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Buffet Froid (1979)
Directed by
Starring (View all)
Gérard Depardieu
Alphonse Tram
Alphonse Tram
Bernard Blier
Inspecteur Morvandieu / Insp. Morvandieu
Inspecteur Morvandieu / Insp. Morvandieu
Jean Carmet
L'assassin / The murderer
L'assassin / The murderer
Denise Gence
L'hôtesse / The hostess
L'hôtesse / The hostess
Marco Perrin
Le maçon / The man in undershirt
Le maçon / The man in undershirt
Jean Benguigui
L'homme en noir / The hired killer
L'homme en noir / The hired killer
Carole Bouquet
Le jeune femme / The young woman at the end
Le jeune femme / The young woman at the end
Jean Rougerie
Eugène Léonard, le témoin
Eugène Léonard, le témoin
Written by
Bertrand Blier
91 votesFilm Journal 2013 (335 items)
list by VierasTalo
Published 6 years, 9 months ago 30 comments
62 votesWatched in 2013 (373 items)
list by Nosoki
Published 6 years, 9 months ago 5 comments
57 votesTop 100 French films (100 items)
list by ELA
Published 6 years, 7 months ago 2 comments
51 votesFilms watched - Katselut 2013 (198 items)
list by Cuomi
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40 votesWatched in 2013 (331 items)
list by bob loblaw
Published 6 years, 9 months ago 6 comments
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Cover art, photos and screenshots
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A very good movie
7 years, 5 months ago at May 10 7:36read more
Black comedy about solitude and dehumanization of the modern world, through the adventures of three men. First introduced is Alphonse Tram, an unemployed young man. His only neighbour is the police chief-inspector Morvandieu. Then a third man appears: the murderer of Alphonse's wife... Bizarre and unreal.
Release date: 19 December 1979
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Brisbane coach Ange Postecoglou says his side are looking forward to taking the attack to Adelaide United when they meet at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Brisbane coach Ange Postecoglou says his side are looking forward to taking the attack to Adelaide United when they meet at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Following a dominant victory over 2010-11 runners-up Central Coast, a comprehensive 2-0 away win against Sydney and a 3-0 thrashing of derby rivals Gold Coast, the Roar have allayed all doubts over their ability to maintain the high standards they set in 2010.
Speaking from the top of the ladder, Postecoglou said that he was expecting a formidable challenge from Adelaide, but would back his side's hot form and peerless passing game to win the day.
"I think everyone had them as favourites starting the season ... so they're a good side," said Postecoglou.
"It's a pretty tight comp. Even though they've had a couple of losses, it could have gone the other way."
"Especially early on in the year and when there's a fight for points, you can find yourself behind the eight ball pretty quickly, but you can also make that ground up pretty quickly."
"We'll back our style of game and we'll be relentless with what we do. We start at a high tempo and we maintain that, so whoever plays against us has to be prepared to do that."
"They've got to be prepared to play the tempo we play, if they drop off a little bit, we'll capitalise. We are an uncompromising team in the way we go about things. We start hard and we maintain that for 90 minutes."
Postecoglou reiterated his side's pledge to taking an aggressive mind-set into every match and said that his side remained committed to playing entertaining football.
"I use to be a defender but I love scoring goals, that's what the game's about. My defenders won't like me saying this, but I'd be happy to win six-five. We are in the entertainment business," he said.
"That's always been our focus. We like to score goals. We like to play attacking both away and at home. We want to try to win every game we play in; that's always our mindset."
"The by-product of that is that we also work hard defensively and we won't cough up anything either."
"We won't carry any passengers, but certainly our mindset, and the most satisfaction we get is from scoring goals and being as attacking as possible."
"I'm sure they'll back themselves and they've got some very, very good high-quality players in their team and I'll be very surprised if they come in here with the white flag flying."

subset: commoncrawl


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Please Don't Hurt People - Tote Bag
Please Don't Hurt People - Tote Bag
"Be queer,
be straight,
be trans,
be nice."
-Mia Jager
"Growing up every time my dad tucked me in before bed he made promise to "always be nice." He would say, "Do anything you want, just be nice."
I want to live in a society where any body can exist in any form. Where gender is not a point of confrontation. Where humans are humans. And being nice is what matters, regardless if someone is different than you. Be queer, be straight, be trans, be nice."
-Mia Jager
Funds from these totes will be donated to The National Center for Transgender Equality.
The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation's capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.
NCTE envisions a society in which transgender people not only survive, but thrive, with accepting families and communities, full self-determination over their identities and bodies, and freedom from disrespect, discrimination and violence. For this vision to become a reality, we must also create equity, equal opportunity, safety, health, and economic well-being for all people over their entire lifetimes.
About the NCTE
Please note: These are hand printed tote bags. Some prints have blemishes and quirks. Please purchase with the understanding that not every print came out perfectly. After all, we build bicycle frames primarily.
Thank you for your understanding and please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!


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Why should you Join Toastmasters?
I joined Toastmasters because I found myself laid-off and looking for ways to build leadership and communication skills and give myself something fresh and current to say I was working on during interviews. So I didn't sound like I was sitting at home just waiting for someone to hire me. What I found however, was that Toastmasters was so much more, it's had a positive impact on my life and would be valuable to almost everyone.
First a little information about Toastmasters, for those who are unfamiliar with this organization. Beginning in 1924, Ralph C. Smedley began to teach public speaking; the organization has since grown to over 200 000 members in over 90 countries worldwide. Focusing on public speaking and leadership skills, Toastmasters is one of the largest organized systems of personal development in the world.
The skills learned in mastering public speaking and leadership are core skills needed for dealing with other people. These are the communication skills you use many times every single day. Instead of thinking about doing a toast at a wedding with your toastmaster skills, think about improving your confidence and responding-on-your-feet skills when talking to clients or your sales and influencing skills.
Successful Next Steps is a great place to meet like-minded professionals, who are in a similar career phase as you, as well as, hundreds of others across the city in other Toastmasters groups. "SNS'ers" are currently building professional leadership, interpersonal and influencing skills that are so valuable in strategically managing a professional career path.
Great Times
One of the most surprising parts of Toastmasters is how fun the meetings are. At first the meetings can feel a little nervous and new, so you might not enjoy yourself initially. But after a few meetings, some find themselves coming just for the stress relief and laughs.
How to Join
You are invited to attend Successful Next Steps Toastmasters club, happening every Wednesday from 12pm – 1pm, at RE|SOURCE YYC, Room 2035, 125 – 9th Avenue SE.


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BMC Women's Well being and all of BMC is proud to be supporting World Most cancers Day 2019. A nationwide, central level to access info on ladies's well being points, together with policy, research and good observe. The publication charges for Frontiers in Girls's Health are GBP 890. Other countries additionally provide higher social safety for women of reproductive age.
We've helped empower a brand new generation of young advocates who are actually leaders within the global movement for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Northern Gentle Women's Well being practices provide that personal care and perspective that show you how to lead your greatest life.
IWHC works with government officials in the Administration and in Congress to make sure that U.S. international insurance policies and investments meet the wants of women and women in growing international locations. It is notable that U.S. girls face fewer boundaries to accessing specialist care relative to girls in a lot of the 10 other nations analyzed.
You can also apply at a clinic that offers Wholesome Texas Ladies services. You'll be able to apply for Wholesome Texas Ladies over the cellphone by calling 2-1-1. As a Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife I supply compassionate, private take care of all women's well being and birthing needs.
Become part of Professional Women's Healthcare Centers (PWHC), a consortium of autonomous centers nationwide that unite together under shared requirements of excessive-high quality life-affirming medication. You will get Wholesome Texas Girls advantages for one yr.


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Trey McLaughlin is the experienced choir director of The Sounds of Zamar, and a music leader who has hosted master classes at L'Opéra de Massy in France and the 7X Festival in Krakow, Poland.
We caught up with him to talk vocal technique, vocal health, and vocal inspiration.
Know your voice inside out
How do you look after your voice?
You hear a wide range of styles and techniques in gospel – some of which are considered healthy and some are not.
When we sing, we often get so passionate that we forget about how delicate our voice is. We have to take care of our voice, get enough sleep, stay hydrated and warm up before we sing. You cannot just get up there and start screaming!
You must make it your business to know your voice and understand its limits, and you must make sure the sources where you get your information from are credible because I have heard some horrible vocal advice!
Can you spill what that horrible advice is?!
A guy told me when you go hoarse, it makes your voice stronger and builds up endurance! I was like, "dude! When you are hoarse your vocal cords are so swollen that extra air is coming through because they can't completely close!" I thought, wow, I hope this guy isn't going around telling singers to sing hard because it'll make their voices better!
What's the best advice you've heard?
Take vocal naps. If you work in a career where you use your voice most of the time, it's really good to do nothing for 30 minutes at a time and be quiet. That has worked wonders for me – I can count on one hand over the last 15 years when I have gone hoarse because I have always been a good steward over my voice.
Gospel greats
You've performed alongside some gospel greats – what have you learned from these encounters?
The stand outs for me were meeting and working with Kierra Sheard, Jonathan Nelson, and James Fortune. When you experience their gift firsthand, you can often understand why they found the success.
Firstly, because those people treat other people in a way that they can relate to you. Secondly, you get to see the hard work they put in – because they have worked really hard to get where they are. They all agree that it takes a lot of work to achieve your dream.
What is the key to an incredible vocal performance?
It's the honesty, more so than the skill. It's important that a singer has taken the time to hone their skills to be able to do the technical things they need to do – but beyond skill, is honesty. The perfect marriage is musicianship and honesty.
Striving forward with a singing career
What do you wish you could tell your younger self?
I would encourage my younger self to understand and know that what I have to offer is enough and that it is legitimate. Because I was classically trained I was told that what I was doing now wouldn't work for me and that I wouldn't have a lucrative career. The classical world would call it 'illegitimate singing'. I was told that repeatedly so I believed I needed to be an opera singer to be successful. I think God had other plans!
What ambitions have you left to fulfill?
I want to be a world-renowned clinician. I want to be a game changer; a person where people say, "people weren't doing this before Trey McLaughlin". I would like to experience more of the world and different musical styles and be in a position to inspire people to believe they can achieve great things. I wanna be in the history books someday!
Trey McLaughlin is a member of the professional music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and he is the former director of G.E.N.E.S.I.S. the Columbus State University Gospel Choir. Trey graduated with a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree with emphasis in Vocal Pedagogy. Currently, he serves as the Director of Barefoot Productions, Inc. /Creative Impressions. Trey is also the founder and director of his own gospel ensemble (Trey McLaughlin and the Sounds of Zamar) and serves as the Director of Worship and Arts at The Historic Tabernacle Baptist Church. Find out more: www.treymmusic.net


