages over a 10 month period. These stages included:
- Art Painting conservation area
- Entrance court
- Office upgrade
The project was completed under unique restraints, with security considerations being of highest importance. The successful and profitable delivery of this project is a testament to Renascent project delivery capabilities.


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On Saturday, Sexy Hubby and I will be heading to Alsace. We usually go to our favourite hotel/spa, called "Les Violettes". You can read more about this in my "A Fragment Of Heaven" post. This time, however, we will try a new place. My Mum and sister gave us a Smartbox as a present, and the "Hostellerie de la Chenaudière" was one of the offerings.
We are both looking forward to a relaxing time, a delicious dinner and lovely breakfast buffet, and last but not least a visit to the spa. Swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, a massage, as the weather has just changed, leaving summer behind, the timing is perfect!
More to come on this next week…
Photo source: www.cheneaudiere.com


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Yampa Valley calling areas soon to expand
Natural gas bills are going up, electric bills are on the rise and a gallon of gasoline costs enough to make people think about taking the bus. Wouldn't it be nice to see a drop in something?
It's coming. People who make frequent calls to Steamboat Springs may see a dramatic drop in their phone bills soon.
Terry Bote, spokesperson for the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, said Craig and Steamboat Springs will soon share a local calling area, making calls between the cities free of long-distance charges.
The project has been in the works for some time. Originally, calls to Steamboat Springs were supposed to be free of charge beginning in January 2001, but according to Bote, Qwest Communications, the company building the fiber optic connection between Craig and Steamboat Springs that will allow it possible for the two cities to share a local calling area, ran into some construction delays.
"From what I understand, they had to add some additional fiber and some additional facilities, and I think it took a little longer than expected," Bote said.
Qwest Communications will notify customers via the mail as to when calls between the two cities will switch from long distance to local charges, Bote said.
The elimination of long distance charges to Steamboat Springs will not only benefit Craig residents with friends and family in Steamboat Springs, but many businesses with ties to Steamboat Springs will see positive effects from the transition to local calling.
Kalea Harris, secretary for Aqua Vita Spas in Craig, said employees make calls to their sister store in Steamboat Springs constantly, making their phone bill extremely high. Not only the change take a bite out of Aqua Vita Spas phone bill, but Harris believes it will help increase sales also. The store in Craig and the store in Steamboat Springs often trade salesmen. Harris believes the long-distance charges to Steamboat Springs are a deterrent and people won't call the Steamboat Springs store to finish purchases with their salesmen.
"We lose a lot of customers who don't like calling our other store," Harris said. "Right now we're probably losing a lot of business due to it."
Dan Ellison, Routt County Commissioner, said there is so much overlap between people who live in Craig and work in Steamboat Springs and the other towns like Yampa and Oak Creek that taking away long-distance charges will not only benefit business but will help the Northwest Colorado community as a whole.
"We are all really one community up here," Ellison said. "I think it will be good economically and for family life."
Ellison used an example of Twenty Mile Coal Mine. He said 60 percent of the employees at the mine live in Moffat County. This means that a call from home to work is a long-distance call for many employees. Ellison said that eliminating long-distance charges will make communication between family members will be more convenient.


