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Have you ever seen a Coca-Cola commercial? No, I mean really seen one. What are they selling? A refreshing beverage? Hardly. Coca-Cola sells happiness. Proof is provided by the closing image of the commercial below ("open happiness"). And this message is almost anywhere you look.
If you just watched the above commercial, you might realize that the content of it actually has very little to do with the drink and I can pretty much guarantee that Coca-Cola is actually doing very little to help any conflict between India and Pakistan. But this post isn't about the "big, bad monster," that is the Coca-Cola industry. Rather it is about the tactics that has made them such a large industry, as well as those used by the junk food industry in general. Because even though it seems they've been under harsh criticism lately due to the dangerous increase in obesity, I think they might have something to offer. And no, it's not food.
Go to any junk food agency and you'll likely find that their largest department is the marketing department. Aside from the fact that junk food is tasty, and highly addicting. a large part of our over-purchasing and over-consumption can be attributed to the way it is sold to us, especially to our youth. The amount of media interaction increasing dramatically over the years has made serious changes in how we receive information, and it looks like companies marketing snack food, fast food, and sugary beverages are masters of the game. These companies use every media outlet possible and even collect data to target their most "vulnerable" consumers.
Food and beverage marketing to youth in the U.S. poses a direct threat to health of our country. They are growing up in environments that are saturated with marketing of these products. And, as we know about one third of youth are overweight or obese and are likely to stay so as adults. However, despite this knowledge, people continue to purchase products that are unhealthy. So obviously these companies are doing something right. And so, I propose that we take a look at their tactics and perhaps implement them for the better. That is, what if we used junk-food-advertising to increase healthy-food-consumption?
One thing the industry does is create immersive marketing techniques in which advertising is integrated into some other content so that it is almost indistinguishable. Things like online computer games that only work if you have a certain amount of point which you can only get if you buy a certain amount of a certain product. Youth are highly susceptible to immersive games, they get sucked into them; it makes them feel in control. So they do what they need to play these games, and if that means buying Big Macs then that is what they will do.
Another tactic is through social media networks. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube make it really easy for marketers to access a person's web of social relationships. They somehow find a way to insert themselves into these interactions and conversations. They also have incentives like prizes and free products that are awarded for getting out their name or brand; things like "'like' this page for a free Coca-Cola T-shirt" or "Retweet for a chance to win a trip to Mars". The use of these social networks exploit the idea of peer influence in which people are looking to model their friends' behavior (and thus purchases).
These company's are sly, too. They know exactly where to place their ads so that young people see them. You'll see advertisements for soda and junk food mainly in shopping centers or places with entertainment. They also know young people use their mobile devices a lot. This helps them essentially track and follow people. They know what area you are in, the time and even the temperature. They use this information to get you to buy their product. For example, they know to send good deals during the lunch rush or to advertise a cold beverage on a hot day.
Which leads me to my next point, the collection of personal data. When people go online they are tracked, profiled and targeted for personalized marketing. Did you ever notice how after you search something on Google, almost every Facebook ad you see after that is somehow related to that search? (About 30 minutes ago I searched "Coca-Cola commercial" for this post and have seen at least 3 different Coca-Cola ads since.) These companies use software that analyze the patterns of your online behavior to purposefully target you.
The junk food industry invests enormous financial resources to fund the above mentioned tactics. And in return they receive exactly what they want, more people buying and consuming their products. But in the midst of an obesity epidemic, these strategies are dangerous. Unless that is, we use them to encourage healthier behaviors and better eating habits.
There is so much potential! We can start making games out of how many bags of carrots you buy at the supermarket. We can advertise more healthy food products on Facebook and Twitter; products like Kashi cereal bars, for example. We can use data collection and location-based marketing to help people find places where healthy food is available; instead of finding the nearest McDonald's they can help us find the nearest Saladworks or local food market.
There is a lot of effort being made to change the eating habits of young people; things like healthy school lunches and policy changes. But these things can take time to implement and there are always those people who feel like they are being stripped of their freedom to eat what they want. But these marketing strategies hold the potential to change people's behaviors without taking away anyone's rights. And, if these tactics worked for the junk food industry, I'm sure it can do much good for the health food industry. So I say, let's beat them at their own game.


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Learning from failure: 3 moves to turn your setback into a comeback
Updated: March 2021
Lately, I have been embracing the new. New workouts. New ideas. New opportunities.
With every new step comes the opportunity for failure.
Let's just say friends; I have been dealing with quite a few setbacks and dealing with a few failures too. You know those moments where technology crashes, and you lose all of your work. Moments when you realize you are not going to complete your class on time. It could be the moments the new product you made doesn't quite look the way it should so now you have to push back your timeline. Maybe it's starting the new workout only to get sick realizing you have to start back over.
Anytime we choose to step out to do something new, failure is always a risk.
Fear of failure can hit the deep parts of us revealing some lingering fears, doubts, and emotions. We find ourselves dealing with our feelings of fear, rejection, and control. Pressure starts to rise — frustration increases. Maybe you even think about quitting, shrinking back into the familiar.
Just as those emotions flood your body, negative thoughts might run rampant in your mind.
You will never make it.
God didn't give this assignment to you.
You are not good enough.
What made you think you could change?
Oh, I have been there, and I have been walking this through lately. As much as these thoughts pop up and my emotions want to dictate my actions, setbacks are temporary spaces meant to teach us not stagnant places for us to live. Delays are opportunities to strengthen our focus and our faith for the weight of the assignment ahead of us.
Delays are opportunities to strengthen our focus and our faith for the weight of the assignment ahead of us.Tweet
Right now you may feel like you want to quit—DON'T. We all face failures, but we each must decide what to do next. You can learn from your failure. You can turn your setback into a springboard for a comeback in three easy steps.
Lesson from failure #1: Learn the lesson
"How many times do I have to go through this?"
I asked myself while contemplating wanting to through my computer. I cannot tell you how many times this one question had popped up in my head when what I was working on flopped. I will go through this many time as I need until I learn the lesson. Learning from our setback is one the crucial pieces to launching us forward to our comeback.
Failures can easily take you off course or can reveal your true course. The difference between the distraction and the revelation is if you are willing to learn from your experience. When we allow ourselves to get caught up in the blame game, we learn NOTHING from our failures often causing us to endure them AGAIN.
Take time to step back and reflect on your failure.
Journal prompts:
- Why do you consider this a failure?
- What parts went well for you?
- What was within your control?
- What was outside your control?
This reflective process allows you to have an unbiased view of your experience, you begin planning the next step that will be a part of your comeback.
Lesson from failure #2: Reframe your mindset
One of the most challenging aspects of experiencing a setback is separating who you are from what you experience.
For example, if you didn't sell any of your products after launching your business, you might think you are not smart enough to run a business. If you don't get the promotion after working hard for a year, you might have the thought you are not good enough to lead. If you stepped out to date again, but the relationship did work out, you might start to think you are hard to love. Those negative thoughts lingering in your mind do not belong.
Your worth and your identity is NOT determined by your failure; it is determined by Christ.
Surround yourself with daily affirmations of WHO you are. Write them on your mirror. Create a screenshot on your phone. Identify scriptures of who Christ says you are. Equipping ourselves with the truth of who we are will be your weapon when unhealthy thoughts pop up in your hard seasons.
You are brave, bold, capable of doing hard things. God directs your steps and has created a seat at His table just for you.
Lesson from failure #3: Get ready for the comeback
Once you have learned from your failure experience and you have reframed your mindset; it's time for you to prepare for your comeback.
Stepping out of your comfort zone, it's time to put your setback behind you. You have gained wisdom. You have the resources. You have the grit. Now is the time.
- Let your speech mirror your comeback. Use words that speak life over where you are going.
- Let your walk display your confidence. You know what you are doing and your have wisdom to apply what you have learned.
- Celebrate your progress. You know where you have come from, so be sure to celebrate every single step along the way.
Comebacks are sweet. They remind us how far we have become, and the joy in knowing your setback didn't crush you. You were down temporarily, but you decided to rise to come back. Fix your, smile girl. Pick your head up. You have work to do!
Failures in life can easily take you off course or can reveal your true course. The choice is yours. Remember, your setback can become the springboard for your greatest comeback. Take time to learn from the experience, remember your purpose, and reframe your mindset to help you get back on track. Some of the greatest minds, entrepreneurs, artists, and athletes experience failure way before they ever succeeded. They only decided to get back up, will you? Failure is NOT an option.
Cheering you on,
suburbangoddessmomApril 25, 2019
As usual really inspiring!!! There are so many lessons to be learned when things don't go well, we just need to pay attention and be open!
TalyaApril 25, 2019
You are so right…comebacks are SWEET! I am totally with you on reframing your mindset..works a treat!
DeniseApril 25, 2019
Amen! I really enjoyed reading this!
Des A. ScottApril 25, 2019
Reframing your mindset, love that!
myenchantingfloridalifeApril 25, 2019
Love your posts, they are always very real and always inspiring. So thank you for putting yourself out there and sharing with us, and helping us to through this thing called life. I have experienced setbacks but each time, God was right there to pick me up and get me through it. I don't know what I'd do without him. Letting g Him be strong in my weaknesses is how I roll:)
JenApril 26, 2019
I love the idea of thinking about the comeback! That's very motivating. I'm going to think about that next time I fail!
lifeofababemaMay 10, 2019
This is a great post for me and is very relevant to my life right now as I am on a journey to lose the few pounds I gained from having 2 babies back to back. Sometimes it's quite hard to see the way out of a set back but you've made it much easier with this super simple and PRACTICAL post. I love the way you write your articles and make them useful and easy to apply to everyday life!
Brigham Knows Best (@brighamknowbest)May 23, 2019
Love your posts mama! They are always inspirational! 🙂
Nicole HoodMay 28, 2019
Love the idea of daily affirmations and your phrase "Your worth and your identity is NOT determined by your failure1"
Kelly WaitersJuly 29, 2019
I love this. I always need something to read to remind me to reset my brain. Thanks for sharing!
FlossieJuly 29, 2019
OK, so 1) I am so sorry you've been facing setbacks lately! and 2) I have to say, having read what seems like a gazillion posts along these lines over the years (most of them drivel), this one was refreshingly useful and practical/actionable! ***Thanks*** for these great tips, and I am glad you've been able to take your rough patch and make it into something informative both for yourself AND for others looking to get un-stuck!
A Nation of MomsJuly 30, 2019
It's good to take a setback and use it as motivation! These are great tips, and I love taking something negative and turning it into a positive.
SalmaJuly 30, 2019
I love reading posts that remind me to return to my faith. Thank you for the beautiful reminder. We are all more alike than different.
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[…] One way we undervalue the importance of preparing in the evening is plunging forward into the next day without taking any time to reflect on our emotions, thoughts, and action. Using a journal to evaluate your day before you go to bed is a great way to assess your day. You can jot down your thoughts, create bullet lists, brain dump, or even write a note encouraging yourself. Often, I use a gratitude journal to help me keep my focus, especially on hard days. […]
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A nation must think before it acts.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) opened its 13th National People's Congress (NPC) on March 5, 2018, where nearly 3,000 members gather to vote on amendments to the constitution of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and other legislative matters. The NPC is considered a rubber stamp for the party leadership because "no" votes are rarely cast.
What makes this NPC so much more important than previous ones is that several proposed amendments will change Chinese politics for many years to come.
In February 2018, the CCP released a list of proposed amendments. The list is long, and not all items are worth highlighting. But the major proposed changes are all about Xi Jinping and his vision for China. The two most controversial amendments are the elimination of the two-term limit to the office of the president and the inclusion of supervisory commissions as an official state organ. These two measures will grant Xi the ability to rule for life if he so chooses as well as to continue to oust competition under the guise of an anti-corruption movement.
Even though Xi recently said, "No organization or individual has the power to overstep the Constitution or the law," he omitted the qualification that one individual—Xi himself—has the power to railroad through amendments to the constitution after years of removing rivals and installing allies into key posts.
Through sheer force of will, Xi has made himself the "It Man" in China. After years of institutionalized succession and an emphasis on collective leadership, Xi has hollowed out these once-sacred mechanisms in order to keep himself in power indefinitely.
No matter what the future Xi holds for China, the country is squarely in Xi's hands for better or worse. His name and political thought, "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era," will, in fact, be added to the constitution along with Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, demonstrating his high place in Chinese politics.