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eShop Spotlight
This review is the first installment of our eShop Spotlight series, where I explore some of the hidden indie gems hiding in plain sight on Nintendo's eShop. Each review includes some background on the game, its main selling points, and my personal experiences with it. I'm here to help you find fun games and experiences for your Nintendo Switch in between major releases, so let's dive in and see if this game is for you.
The Nintendo eShop is home to dozens of fun and thoughtful indie titles, spanning across so many genres—but how many of them feature a dabbing ninja shooting down a horde of assassins with an uzi, or taking out sumo wrestlers with a bazooka? Only one game can scratch that particular and luckily for fans of depraved kung fu dabbing, that game is Ninja Shodown.
Boiled down into a badass sentence: Ninja Shodown takes the spirit of the 8-bit Ninja Gaiden games and infuses that into the gameplay of the 100-Man Melee mode in the Super Smash Bros. series, with hints of TMNT III: The Manhattan Project for NES.
Developed by UK-based Bitmap Bureau and published by Rising Star Games, Ninja Shodown fits in well with their previous retro-inspired Switch releases.
Playing as, of course, a ninja—you use swords, shurikens, uzi's, shotguns and much more to kill every enemy in your path. Across five distinct stages, the single-player campaign has you taking on waves of enemies and using random special item drops that equip you with guns and explosives. Once you're done with that, there's also local multiplayer co-op and death matches to try out.
It's crucial to point out the fact that this game only favors the quickest, most skilled warriors. You only have a limited number of lives, all of which are one-hit-kills—so you need to utilize your ninja speed, agility, and arsenal of weapons to advance to the next level. If you're not lightning quick and constantly aware of your surroundings, you'll be unapologetically sent to the GAME OVER screen before you know it.
There's no real narrative to speak of, loading screen updates provide much of the contextual heavy lifting—but basically, a priceless artifact called the Jade Katuna has been stolen and you, member of the Viper Clan, are searching for it. The tongue-in-cheek presentation of this "narrative" compliments the playful tone of Ninja Shodow. The game isn't afraid to kick your ass like the beloved classics that inspired it, but with its gleeful announcer berating each and every failure, Ninja Shodown doesn't mind making fun of you in the process.
What I Enjoyed
Palette Swaps
Now don't judge me, but I wanted to quickly talk about palette swaps. I know I know; the simple inclusion of being able to pick the color of your ninja seems like a minor detail but actually, this kept me hooked a bit longer with each sitting. When I'd get tired of getting my ass kicked over and over as the gray ninja, my thumb would hover over the Home button to quit. But I'd hesitate. For whatever stupid reason, I would convince myself that simply swapping my color would give me a better chance at victory—as if my opponents would be distracted by my decadent purple garb and I'd get a few extra kills in as a result. Maybe I'd channel my inner Deadpool and dress in red, so they can't see me bleed. Or maybe I'd have better luck wearing white. Sure, there's no real competitive advantage but I swear the placebo effect helped me out a time or two.
It also made me reminiscent of getting my ass kicked in TMNT III: The Manhattan Project for NES, one of my favorite games of all time. While each turtle had different weapons and abilities, I was young and not particularly great at the game, so it was more of just a psychological advantage when I'd switch to a different character and suck a little less on the next play through. My attitude was something like "Alright Donatello, you've had your chance to impress. Enough messing around. Time to switch to Raph and actually murder these guys." Which, strangely enough, would get me killed almost immediately. Then I'd pick Leonardo, whose leadership qualities grant him a cooler head and I'd utilize his longer reach, dying far less often. It's amazing what meta games you can invent with a simple palette swap.
Regardless of my stupid rationale, this feature is a simple but effective consideration that developer Bitmap Bureau included and allowed me to be more invested in each campaign. And even if I continued to suck and if I was going to die in an embarrassing 27 seconds, I was going to look damn good in the process.
The soundtrack and overall sound design kept me hooked when it wasn't drowned out by my screaming and the punching of nearby surfaces. The backing tracks of each level features fun synth pop and high energy chiptune techno, which really adds to the arcade aesthetic and retro feel. Also, each of the sound effects of the different attacks and special items added a level of satisfaction to each kill. The shotgun has some serious kick to it, mines are shocking and brutal when triggered, and pegging someone in the face with a rocket from across the level really is a heartwarming feeling. The sound design really added to the gameplay experience overall, adding to the game's tone and style while complementing the retro art style.
Multiplayer Mayhem
While the single player campaign scratches the itch that retro game fans have for brutally difficult arcade beat-em-ups, multiplayer is truly where this game shines. The Last Ninja mode is an ultra-fast paced duel, very similar to the popular indie fencing game, Nidhogg. The one-hit-kill system produces some intense couch multiplayer that will have you playing "just one more game" all night long.
As the controls are easy to learn but difficult to master, and since the slightest slip up can result in death, it really levels the playing field for new players and makes a perfect party game or multiplayer demo for those new to the Switch. As long as you keep people from spiking their joy-cons when the lose, it's one of the better multiplayer experiences on the eShop. If you only play this game single player, you're missing out on some great experiences.
What I Had Issues With
Lack of Info on HUD
While the heads up display is well done visually speaking, paying homage to arcade games of yesteryear, I felt that it was unfortunately bare of important and useful information. How much time I spent on this level isn't nearly as important to me as my special item or ammo situation. It's really not ideal that I can only see how many shurikens I have by throwing one, and I often have no idea what special item I last picked up and how much ammo I have left without firing it. As some of these items, like the mines, can result in your own premature death, it's a bit of an oversight not to have this information in a dedicated section of your HUD. There were numerous times that I wasted my last shotgun shell or blew myself up with an explosive when I was just trying to check what item I had or how much ammo was left, which is unfortunate. Even when playing in handheld mode, there seems to be enough empty space on the HUD to allow this inclusion, so hopefully this is solved in the future or in Bitmap Bureau's next title.
No Info on Enemy Types
Now I know that the gaming community has grown tired of hand-holding and excessive tutorials these days, and favor trial-by-fire rather than getting spoon fed information without asking for it. And sometimes finding out secrets of the game yourself is much more rewarding. And typically when you actually need a question answered, there are wikis and forums galore that can help you out. Unfortunately, games this size don't typically have the same wiki resources as Fallout or Skyrim. And when I'm dying over and over because I can't figure something out, the charm is lost on me.
A prime example of this is the big kevlar vest ninja in the first level. He's invulnerable to standard blade strikes, shurikens, shotgun shells and uzi rounds. Sometimes a critical strike can kill him, mines work some of the time, and rockets have mixed results. As this is a one-hit-kill game, I was stuck for days on how to kill these guys, and when I'd accidentally kill one I'd die trying to figure out how it happened.
All I'm proposing is that one of the times the announcer calls me a disgrace, he also adds what the hell these guys are vulnerable to. In a perfect world, a gallery or index in the settings that give you a few sentences on each enemy as you discover them. A source of information like this would've made me enjoy the game much more instead of blindly charging back into battle and dying repeatedly from sheer ignorance. Maybe it's my fault for not figuring it out soon enough, but I think that providing this information to players would only make the game better, and lack of information just leads to frustration.
Who This Game Is For
Quick, Punishing Arcade Fun
Fans of brutally difficult retro games from the arcade and NES eras will gravitate toward this game's aesthetic and snappy controls. If you're looking for a small arcade experience instead of a dense narrative campaign, this game will call you. Plus, it has uzis.
High Score Chasers
For players who are actually good at the game and are still craving a challenge, the high score and grading system extend the replay value of this game's simple single player campaign. Scoring more multi-kills and combos while dying less each round will allow you to rack up more points and achieve a higher grade at the end of each level. If this is one of the few games that you're going to be playing on your Switch, it will certainly take a long time to master, so you'll get a lot of value with this mentality.
Multiplayer Fans
If you're looking for a game to show off the multiplayer capabilities of the Switch or just have fun with some friends, Ninja Shodown is a great option. The simple controls allow for players of all skill levels to have a chance in each round. The fast paced matches allow for either a few quick rounds or to spend hours in tense competition without even noticing. This addicting multiplayer mode is essentially the selling point of the game and sets this game apart from other indies.
Pickup & Play
The fast paced arcade nature of Ninja Shodown makes this a perfect game to play when you find yourself with only a few minutes to play your Switch. If you only have a few train stops to go, or feel like playing a few rounds during commercials, this is a great game to consider. Unless you're like me, dying frequently and swearing continuously under my breath. That might not go over well with your fellow passengers.
Ninja Shodown is all about combining old and new. Simple sprites and bold vector art, classic arcade gameplay on a hybrid console, shurikens and uzis, ninjas and dabbing. Bitmap Bureau infused this new indie title with some old school game sensibilities and payed homage to the classics with their own twist. While I struggled with some lack of information, simpleness is what Ninja Shodown thrives on. There's no denying the quality of this game's fast-paced combat and its cohesive presentation. Ninja Showdown speed, difficult and fun factor make it a worthy pickup for classic arcade fans and serves as one of the best multi-player titles on the eShop.
*This review is based on the final build of Ninja Shodown, courtesy of Rising Star Games.