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Published at Saturday, June 29th, 2019 - 20:02:34 PM. Wedding Venue. By Albrecht Schmitz.
Wedding blogs are another useful online resource and nowadays, more and more couples are turning to blogs such as Style Me Pretty, 100 Layer Cake, OnceWed and Rock n Roll Bride for their wedding inspiration. They are well worth investigating.
Unless you're planning a wedding in a hurry, then take your time to visit a few different venues, ask them how many guests they can seat for the wedding ceremony, ensure this fits with your plans. There is little point looking at a venue that can only sit 40 people for the ceremony if you are planning on inviting 150 guests to your special day. The other thing to check is whether or not the wedding venue is yours solely for the day, or whether other weddings are planned. You may not want to have your photos rushed because the next bride is arriving any moment. A lot of wedding venues in offer either the entire venue or an area where no other visitors will be able to access – determine what you want on your wedding day and make sure you plan this accordingly.
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Creating Vision – One of the great needs in the church is vision. Here, we explore the reason for vision, consider a biblical perspective of vision, and guide the process for creating a vision uniquely designed to the congregation. The process includes writing a narrative description of where the church is now followed by a narrative description of what the church might look like in the future (10-15-20 years ahead). While the full development of the vision takes longer than the seminar, the church will have a solid and secure foundation to kick-start the process as groups work together to create a personalized vision for the church.
Finding Our Grit – Based on Angela Duckworth's book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, this seminar and lessons consider the level of our passion and the nature of biblical perseverance. While we discuss areas we are excited and enthused about, the underlying thought here goes to the root of the word passion, which means "to suffer." Therefore, in order to discover our passion, we must learn more about our inner-self. What we are willing to sacrifice–to give up–in order to achieve our goals? This is where perseverance is critical. There are several assessments available, such as Birkman, Myers-Briggs, Taylor-Johnson, Strengths Based, etc. that are built around learning strengths and weaknesses beneficial in developing our leadership and working together as a team of leaders. The point of this seminar is to dig more deeply into areas that involve the passion and perseverance to do what it takes to achieve success. This is where Grit is key.
Character Development – Character is fundamental to leadership. When we speak about character we describe our conduct when no one is watching. Far more than words or actions, character flows from the inside out. As one of the most critical components of these four seminars, character development builds on the concept of "leading out of being" rather than "doing." Leadership begins with who we are, not just what we do. The belief is that if we are who we should be on the inside, the outside will naturally follow. Because this session is more individually based, it is important that congregations implement ways to promote character development among its members. This seminar explores, discusses, and applies methods that aid character development as leaders.
Strategic Planning – Strategic planning provides leaders essential tools that prepare the church to implement plans that achieve their vision. Based on the goals of the congregation, an established plan allows leaders an opportunity to build a bridge that connects where they are to where they want to be in the future. Strategic planning provides leaders with the fundamental components needed to develop details for goals and plans that assist churches achieve their vision. In this seminar, participants learn how to use S.W.O.T. analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). Combined with understanding the current trends, a S.W.O.T. analysis enables leaders to plan and develop the most effective programs for church growth.