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Top Five Albums
- Hookworms –The Hum
The second album from Leeds' Hookworms moves on from the more ambient debut of Pearl Mystic with a more direct and heavier Krautrock groove. Album opener The Impasse pummels and bludgeons the senses, but the instrumental tracks, titled with a number as with the first album, have a greater sense of space and expansiveness. This is where Hookworms put down a marker in the sand. Excellent.
- Afghan Whigs – Do To The Beast
As comeback albums go, this is near perfect. It blends all the best of what has gone before and reminds us how truly great the Afghan Whigs are. There were hints of this in Greg Dulli's other projects (Gutter Twins, Twilight Singers ) which only increased the anticipation of what might be.
Coupled with some stellar shows in support of it, this was a magnificent triumph.
- Pulled Apart By Horses – Blood
Less psychotic, bulging eye, vein popping racket and a little more measured, dare I say controlled? There's shades of QOTSA here, but thankfully nothing related to the lamefest that was Like Clockwork.
- Temples – Sun Structures
Temples debut long player, a Psychedelic folk-pop excursion was a perfectly timed kaleidoscope of retro-now and Byrdsian optimism. Could've been the alternate soundtrack to the Monterey Pop Festival.
- Jane Weaver – The Silver Globe
This was a back door entry in my list as it was a recommendation by someone else that introduced me to it and to Jane Weaver. Her sixth solo is a concept album based around the Communist suppressed Polish film On the Silver Globe (Na Srebrnym Globie) Space rock, Can, Hawkwind and even Broadcast together with sublime vocal pull this out of the formulaic retro psych morass.
Top Five gigs
2014 seems to me to have been a year of comebacks both live and on album in the most part and as the year draws to a close, some of my highlights have been towards the end of the year.
- The Jesus and Mary Chain
The JAMC haven't played live since around 2007 or thereabouts and the announcement of a handful of dates earlier this year, concentrating on a performance of their debut and seminal album, Psychocandy was an unmissable prospect. They didn't disappoint and an opening salvo of big singles, Reverence, Never Understand, April Showers amongst others and then their debut in all its light and shade, blistering feedback and squawling entirety only reaffirmed how influential the JAMC have been on so many newer bands around right now.
- Pissed Jeans/Hookworms
Another incendiary, unpredictable performance from Pissed Jeans coupled with a ferocious support from Hookworms. A perfect double bill of al-trock noise and Krautrock influenced proto punk.
- The Afghan Whigs
A near perfect performance from one of the great bands of the '90s in the stunning setting, sonically and visually, of Manchester Cathedral. Coupled with the new album, Do To The Beast, a very welcome return from Greg Dulli and Co.
- Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
A packed out Gorilla saw the return of Jon Spencer, Russell Simins and Judah Bauer as the Blues Explosion ("are No1 Baby1..") Locking into a groove from the off, they switched between songs, improvised and free form jammed through an extensive back catalogue and throwing in Bag of Bones and Black Mold of the last album Meat and Bone. All Killer and no Filler, as they say.
- Guitar Wolf
Dragging a kid on stage and teaching him to conjure the essence of feedback from his Guitar, Guitar Wolf gave him unbeatable bragging rights in a blistering performance of Jett Rock from outer space via Japan.


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Inspired by the enduring style of iconic eras, 8Js brings a modern take to the classic looks of 1960's, 70's, and 80's racing culture. The collection's Racing spirit lies in the driving force of Polartec fabrics. Polartec fabrics utilized in their collection include NeoShell®, Power Shield Pro®, Alpha® and Thermal Pro® styles.
The lines are comfortable and clean, but the materials are advanced and technical. This is the power of Polartec®. With thermal-regulating properties, breathable-waterproof membranes, and amazingly soft-to-the-touch fabrics, Polartec components enhance the performance of 8Js winning style. And raise expectations of what a superior driving experience can be.
Jochen, James, Jackie, the names of legendary drivers, the sparks that ignite the new 8Js collection whose heart beats to the engine of Polartec® fabric. The design and creativity of 8Js blends with the innovation of Polartec® fabrics. A new luxury lifestyle vision is born, where elegance and performance converge.
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Made of Polartec® NeoShell® and Thermal Pro®, 8Js has created their most technical yet, pushing the boundaries of what an all-around jacket can and must do for the livefast enthusiast.
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Brand – it's a word that gets thrown around often. But what exactly is a brand and why is it important to me and my firm? The American Marketing Association defines brand as "a customer experience represented by a collection of images and ideas; often, it refers to a symbol such as a name, logo, slogan, and design scheme. Brand recognition and other reactions are created by the accumulation of experiences with the specific product or service, both directly relating to its use, and through the influence of advertising, design, and media commentary."
What does brand mean to your firm?
Your brand is much more than a logo, a color, or a tagline. More than just some brochures, tweets or a website. In its simplest form your brand is equivalent to your reputation. It is a collection of perceptions, experiences, and communications about your organization and your capabilities.
These include perceptions and conversations from both external and internal stakeholders. Do not underestimate the power internal stakeholders have to affect your brand if they do not completely understand it.
How Do Others Perceive Your Brand?
Your brand is a reflection of what your clients, prospects, vendors, referral sources, and employees think about the organization. Do you keep your promises? Do you deliver what you promised? Do you do good work or do you cut corners? Do you stay at the forefront of new developments or are you always the last to know? Do your employees behave in an ethical and honest manner? The answers to all of these questions, and more, make up your brand.
If you have a tangible product, part of what you're selling is how that product performs. What the experience of using that product is like. How the product makes you feel when using it. If you don't have a tangible product for clients and prospects to hold, touch or feel (like accounting and tax services), you have to think a bit more about what you are selling to prospects and clients.
In most cases what you end up selling is your brand, your reputation, your promise to deliver. For professional service firms, your brand becomes the collection of experiences clients and prospective clients have with you, it is the interactions with you and the outcomes those interactions produced. And that is why it is critically important for professional service firms to carefully craft their brand and safeguard its integrity.