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Margerie Suon
Margerie joined Hamilton in January 2018 as a Senior Associate and is currently involved in the asset management of a 41 property portfolio alongside standalone projects.
She joined from Hilton where she held various positions across Revenue Management, eCommerce and Marketing. Having developed strong analytical skills as a Revenue Manager for several properties across regional UK destinations, London and Germany, she later joined the eCommerce and Marketing team. She gained exposure to the technical digital environment whilst supporting a wide range of properties across the UK & Ireland portfolio. Margerie also managed several cross-functional projects for the Europe, Middle-East & Africa region, focusing on Food & Beverage, corporate sales and pricing strategy, as well as internal process optimisation.
Her commercial background is supported by operational experience in France, as well as a Masters in Hospitality Management from the Université de Savoie.


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Tickets on sale now for the next Spirit Horse Festival
Join us in New Zealand 7-10 Feb 2019 for the third annual festival unlike any other
To get a sense of what's in store for the 2019 Spirit Horse Festival, we hope you will enjoy this 6 minute video with highlights from this year's event. The 2018 Spirit Horse Festival featured an amazing cast of speakers from around the world and right here in New Zealand.
Despite the fact that participants represented a range of different modalities of working with equines, we all spoke the same language: the language of love, of the Horse, and of a shared purpose to partner with horses and bring this meaningful work to youths, families, corporate culture, and communities.
Practitioners of equine-assisted learning trained in EAGALA, Eponaquest, HorseDream, Equine Psychotherapy Institute, and other certification programs joined with professionals in horse-led learning, body work, energy healing, animal communication, and holistic horse care to share experiences and wisdom on how to make this work even better for humans and horses alike.
The second annual festival brought three glorious, fun-filled days filled with open, heart-based communication in a supportive community of like-minded souls. Add to that live music, homemade vegan fare, and horses, horses, horses – what more could you ask for? Even the incessant rain couldn't dampen our spirits!
Tickets for the 2019 Spirit Horse Festival on sale now!


text: PopGroup51 I dashed back to the UK over new year to attend PopGroup51 in Bristol and present my current work on shiny bugs! Advertisements Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading... Related Published by MothPostDoc I used to be BugPhD, but I finished and moved on to insects new. View all posts by MothPostDoc


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Rayman Legends, which was originally Wii U exclusive before poor sales led to ports, is finally coming to Switch this September. Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition, which was announced earlier this year, has had its release date updated from 2017 to September 12 2017.
In a press release Ubisoft announced the release date and that a free demo of the game will be available this summer.
If you've never played Rayman Legends, the Definitive Edition might be the perfect place to start. It features the standard platforming you'd expect in a Rayman game but will take advantage of the Switch's unique hardware and make use of features not seen since the Wii U edition.
For example, with the Nintendo Switch undocked players can use the touch screen to take out enemies, manipulate platforms and cut ropes. Players will also get to play a new and exclusive tournament feature which has not been seen in the game before.
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition releases on September 12 for Switch.


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Oil, gas and energy
HDD prevails in remote southeast Asia
HDI Lucas has executed horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to install assets over a distance of more than 2,000 m in remote conditions.Read more
24 hours remaining to update your directory listing
Are you involved in the Australasian trenchless industry? You only have 24 hours to update your listing in the Australasian Trenchless Directory 2019.Read more
beforeUdig: airport chaos could have been avoided
New Zealand's underground utility referral service says the chaos of a ruptured an oil pipeline was avoidable.Read more
Cross River Rail releases procurement and delivery strategy
The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority has announced its procurement and delivery strategy for the Queensland Government funded AU$5.4 billion Cross River Rail project.Read more
September edition of Trenchless Australasia now online
The latest edition of Trenchless Australasia magazine is now available to be read online as a digital magazine.Read more
Registration for No-Dig Down Under closes on Friday!
Registration for Australasia's only dedicated Trenchless Technology conference, No-Dig Down Under (NDDU), closes on Friday 8 September 2017.Read more
Less than two weeks until No-Dig Down Under!
There are less than two weeks until Australasia's only dedicated Trenchless Technology conference, No-Dig Down Under (NDDU), takes place on the Gold Coast.Read more
AGN invests AU$12 million in gas mains in Adelaide
Australian Gas Networks (AGN) has invested AU$12 million in relocating transmission and high pressure gas mains in Bowden, Adelaide as part of the South Australian Government's AU$265 million redevelopment project.Read more
Trenchless Australasia opens No-Dig Down Under subscription sale
Subscribe before 11 August 2017 and receive a 10 per cent discount on a one-year subscription to Trenchless Australasia in the lead up to No-Dig Down Under (NDDU) 2017.Read more
NDDU exhibition space sells out!
Exhibition space for Australasia's only dedicated Trenchless Technology conference and exhibition, the ASTT's No-Dig Down Under (NDDU), has sold out.Read more
Registrations still available for this week's NSW Technical Forum
Last minute registrations are still available for this week's ASTT Technical Forum taking place in Sydney on Thursday 27 July.Read more
NULCA members sensible approach to confined spaces
A NULCA member has highlighted the grey area surrounding confined space issues that seem to be commonly encountered in every work area in the locating environment.Read more