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Yahoo! Super Mario Odyssey arrives on Nintendo Switch tomorrow! The reviews so far are positively glowing, which should make Nintendo and Super Mario fans around the world quite happy. The game, which arrives only on the new Nintendo Switch console, currently holds a MetaCritic score of 97 based on 63 critical reviews. We'll get an idea of what the average gamer thinks of it late tonight and throughout the weekend as copies make their way throughout the world.
As of this writing, there are no mixed or negative reviews for the game, and many praise is control, expansive world, and evolved, original ideas. It sounds like the reviewers had a good time playing Super Mario Odyssey and getting to know the new mechanic/character, Cappy, so it follows that gamers will probably find a lot to enjoy. Be sure to let us know your thoughts and expectations in the comments!
Here's a look at some of the many reviews of Super Mario Odyssey and how it stacks up to the competition:
GameSpot (10/10):
Odyssey is sustained beyond its major milestones not only through colorful worlds and hidden challenges, but through the sheer joy of controlling Mario, who's never felt more responsive or dynamic in action … Mario's latest outing is big, bold, and bursting with new ideas, and like Breath of the Wild, is another instance of Nintendo going above and beyond to redefine our expectations. It's a shining example of refined creativity, and another crown jewel for Switch that is without equal. – Peter Brown
Mario's games have been around for almost as long as game consoles have been a thing, but thankfully, he's always evolving. We rarely get the same Mario twice. Super Mario Odyssey delivers on that ongoing promise of originality and innovation: It distills the venerable series' joyful, irreverent world and characters and best-in-class platforming action, and introduces a steady stream of new and unexpected mechanics. It's all spun together into a generational masterpiece. – Ryan McCaffrey
Polygon (9.5/10):
For a character nearing 40 years old, it's amazing that Mario has remained not only a beloved character but one whose games are generally expected to be great. From that perspective, it's no surprise that Super Mario Odyssey is, yes, a great game. But more than that, it's a fantastic, even fundamental addition to Mario's legacy. From a plumber to a doctor to a tennis star to, uh, a Goomba, Mario has endured. No, this will not be the last Mario game, but it is almost certain to be lauded as one of his best. – Philip Kollar and Allegra Frank
Game Informer (9.75/10):
I was floored by the creativity accompanying most of Odyssey. A lot of iteration and thought clearly went into some of the secrets and platforming exercises. I enjoyed each challenge type except the Roving Races, on-foot sprints against Koopa Troopers where every second counts. I was irked by the racers walking through enemies and walls without penalty – almost appearing to be a bug or a cheap way of intensifying the competition in a game that is otherwise nearly flawless in its execution.
Quibbles aside, Super Mario Odyssey is an absolute delight, and another Switch release that will have Nintendo fans debating which 3D Mario game is the best of them all. I still hang my hat on Super Mario Galaxy as the pinnacle of the series, but Odyssey and its wealth of gameplay styles and moons make it a close second. – Andrew Reiner
GamesRadar (5/5):
In fact I'm so on board with Super Mario Odyssey that it's very hard to fault – aside from the control system. Or more precisely the fact that it doesn't really utilise all of the Switch's features. Unless you use motion controls, you won't actually get access to all of Mario's moves, including the incredibly useful spin and targeted throws. So if you're wanting to use a Pro pad or simply just play Super Mario Odyssey on the move, you're going to find yourself restricted. Also, if you're going full motion control, you can enlist a buddy to control Cappy in co-op mode. It's definitely not the best way to play, but it's a great option for families looking to get in on the Odyssey action together.
Thankfully the gripes are so small that it's easy to say Odyssey is the most glorious of Mario's adventures to date. And not to mention adorable. Have you seen all of his outfits? Nintendo's ability to jam secrets and side-quests into every pixel continues to astonish and means I'll be playing Super Mario Odyssey for many Moons to come. – Sam Loveridge
EuroGamer (Essential):
Super Mario Odyssey has been put together with such generous abandon that you do wonder if quality can help but give way to quantity. Maybe it does, a little. Sometimes you will come across an idea that strikes you as ordinary, that you might have seen before somewhere else, or that hasn't been polished to the jewel-like perfection it might have attained in Super Mario Galaxy, say. But that is only true by the standards of other Mario games, and neither is it entirely a bad thing. When designers have flawlessness as their goal, the path leads through diminishing returns to something as gorgeous yet disappointingly sane – almost sensible – as Super Mario 3D World. Mario's makers really needed to let their hair down like this.
Besides, there is nothing like a new Super Mario to remind you that there is no other studio that can make games like this. Jump on a tomato in the Luncheon Kingdom and watch how it splats out into a sizzling hot pool of sauce; ride a Jaxi, a stone steed as fast as a rocket, and watch the way it scrabbles frantically at the ground as you try to rein in its boundless speed. Then release it – whee! The happy revelry that has gone into the making of this nonsensical world is infectious, while the return to the open design of Super Mario 64 has freed all that gleeful energy in a sloppily explosive burst. To many people, Mario is video games. To play Super Mario Odyssey is to remember why that is. – Oli Welsh
US Gamer (5/5):
Super Mario Odyssey honors much of what makes other 3D Mario games great, plus it adds plenty of its own flavor to the Mario stew thanks to its capture mechanic. Mario Odyssey can keep you busy for hours and hours if you want it to, and you probably will. Outside of a few instances where the camera took on a mind of its own, I can't think of a moment when I wasn't enjoying myself while journeying with Mario and Cappy. – Nadia Oxford


text: Les Salons du Salon: a series of events where artists, critics and curators are invited to present and discuss topics of personal interest. Presented during the month of November 2013 at The Island, Chaussée de Wavre 155, 1050 Brussels. With : Benoît Platéus, Nicolas Trembley, Harold Ancart, Max Küng, Audrey Cottin, Sober & Lonely and Vaast Colson


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I recently read two different articles that showcase how our thoughtless acts can have desastrous consequences for our wild animal brothers and sisters.
touching, viral bear video
One is about a bear mother and her cub, apparently fleeing from a drone filming them. The video went viral, because apparently it shows that perseverence gets you to your goal eventually. But all I could feel is the struggle of the little cub, and her fear. It did show the strength of that small animal that couldn't have been more than a few months old. both physical and mental strength to handle such a situation.