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The operation of any manufacturing facility can be complex regardless of the industry, and for companies pursuing circular economy initiatives, it can be an even more involved process. Some of the top safety and environmental concerns include Saideep on the factory floor, disposal of waste and generation of carbon emissions.
Saideep Group is dedicated to helping you navigate the technical and regulatory challenges of today's factory. With our extensive expertise and a holistic approach to safety, we look to collaborate with you to help ensure your manufacturing facility meets applicable regulations and provide credibility to your efforts.
Network of technical experts and our trusted brand deliver services that help you navigate the complicated regulatory approval processes.
Global company long trusted on the factory floor for product safety that can assess machines as well as the entire factory creating safer work environments and peace of mind.
Identifying potential challenges and opportunities for improvement which may help your continuous improvement efforts to reduce redundancies and complexities.
More than 35 years of deep expertise in verifying environmental performance including greenhouse gas.
Independent third-party confirmation of compliance with various green codes, standards and procurement policies.


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Stocks in the news (chg, delta, inet, mbk, mint, pace, seafco, singer, ttw) 05.05.20
CHG reaffirms 10% revenue growth target after securing more SSO's patients. Comment: The hospitals that aren't focused on foreign customers are now the safer players. DELTA sees higher revenue from abroad after US & EU ease lockdown, maintained 5-10% revenue growth target, tailwind from weak THB boost earnings. Comment: That is impressive. INET will branch […]Read More →


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Protein Services
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We have produced thousands of proteins from >50 species, many not yet listed in our catalog. Your protein of interest may be available immediately or a custom protein can be synthesized from gene cloning to active protein.
Intended Use Driven Manufacturing
Develop a new recombinant protein under the stringent Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Animal-Free quality requirements necessary for use as ex vivo cell therapy reagents or ancillary proteins. Or convert an existing R&D Systems RUO protein to meet your intended use.
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Small to large scale protein conjugation with highly QC tested end material. Conjugate proteins to one of the many fluorophores available, biotin, PEG, or utilize other chemical labels to create a product that fits your experimental needs.
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Select from over 5000 proteins and we'll aliquot them in a 96-well plate per your specifications. This allows you to save time and money by getting only what you need and cutting out the busywork.
A great option for high throughput screening
What to Expect
Our recombinant protein services utilize the same stringent quality we use for our catalog products. Test for accuracy by N-terminal sequencing, activity by our >900 validated bioassays, and bioburden including microbial and endotoxin testing.
Get clear guidance on each step with a dedicated assigned project manager and access to the development of scientists. High success rate due to our full stop multi-faceted approach. You will only be billed for milestones completed.
Ensure the success of your project with dynamic decision making. We test a variety of transfections, expression systems, and purification strategies for your benefit.
Our optimized protocols and protein expression expertise allow our scientists to scale to meet your needs. Start with mg amounts to perform initial testing and progress to gram amounts as needed.
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Bio-Techne has a long history of providing our customers with the highest quality proteins on the market. Our team of scientists are dedicated to utilizing our vast experience and our cutting-edge expression and purification procedures to give our customers the best proteins available. We offer extensive analytical capabilities and bioassay services to ensure a custom protein has the physical characteristics and bioactivity that our customers require. We pride ourselves as having the highest standards of quality and our custom protein projects are always our number one priority.
- Anthony Person, Ph.D.
Sr. Director of Protein Development, R&D Systems


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Come inside and take a seat, the show is about to begin...Outside any city still standing, the Mechanical Circus Tresaulti sets up its tents. Crowds pack the benches to gawk at the brass-and-copper troupe and their impossible feats: Ayar the Strong Man, the acrobatic Grimaldi Brothers, fearless Elena and her aerialists who perform on living trapezes. War is everywhere, but while the Circus is performing, the world is magic.That magic is no accident: Boss builds her circus from the bones out, molding a mechanical company that will survive the unforgiving landscape. But even a careful ringmaster can make mistakes.Two of Tresaulti's performers are entangled in a secret standoff that threatens to tear the circus apart just as the war lands on their doorstep. Now the Circus must fight a war on two fronts: one from the outside, and a more dangerous one from within.
Sorry, we do not have a description or summary of this novel.


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Looking to get the best possible data rates from your Netgear Nighthawk M1?
You'll want to purchase and connect external MIMO antennas to the device's two TS9 ports.
In this guide, we'll:
Using a MIMO antenna outside your building, pointed at the nearest tower, can help you get the fastest LTE data rates possible.
The Netgear Nighthawk M1 has two TS9 ports on the back, which allow for a 2x2 MIMO antenna to be connected to the device.
We recommend two different MIMO antenna options for use with the Netgear Nighthawk MR1100 M1:
This MIMO panel antenna kit will provide meaningful signal improvement, even if you're surrounded by trees, hills, or tall buildings.
For most users the best external antenna choice for the Netgear Nighthawk M1 is our 2x2 MIMO panel antenna kit. This antenna doesn't require line-of-sight to the tower.
These cross polarized log periodic antennas are have higher gain and are more directional, but work best if you have direct line-of-sight to the tower.
However, if you have line of sight to the nearest tower, we recommend using a 2x2 MIMO log periodic antenna kit instead. The higher gain on these antennas can get you better performance, but only when you have a straight shot to the tower.
There's one big misconception about external antennas.
Most people think that external antennas primarily help you increase your data rates by increasing the signal strength.
But that's not the case.
An increase in signal strength is actually probably the third most important way that external antennas help.
Here are the three main ways that external antennas help you increase your data rates:
In 4G LTE networks, signal quality is measured as SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio) or sometimes as RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality).
Improving signal quality has a huge impact on your data rates.
Higher data rates allow your hotspot to communicate using "higher order modulation schemes." That means they can use the same wireless spectrum to send more data per second.
However, there's one big caveat:
In order to improve your signal quality, you need to both aim and shield your outdoor antenna properly. We talk more about this in the next section.
Hotspots like the Nighthawk M1 support an LTE feature called "carrier aggregation."
Carrier aggregation allows the Nighthawk M1 to connect on multiple cellular bands simultaneously.
The more bands you're connected on, the greater the bandwidth, and the higher your data rates.
However, many of the higher frequency bands aren't able to penetrate into buildings. Using external antennas allows you to access higher frequency bands, which are often less congested and offer higher speeds than lower frequency bands.
As you might expect, using outdoor directional antennas can help increase the signal strength.
This helps increase data rates, but only up to a point.
If your signal strength (called "RSRP" in LTE networks) is stronger than about -100 dBm, stronger signal won't speed up your connection any further.
Positioning and aiming MIMO antennas well is crucial to getting the best performance to your Nighthawk M1, or indeed any other hotspot.
We've actually compiled a detailed instruction manual to accompany our own MIMO Antenna Kits, where we go into depth on the best ways to aim the antennas.
The goal is to find the best location and direction for the antenna(s), to maximize data rates to the Nighthawk M1. It can take a little patience, but can have a huge impact – it's worth a bit of extra effort!
Before getting started, it's always a good idea to run a couple of speed tests indoors from a device connected to your Nighthawk's WiFi. The results will fluctuate a little, but this is the baseline you're trying to improve.
Now connect the MIMO antennas to your Nighthawk via the TS-9 ports, like in the image above, and go outside with your "test-rig".
With each location and direction you try, run a couple speed tests, and make a note of the results. Here are all the locations and directions where we recommend testing your MIMO antenna:
Pro tip: Don't just go to the highest point of the roof! While signal is generally stronger the higher you go, there's also often more interference. We've found it's often better to mount the antenna(s) on the side of the building where the structure can shield the antennas from interference.
Once you've found the position which gets you the highest data rates to the Nighthawk, that's where you'll want to install the MIMO antenna. Go ahead and mount the antenna, run cables inside, connect everything up, and enjoy superior data rates!
If you've gone through the trouble of installing and accurately aiming a MIMO Antenna Kit, you're likely already getting excellent data rates from your Nighthawk M5.
That said, there's always more that can be done! If you'd like to go a little deeper and get technical to optimize your system even further, you can experiment with band locking.
The main reason you might want to band lock your Netgear Nighthawk M1 is to get better data rates.
Band-locking isn't something we'd recommend for everyone, but if you're comfortable working in a command shell, it can be a big help.
We've written up a step-by-step guide to band locking the Nighthawk M1 here.