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The Cumbria Fire Local Pension Board ('the Board') is responsible for assisting the Scheme Manager of the Cumbria Firefighters Pension Scheme to secure compliance with relevant regulations and legislation and the requirements of the Pensions Regulator in relation to the Firefighters Pension Scheme (FPS); and to ensure the effective and efficient governance and administration of the FPS.
The Board is constituted under the Public Service Pension Act 2013 and the Fire Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Governance) Regulations 2014 and is therefore not subject to the requirements of s.101 of the Local Government Act 1972. The Board has no remit as a decision making body but is established to assist the Scheme Manager fulfil its functions which shall be deemed to cover all aspects of governance and administration of the Pension Scheme.
There is a legislative requirement on Members of a Local Pension Board to develop a level of knowledge and understanding of pension matters sufficient to enable them to provide effective, constructive and informed support to the Administering Authority. The responsibility is an individual one rather than a collective one.
Membership of the Board
It is composed of:-
· 2 scheme member representatives; and
· 2 scheme employer representatives.
Details of current members of the Board including biographical information:
Scheme member representatives:
· Dominic Harrison (Chair),
· Dominic Harrison is an experienced Risk Management Professional, working on the Sellafield site in West Cumbria. Dominic is the former Chief Fire Officer for Cumbria County Council, and has many years of Board level and leadership experience in local government, fire and safety services, the nuclear industry and organisational development. Dominic is a retired scheme member.
· Mark Nicholson,
· Mark Nicholson is a Station Manager based in West Command with the Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service and is a member of the Fire Brigades Union currently holding the position of Officer Branch representative. Mark has previously served in the Armed Forces and has also worked in the chemical and nuclear industries. Mark is both an active and deferred pension scheme member.
Scheme employer representatives:
· Janet Willis (Vice-Chair),
· Janet Willis is a County Council Member for Low Furness holding the role of Cabinet Member for Customers, Transformation and Fire & Rescue. Janet is Company Secretary and Director of Greenodd PO Ltd and is a Director of NW Fire Control Limited. In addition she is a member of a number of outside bodies such as the LGA Fire Service Commission & the North West Fire & Rescue Forum. Janet is also Chair of the Pupil Referral Unit, Barrow, Finance Committee and Governor of Pennington C of E School.
· Gareth Michael Ellis,
· Gareth Michael Ellis is a County Council Member for Belah holding the role of Deputy Cabinet Member for Customers, Transformation and Fire & Rescue. Gareth is also a Carlisle City Councillor and is a Director of NW Fire Control Ltd. In addition Gareth is a member of the North West Fire & Rescue Forum, the Lowther St Trust and the Belah Centre.
Agenda Papers
The agendas, minutes and reports for the meetings of the Board and dates for future meetings are available on the website. Meetings are open to the press and public. Occasionally, the Board may meet in private to discuss specific confidential matters.
Register of Interests and Code of Conduct
Prior to appointment to the Board all Members are required to sign up to the Board's Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest Policy. As a body representing the public interest the Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest Policy of Members of the Fire Local Pension Board will be aligned to those applicable to Members on other Council Committees and are available at:Constitution - Part 4B - Members' Code of Conduct and guidance : Cumbria County Council
Further details of the work of the Board may be found in the Board's Terms of Reference, reflected as the Functions of the Board which are available at: Constitution - Part 2Q - Cumbria Fire Local Pension Board : Cumbria County Council
· Dominic Harrison (Chair)
· Janet Willis (Vice-Chair)
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If you would like to know more about your stay at The William Quarrier Scottish Epilepsy Centre, read what our patients have to say.
Clare had occasional seizures as a teenager, and when they became more frequent around the age of 18, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. She was prescribed medication for her seizures, but her seizures became more frequent and severe, and she could experience up to four in a week. During this time, she was frequently admitted to hospital. As well as being costly for medical resources, on a personal level she began to feel that her seizures were forcing her to put her life on hold. She explains that she felt her parents became very protective, and she was worried about being able to go out and living a normal life.
But this all changed in the space of five weeks. In the summer of 2013, Clare came to The William Quarrier Scottish Epilepsy Centre. During this time, her condition was continuously monitored, and she trialled different medications. Clare benefitted from the full support of the centre's multidisciplinary team, including the Sleep Centre and support from the in-house psychologist. In the centre, staff and patients get to know each other well, which creates a supportive environment. For Clare, one of the best things about her time in the centre was the chance to talk to other people who had been through similar experiences. It was, she says, great to know that she wasn't alone.
Having believed she had epilepsy for years, Clare was amazed and emotional when she discovered that she was actually affected by non-epileptic seizures. This situation is quite common: around a third of patients who have spent time at the centre have received a diagnosis of non-epileptic seizures. Many people will also have been on strong medication which didn't help their actual condition and which can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing, particularly with regard to side effects. Identifying this and being able to move forward with an accurate diagnosis and, if required, correct medication is vital for patients, and can have truly life changing effects.
Since leaving the centre, Clare is now completely seizure- and drug-free, and her life is unrecognisable. She is now working full time and is very excited about starting driving lessons. She feels she has her freedom back, and recently ran a fundraising night for the centre to say thank you. With Quarriers' support, Clare is ready to fulfil her potential and get the most out of life.
Peter was one of the first patients admitted to The William Quarrier Scottish Epilepsy Centre. He wanted a clear epilepsy diagnosis, and he needed to change the medication he was taking, but he was apprehensive about coming in. He was expecting to spend three weeks lying in bed in a hospital ward with several other patients, but before his stay, he visited the centre and was impressed by its facilities. He saw that he would have his own en suite room, that there were lots of recreational activities available and that he would have access to the open air courtyard at the heart of the centre. Being able to see where he would be staying and having the opportunity to speak to staff helped to reassure him.
Peter spent three weeks in the centre in June 2013. During his stay, he would start his morning with a strong coffee, much as he would do at home, and would spend the day taking part in activities like art classes and exercise sessions or simply relaxing in the courtyard. When moving onto new medication, patients have to stay in the centre, but once the medication was stabilised, Peter was able to go for days out in Glasgow.
One of the biggest changes in diagnosis is new wireless EEG technology. Previously, patients would have had to stay in bed for days: now, wireless transmitters are fitted via a belt around the patient's waist and they can be monitored while moving around the centre or even outside in the courtyard. Peter remarks that he often forgot he was wearing it and was able to sleep with no discomfort.
For Peter, the biggest challenge was being away from his family for so long, but the flexible visiting hours meant he could see his wife and two young children as often as he could. He found that staff and other patients at the centre were really accommodating to his children, and one of the nurses even brought in toys for their visits.
Peter's experience at the centre has been an extremely positive one. For him, one of the best things about his time in the centre was getting to know other people affected by epilepsy and sharing their experiences. He says that having the answer of a proper diagnosis has changed his life, and through this fantastic new facility, Quarriers is ready to change lives for thousands more people.
Before coming into the centre for my stay, I was a little apprehensive about what to expect and the length of time away from home, especially staying with people I had never met before. When I arrived at the centre, the staff were very welcoming, and explained more about my stay and showed me around. Within a few days, my medications started to be altered and new drugs introduced. Although I was having seizures in the centre, it was comforting not only to myself but my family that the medication changes were being made in a controlled and safe environment where the staff are fully trained to deal with all situations. This helped immensely just knowing they were there at any time.
The centre itself has many facilities. There is an activity room with a Wii games console and fitness equipment. There is a main sitting lounge area with numerous DVDs and books, a keep fit class once a week and an art class once a week. Each patient has their own room where they have the option to sit in their room and watch TV or go elsewhere in the many areas of the centre. The unit also has a lovely courtyard area which was used very frequently in the good weather.
For me personally, the best part of being here was meeting other patients who I could share my seizure experiences with and who understood what I was going through. Although epilepsy itself affects everyone in different ways all the patients were there for the same reason and despite having a very supportive family and friends it was nice to talk to other people who could relate to your story.
I stayed in the centre for five weeks, and although it seems like a long period of time to be away from your family and friends, you do get into a daily routine and time passes quickly. The only piece of advice I can give from being a patient is not to be too concerned about the duration of your stay: look at the long-term results at the end of the day, and believe me it is worth it. I made a lot of friends during my stay and now, after leaving the centre six months ago, I have my confidence back, I am gaining some independence back and most importantly have a quality of life again. I cannot thank the centre and the staff enough for their support and guidance throughout my stay. It has certainly helped me get my life back on track.
I am 45 years old and took Encephalitis 12 ago. I was admitted to a regional hospital for over a year, and the consultant at the hospital suggested that I tried the Scottish Epilepsy Centre. I was very unsure because they had tried so many different medicines without much success, but I decided I would give the Epilepsy Centre a chance - what did I have to lose?
I went for my initial appointment at the epilepsy centre and I was excited about what and how much they could manage to do. When I came back down off cloud nine, I started to wonder what the building was like, so this is the place as I saw it.
The building is very new and you get your own room. The rooms have their own toilet and shower facilities, and there is a big bath in a separate area. There are also rooms to take children and carers. If you like your home comforts, the bed is orthapedic. I had a drawer to lock my purse or any other valuables.
I was given an alarm around my neck which made me feel a lot safer, especially since I didn't know how my body would react to my new tablets, although I had no problems at all.
All staff do everything they can to make your stay as comfortable as possible the meals are good and you get breakfast, lunch and dinner, two courses if you want, and toast for supper.
There is an activity room. I could keep up with my emails because of the computer, and there is Windows and Facebook, etc. A few of us had a laugh learning to play pool and tried ten pin bowling on a games console. There is also a small gym and Zumba classes. The art classes were fun, especially since none of us had worked with chalk before.
The time doesn't feel as long as you think it will.


text: The foundations of the WTGs as well as an offshore substation are a crucial part of the infrastructure and have a significant impact on the total costs of an offshore wind farm. For each wind farm, the foundations have to be specifically design to fit the local circumstances, such as soil, depth, wave, permit, wind turbine and installation capacity. Wind Minds can support in the foundation type selection and basic design and specification for the tendering process. Furthermore, Wind Minds can assess detailed designs from a techno-economic perspective.