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MediaSkunkWorks, the University of York based Innovation Laboratory, announced today the introduction of mandatory employee polygraph testing, in order to ensure their clients' information and data is secured and kept confidential while ensuring the moral integrity of employees.
MediaSkunkWorks is best known for its pioneering work in SEO, operating primarily in the iGaming industry. The innovation laboratory's services cover many facets of player acquisition and retention, most notably: data driven SEO intelligence, scalable content marketing and outreach services.
The unique application of MSW's big data is not limited to SEO, however, and future service offerings will include an enterprise-level intelligence platform, developed out of the company's crawling and extraction proprietary software.
Why Polygraph Testing?
"We are not taking any chances with either our reputation or our intellectual property. Our business processes have redefined industry best practices. However, our monitoring and observations on several recent high profile SEO disasters have enabled us to identify one significant remaining point of failure – employee integrity."
"Disgruntled ex-employees and data leakage can destroy a client's revenues overnight. The only way to minimise this risky component is through intensive screening including: background checks, psychographic profiling and polygraph testing as part of a standard H.R. policy. The entire SEO industry is acutely aware of negative SEO brought on by unhappy (ex) employees and what that can mean to a multi-million dollar enterprise." – Paul Reilly, CEO and founder of MediaSkunkWorks
MediaSkunkWorks note an anticipated YOY revenue growth of 42.9%, with a shocking 12.4% of this growth attributed to revenue derived from penalty removal services.
Polygraph Supplier of Choice
Given the sensitive nature of polygraph examination and the rationale behind the move, Media Skunk Works, following several months of due diligence, have selected Veritas Polygraph Services as the preferred examiner. The UK based company is privately owned by Patti Musicaro, a Forensic Psychophysiologist who graduated from the Academy of Scientific Investigative Training in Philadelphia, an accredited school of the American Polygraph Association.
Patti has recently carried out over 200 polygraph tests for the Philadelphia Police Department as well as tests on security forces in Iraq and on the UAE military using state of the art polygraph technology.
For further information please contact us by email or call +44 (0) 1904 236234


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The mountain of electronic waste rising around the world is a gold mine–literally. Urban deposits of e-waste (discarded computers, phones and other electronics) contain 40 to 50 times the concentration of precious metals compared to ore mined from the ground at great cost to the environment, human health, and buyers of latest gadgets. We should mine it our e-waste, then, rather than the stuff in the ground.
That's the message from the "e-Waste Academy" co-organized by the United Nations University and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI). Despite the 21 billion dollars of gold and silver embedded in modern electronics each year, not to mention copper, tin, cobalt, and palladium and other metals, only a fraction of which is ever recovered. For example, 80 to 85% of gold in e-waste is lost due to crude (and dangerous) dismantling processes in developing countries and ineffective collection systems in developed countries (which are the source of most e-waste).
"Rather than looking at e-waste as a burden, we need to see it as an opportunity," said Alexis Vandendaelen of Umicore Precious Metals Refining at the meeting.
The global business for recovering precious metals from electronics–expected to hit $34.5 billion by 2018–is nowhere near as efficient as the system to distribute high-tech goods in the first place. Despite record high prices for metals such as gold (now five times the price per once in 2001), the majority of metals in e-waste is still landfilled or lost, rather than recycled.
That may change. GeSI is establishing international best practice for e-waste handling. European Union and the US have both tightened standards to ensure at least a portion of electronics sold in the market make it back to a recycling center (85% in the EU by 2019). Even developing countries such as India, a major destination for international e-waste, now demand old computers and electronics end up at authorized collection sites.
We may look back in wonder at how we let such a precious resource go to waste. One era's trash is another's treasure.