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August 3rd, 2016 — Welcome to Azerbaijan!
When crossing the Iranian border we're still a bit surprised that they gave up. That they were more tired of us than we were of them. We see some insurance companies when riding through the town of Bazargan itself, but we think they're too close to the action to be trusted. We'll get our insurance somewhere else in the next village or the one after that. And probably not today but tomorrow. After the intense hours at the border we can really use a shower, a meal and a bed now.
I'm glad I didn't forget to put the Open Street Maps (OSM) onto my navigation system. Apart from being fully routable, they also help us orientating when riding through a town to find a place to stay. The map does not show the text in Farsi but sort of a transcription of Farsi with some vowels missing. I find this actually more useful than the full Farsi version because I can now find cities like Tbrz and Znjn instead of تبریز and زنجان.
The roads are quite alright, with few potholes but some serious speed bumps. We need a roundabout or two to figure out that entering traffic seems to have the right-of-way. Riding through the town of Maku, we find no hotel or guest house. When we stop, a young man appears so quickly it seems like he came out of nowhere. After firm handshakes, he asks us what we need. He points us to a hotel on the main street, a few kilometers away. Very kind — already much better than our border experience. Just before we want to leave, a driver stops and yells "Welcome to Iran! Welcome to Azerbaijan!". More handshakes. We are confused until we find out that we are actually in Iran's province of West-Azerbaijan.
We find a simple hotel in a quiet side street. The personnel is a lot less cordial than the people we've just met on the street. The first room we
see smell has a very stinky drain, which we find out only after we've used it. We get another room, which is also closer to the WiFi-router in the lobby. This doesn't help very much because the speed of the connection is terrifically slow. Slow as in 1994-slow, except that, 22 years later, we've got more complex websites so it takes forever to load one.
The food in the restaurant is OK. We make it a quick dinner and walk around the block for a bit. We're getting many looks from the locals because we're the only western tourists here. We can't find an exchange office. Or maybe it's all written in Farsi and we just miss it? We call it an early night, or actually it's not that early at all: we've lost 1.5 hours at the border because we're now in the Iranian time zone (UTC+3.5). It's actually worse than that: we've lost about 621 years! Today's date on the Iranian calendar is 13 Mordad 1395.
Mordad 14th, 1395
Weekend Millionaires
There are ATMs in Iran and they do work, but only with cards issued by Iranian banks. We don't have any of those. Credit cards are not accepted either. Not only in ATMs but nowhere in Iran. That means we're relying on our cash reserves, like in 1395.
After a simple breakfast we find a bank, but an employee tells us that they don't change money. Perhaps an Iranian bank needs a special license to change money, who knows? He is a friendly guy, though, and points us to the nearest Bank Melli that does change money. We know we're not getting the best rates at a bank but we need some Iranian Rials and don't want to waste more time looking for exchange offices where we would get a better rate.
We decide to change 400 euros (US$ 440) and get more than 13 million Rials for that. It is paid out mostly in bills of 100.000 Rials (US$2.80 or €2,50 at the best rates). That's a big stack of paper and it takes a long time to count too. And it doesn't fit in your wallet. The bank teller is happy to inform us that this amount is definitely enough for our stay in Iran. That is interesting because he doesn't know where we're going, how long we'll stay and what our expenses are.
We also find an insurance company in town, only because its name is written in Latin characters. We've taken our motorcycle registration papers and the carnets with us, so we expect to leave this office in an hour or so with two insurances for a month. Not so. We have no languages in common with the insurance employee, so all communication goes through an English-speaking colleague on the phone. After he's taken all relevant vehicle data, he says that it is not possible to get the insurance today because it's the start of the weekend and the central office in Tehran has closed meanwhile. The weekend in Iran is on Thursday afternoon and Friday. Crap. He tells us to come back on Saturday or suggests we get insurance at the border. Muhahahahaha!
Ad Nauseam
We buy some groceries and combine these with some left-overs from yesterday. WRONG! We should have been much more critical than that. We've been standing in the sun for a few hours at the border yesterday and food goes off rapidly with increasing ambient temperature. Yes, that's theory again.
The corresponding biology experiment starts at 5:30pm for Petra. I join in the fun about one hour later. Because you might be having a meal yourself right now, let me describe this as follows: over the course of several hours we have many purging sessions in the bathroom of our hotel. It's bidirectional, but fortunately not simultaneously. We do have some parallel sessions and therefore use all available resources. If you don't get that: we were very sick from food poisoning.
Eventually things quiet down for me at 11pm and for Petra at 3am. We're still debating who has won this experiment because I was done sooner but the score is approximately 15-7 'in favor' of Petra. We're both exhausted and it's time to break out the oral rehydration salts (ORS) for Petra. You might want to bring those on your trip. I guess we're staying another day or two.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, aaaargh, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!
August 5th, 2016 — Sunday
Today we're as slow as our internet connection and as weak as the WiFi signal. We can't even log onto our bank's website to make an urgent payment to our Chinese tour operator. Crap. Petra stays in the hotel room to recover some more as I arrange some breakfast for her and search for an internet café on the main street. No luck there either. It's very quiet and most shops are closed because Friday is Sunday, sort of.
August 6th, 2016
Almonds and Air-Kisses
Petra is still a bit low on energy and has stomach pains. But we don't want to stay yet another day in our not-so-great-hotel and we need to get going in the direction of Tehran. The advantage of losing two days due to illness is that the insurance bureau is open again today. We expect to resume where we stopped on Thursday, but somehow he needs our papers again and there is a lot of talking with the translator lady on the phone.
Annoyingly, it appears that insurances for motorcycles bought in Iran really cannot be shorter than 12 months. This does not hold for cars and that's not logical at all. We try to convince the translator lady and she understands, but this appears to be the way it is. Other motorcycle riders have reported similar experiences. The fact that these are consistent doesn't mean it's true — we could still all be victims of the same rip-off. The good news is that it's quite a bit cheaper than the two times 100 euros (US$ 110) that we could have paid the scum at the border. And this insurance is actually worth something(*). If we'd do this again we would certainly check the option of extending our European green cards for Iran before entering the country. We've been told by two reliable sources that green card coverage for Iran is possible but haven't put enough research into it.
(*) We have our insurance policies verified by a friend in Tehran later, who confirms that it is genuine and that we're covered.
The insurance guy needs about two hours. We use these to go to the supermarket and have lunch. Half of the supermarket is filled with sweets, chocolates, nougat and other stuff with lots of sugar. The Iranians sure seem to have a sweet tooth — or sweet dentures. With a shopping cart full of helmets, gloves, tank bags — and a few groceries — we appear at the cash register. The cashier recognizes us from last time. We gladly comply with her wish to take selfies with us. Strangely, we only need to pay 150.000 Rials of the 169.000 on the receipt. Petra gets admiring looks and an air-kiss from her as we leave. Has that ever happened to you? At the cash register?
When we return, the insurance guy has finished. We get our insurance policies and pay 5 million Rials with 100.000-Rial notes. That's probably too much because we also get chocolates, no less than four (Iranian) calendars and a box of local candy called Noghl (sugar-coated almonds). All this stuff barely fits in our luggage, but leaving it on the street is probably not socially acceptable. More photos with the insurance guy and the bikes. We need to get going now because its 4pm meanwhile. Reaching Tabriz before dark is out of the question, but Marand should still be possible. We're finally leaving Maku.
Cheaper Than Water
We fill up for €0,30 per liter (US$ 1.25/gallon). That's cheaper than mineral water, but doesn't taste as good. Eventually Petra pays €5 (US$ 5.60) and I pay €6 (US$ 6.70) for full tanks that will last for more than 500km (300mi). Diesel appears to be even three times cheaper than petrol.
We start noticing it's actually very hot here as we're scorched by the winds that blow over the plains. Traffic is quite hectic. Drivers overtake more dangerously than the Albanians and that's not a compliment. We encounter a lot of waving and honking drivers, though. When Petra spots a car with friendly occupants, she waves back and tells me over the intercom. Then I start waving at them before they reach me. The result is frantic uninhibited waving by all passengers. Big smiles from under headscarfs.
Passport Hassle
We reach Marand before sunset. There is a simple hotel of the same chain as in Maku. The reception by a hotel employee is quite distant again, not helped by the fact that he speaks almost no English. What isn't helping either is that, so far, all Iranian hotel employees insist that they keep your passport until check-out. We don't like that at all. If one of our passports goes missing, our trip is over, or at least thoroughly messed up. We've heard stories of people being handed out the wrong passports of fellow countrymen and finding out too late.
We first try to convince them by telling them that we need to be able to identify ourselves when we're out on the street. Then we're usually given a business card of the hotel and we're told that we can show this to the police so they can call the hotel. If we claim that we'll break the Dutch law if we don't have our passports in our possession, they remain firm. They don't care — we're not in the Netherlands after all. If we say that they can make copies and keep those, they suddenly don't have a copier and remain hesitant when we provide our own copies.
When asking why the passports need to be in the reception — often unsecured and in plain view — they say that the passports need to be there "in case the police comes to check". We then tell them that they can call our room at any time, should the police really show up. No response. As a last resort, we offer to pay the room in advance. Stalemate resolved. We get our passports back immediately.
There is a big wedding party at this hotel which means that the kitchen is very busy entertaining wedding guests. There is no normal dinner service today. We're far away from the next restaurant and don't want to ride in the dark. We manage to get some tea and naan (bread) so we don't have to go to bed hungry.
August 7th, 2016 — Traffic in Tabreeze
Breakfast is almost as skimpy as last night's 'dinner'. The unfriendly employee of last night is no longer there and replaced by his friendlier colleague. He speaks better English and knows the WiFi password. The connection is slow but fast enough for our electronic banking website not to time out. We finally manage to pay an advance to our Chinese tour operator for the transit in September. This takes quite a bit of time so we don't leave before noon.
We'll ride to Tabriz today and stay in a hotel close to the main road to Tehran. We've lost a few days recovering from our biology experiment and we want to get our visa for Turkmenistan and China. If we manage to get those, we can finally stop running to embassies. Our way to Pakistan would then be paved with the proper visa.
When entering Tabriz we take a wrong turn. Instead of being lead around the city on the western bypass, we're now on a much busier road that still leads us roughly in the right direction. Cars are passing us at close distance. Drivers make sudden lane changes without looking or indicating. Trucks belch out big clouds of soot.
There are three lanes but drivers seem to agree unanimously that five rows of cars will fit just fine. Taking it easy in the rightmost lane is no solution because it is frequently blocked by parked cars and trucks. We're trying to stick together and to the middle of our lane in an offset configuration. This way our bikes form a large virtual vehicle that takes maximum space so other drivers are less inclined to push us off the road, hopefully. Staying in the middle of a lane is important because otherwise we'd soon have a driver next to us in that same lane, restricting our way out of trouble. This traffic is probably a good preparation for what awaits us in Tehran.
We have never used our horns more. Every time another driver even thinks about doing something dangerous, we're on our horn buttons. I'm really glad I took the time to mount the louder horns because they make us sound bigger than we are. They're not looking so how would they know we're not a big truck? This way, we seem to get just enough space. Sometimes, when we are separated by more than a few cars, I can only hear Petra's horn over the intercom, occasionally followed by some swearing.