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Two plays by black women playwrights, one a world premiere. The other is by a playwright-actor who also has a starring role in television's "The Walking Dead" (and hasn't been killed off … yet). A comedy about an Elvis impersonator turned drag queen. A play based on a screenplay, written by a former August Wilson collaborator. Does this sound like a Guthrie season? What if we add a Shakespeare, a Noël Coward and "A Christmas Carol"?
The Guthrie's 2017-18 mainstage season, announced Thursday by artistic director Joe Haj, is a blend of old and new, classic and contemporary, because "the Guthrie necessarily has to be a lot of things to a lot of people," Haj said in an interview. "We can't be just classics, or comedy, or musicals."
Eight of 10 productions were announced. We won't know about the other two until April 17. According to the press release, they are "a new play by a celebrated contemporary female playwright and one of the most ambitious musicals in Guthrie history."
Looking over the season, what immediately stands out is how sharply these eight plays, arguably including "A Christmas Carol," speak to our current moment. When asked, "Was that your intent?" Haj replied, "Not explicitly." Programming for the season began long before the November elections, and even longer before Feb. 17, when Donald Trump called the press "the enemy of the people." And yet, a new version of Ibsen's "The Enemy of the People" is on the season. Cue the "Twilight Zone" theme.
Here's what the season looks like so far. Half the plays are on the thrust stage and half are on the proscenium stage.
Sept. 9-Oct. 28: "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare. Haj will open the season with this play because he has always wanted to direct it and the Guthrie has produced it just twice before. "Of all of Shakespeare's plays," Haj said, "none is more affecting and attractive to young people than 'Romeo and Juliet,' because it is written about their concerns." Viewed through the prism of our time, this 410-year-old play is also about young people inheriting the hatreds of their parents. "That divide ends up destroying them, because it's greater than they can possibly bridge," Haj said. "That feels as current as anything else in our world to me."
Sept. 30-Nov. 5: "Watch on the Rhine" by Lillian Hellman. Who knew, but the Guthrie "has never, ever produced Lillian Hellman," Haj said. Bringing a Hellman play here was one of his early goals. "Watch on the Rhine," which made its debut in 1941, months before the U.S. entered WWII, is a play about the rise of fascism in Germany and the need to take a stand in a changing world.
Nov. 14-Dec. 30: "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, adapted by Crispin Whittell. True, there's redemption, generosity, forgiveness and Fezziwig's party. There's also the suffering of the poor and super-rich Scrooge's cruelty and greed.
Nov. 25-Jan. 14, 2018: "Blithe Spirit" by Noël Coward. This frothy comedy debuted in the same year as Hellman's "Watch on the Rhine." Coward wrote it soon after his London apartment was damaged in a bombing. "He decided to write a diversion, an entertainment, an escapist piece for his countrymen who were being so brutalized," Haj said. "So you have two playwrights writing in the same moment, each responding to the anxieties of the moment, but one writing squarely into the politics of it and the other writing an entertainment."
March 10-April 14: "Familiar" by Danai Gurira. Zimbabwean American Gurira is a Macalester graduate currently starring as the sword-wielding Michonne in "The Walking Dead." Set during a Minnesota winter, "Familiar" is a kind of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," but viewed from the opposite direction. The successful lawyer daughter of an assimilated Zimbabwean family is marrying a white man from Minnetonka. An aunt from Zimbabwe flies in and cultures clash.
April 7-May 27: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" by Todd Kreidler, based on the screenplay by William Rose. The story is 50 years old, but racial tension is still a problem in America. Kreidler was August Wilson's dramaturg in the playwright's final years.
April 28-June 3: "An Enemy of the People" by Kia Corthron, based on the play by Henrik Ibsen. This will be the world premiere of an African American woman's 21st-century take on an 19th-century classic by a white Norwegian man. Basically, it's a play about the environment and a whistleblower who's silenced and labeled an enemy of the people. "It couldn't be more of the moment," Haj said.
July 14-Aug. 26: "The Legend of Georgia McBride" by Matthew Lopez. Lopez's camp comedy deals with themes of identity and transformation as a straight white man goes from King to drag queen. Lopez also wrote "The Whipping Man," seen at the Penumbra in 2009 and earlier this year at the Minnesota Jewish Theater. This will be the first production of a Lopez work at the Guthrie. (The same goes for Gurira, Kreidler and Corthron.)
Haj pointed out what he calls "conversations" among plays in the new season. There's a dance going on between "Watch on the Rhine" and "Blithe Spirit," both dating from the same time but totally different. And between "Familiar" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," two plays about interracial marriage a half-century apart.
For those who wonder "Why Shakespeare? Why Ibsen?" he made a case for classic plays.
"The thrill for me – the 'Wow!' – is you can hardly go anywhere without finding that Shakespeare has been there first," Haj said. "The things coming up today, we think they're brand-new and the world has never seen them, but there's Lillian Hellman, writing about them in 1941, and Henrik Ibsen writing in 1988, and Shakespeare writing 410 years ago. The Greeks were writing about them 2,500 years ago.
"Those of us who love classic plays love them not as museum pieces, but for what they have to say about where we stand right now. Catastrophe is not brand-new. We've seen it, we can survive it. We can learn something from those who have trafficked through this space before."
Subscriptions to the Guthrie's 2017-18 season go on sale May 19. Single tickets will be available on a staggered scheduling beginning July 17. FMI.
The picks
Starts tonight (Friday, March 3) at the Southern: Savage Umbrella: "The Awakening." The story of one woman's struggle to become herself, adapted from Kate Chopin's famous and influential feminist novel, first published in 1899. This is a remount of an acclaimed 2010 production, with a cast of 16. FMI and tickets ($20 advance/$24 door; ARTshare members free). Ends March 18.
Tonight at Orchestra Hall: "Inside the Classics: Bartók's Farewell." Conductor Sarah Hicks and host (and violist) Sam Bergman lead a casual night of music spotlighting Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra, one of the masterworks of the 20th century. Hicks and Bergman start by explaining and demonstrating Hungarian musical ideas that influenced Bartók and other European composers. After intermission, the full orchestra returns for a complete performance of the concerto. 8 p.m. FMI and tickets ($30/$20/$12). Come early for a pre-concert happy hour from 6-7:50.
Monday in the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater: The Theater of Public Policy: "To Serve and Reflect." T2P2's Spring 2017 season begins with Minneapolis Chief of Police Janee Harteau in the hot seat. First comes a lively conversation with Harteau, which inspires T2P2's team of improvisers, who create comedy sketches based on the interview. Then comes an audience Q&A (what would you like to ask our police chief?) and a final round of improv. It's smart, it's funny, it's never disrespectful and you will learn something. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7. FMI and tickets ($12 advance/$15 door). MinnPost is a media sponsor.
Tuesday at the c (the M): Selected Reading from "A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota." A reading and conversation among poet Sun Yung Shin, Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria and Diane Wilson, all contributors to the provocative and important anthology published last year by the Minnesota Historical Society. With McNally Smith's Contemporary Vocal Ensemble. 7 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Tuesday at the Walker: Insights: Rob Giampietro (Google Design). Co-presented by the Walker and AIGA Minnesota, the annual Insights Design Lecture Series begins with a talk (with lots of examples) by designer and writer Giampietro, creative lead and design manager for Google Design in New York. His mission: to infuse an appreciation for design into Google's culture and the whole universe. 7 p.m. FMI and tickets ($24). Sold out; call the box office (612-375-7600) for waitlist information. Coming up: Andy Rementer, illustrator and painter (March 14), Clara Balaguer & Kristian Henson (Office of Culture and Design/Hardworking Goodlooking) (March 21), Richard Turley, Wieden + Kennedy (March 28).


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BCR 122: David Lindo, The Urban Birder
David Lindo is The Urban Birder – broadcaster, writer, speaker and tour leader. His mission is to engage city folk around the world with the plentiful urban nature that surrounds them. He has written countless articles on urban birds, urban conservation and wildlife in general for many websites, publications and magazines and has written the Forwards toseveral books. He is a regular television and radio presenter and has been featured on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 in the UK as well as other TV and radio channels around the world including CBS in the United States.
David is a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Writers and a member of the British Travel Writers Guild. He is the Founder of Britain's Vote National Bird Campaign in 2015 that resulted in over 226,000 votes, Tower 42 Bird Study Group and is on the committee of The Friends Of Wormwood Scrubs. He is the author of The Urban Birder (Bloomsbury) his successful first book that was published in August 2011 and Tales From Concrete Jungles (Bloomsbury) in 2015. He has two new books to be launched in 2018 – #Urban Birding (Kosmos) April and How To Be An Urban Birder (Princeton/Wildguides) July. He is a proud Ambassador for Leica Birding and the London Wildlife Trust and a Patron of the Alderney Wildlife Trust and Birding For All – charity dedicated to facilitating access to nature reserves for disabled people. David was recently named as the 7th most influential person in wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine.
CONTEST: Can you guess what bird is David Lindo's favorite bird. Q What bird does David Lindo love more that any other bird in the world? David gives you a hint somewhere in the inteview. Take a guess and leave your answer in the comment section below this post and you may WIN 1 or 2 of his new books coming out this year 2018! Good luck to all as I will post the results at the end of this week so all can participate.
Show Notes:
- David you are the Urban Birder a broadcaster, writer, speaker and tour leader with your own tour company the Urban Birder that specializes in unlikely birding sites around the world.
- What got you into birds and nature in the first place?
- You teach people field craft, optics and how to find their own patch, in addition to the typical bird lore of identification and migration; this is not the typical bird tour approach. What lead you to develop this approach?
- What elements should be sought to locate a good local patch?
- You give advice on buying a pair of binoculars, can you share the highlights with our audience.
- What are the good bird field guides in use in the British Isle and Europe?
- Once you found your patch, what steps can people take to look after it on behalf of the birds?
- In a forest or a field, you develop a search pattern for birds based on habitat and expectations. When you bird a city what search patterns do you develop, are there certain kinds of birds that you anticipate in certain environments?
- What ties Urban Birders together?
- You once told about a tour to a location in Eastern Europe where roosting owls had learned to roost in close proximity in a village due to threats faced by individuals roosting in rural agricultural countryside.
- What is your favorite urban birding site/location or do you have several?
- What newly discovered urban places can you share with our audience?
- You are a patron for Birding For All – a charity set up to champion access for disabled birders. Tell us about your thoughts on the access for disabled people?
- You are the author of several books with two new ones coming out this year and they are #UrbanBirding (Kosmos) and How To Be An Urban Birder (Princeton).
- The BBC Wildlife Magazine recently voted and named you the 7th most influential person in Wildlife.
- What advice do you have for the young person who is interested in the natural world and despite peer pressure and sage counsel still wants to chase the dream?
- What is the most interesting bird you have seen so far? And what bird still eludes you?
Mentioned In Episode:
David Lindo – The Urban Birder
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text: We are renewing our RFM Certificate through the 2017 Season. Learn more about the Responsible Fisheries Management certification whose model is based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Code and Guidelines because it meets the highest benchmarks for credible certification. At Triad Fisheries we strive to provide the best quality in our product as well as our standards.


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Up to 50% Off Discounts
Browse our selection of discounted gift pens below, all of which are reduced in price and would make a perfect gift for a friend, colleague or significant other!
In a world dominated by computer keyboards and touchscreen typing, pens as gifts are becoming increasingly popular as many people rediscover the simple joy of writing. Pen gift sets are ideal as Christmas presents since they combine beautiful presentation with practicality.
For the person in your life with an artistic streak, a fountain pen gift set could be the first step into the world of calligraphy - we also stock a wide range of other calligraphy pens and supplies! Alternatively, there's nothing quite having something which is unique and exclusively yours, which is why engraved pens make the perfect present.
Whether you want to treat yourself or are looking for that perfect present for someone who loves all things writing, with our seasonal discounts you are sure to find a quality product at a reduced price. We have all kinds of pens, pencils and inks on offer, so you are sure to find something that you love.
Up to 50% discount on every item in this category. Limited Stocks so get them while it lasts!
Monteverde Regatta Northern Lights Limited Edition Rollerball Pen
Regular Price: £70.00
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Monteverde Regatta Northern Lights Limited Edition Ballpoint Pen
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Platinum - Carbon Desk Pen Stand Black/Gold
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Nuuna Graphic Small EVERTHING Bonded Leather Notebook
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Worther Leather Round Pencil Case - Assorted Colours£6.00
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Rotring Tikky Neon Colours Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm HB£3.90
Rotring Tikky Ballpoint Pen Medium Nib
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Parker Style Fine Capless Ceramic Ballpoint Gel Refill by Monteverde
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Compatible Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges by Monteverde - 12 Different Colours
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Rotring Rapidograph Black Short Cartridge Box
Regular Price: £5.20
Special Price £2.15