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We are the Czech company engaged in manufacturing, trading and forwarding services. We know the goodwill is hard to gain but easy to lose and therefore we build the long-term relations with our customers supported by mutual confidence and respect. We are a customer-oriented company relying our effort to succeed in the more and more demanding world of international business on almost 10-year period of building our goodwill through honest and respectable dealing with the customers, suppliers as well as our own employees.
We want to keep and even strengthen our position in the market, as we are representing one of the world leading suppliers of stainless steel fibres for automotive industry, especially in the sector of metal fibres.
We consider the selection of superior suppliers and maintaining the effective cooperation with them as a basic presumption for fulfilment of the high expectations of our customers. This effort was crowned in 2003 as we were certified according to the standard ISO 9001:2000, by the registration company Moody International s.r.o.
General principles of behaviour of our employees are fairness, professionalism, politeness, willingness, reliability and loyalty. We are not only taking care of the company development, but the employee development as well.


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Website Designing
We understand your business and its background, emerge with some unique ideas and concepts to get your business online via website. We develop a interactive website to engage your customers.
We offer what customer wants not what we sell.
We frame solutions for creating powerful user experiences that drives traffic, generate leads which at last increases the business.
We understand your business and its background, emerge with some unique ideas and concepts to get your business online via website. We develop a interactive website to engage your customers.
Promote your business on all social media platforms with SMO and enhance your website search ranking through SEO. These two factors are important for growing your business in digital world.
In branding we basically do scripting of your business for a vision that how it will look on digital platforms. We decide what should be shown to your customers and enhance your brand awareness.
Its good to have your business online and its even better to make your online business handy for your customers. When customers feel convenient to enjoy your services its automatically increases business.
We believe Email marketing is a result oriented technique for generating leads an increase in sales. You can promote your products to an individual person or a group in just one click. We promote your business via Email Marketing.
This service manages all your business related schedules, meetings, travel plans etc. It will indirectly light down your burden and increase your work efficiency. We believe your time is valuable.
The best thing you can do is the right thing, we believe to build an engaged audience rather than a huge audience. We never compete on prices instead compete in services that we are best at and focus on providing better solutions. Its time to empower your digital dreams and taking your business to the next level.
Its very important to understand what your client wants from you.
When we listen we understand more. We hear our client's needs, their requirements and the aim they are focusing on. It can be brand awareness, getting traffic on their site, getting views on your business video and so on, the list is vast. This initial step helps the prospective client see all the digital marketing concepts we can create for them as well as giving them an inside look into our creative process.
The Aspiring CEO team identifies the problems, create plans and optimise your chances at success. Client's vision is our map to success.
Great planning increases the chances of great results.
After the listening process we collect data from our clients. Data that is related to Their product, services and brand. What they want to show and give to their customers. Data is like thr building block of the marketing process. Data should be accurate and to the point which properly displays's the vision or motive of the clients.
Planning is very much dependent on the quality of data that is provided by the client. This is the stage where we cover every minute details of the client's business to give the best results to them.
A perfect puzzled picture is solved when you place all the pieces on the right place.
Collection of data is not the only thing that matters. All the data is like the blocks of a puzzle which are to be placed right for the best results. Where to use the data and information is very important. When is the right time to showcase our products, services or brand and how to use the information? So that it can hit the right audience.
Strategizing is important for smooth working. Data of the client is very important so that customers don't get puzzled when they visit your site or page.
How better is the presentation decides how better will be the outcomes.
After collecting data and putting them in a sequence final stage is showcasing all the stuffs in mannered way so that audience can understand what they are getting in a easy way. Digital marketing has a very special feature that traditional marketing don't have that is that client can decide to whom they want to show their services and when.
Because of this feature execution becomes more efficient and optimized. It will fortunately increase the sale and traffic for the client's business.
Piyush holds a strong belief that digital promotional masterplan is the impelling force that proves to propel all the possible aspects of a business towards the path of growth and triumph. Having a working experience of 8 years in the area of digitally marketing foreign land firms, Piyush has a noteworthy prowess at devising Digital Promotional Marketing strategies.
Being the co-founder with a perspicuous vision, Aakanksha attends to the smooth working of the firm. She is also the founder of a remarkable initiative "She Create, She Empower". The particular ingenuity legitimizes women, possessing prodigious entrepreneurial skills to assimilate knowledge about all the viable digital mediums that could aid them to realize their aspirations.
Being the General Manager, Unnati concocts a lot of dynamism into the organization. She augments and embraces resources of the company so as to provide the clients with the best possible service. Her splendid administrative skills, detail oriented approach and strategic planning form the backbone for the exemplary working of the firm.
Praises gives us confidence and criticisms motivates us. We value the thoughts and reviews of customers for our betterment. Keep us updating whatever you want in and from us. Your responses are incentives for us.
As the online challenge keeps on expanding and new sites are being launched, it's a great opportunity to reevaluat …
Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook. Consistently it appears to be another web-based social networking application spr …
Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook. Consistently it appears to be another web-based social networking application spr …