When unloading our luggage, I manage to keep a blind grandpa from hitting Petra's bike with his car, only because he isn't deaf also. The hotel has a good WiFi connection which is essential for sending some more documents to China. There is more hassle to get our passports back after check-in. They want a deposit to cover the price of the room plus some more to cover our expected restaurant expenses. They've just seen us carrying our luggage through the lobby. Do they really think we're going to sneak out without paying? We find this distrust very unprofessional and insulting. We wonder how they see this themselves.
We're too tired to be bothered with sightseeing in town, which is a shame, according to our travel guide. The wind is blowing strongly around the hotel. We fall asleep quickly.
Random observations from the saddle: We find that Iranian women are dressed much more elegantly than those women that wear headscarfs in Eastern Turkey. They're also not covering their heads completely. Often their scarfs are worn very far on the back of their heads or large strands of hair peek out from underneath. They make abiding by the law look fashionable. Nor are they shy: A friendly "Salam" is always returned and eye contact (even with me) never a problem.
August 8th, 2016 — Rasta Mon
At least breakfast is better than the miserable bits we had yesterday. There is even a jolly grandpa making omelets and he actually cares.
Petra is in a bad mood from the heat, the combination of headscarf and wind and the fact that she lost a helmet liner and seems to need to do everything two times this morning.
We reach the main road to Tehran quickly. The man at the toll gate says "No". He doesn't mean that we're not allowed to pass, but that we don't need to pay. We're waved through all other toll gates as well. Did you read that, France and Italy?
There is a lot of wind again. So far, this has been our hottest day in Iran so we put our drinking bladders to good use. Traffic is not so hectic on this main road but that is no reason to let our guards down.
We have lunch at a typical Iranian roadside rest area. There are large square plateaus, each covered with a Persian rug and made more comfortable with some pillows. They have a roof too, so we don't need to eat in the scorching sunshine. We have lunch with bread, fruit juice and tea as our dirty motorcycle boots dangle over the plateau's edge.
Meanwhile, excited Iranians take photos of our motorcycles. They hardly see any 'big' bikes here. The maximum engine displacement for bikes registered in Iran is 250cc, officially. So it's quite obvious that the bikes belong to the only foreigners here. After the photo session, one of them comes to our lunch spot and gives us plums and apples. Great! Thank you!
On the move again, we see that our surroundings become more beautiful. We're riding north of a protected natural area. Apart from plain gray, the craggy mountains come in pastel hues of red, yellow and green. When we stop to take photos, every second driver honks at us. There are many friendly people around today, on and off the road. Besides waving they also use their smartphones to take photos and make movies, some even while hanging out of the window. This country is never boring.
A few kilometers before Zanjan we need to stop. My brows have saturated with sweat on this hot afternoon. It is now dribbling over the inside of my protective glasses which means that I see gradually less. We happen to stop near a big family that is having tea in the shade of a fuel station. The first inquisitive family member is an 8-year-old girl that asks us, in very good English, whether we come from the UK.
Soon, the whole family surrounds us and starts asking many questions, which we answer patiently and happily. "Is that your husband? How big are the engines? Can we take photos?" (Sure) "Where are you going? Where are you going in Iran? Would you like some tea?" (Sure) "Do you like it here? Is riding a motorcycle difficult? Which languages do you speak? How do you like the weather here? What kind of weather is it in the Netherlands?" Then they squeeze themselves into three small cars and drive off waving. Another lovely example of Petra's Rule.
Petra's Rule:If you stop somewhere along the road in Iran, you'll have a good time.
Our hotel in Zanjan is quite nice. What is really getting on our nerves again is the passport discussion. We can't pay a deposit because we don't have enough money. We hop onto the Black Camel together to find an exchange office in hectic traffic. A nice guy at the phone shop walks us there all the way. We're getting a better rate here than in Maku and with big piles of paper in our pockets we try to find a restaurant. We take a wrong turn into what appears to be the 'shoe street'. There are only shoe shops here but no restaurants. Eventually we find the Iranian version of Subway and have a satisfying meal for €2,50 (US$ 2.80).
August 9th, 2016 — Smelly Finger
We're staying another day in Zanjan. This will allow us to rest and have more time to buy an Iranian SIM card and plan our route through this large country. We want to avoid having to hurry at the end of our visa duration. We've meanwhile received the invitation from Turkmenistan that is required for our visa application. After checking on which days and times the Chinese and Turkmen embassies are open, we can estimate how many days we'll stay in Tehran. Six or seven, if we're realistic.
After lunch we go to town to buy a prepaid SIM card with data subscription from MTN Irancell. This will give us more freedom because the internet connections in affordable hotels are often less than mediocre. Using the phone with the SIM card as a mobile hotspot, we can both use the data subscription at the same time.
When asking who speaks English in this mobile phone shop, the four ladies behind the counter shake their heads unanimously. Then they all walk away and will undoubtedly decide behind the scenes who will be sacrificed for this special case. They pick the one with the best knowledge of English and it's really not bad. The data subscription and SIM card appear to be good value for money: we're paying €10 (US$ 11) for 5Gb of data, 30 call minutes and the card itself. That should definitely do before we leave the country.
They need a signature and a finger print from Petra. I refrain from saying that their government already has all our 20 finger prints. To clean the ink off her finger, Petra is offered the employee's personal Versace imitation perfume which is another source of laughter. So an additional advantage of buying a subscription is that your finger will smell nice all day. The lady configures the dual-SIM phone in a jiffy and the first messages start coming in before we even get the chance to ask whether it's working. We're impressed.
The driver of our taxi back to the hotel does not speak much English, so our conversation is limited to "Farsi? No Farsi. Iran good bad? Iran good!"
August 10th, 2016 — Crowded Capital
We've parked the bikes in the shade close to the hotel entrance to load them. Before we're done, we've already received an invitation to a wedding and to lunch. We absolutely hate having to turn down their generous offers but we need to go to Tehran now. It's Wednesday and we want to visit at least one embassy before the Iranian weekend. We apologize profusely and explain why we really have to go. How cool would it have been to experience an Iranian wedding? We're pleasantly surprised about the openness, warmth and hospitality of these people to strangers. We've really forgotten all about this in large parts of the Western world.
When we ride into the chaotic traffic of Zanjan we are the object of waving, honking, thumbs-up and many photos. Cars full of men, women and children are glad we're visiting their country, or maybe they just like seeing big bikes. And it continues on the motorway: we've stopped counting after the 50th time.
As we get closer to Tehran, we notice that people wear more expensive clothing and have more luxurious cars. It's also a lot more crowded. We stop at a fuel station, mainly to fill up ourselves with much needed drinks. Twenty minutes later we've been given three telephone numbers of people who want to meet us in Tehran. Has that ever happened to you on M4 just outside of London?
Before we meet these people again, we need to get our application going at the Chinese embassy tomorrow. Tehran is huge. It has more than 8 million inhabitants; 14 million if you also count the metropolitan urban area surrounding it. Most embassies are in the north of the city and that's why we've chosen to find a hotel in the north. This saves us long trips through the city for embassy visits and I figured that embassy areas generally are richer and therefore less crowded. Unfortunately, the latter does not hold.
We enter the city well before sunset but get stuck in very slow traffic for almost two hours. The road is literally filled with cars everywhere. We'd have a hard time pulling over because there's simply no more space. At some point we're stuck in a tunnel with hundreds of cars that all comply with the Euro-0 emissions standards. This is very unhealthy so we squeeze through wherever we can, also to give our engines some much needed cooling. I see how the Camel's oil temperature reaches 110°C (230°F), which is very unusual. Stiff Spring boasts with a cooling water temperature warning too.
The OSM maps are not as good as we're used to. There are some annoying errors: places where flyovers cross lower lying roads are interpreted as intersections. Surprise one-way signs and dead-end streets do their part to make it difficult to find our hotel. We finally arrive at 9pm. Prices for hotels in Tehran are higher than we expected, even without the tax and the service charges. It's dark and we're tired and we don't want to waste more time in dense traffic to find another expensive hotel. These are bad circumstances for negotiation. We don't manage to get a lower rate, only a late checkout tomorrow. We're pissed off about this but don't have a choice. They do accept credit cards through some company in Dubai so we're not also wasting our cash reserves on this.
We hope we can arrange the visa quickly. It's probably not fair to Tehran, but we feel like leaving this city already.
August 11th, 2016 — Chinese Treadmill
The day starts well with a good breakfast. We reach the Chinese embassy 10 minutes before they're supposed to open. No phones allowed. An X-ray check for our bags. It looks like they've started early today because there are a lot of people inside already. There are four counters separated by a big glass wall. There are plenty of chairs for waiting people and no apparent system to organize whose turn it is. There are wildly gesturing men with stacks of 40 passports each. They run from counter to counter and don't hesitate to break into other people's business.
If we take a seat here, we're going to wait forever, or at least until they kick us out around noon. We don't know how long all of the paperwork is going to take so we just join in the fun at the counters. Soon enough we have our slot and explain our case. We need to download application forms, fill them out, have them printed and hand them in with passport photos. We're pointed to an attorney's office in a shopping center nearby. Thankfully we've brought a laptop, a USB cable to use my phone as a USB stick and Petra's phone with the data subscription. This way we can download the form, fill it out, transfer it to the attorney's computer and have it printed. They're asking €1,25 (US$ 1.40) for this and it includes tea.
We apply for tourist visa with 3 months validity (until entry) and 30 days duration. That should do for a 5-day transit at the end of September. Back at the embassy, the employee tells us the bad news that we will only get a validity of 30 days instead of 3 months. We don't think that "we're already doing you a favor by allowing you to apply in a third country" is a good reason. It wouldn't cost them anything extra to give us 3 months! We try to convince him but he is adamant that these are the new rules.
We withdraw our application and take all papers back to our hotel. Our mood is below zero. Another wasted morning, and at least two more days. The Chinese embassy is open on Thursday, Sunday and Tuesday. And we've missed attending an Iranian wedding because of this!
What annoys me most, though, is that we'd hoped to stop running, spend more time in nice places and with people we like. But if we don't get more than 30 days validity there are multiple problems: we need to rush through Uzbekistan to try to apply for Chinese visa there or we'd need to return to Tehran after August 27th to obtain visa that would still be valid by September 26th. However, there is a processing time of 2 to 4 days and our Iranian visa will expire on September 1st. Even if we'd get visa in Tehran, it would impact our route through Iran because we'd need to return to this overfilled city. On top of that we'd need to rush through North-East Iran and the Stan countries to make it to China on September 26th. All of this for a 5-day transit?? Really? This sucks!
I'm really very depressed and sad about this. I want to stop running after our visa! I'm sick of staying in crowded and overpriced capitals and visiting embassies. I keep playing all kinds of scenarios through my mind but they all have big disadvantages. One of the most appealing solutions in my current state of mind is to go to Armenia and Georgia and return to Europe. At least we'd be free! Is this the point on our trip where my Motto#2 fails?