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When and why did you begin writing? I've always liked to write, but it wasn't until after I'd had my first child and was suffering from the baby blues that I decided to try and write a book.
What inspired you to write River Whispers? I'd gone on a fishing trip with my sister. We were on our way home when she asked me what book I was going to write next. Kind of jokingly, I said, "About a woman, who while fishing finds a body in the willows." We laughed about it, but the idea took hold. I wanted to write a romantic suspense, so I continued to work on the story. My sister has taken me on cattle drives, to old-fashioned rodeos (where you sit on splintery bleachers outside in the sun or rain), and even panning for gold. So, of course, I had to have sisters as the main characters. And yes, there is a romance. :) Here's the link to the book trailer. http://youtu.be/jtd3yR8OeDE
Do you have a specific writing style? I do. For my YA time-travel novels I write in first-person. I think young adults identify more closely to characters written in that style. For my romantic suspense books I write in third person.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? All of my novels have themes that I hope readers will find. I don't like to tell what they are because for each person it might be different, but I definitely have a purpose for each book. I write the theme and tape it to my computer monitor so that each scene works towards it.
What was the hardest part of writing your book? Writing River Whispers was full of surprises. There were days even I was surprised by what happened. Honestly. I knew the beginning and ending, but the middle filled in as I wrote. This book is full of twists and unexpected turns. But that's why I love to write romantic suspense. So there was really no hardest part to write, unless you count running out of chocolate every once in a while.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? Some of my fans might wonder if I've quit writing YA time-travels and I haven't. In fact, right now I'm working on one that sends a sister and brother back in time. The sister finds herself in the bottom of a Roman warship facing a Roman soldier, and her brother ends up with a shepherd family in Bethlehem. AND in case they are wondering if I have more romantic suspense book, yes! I'm nearly finished with another one with the working titled Raven Spirit. I love my fans and want to hear from them. They can find me at http://www.kathiswritingnook.
Thank you, Becky for a wonderful interview.


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Communications Tower Policy
Yellowhead County has identified that rural communications (including broadband, mobility, and public safety) is a community enabler for economic prosperity as well as an instrument to assist in the health, safety and emergency management of its residents, industry and visitors.
We're expanding upon its utility communications network that supports broadband, mobility and public safety communications and requires all applicants to make every effort to collocate on Yellowhead County owned utility towers. In situations where Yellowhead County does not have a tower and private towers are required, the applicant must utilize best efforts to provide tower space for Yellowhead County public safety equipment and collocation opportunities to other potential wireless providers.
See the attached Policy for details on the use and development of communications towers within Yellowhead County. Policy No.6100.04
Please contact the Yellowhead County Planning Department with any questions.


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New affordable housing built in Hook
A quality new housing development in Hook, Hampshire, will provide 87 affordable new homes. Local housebuilder Barratt Homes and Silva Homes have partnered to deliver the stylish new homes at the popular Oakwood Grange development on Griffin Way North.
The brand new affordable homes will include one and two-bedroom apartments, and one, two, three and four-bedroom houses. The properties will be available for rental and Shared Ownership, with the first customers expected to move in over summer.
Lynnette St-Quintin (photographed left), Sales Director for Barratt Southern Counties, commented: "Oakwood Grange is an exciting new development of quality homes in Hook, and it is fantastic that we are able to work with Silva Homes to help deliver affordable housing for local buyers. In addition to Help to Buy, Shared Ownership is another great way to help buyers onto the property ladder, while rental options are ideal for tenants seeking a brand new home. We encourage potential homebuyers or renters to come and find out more about the various routes to homeownership and tenancy available to them."
Laura Johnson (photographed centre), Executive Director of Investment & Growth for Silva Homes, said: "We are delighted to be working with Barratt David Wilson on this scheme, providing 87 high quality and much-needed homes for affordable rent and shared ownership to local people in Hart District."
To find out more about Shared Ownership with Silva Homes, please email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 01344 382838.
For rental properties, residents should first register on Hart District Council's choice based lettings system at www.hart.gov.uk/housing, then once registered and eligible, bid for the properties available.
For more information on all other properties, including those available with Help to Buy, contact Barratt Homes on 0333 355 8498 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk


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How to take the perfect selfie
Loathed or loved depending on who takes them, everyone is taking selfies – or at least trying to – and statistics show more people die from taking selfies than from shark attacks.
The rise of Instagram has led to an explosion of interest in how to take the perfect picture. Many people get it wrong, with hard-to-see pictures taken in weird locations and with unflattering light. Here's our expert guide on how to take the perfect selfie, every time.
Light it right
Although some natural lights can feel harsh, they'll actually improve the way a selfie turns out. Kate Beavis, ambassador for all things vintage, instagrams at @ihavethisthingwithvintage, and has more than 20,000 followers.
She says: "Natural lighting is key. Some angles of light will show off any fine lines (which we all have) whereas a differing angle will flood light into your face, brightening your complexion."
Reality TV star Billie Faiers agrees that good lighting is everything: "It's all about perfecting your angles so you know what works best for you. I recommend using front flash or a light-up selfie case for the best light."
Angle the camera down
Taking a picture from slightly above your face is most flattering, which is why you will often see groups of people clustered underneath a camera at a party. A selfie stick can help you with this. Buy one that folds up if you're embarrassed to be seen carrying one around.
Your pose is important
An awkward hands-in-pocket look or a sofa slouch just won't cut it in the era of perfect selfies. Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe advises trying a slight head-tilt. She advises to always "keep your chin away from your neck, otherwise a double-chin look is inevitable no matter how slim you are."
She also recommends trying out some poses before heading out for the evening. "Over the shoulder is my fail-safe pose when I'm wearing something figure hugging, as it highlights the waist."
Use props
The selfie market has boomed, so it's unsurprising that the number of gadgets to go with selfie-taking have too. Try props to improve your pictures, from a USB mini fan for the professional hair-blowing look, to a snappy selfie remote, which lets you take pictures from up to 10m away.
Consider your audience
When Briony Miles (@legallygymliving) takes a post-gym selfie, she doesn't bother with make-up or a filter. When she uses a filter she says: "My favourite filter for my fitness posts is Clarendon – I feel that it's quite bright and motivational and works equally well for selfies and foodie pics. It isn't too "airbrushy" – you still look like you."
She adds that with her more motivational photos she keeps it as real as she can. "With workout photos I make sure I don't filter out the red face. Sometimes I even pick a filter that enhances the sweat ideally with a background such as gym scenery."
Don't automatically assume everyone is using a filter to look good. Most people add a filter or app to accentuate their best bits, but it's good to keep your shots looking au naturel too.
Kate Beavis says: "You may want to add a filter to the image to improve it and remove any dark eye circles or blemishes, but be careful – an over-edited selfie may make you look great, but it is important to show the real you. I use an app called Facetune which can help freshen up your skin." Retrica is another great (free) app with more filters that will make you look as perfect as possible.
How many is too many?
One selfie a day is more than enough, but if you work in fashion, or want to show off your style, then there's no reason you shouldn't post more. Billie Faiers says: "I've recently been working on a new winter range with In the Style, and I love sharing my own designs. As long as you like the images then I think you can post as many as you like."