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Calling all Atlanta-area residents! The Human Toxicology Project Consortium, in collaboration with Emory University School of Law, will present a free half-day symposium on Monday, October 23rd, 2017 to showcase the latest animal-free innovations in biomedical research. These research methods and technologies offer the most efficient approach to pre-clinical drug and device development and toxicity testing of commercial chemicals.
Scientists, lawyers, students, other members of the Emory community and beyond are invited to hear about bio-technology, computer science and engineering approaches, such as sophisticated 3-D cell culture systems; stem cell technologies that allow research on individual diseases; organ-on-a-chip technologies; genomics; proteomics; metabolomics; computational modeling; bioinformatics "knowledge-bases"; and other platforms for linking mechanistic biological information and developing predictive models of human diseases.
The regulatory challenges of applying these technologies to drug and device development and toxicity testing will also be addressed. Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and question and answer period with the audience.
The symposium is free to attend, but registration is required. Those who would like to participate in the free lunch following the symposium must register no later than Saturday, October 18th.
For more information and to register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-symposium-exploring-new-technologies-in-biomedical-research-tickets-37999430319.


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The Devastating Impact of the Halifax Explosion
On a cold December 6, in 1917, it seemed as though the doors of hell had burst asunder in Halifax, Nova Scotia. French munitions ship the SS Mont-Blanc collided with Norwegian supply ship the Imo at 8:40 in the morning. Twenty-five minutes later, the biggest single man-made explosion prior to the atomic bomb tests of 1945 laid waste to the harbor and everything around it.
The force of the blast was so great that all the buildings within a 16-mile radius were all but obliterated and iron railings were bent like soda straws. A tsunami was created after water filled the space where the harbor bottom was briefly exposed due to the amount of water that had been vaporized. In total, 2,000 people were killed, with a further 9,000 injured. The city was devastated, and parts of it were turned into a wasteland as a built-up area of 500 acres on the nearby shore was wiped off the map.
Full post: The Devastating Impact of the Halifax Explosion