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|Brooke wants to know who's the father of Caroline's baby.
On Tuesday's B&B, Steffy and Ivy agree to make amends and try to put the past behind them, while Ridge reacts to the pregnancy assumptions of Pam, Liam and Charlie.
"There may just be a little Ridge Forrester right inside your wife's tummy," Pam says.
Later, Ridge tries to explain things to a skeptical Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang). Can he cover up the truth?
"Who's baby is it, Ridge?" Brooke wants to know.
Watch a sneak peek below:
- 'Big Brother' Houseguests Meg Maley, John McGuire and James Huling Will Appear on 'The Bold and the Beautiful'
- Obba Babatundé and Anna Maria Horsford Returning to 'The Bold and the Beautiful' October 22


text:
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text:
Design for a Silver Cup
Mary G. Houston
The accompanying text states, "Designed expressly for "The Studio"
"The . . . cup designed by Miss Houston has . . . [an] austere form and attractiveness. The strongest of its good points will be found when most modern cups are very weak — i.e. in the foot. There are defects, it is true, the surface being somewhat 'tight,' and the waves suggested on the lid rather small in treatment; and many will think that the sail held by the little figure blows away from the rest of the design to the injury of the essential close union of all the parts. But these blemishes are matters of detail, and could easily be remedied. — The Studio, p. 44.
Scanned image and text by George P. Landow
You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL.]


text:
Sunday, October 01, 2023
Salem on October 1st
Here we sit
On the cusp of chaos.
The wind is lost
Sighing summer and singing fall,
Yet the people
In their numbers
Gather as if we all
Are here for their entertaiment,
Not just witnesses to it all.
The spiced and spooky
Pumpkin quest
Of eager minds,
Missing the point
Of a history,
Deeper than judgement
And sweeter
Than the Judas witness call.
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
May I Return?
May I return one day?
Bent and old
To sweep the floors
Of the hallowed hall
And the sacred spaces of making
Redolent of sawdust and paint,
Makeup and sweat,
And dreams?
May I hand out programs
And strugglingly direct supplicants and hedonists
to lettered and numbered perches,
Pilgrim's pews or thrones?
May I return?
With middle class purses held up in offering?
Or offering the currency of time
No longer spent toiling for wages?
To give the slippery hours remaining
To the cause of the muses
And maybe
Just once
Step out onto those storied boards
And read a litany of largess
Or an admonishment of flash photography?
May I return?
One last time?
To feel my swelling heart expand
As if to fill the cathedral of dreams,
Thrumming once more
With the all-consuming magic
that is Theatre?
Friday, February 26, 2021
...in which a gay Gen X-er mansplains his gender journey
I have never spoken about this publicly, but beginning at the age of 17 and lingering into my early twenties I questioned my gender identity. We had fewer options back then, even the transgender narrative was binary, and eventually I realized I was (a little to my chagrin) hopelessly cisgender male. I am a fixer and a mansplainer and I try to be better every day. Mostly I fail.
When I was a freshman in college I wrote a poem about my fantasy alter-ego, the one who had helped me survive being a less than macho art-fag in a an early 80s small town blue collar high school. In love with boys I didn't realize I was in love with, crushing on girls who made me feel comfortable and safe.
My Name Is Rachel
Friday, February 05, 2021
(translated from the original Elvish)
Some say we are spun from starlight,
That is how they show us the way.
Where men stumble in shadow
We dance as if welcoming the day.
But, not all darkness is nightfall.
Not all brightenings invitations to foray.
Beware the deepest of places
Where your eyes may seem to be open,
But the stars have forsaken the way.
Friday, January 29, 2021
So I was called upon to comment on something...
Look, Facebook is a place where people connect, where they reconnect. People who have known each other since... I don't know... the eighties for example. And it was thus that on FB I was called upon to "narrate" a thing. What I put before you is my text inclusive of a link to the context. Please note that no disrespect to the undead nor to persons missing digits is intended, this is merely satire created at the behest of a friend of longstanding. And it's a pandemic, folks, people need to be heeded.
"Gilt stilts, waffletated body bags, and vampire-sized tea-cozies hand-wrought at a summer camp for the thumbless were only the beginning of what was to come as Valentino's parade of disaffected post post-apocalyptic refugees slunk down the catwalk debuting this "Eyes Wide Shut/Ass Wide Open" collection."
Monday, November 02, 2020
"Fuck that guy!" or "How a Trek convention ruined one of my favorite series"
Monday, June 15, 2020
I still get the best text messages
Domestic Affairs: As long as you have the right shoes
Ops: Have you met me?
DA: Forgive me; compliance is a big part of my role at work.
Ops: I understand.


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Forgot password?
In 1958, we moved from St. Benets Grove to Middleton Road, close to the Circle shops. The day was 25th January, a cold, wet and windy day, not only an important day for moving from a small three-ish bedroom to a larger three bedroom with a front parlour and sitting room, divided by opening doors, but it was also my 11th birthday. Our family now constituted four girls, Mum, Dad and myself, my elder brother having left and gone into lodgings.
The new house also had a bathroom upstairs, with a copper heated by a gas geyser feeding the upstairs bath via a hand- operated pump. No longer would we need to eat our meals in the kitchen while Dad poked his head through a half-moon shaped hole cut in the end of the fold down lid that was attached to the side of the bath. Many stories were shared as we tried to eat and manoeuvre our dangling legs, forever fighting the non-forgiving sides of the iron bath. This was common practice in houses with baths in the kitchen and we often went to school with bath- battered knees.
We often went to school with bath-battered knees.
Moving was a great adventure. All the family, friends and neighbours were rallied to help. Looking back, it must have seemed rather odd - an amazing sight with all of us moving beds, chairs, wardrobes, bedding and other types of furniture on anything with "wheels"…..prams, pushcarts and wheelbarrows from the local allotments.
My Dad meanwhile, with the help of my brother, packed a small black Morris van with all the wood, metal and tools from the 2nd World War air raid shelter, to be lovingly resited in the "new" air raid shelter in the back garden of Middleton Road.Whenever my Dad brought another "important" collection of wood home, Mum stood there with pinny wrapped tight and held by a large nappy pin, hands on hips, omitting with a deep sigh, "Not more bloody wood Dad!!" Dad would smile and say his famous family saying, "When my boat comes home, that will be useful in the life boat, never fear Mum." We moved house using WHEELBARROWS. Dad moved his precious wood by van - in our household 4 x 2's got top billing!
Although by moving, we had more room, I missed the green and trees in front of the house in St. Benets Grove. But the great advantage of living in Middleton Road was the shops, library and medical centre, with the St. Helier Arms being the centre of social events on Sunday evenings. I still met up with my gang near the woods behind the pre-fabs that led down to the Wandle and park.
The front parlour was kept for best, being out of bounds for me when my sisters"entertained" their boyfriends or we had visitors.Living in a house full of women (Dad working all hours at Lines Bros and my brother in the navy) I often caught snatches of "woman's talk" between sister and Mum, but at eight years old, it was all a mystery.
Being within a stone's throw of the Circle, I was often asked to run errands for shopping, carefully carrying back a large bowl covered with a teacloth, containing pie and mash with wonderful liquor from the pie and eel shop. Dad used to give me three shillings to buy an ounce of Magpie Shag from the serving hatch in front of the café and once a month or thereabouts, my sisters gave me 3/6d to go to Boots for a packet of Doctor White's No 1's. Being small, I would walk up to the counter, hold up the note that had been carefully folded in my mitten with 3/6d and wait while the smiling lady handed down to me a very large, soft packet in a plain brown paper bag.
One day, I was sent on my usual mission , 3/6d in my mitten and two of my gang members, Michael and Johnny, by my side. I left Boots, holding tight to the "parcel"- it was a very windy day. Johnny suddenly grabbed hold of the package, demanding to know what it was……"MARSHMALLOWS" I shouted firmly above the wind, "My sisters like marshmallows, so there!"
"Lets have a look" Johnny cried, tearing open the package. The wind caught some of the "marshmallows" and off they went tearing along the wet pavement with Michael, Johnny and myself close behind. "Funny looking marshmallows," Johnny said as we stuffed the rather wet and torn bits back into the package. When we arrived home, no-one was there, so I left them in the kitchen and we bolted, fearing the worse.
They told me they were marshmallows.
When I returned later that afternoon, Mum and my sisters were waiting. "Give him a Mrs. Milton back-hander Mum," my sisters cried in unison. "What have you to say for yourself?" Mum said, arms folded, foot tapping. "Not my fault Mum. They told me they were marshmallows, more like bandages," I said quietly. "Go and eat your tea" Mum said.
That day my sisters told me they were not MARSHMALLOWS, but "TOOTHACHE PADS" with strings to go round each ear. But the gang and I worked out that was a"porky" too……I was slowly learning more of the BIG WORLD I lived in.
... and Ivy has her 'marshmallow' memories!
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Helier Memories > http://www.heliermemories.org.uk/