text: Micaela Canucci 0 Posted May 23, 2012 Set among the beautiful mountains of Arbor Pointe we are a college preparatory boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12 (strictly PG roleplay). As you explore our grounds, you will find an immersive school campus with towering mature trees,ivy and pathways to explore. Three aspects of our School are fundamental to our students' success: dedicated teachers, passionate students, and a strong community. We invite you to come and tour our campus where you can pick up an application! Micaela Canucci ♚ Head of School Photos: http://www.flickr.com//photos/79076890@N07/show/ Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Arbor%20Pointe%20Hills/116/204/22 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Stars Shine at 4th Annual American Poker Awards
The 4th Annual American Poker Awards winners were feted on Thursday night at the Andas West Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. Twenty awards were handed out during the three hour ceremony celebrating the best and brightest of the poker world from 2017.
Most of the winners were selected from a set of finalists in a number of categories. To get to those finalists, a 102-member panel of poker players, poker media, and industry experts submitted no more than two names for thirteen categories. A special jury (whose names have yet to be disclosed) sifted through the ballots and came up with four to five finalists for each award. That jury then picked the winners.
Two awards – Poker Player of the Year and Female Poker Player of the Year – were determined by math; Bryn Kenney and Kristen Bicknell were the top points earners on the Global Poker Index (overall and for women, respectively) last year. The other awards at the end of the list the follows were selected by either the jury, the title sponsor, or an open public voting process (the People's Choice Award).
Below are the awards and their finalists. Winners are denoted in bold.
Breakout Player
- Dejuante "DJ" Alexander
- Michael Del Vecchio
- William Alex Foxen
- Artur Papazyan
Tournament Performance
- Scott Blumstein (WSOP Main Event)
- Darren Elias (WPT Fallsview)
- Bryn Kenney (PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo Super High Roller)
- Doug Polk (WSOP One Drop High Roller)
Moment of the Year
- 70-year-old John Smith makes back-to-back WSOP 10K Heads-Up finals
- Ema Zajmovic becomes first female player to win open event on World Poker Tour
- Vanessa Selbst's Full House loses to Gaelle Baumann's Quads early in the WSOP Main Event
- Tom Dwan makes his return to America, stars on Poker After Dark reboot on PokerGo
Event of the Year
- Super High Roller Bowl (ARIA Las Vegas)
- partypoker MILLIONS North America (Playground Poker Club Montreal)
- Poker Masters Event #1 (ARIA Las Vegas)
- World Series of Poker Main Event (Rio Las Vegas)
Mid-Major Circuit
- Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT)
- RUNGOOD Poker Series
- WPTDeepStacks (WPTDS)
- World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC)
Journalist of the Year
- Drew Amato
- Lance Bradley
- BJ Nemeth
- Steve Ruddock
- Jessica Welman
Broadcaster of the Year
- Nick Schulman
- Joseph Stapleton
- Lon McEachern
- Ali Nejad
Media Content
- Adrian Moreno in tears after Little One for One Drop win; days after losing his friend (Drew Amato, photo for WSOP.com)
- Dead Money: A Super High Roller Bowl Story (PokerCentral documentary)
- Poker Brat: The Phill Hellmuth Story (Phil Hellmuth, published by D&B Publishing)
- Resilience Defined: Sheddy Siddiqui Raising his Two Boys #ForCathy (Lance Bradley, article for PocketFives)
- PokerCentral Podcast (Brent Hanks, Will O'Connor, Remko Rinkema)
- PokerNews Podcast (Brent Harrington, Sarah Herring, Matt Parvis)
- Poker Life Podcast (Joe Ingram)
- TwoPlusTwo Podcast (Terrence Chan, Ross Henry, Adam Schwartz)
Video Blogger
- Joe Ingram
- Daniel Negreanu
- Andrew Neeme
- Doug Polk
Poker Streamer
- Jeff Gross
- Bill Perkins
- Jason Somerville
- Jaime Staples
- Parker Talbot
Industry Person
- Tony Burns
- Sean McCormack
- Adam Pliska
- Matt Savage
Poker's Biggest Influencer
- Cary Katz
- Daniel Negreanu
- Doug Polk
- Matt Savage
Other Results
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How Do You Get a Home Loan?
Getting a Home Loan
Getting a home, and the mortgage that comes with it could be the most important financial transaction you ever make. But how do you go about getting a home loan?
What kind of credit score do I need for a home loan?
First, you should make a good effort to improve your credit before getting a home loan. The better your credit score, the easier time you'll have finding a mortgage, and the lower rate you'll usually have to pay. It's often a good idea to see if you can get your score into the 750s, since 750 and above is considered "excellent" credit, which can usually get you the best interest rates. To improve your credit score, first, find out where you're at currently -- you can do this by going to a site like annualcreditreport.com. If there are any errors on your report, make sure to contact the credit bureau that issued it to dispute the error. Otherwise, you could be stuck for paying for something you didn't do.
After you figure out your current score, try paying off your credit card balance. If possible, use only 20% of your maximum available credit, and don't apply for any new credit cards before applying for a mortgage.
Of course, you don't need a credit score in the 700s to buy a house. If you're getting an FHA loan, for example, the minimum FICO score is 580. But, either way, having a high credit score can help increase your mortgage options -- and that's pretty much always a good thing.
How much should I save before buying a home?
Unless you're getting an FHA mortgage, you'll usually need enough cash to afford a 20% down payment on the home before getting approved for a mortgage.
Plus, you'll want to make sure that you have enough money saved up to keep up with expenses that you might not think about at first, like closing costs and the 1-3% of the home price that most Americans spend each year on home upkeep and maintenance.
It's also a good idea to see if you can keep 6 months of potential mortgage payments in a savings account. That way, you won't get in trouble if the unexpected happens, like a sudden job loss or a big medical bill.
How do I get preapproved for a mortgage?
Before you actually find the home you want to buy, it pays to check out what banks and other lenders might be willing to give you. Shopping around can get you a better deal, which can make it easier to make a quick decision when you actually need to act. It can also show the home's seller that you're serious about buying -- so they're less likely to sell the home to another buyer.
During the pre-approval process, the lending institution will want to get basic information. In addition to your credit score, they'll usually want to see your earnings and employment history, so they can feel confident that you can afford your mortgage.
What else do I have to do get a home loan?
After you've decided on a home and gotten pre-approved for a mortgage, the bank or lending institution issuing the mortgage will want to have the home appraised. It's usually a good idea to avoid paying more for a home than what it's worth -- unless it's your absolute dream home (but even then, it doesn't hurt to play it safe).
At this point, unless there are any issues, the bank will officially approve your mortgage. Then, you'll order a home inspection to make sure that the home doesn't harbor any hidden errors or defects. If you do see anything wrong, you may want to ask for the seller to repair it or, perhaps better yet, lower the price.


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Born in Colorado Springs, CO
Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY
M.F.A. in Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
B.F.A. in Drawing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS (* connotes solo or two person show):
Dream House, Gloria's Project Space, Ridgewood, NY
4x4, SVA Chelsea Gallery, New York, NY
SIGNAL: Tri-State Juried Exhibition, Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY
Constellations, SVA Chelsea Gallery, New York, NY
cloyingPARLOR, New York, NY
Reference, Rose Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
False Family: The Architecture of Found Photographs, Craig Krull Gallery, Los Angeles, CA*
Someplace Elsewhere, Gallery Protocol, Gainesville, FL
Art is Home, 4Most Gallery & Studio, Gainesville, FL
Myopia Series, Craig Krull Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
25th Annual University Student Exhibition, Atlantic Center for the Arts Pabst Visitor Center & Gallery, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Ere the Substance Fades, The Wooly, Gainesville, FL*
MASS 4, The Wooly, Gainesville, FL
Student Unjuried Exhibition, Convergence Gallery, Gainesville, FL (curated by the Painting and Drawing Association)
Teaser, WARP Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Quarantined, Reitz Gallery, Gainesville, FL*
Uncnovenational Portraiture, Convergence Gallery, Gainesville, FL (curated by the Painting and Drawing Association, with catalog)
Dream State, Reitz Gallery, Gainesville, FL*
Pushing Color, The Focus Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Bishop, Eleanor, "VACI Emerging Artists to Hold First Drag Show", The Chautauqua Daily, July 27.
Small, Zachary, "Queer Artists in Their Own Words: Zac Thompson the Genderfuck Drag Queen", Hyperallergic, June 1 (with illustration).
Small, Zachary, "SVA Students Reinterpret Intersectionality Through a Queer Lens", Hyperallergic, July 26 (with illustration).
Calvo, Natalie, "Alumni Spotlight: Zac Thompson", Muse Magazine, November 30, pp. 18 (with illustration).
Riley, Wes, "Artist Spotlight: Zac Thompson", In The Loop, April 7.
Mebel, Anna, "Vol. 16," Tea Literary Magazine, May, pp. 36,37 (with illustration).
Katona, Steven, "Drawing Seniors Tease End-of-Year Show," The Independent Florida Alligator, January 29.
Katona, Steven, "Art Students 'Quarantine' Work in Retiz Union Gallery," The Independent Florida Alligator, November 20 (with illustration).
Katona, Steven, "Interactive Art Exhibit Opening in Reitz Tonight Aims to Help People Understand Feminism," The Independent Florida Alligator, August 28.
Mebel, Anna, "Vol. 15," Tea Literary Magazine, April, pp. 42,59 (with illustration).
Katona, Steven, "In the Gallery Right Meow: 'Just Cats,'" The Independent Florida Alligator, January 31.
Cochrum, Amy, "'Dream State' Exhibit Opens at Reitz Union," The Independent Florida Alligator, January 20 (with illustration).
The Hambidge Center for Creative Arts & Sciences Residency, Rabun Gap, GA
Student Creative Research Awards-Best of School Award, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Creativity in the Arts and Sciences Collaboration Winner, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Dennis and Colette Campay Studio Art Scholarship, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Carolyn A. Novogrodsky Memorial Award for Artistic Pursuits, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL


text:
Several managers, owners and shareholders are asking the same questions daily:
Performing qualitative and effective due diligence helps to reduce the associated risk and makes decision making easier, and there are several possible ways to do this.
From 1998 to 2008, we conducted more than 40 general IS due diligences and more than 25 initial IS due diligence engagements in Central and Eastern Europe. At that time there was a lack of the due diligence frameworks. We have studied different methodologies, approaches and standards (e.g., COBIT, ITIL, ISO/IEC 9000, ISO/IEC 27000, ISO/IEC 20000, BCM, ITADD, KnowledgeLeader) and through the years we have assembled a new framework for rapid due diligence (FISDD). With this framework, IS due diligence may be delivered in a reasonably short period of time. FISDD was successfully tested on several real merger and acquisition case studies in the financial industry. It can be used for different types of IS due diligence, including:
IS due diligence is very similar to the general IS audit process. However, due to its inherent complexity it requires a framework for delivery. Our recent Journal article introduces the FISDD framework and delivers a timeline for using it.
Read Bostjan Delak and Marko Bajec's recent ISACA Journal article:"Conducting IS Due Diligence in a Structured Model Within a Short Period of Time," ISACA Journal, volume 4, 2014.