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Dove hunting 101 – Shotgun Tips and License
The dove hunting for most states was just started for other states it open late, kindly check here the 2014 open dates for dove hunting.
For all you know dove hunting is a sport for all ages. Whether your 12 or 50 it doesn't matter as long you able to go to field, point and shoot. I read most messages and forum discussions asking for those beginners in what shotgun to use, what are the criteria for a best place to hunt or do I need to get a license in dove hunting?
In my dove hunting tips posted last year about how important to know about doves, how to hunt, shooting tips, decoys and etc. In this article I will provide you info about what shotgun to use, note that shotgun for men are different for women (for list what shotgun are best women you may follow this link which I tackle seperately). Also below I discussed more about ammo, gauge, finding spot and more about license. So let's get started!
Getting started falls into two basic categories before to start dove hunting: what to purchase and what to do.
I'll begin with the basic necessities in what to purchase in dove hunting.
A Shotgun
I don't think there is any way around this one, unless you are real good with a sling shot. There are many options when it comes to a shotgun. The basic categories are; pump action, auto-matic, and over and under. All three have there advantages and disadvantages. The other things involved in purchasing a shotgun are , what gauge and what brand.
Dove Hunting Shotgun Types
Pump Action
A pump action shot gun is the least expensive type of shotgun. Pumps can be purchased for around $300. Winchester and Remington have decent entry level pump shotguns. A pump simply means that the discharging and reloading of shells is done by pumping the gun backwards and then forward. Contrary to popular belief, this can be done very quickly and all have shot a lot of birds with a pump. A pump's advantages are it is a great starter gun and the cost will keep some money in the bank if you are on a budget.
Automatic Shotgun
An automatic shotgun is an upgrade from a pump. An automatic shotgun ejects the spent shell and reloads the chamber automatically (hints why it's called an automatic). Both the pump and automatic hold three shells(with the plug in). For a beginner and even for me (as I shoot an automatic), the third shot can be a life saver. Automatic shotguns can be pricey though. I shoot a Remington 1170 (left handed ) and it cost around $850. the price range is from $500 and up. I've never had any problems with my gun but some critics of them say they over heat and run out of gas if you do an awful amount of shooting. I recommend automatic's unless you are going to Argentina or something.
Over and Under Shotgun
Over and Under shotguns are probably the most popular in the target shooting world and a lot of bird hunter use the. They have two barrels one on top of the other. They are known for their accuracy and reliability. Both my brother and my dad shoot them. They are the most expensive starting at around $700 and going up from there. If you've got the cash, you can't go wrong buying one.
Choosing the Right Shotgun Gauges in Dove Hunting
When buying a shotgun, size does matter. The smaller the number the larger the shell. 12 gauge is the most common and then 20 gauge being the next. Although there a many different gauges all you need to know is the bigger the gauge the more it kicks. Don't get to excited none of them really hurt unless you shoot 500 then you might be a little sore. I recommend 12 gauge for adult males and 20 ga. for adult women and kids over 13. For youngsters, I recommend .410 gauge.
Which Shotgun brands will I choose, Remington or Winchester?
I've had good luck with Remington and Winchester. Both are low to medium price range. Mossberg also makes entry level shotguns, but my brother had all kinds of problems with his first pump, in a short period of time I might add. Benelli and Beretta are also good brands, but in the medium to high price range.
The bottom line is you have to have a gun, so decide on your budget and make a purchase that will last a life time. Let's keep a running total
Dove Hunting Leases
In my previous article which I state how important to have a good dove hunting spot and how to find one. Finding a place to hunt is necessity. In other states they have public land and for around $50 one can access thousands of acres. The trick is finding a spot with birds. There are also day hunts for around $100 per day, and even some leases for around $150 per season (usually these suck). If you've got the money, look for some established leases in the newspapers. They can range anywhere from $300 to $1000 per gun. Again, a gun is no good if you don't have a place to shoot it (preferably with birds on it or flying by).
You can really go crazy here if you want, but there are a few 'must haves'.
- Shells. I could write a novel on this, but to start just buy some 8 shot dove load. Buy a case (10 boxes), should be around $60.
- Bird/bullet bag.Probably a three pouch camo, $15.
- Chair. Get a comfortable one. They are cheap $30 max.
- Camo clothing. Depending on your climate, you'll need pants and a shirt. The more pockets the better. You might want to buy some boots too. We'll say $100.
- Other accessories you might want to get could be a water bottle (camo, of course), flashlight, hunting vest, a new cooler (to put all your birds you kill in), camo hat, and polarized sunglasses. For now i won't figure these into cost.
1-set of accessories @ $205.
That's it! The grand total to get you into business is around $600. It sounds like a lot, but if you don't wait until the last minute you can budget it in over time.
Okay, you've acquired everything you need to begin dove hunting, NOW WHAT!?!?
There isn't too much to it, but if you take a few steps prior to taking the field, you'll have a lot more fun and a lot less stress. Let's begin.
1. Get familiar with your gun
If this is your first shotgun, it can be kind of intimidating. Just remember, safety, safety, safety. Always make sure your gun is unloaded before doing anything to it. You should take it apart and put it back together, as you will have to do this to clean and oil it. Practice loading and unloading shells. As I like to say, make love to your gun. The last thing you want to do is get out in the field and not know how to work your gun.
2. Shoot your gun
Let's face it, that is what it's for. I recommend finding a skeet range and shooting a few rounds (25 in a round), at least. Doing this will accomplish two things; get you accustom to firing, loading,and unloading your gun and give you an idea what it's going to be like shooting a dove out of the air at mach 2 (the good thing is you get 2-3 shots at a dove, you only get one at skeet). Oh, and remember to clean your gun after wards.
3. Hunter's Safety Course
You are required to take this course if you were born after September 2, 1971. Get it done! It is not fun to have a Game Warden spoil your hunting trip because you didn't take it, believe me, I know.
4. Learn the rules
Bag limits, zones, etc. All this information is important and when you buy your license you get a book that has everything you could ever need to know.
5. Learn how to clean your dove.
Cleaning dove is not one of the most glamorous things you'll ever do. It has to be done though. Here's a video how to clean doves for a step-by-step how to clean and breast dove follow this link, infographic included.
That is it, you are ready. Finalize your plans, travel arrangement, lodging and food are all things to consider. Once you've nailed everything down, you'll be able to rest easy the night before. All you will have to worry about is how many dove you are going to shoot the next day (this may cause a lack of sleep, don't worry, it's normal).
Clifford Sanderson is an internet marketer for Nicaragua Bird Hunting and the sole author of this Dove Hunting Blog. Follow me at Twitter @DoveHunter and on Google.
More Posts – Twitter – Facebook – Google+ – Pinterest