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Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders
Depressive and bipolar disorders also occur in children and adolescents, but can often be difficult to identify. Some symptoms of childhood depression are similar to those present in adults. Children and adolescents may also demonstrate symptoms such as irritability, poor frustration tolerance, temper tantrums or mood swings which may be more apparent than a depressed mood, complicating the diagnosis of depression and bipolar disorder. Furthermore, children with depressive illnesses often have other difficulties, including anxiety disorders, disruptive disorders, ADHD and substance abuse.
The Bingham Clinic for child and adolescent services at the University of Louisville offers a wide range of services for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of depression and bipolar disorders. Our outpatient clinic is comprised of a large staff of physicians, psychologists and social workers.
Once a diagnosis is made, physicians on staff, are available to provide medication management when clinically indicated. Psychosocial therapies, including cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT), are provided by Clinic psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists. Dr. Chris Peters focuses on treating athletes with mood disorders; others specialize in treating mood disorders in children who also have developmental delays, and working with children and adolescents who have medical illness and depression complicated by chronic fatigue.


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Real Madrid remain Europe's most valuable football club despite the ever-increasing dominance of the English Premier League, according to two reports by analysts published Thursday. The Football Benchmark report, which ranks Europe's 32 most prominent clubs on their value based on their annual financial statements and assessing squad values, put Real top with a valuation of 3.184 billion euros ($3.4 billion). Real, who face Liverpool in Saturday's Champions League final, came out on top for the fourth consecutive year of the report.
That is still short of their valuation in 2020, just before the pandemic, of nearly 3.5 billion euros, although the report points out that they were one of few clubs to register a net profit in both seasons impacted by the pandemic.
In a separate study, Forbes also ranked Real top but with a valuation of $5.1 billion.
"Real Madrid have extended their lead at the top due to continuous sporting and commercial success," said the Football Benchmark report's author, Andrea Sartori.
It said Real lost 84 million euros due to the absence of matchday revenues with supporters shut out due to the pandemic.
However, Real "made the made the most of th restrictions…accelerating works on the Bernabeu. It will be ready at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023 and will certainly give them a massive revenue boost and potentially a competitive advantage".
Manchester United (2.9 billion euros) and Barcelona (2.8 billion euros) rounded out the podium, with Bayern Munich fourth and Liverpool fifth (2.556 billion euros).
Of the 32 most valuable clubs in the Football Benchmark study, only four (Ajax, Galatasaray, Porto and Benfica) are from outwith the big five European leagues of England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France.
Ten of the top 32 are English, at a time when Premier League sides are dominating in Europe.
"What is pushing English clubs towards increased continental glory is their success on the financial side," the report acknowledges.
"The Premier League's aggregate operating revenues of 5.1 billion euros put them comfortably at the top," while "what really sets them apart are highly remunerative broadcasting agreements".
Paris Saint-Germain boast the highest overall growth in value over the seven years since the first Football Benchmark report, up 153 percent to now more than two billion euros.
Above all, the report added, football is showing signs that the downturn caused by Covid is over.
"Last year's financial results still bear the negative impacts of COVID-19, while the past several months reflect solid signs of football returning to normal, most notably with crowds back in stadia and with continued robust demand from sponsors and investors."
The Forbes report put Barcelona second to Real with a valuation of $5.1 billion and Manchester United third with $4.6 billion.
Forbes ranked Real's Champions League final opponents Liverpool fourth with a valuation of $4.45 billion.
Forbes explained that its team valuations were "enterprise values (equity plus net debt) and include the economics of the team's stadium (but exclude the value of the real estate itself), based on comparable transactions".
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text: The afro is a legendary hair style, the pinnacle of natural black hair that has graced the craniums of entertainers, athletes, historical and political figures alike. One of the best things about having afro hair is that you can change it whenever you feel like it. Straight, curly, wavy, braided or in a weave, whatever style you fancy having afro hair means you can switch it up in seconds. Look below to see 30 Best Afro Hair Styles that you can wear your natural lovely hair. Be sure to check the site often for more ways you can embrace your natural texture.


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Swansea Dumpster Rental
Renting Dumpsters Swansea, MA Made Easy!
To order your dumpster for Swansea, MA you can call us at 1-844-234-DUMP (3867) or click below to start a safe and secure online order. We are available 24/7 and have hundreds of satisfied customers and great online reviews. Please review the dumpster sizes for Swansea, MA rentals. Each size is also displayed in pick up truck loads. This helps you figure out the size you may need to rent.
Get started on your online dumpster order
Bristol County
Frequently Asked Questions
How Big Is Your Truck?
We have the largest trucks in the junk removal industry. The steel box on the back of our trucks is 12' long, 8' wide, and 4' high. It is equivalent to a 15-yard dumpster.
Why Would I Use Your Junk Removal Service Rather Than A Dumpster Rental?
Two people come and do all the labor and clean up. We charge based on volume items take up in our 15 cubic yard truck. Dumpsters sit on your property and you do all the loading yourself. You also pay for the entire volume of dumpsters, no matter how much you fill. (We also offer dumpster rentals if you chose that best fits your type of project.)
What Can We Take Away?
We are able to take away anything non-hazardous that two people can lift…such as construction materials, renovation debris, yard waste, asphalt shingles, refrigerators, stoves, washer, and dryers or even an old couch or mattress.
Why Do You Charge Additional Fees?
Some items need to be disposed of properly and in order to do so, we take those items to the city dump or transfer station. We are charged at the dump just as you would be.
What Equipment Does Your Truck Team Come With?
Two strong and efficient people, shovels, rakes, sometimes a dolly or wheelbarrow. If necessary we can arrange for bobcat service to do small demolition of pools, sheds, garages, deck, and concrete.
What Is Rent This Dumpster?
We remove the unwanted junk. We take away (for a fee) items that you no longer need. Such as: construction debris, old couches, mattresses, appliances, etc.
I Really Need This Job Done But It Can Only Be After Hours. Can You Do That?
Contact us and we'll be happy to discuss your options. Special arrangements can be made if required.
Can You Do The Job For Me If I Am Not On-Site?
Customers should be on-site when the trucks arrive. We call 15 to 30 minutes before the start of the two-hour time slot to let you know we are on the way. If you are unable to be on-site, the staff reviews pricing on arrival and call you for confirmation. We accept credit cards over the phone.
When Should I Book An Appointment?
Contact us as soon as possible as time slots fill up quickly. Once you call, we'll let you know the availability in your area. We need to know the zip code of the pickup address.
Can You Give Me An Exact Price Before You Arrive?
Pricing is based on the volume and nature of the material. We can't give you an exact price until we see your exact junk. We book an appointment with you and review the pricing. Then the junk team verifies pricing on arrival
What Do You Do With The Unwanted Junk?
Based on what you have, many items will be recycled. Other items may be donated to local charities. Leftover waste is taken to the transfer station or landfill.