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Offshore Company Dominica Second Passport Offshore Jurisdiction St Kitts 2nd Passport Tax Avoidance Tax Haven Comparisons Caribbean Mortgages Economic Citizenship Estate Planning Int. Business Companies Offshore Tax Havens Second Passport FAQ Caribbean Passport
The impressive entrance and the elegantly constructed roof on this villa has made this home very popular.
Nicely furnished to your taste in wicker or rattan, this villa offers spacious living.
The price for each villa includes: - the land - construction of the villa - house furnishings- kitchen including fixtures - swimming pool - landscaping & plants- parking lot
Owners may specify revisions to the standard design being offered, at an agreed adjusted price.
Buying Real Estate in the Dominican Republic
Click on the Dominican Republic Info button or About Dominican Republic to find out how to buy property in the Dominican Republic


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- Original Article
- Open Access
- Published:
Role of transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy in the investigation of female infertility: a review of 1,000 procedures
Gynecological Surgery volume 1, pages191–193 (2004)
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Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy is a culdoscopic approach for the inspection of the posterior pelvis, but, in contrast to culdoscopy, uses an aqueous solution for the distension of the pelvic cavity and small diameter optics. The technique is used for diagnostic purposes in patients with infertility and is performed under local anesthesia or conscious sedation in an ambulatory surgical center. We report on a continuous series of 1,000 patients with infertility and without obvious pelvic pathology. Access and good visualization was obtained in 96.8% of the patients. The main complications were intraperitoneal bleeding and bowel perforation, which after the initial period occurred respectively in 1.9 and 0.1%. All complications were managed conservatively, and no major complication occurred. Clinically significant pathology was diagnosed in 25% of the patients, which allowed immediate triage of the patients for further management. Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy can be proposed as a first line technique to replace hysterosalpingography and diagnostic laparoscopy in the exploration of patients with unexplained infertility.
In Europe over the past 40 years, endoscopic evaluation of the pelvis has become an integral part of the infertility work-up. In routine practice, hysterosalpingography (HSG) is the first-line investigation and, if normal, laparoscopy is frequently delayed for 6 months or more. Laparoscopy is indeed an invasive procedure, associated with potentially serious complications, and together with hospitalization it can also be an expensive procedure. On the other hand, HSG is inferior to the chromopertubation test for the diagnosis of tubal patency [1] and also has a low sensitivity for the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis and adhesions. If laparoscopy is performed as a first-line investigation on all infertile patients, there will be a large number of patients with normal findings or with minor pathology that has no or doubtful impact on the management of infertility.
It has been argued that with the advent of ART, laparoscopy can be omitted from the infertility work-up when there is no abnormal contributing history and the HSG is normal and, as a consequence, the cost of fertility treatment is reduced without compromising success rates [2]. Karande et al. [3], however, found in a prospective randomized trial that a higher pregnancy rate with lower costs is achieved with a traditional treatment algorithm than with IVF-embryo transfer as a first line-therapy.
We therefore wish to report on a continuous personal (H.V.) series of 1,000 procedures of transvaginal laparoscopy (THL), which were performed in combination with the mini-hysteroscopy and chromopertubation test as a first-line investigation of female infertility [4]. The combination of the three procedures has been coined transvaginal endoscopy (TVE).
Materials and methods
THL was discussed with all women who met prospectively established exclusion and inclusion criteria. In all patients, the indication was primary or secondary infertility. The patients had a complete history, physical examination and transvaginal sonography. Patients were excluded if they had an indication for operative laparoscopy, abnormal pelvic findings such as fixed retroverted uterus, rectovaginal endometriosis, large ovarian cyst or obliterated cul-de-sac, or an upper vaginal stenosis. Patients with vaginal or pelvic infection were first treated before THL was performed.
THL was used as described by Gordts et al. [5]. With the patient in the dorsal decubitus position, only a limited amount of fluid is required to have the tubo-ovarian structures floating in the excavation of the posterior pelvis. We used a narrow-diameter (<3.5 mm), foroblique 30°, wide-angled and rigid optic, a high intensity light source and a digital camera. Inspection of the pelvic structures was achieved without grasping or manipulation. At the end of the procedure a chromopertubation test was performed and, when indicated, salpingoscopy was added. All interventions were performed under conscious sedation as an office procedure in an outpatient surgical suite.
Transvaginal laparoscopy was considered complete if the tubo-ovarian structures, pelvic sidewalls and cul-de-sac could be seen, or if pathology was diagnosed that indicated the need for operative intervention or ART.
A total of 1,000 THLs were performed during the period starting from 1998 until 2003. Thirty-two (3.2%) failures occurred with failed access in 11 (1.1%) and absent or poor visualization in 21 (2.1%). In total, 968 (96.8%) of the procedures were completed. No pathology or pathology of minor clinical significance was found in 736 (76%). In the group with completed procedures, unexpected clinically significant pathology was diagnosed in 240 (25%) and included mainly ovarian endometriosis, tubo-ovarian adhesions, isthmic block and hydrosalpinges. The diagnostic findings resulted in 36 (3.7%) operative laparoscopies and 204 (21.1%) medical therapies and ARTs.
No major complication occurred in this series. Intraperitoneal bleeding was seen in 23 (2.3%) of the patients and occurred on the posterior wall of the uterus (n=13), parametrium (n=2), ovary (n=2), omentum (n=1) and adhesions (n=5). Bowel perforation occurred in 5 (0.5%) and was managed conservatively with antibiotics. Infection occurred in two (0.2%).
The correlation of the failures (no access or no visualization) with the experience showed that 5 (10%) failures occurred in the first 50 procedures and 26 (2.8%) in the subsequent 950 procedures (P=0.018). Bleeding occurred in 5 (10%) of the first 50 cases and 18 (1.9%) of the following 950 cases (P=0.004). Bowel perforation occurred in 4 (8%) of the first 50 cases and in 1 (0.1%) of the following 950 cases (P<0.0001).
By using TVE as a first-line investigation of female infertility, we avoided HSG in 96.8% and laparoscopy in 93.2% of the patients. In 24% of the patients, unexpected major pathology was diagnosed and recommendations for operative laparoscopy, medical therapy or ART could be made.
Several studies have validated the feasibility, reproducibility, diagnostic accuracy, acceptability and safety of the procedure [6]. Different centres have reported access in over 95% and normal findings in 41 to 59% of the cases. In this series of 1,000 consecutive cases, access and visualization of the pelvic structures were achieved in 96.8% of the patients. The performance of THL is defined by visualization of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, posterior wall of the uterus, ovarian and uterosacral ligaments, sidewall of the posterior pelvis and cul-de-sac. In this series, these structures were normal or showed pathology of minor significance in 76% of the patients.
The potentially serious complication of transvaginal access is rectal perforation and sepsis. In a survey of 3,667 procedures the incidence of bowel perforation was 0.65%, which decreased after the initial experience to 0.25%. No delayed diagnosis and sepsis occurred, and 92% of the cases were managed with outpatient antibiotics [7]. In the present series minor bleeding occurred in 2.5% and bowel perforation in 0.5% of the patients. Analysis of the occurrence of complications in function of experience confirmed the importance of the learning curve. After the initial 50 cases, the complication rate of intraperitoneal bleeding and bowel perforation decreased significantly to 1.9 and 0.1%, respectively. It should, however, be noted that even in experienced hands these complications can occur and, therefore, the patients need to be informed. However, in this series no major complication such as sepsis occurred and, similar to previous series, most bowel perforations were managed conservatively with antibiotics without consequences.
As a first-line procedure for the investigation of female infertility, TVE is in direct competition with HSG. The prognostic value of the chromopertubation test has been shown to be better than that of HSG [1]. Four authors reported abnormal findings at THL in 44% of 241 patients with normal or suspected hysterosalpingography [6]. Shibahara et al. [8] compared HSG versus THL in a series of patients with and without a history of Chlamydia infection and found that THL was superior for the diagnosis of peritubal adhesions. The additional advantage of THL for tubal exploration is the ability to examine directly the tubal mucosa by salpingoscopy. Salpingoscopy is a better predictor for pregnancy outcome after tubal reconstructive surgery than routine investigation by HSG and standard laparoscopy [9, 10].
Fatum et al. [2] suggested that in patients with a normal HSG, laparoscopy would be superfluous and patients should undergo up to six cycles of gonadotropins and IUI and then undergo IVF if they continue to be infertile. However, in a recent study Capelo et al. [11] found significant pelvic pathology in one third of the patients failing to conceive after four ovulatory cycles of clomiphene citrate and concluded that early endoscopic diagnosis of such pathology would have allowed the couple to proceed directly to IVF.
Cicinelli et al. [12] found in a randomized controlled trial that THL in combination with mini-hysteroscopy in an outpatient setting was better tolerated by the patients than HSG. Finally, HSG is a diagnostic X-ray procedure that exposes the bladder, ovary and colon to radiation. The organ-specific radiation doses of HSG for the bladder and colon are estimated at 4.67 and 2.82 mGy, respectively. It is now generally accepted that there is no threshold dose below which radiation exposure does not cause cancer, and the attributable risk of diagnostic X-rays is estimated to range from 0.6 to 1.8 of cases of cancers per year [13].
When an accurate infertility exploration can be performed with a minimally invasive procedure and a reliable treatment exists, an early diagnosis followed by the most appropriate, effective treatment can greatly reduce the monthly failures and the sense of frustration for the couple, particularly when age and time are additional unfavorable factors.
Our current approach of exploring female fertility after 1 year or more of infertility may paradoxically lead to undertreatment as well as overtreatment.
Recent prospective population-based studies have demonstrated that the time to clinical pregnancy in most women with normal fertility is not more than 6 months [14, 15]. It can therefore be assumed that already after six cycles with fertility-focused intercourse, irrespective of their age, most women with normal fertility have conceived and that the remaining group is largely composed of couples faced with subfertility. Today, when female fertility can be explored accurately with a minimally invasive procedure, such as TVE [4], and a reliable treatment exists for many major disorders, a prolonged waiting period is outdated [16].
It is concluded that in women with previously normal cycles infertility should be investigated already after a 6-month period of fertility-focused intercourse and that transvaginal endoscopy, which combines minihysteroscopy and transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy, can be proposed as a first-line technique.
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- Infertility
- Transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy
- Complications
- Hysterosalpingography