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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
1/72 VF-25F Armored Messiah Valkyrie English Manual and Color Guide
Started translating the Japanese manual of the 1/72 VF-25F Armored Valkyrie of Alto Saotome from Macross Frontier. I like how the armored Valkyrie design evolved with the arrival of the VF-25 Messiah.
In the first Macross series, the armored GBP-1S could only be deployed in Battroid mode. If the pilot wanted to switch modes it had to ditch first the armor and in the process lose the protection if offered. But with the VF-25, the pilot could keep the armor on and switch through all three modes (fighter, gerwalk, battroid) without a hitch.
This translation won't be done in one blow, so kindly check back often on this page in order to see the newly translated pages. Also, please read the disclaimer before proceeding. And if you see any errors, kindly shoot me an email via the contact form so that we can correct it. For the meaning of the symbols found in the Bandai model kit, check this past post.
The 1/72 VF-25F Armored Messiah Valkyrie of Alto Saotome is selling for 8000 yen at HobbyLink Japan, 6400 yen at Hobby Search, $$$ at Amazon 3rd party sellers.
Source of the VF-25F Armored Messiah manual is from Dalong's Gunpla Review site.
Erratum: at step 8<31> it should read fold both wings down


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About Atlas
Atlas is an independent tax law firm located in the city centre of Amsterdam. In 2018, Atlas expanded with an office in Eindhoven. We offer the best of two worlds: a boutique approach and experience and expertise of a large firm. By restricting our practice to tax, we are able to provide the skills and commitment required by our clients. We are renowned for our work in the field of private equity, M&A, real estate, financial services, tax structuring and private clients. All our senior professionals have a background with the reputable Dutch tax law firms. With a solid expertise and background, combined with an in-depth knowledge of the market, we offer reliable and tailor-made solutions for our clients. We aim to be a sparring partner and trusted advisor for our clients. Atlas Tax Lawyers is accredited by the Dutch Association of Tax Advisors (NOB).
Under the name T/A International Atlas has recently established an intensive cooperation with Tiberghien (Belgium and Luxembourg). This true Benelux tax network has offices in Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt and Luxembourg. With over 100 dedicated tax lawyers in three jurisdictions, we are able to provide our joint clients adequate, swift and high quality integrated Benelux tax advice. We aim to be the Benelux tax firm.