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Study Background
Looking to join this study?
Visit the Join an NIEHS Study Website
For More Information
This study intends to investigate the genetic and environmental risk factors involved in the development of myositis, an autoimmune muscle disease that causes chronic muscle weakness. Adults and children diagnosed with myositis within the last year may enroll by completing questionnaires and donating blood and urine samples.
Like other complex diseases, autoimmune diseases are the result of numerous causes, including genetic and environmental factors. Some researchers believe that people who are susceptible to autoimmune disorders develop them when the body reacts to environmental or other factors by creating white blood cells that attack the body's own tissues, which then progresses to autoimmune diseases. These immune-triggered disorders can overlap with one another to some extent, but most autoimmune diseases have certain distinct triggers.
Eligibility Criteria
- Adults or children who have been diagnosed with polymyositis or dermatomyositis within the last two years.
- Healthy friends or cousins of individuals with polymyositis or dermatomyositis.
The inclusion criteria for enrollment of myositis subjects are:
- Diagnosis of myositis based on criteria for possible, probable or definite PM or DM, with or without other connective tissue diseases, documented within 24 months of enrollment (using the most recent diagnosis date to define the 24 month period).
- CXR to assess possible ILD and assign the subject to the presumptive anti-synthetase positive or negative category if clinically indicated.
- Able and willing to give informed consent, to complete the questionnaires and to donate blood samples (in case of children grester than 2 years of age but <18 years of age , parent/legal guardian must be willing and able to provide informed consent and child must provide assent).
The inclusion criteria for controls are:
- Friends or, if friends are not available, cousins of the anti-synthetase positive myositis patient, or, if friends or cousins are not available, volunteers from the general community (such as the NIH Normal volunteer program), gender- and age- (within 5 years for minors and within 10 years for adults) matched, who is living as close as possible to the geographic area of the myositis patient.
- Controls should be without a recognized autoimmune disease or ILD.
- Able and willing to give informed consent, to complete the questionnaires and to donate blood samples (in case of children greater than 2 years of age but <18 years of age, parent/legal guardian must be willing and able to provide informed consent) and child will provide assent according to child maturity level and understanding).
Principal Investigator
Adam I. Schiffenbauer, M.D.
Deputy Head and Associate Research Physician
Tel 301-451-6270
email@example.com Vitae (300KB)
10 Center Dr
Bethesda, MD 20892-1627
Lead Associate Investigator
Lisa Rider, M.D.
Head and Senior Clinician
Tel 301-451-6272
email@example.com Vitae Lisacv Rider (479KB)
10 Center Dr
Bethesda, MD 20892-1301
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Local fashion designer Cleo Prickett will launch her debut womenswear collection at Hen's Teeth Gallery in Dublin on Friday tonight.
After a decade of honing her tailoring and design skills at the London College of Fashion and some of the world's leading fashion houses, Cleo returned to her family home at Durhamstown Castle, Bohermeen, to begin designing her first capsule collection in early-2018.
Her timeless designs combine contemporary tailoring with heritage fabrics to create beautiful, yet functional luxury pieces.
The full collection is made in Ireland and combines ready-to-wear with several made-to-order pieces.
"I have pushed myself to achieve the levels of perfection of the fashion houses I worked at before, and I'm so excited to be ready to launch my first collection. My experience in London gave me an incredible grounding in luxury and when I began to design this collection in my father's old studio, I became very aware of my personal heritage in marrying functionality with beauty, as my father did with his artisan kitchens," said Cleo.
Model Teo wears one of Cleo's designs
Transformability is central to Cleo's designs: cleverly executed buttons turn a checked fine wool jacket to a bolero and wide legged trousers into cropped pants; a Japanese-inspired Irish linen shirt can easily be worn with a collared shirt underneath or with a belt to nip it in; and, a classic high waisted skirt can be buttoned down to wear with a t-shirt or buttoned up to wear with a shirt for a more formal look.Cleo initially studied design and pattern cutting at Sallynoggin College of Further Education, before going on to Womenswear Fashion Design at the London College of Fashion. Cleo has worked as a designer for some of the world's leading fashion houses, starting at Mary Katrantzou. She then worked at Roland Mouret, assisting the Head of Womenswear in designing the ready-to-wear collections.
The launch party takes place at Hen's Teeth Gallery and lifestyle store on Fade Street, between 6pm and 9pm.
The collection will be available to buy at the launch and also at the pop-up in Hen's Teeth between 11am and 7pm on Saturday.
A selection will also be available in Atrium, Powerscourt Townhouse.


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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Rafael Nadal fended off Denis Shapovalov in a four-hour, five-set match to reach the Australian Open semifinals for the seventh time, and said he felt almost "destroyed."
After breaking his racket on the hard court in frustration at the end of the 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 loss, Shapovalov said he felt like Nadal got special treatment.
There were plenty of momentum-shifting moments on a hot Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena, including Nadal needing treatment for a stomach ailment after dominating the first 2½ sets.
Shapovalov, meanwhile, openly complained to chair umpire Carlos Bernardes during the quarterfinal match about Nadal getting longer breaks than players usually are entitled to, and taking too long between points.
"I respect everything that Rafa has done, and I think he's an unbelievable player. But, you know, there's got to be some boundaries, some rules set," Shapovalov said. "It's just so frustrating as a player. You feel like you're not just playing against the player; you're playing against the umpires, you're playing against so much more."
None of it changed the fact that Nadal is one step closer in his bid for a men's-record 21st Grand Slam singles title.
The 35-year-old Spaniard shares the men's record of 20 major singles titles with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Neither of those two are in Melbourne: Federer continues to recover from knee surgery, and nine-time champion Djokovic was deported for failing to meet Australia's COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
At a tournament where he has clinched the title only once (2009) and lost seven of his previous 13 quarterfinals -- by far his worst conversion rate at any of the four major tournaments -- Nadal looked vulnerable in the third and fourth sets.
But following a seven-minute break -- when Nadal left the court and went to the locker room -- between the last point of the fourth set and his first serve in the fifth, he recovered sufficiently to save a break point with an ace, hold serve and then break Shapovalov for a 2-0 lead in the decider.
"I don't know, was a little bit of miracle,'' Nadal said of his revival. "I was destroyed honestly physically. But my serve worked well, and for me, every game that I was winning with my serve was a victory, no?''
He rejected any assertion that he gets any special treatment from umpires or referees, and added that Shapovalov was young and said he would get over it.
"I honestly feel sorry for him. I think he played a great match for a long time," Nadal said. "Of course is tough to accept to lose a match like this, especially after I was feeling destroyed and probably he felt that, and then I was able to manage to win.
"I wish him all the very best ... probably he will understand later on after he thinks the proper way that probably he was not right today.''
Nadal had several medical timeouts in the four-hour match, but Shapovalov was particularly upset over the amount of time that Nadal was allowed to serve and the break before the fifth set.
"I mean, it was a big break after the fourth set for this reason, and the momentum just goes away," Shapovalov said. "... Every other match that I have played, the pace has been so quick because the refs have been on the clock after every single point. This one, I mean, after the first two sets it was like an hour and a half just because he's dragged out so much after every single point.
"He's given so much time in between sets and all this. It's just dragged out."
Shapovalov added later: "It's definitely emotional, but I do stand by my side. I think it's unfair, you know, how much Rafa is getting away with."
Nadal said he took "some extra time" at the end of the first and second sets to change his clothes, but he said that he does not get any extra treatment.
"I really believe that sometimes the -- it's always in the mind that the top players get bigger advantages, no, and honestly on court it's not true, no?" Nadal said. "That's my feeling. I never feel that I had advantages on court, and I really believe that he's wrong in that case."
Nadal held on to the break through the fifth set, and when it was over, he went to the corner and nodded his head a few times.
Shapovalov left a shattered racket on the court.
"I was completely destroyed. Tough day. Very warm," Nadal said. "At the beginning of the match I was playing great. Denis is very talented, very aggressive. He was serving huge -- especially the second serve.
"I think I had my chances at beginning of the third. I didn't get it. I started to feel a little bit more tired. For me, it's amazing to be in the semifinals."
Nadal will get two days off before Friday's semifinal match against seventh-seeded Matteo Berrettini. The Wimbledon runner-up, who became the first Italian man to reach the Australian Open semifinals, held on to beat No. 17 Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2.
"I'm not 21 anymore!" Nadal said. "After this ... great to have two days off. I felt quite good physically in terms of movement. At least it was a great test. I really believe I'm going to be ready for the semifinals."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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ON THIS TEAM:Ross, Matthias, Kameron, Charles, Maxwell, Matthew, Philip, Mia, Christopher, Yanni, Tatiana, Owen, Langdon, Benjamin, Joshua, Alexander, Connor, Louisa, Wyatt, Matthew, Gabriel, Joseph, Daniel, Mitchell, Cameron, Sigards, Leighton, Antwaun, Jordon, Andrew, Michelle, Mustafa, Daniel, Jacob, Amelia, Alex, Benjamin, Brandon, Octavia, Max, Emilie, Cassie, Sam, Patrick, Aviva, Nhut, Natanel, Johnathan, John Paul, William, Yair, Matthew, Anna, Autumn, Megan, Caspar, Felix, Elijah, Evan, Emily, Mateo, Noah, Lucas, and Nathaniel.
FIRST® POWERUP℠ is this year's game. It involves tilting scales and switches in the teams favor in order to score points. As well, the end game includes having to climb the scale in order to obtain more points. The alliance with more points will win the round. For more info, watch the video below.


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Dr. Christopher Hoffmann's primary appointment is in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases. His areas of clinical expertise include HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases.
Dr. Hoffmann earned his M.D. and M.P.H. from Oregon Health and Sciences University. He completed his residency at Johns Hopkins and performed a fellowship in infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins.
His research interests include care delivery and care utilization, in low- and middle-income settings (mostly Africa), and clinical management of HIV and TB.
Dr. Hoffmann is a member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.


text: Direct Action trucker's cap made from a combination of light material and mesh. It works perfectly even on the hottest days during outdoor activities. Product features: - stiffened, classic, curved roof - vents - strap circumference adjustment at the back - logo on the front - Universal size - material; 100% cotton, 100% polyester - weight: 0.073 kg Producer: Direct Action