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Releasing May 19th
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I love women. I'm not ashamed to admit that making a beautiful woman come is my main goal in life—one that I accomplish night after night. Women are as drawn to me as I am to them. I don't get turned down. It's not a brag, just a fact. At least it was a fact. Until I met Quinn—the one woman who didn't fall for my easy charm. Now, I have to have her. She may not want to get close, may not want to admit that I turn her on and can give her a night that she'll never forget, but she was mine the first moment I saw her. Eventually, I'll have her beneath me, my hands in her hair, and my name on her lips. It's what I do. I'm the Panty Whisperer.
THE MAJORITY OF men want sex just to get off. They blow their load, roll over, and fall asleep. That's not my style. I want you to remember my face. I want you to remember every inch of me. And you will. I want to watch your eyes roll up in your head, your toes cramp up while curling under your feet, your thighs trembling around my face, begging for my stiff cock inside your hot, wet pussy. Every time you tease your clit, longing for your hair to be pulled, while squeezing those quivering pussy walls around your slippery fingers, you'll be wishing it was me inside of you, drilling balls deep into that aching cunt while you dig your nails into the sheets. I want to own your mind for the rest of your life. The thought of me will be a thirst you can't quench, a drug you can't have, an itch that can't be scratched, no matter how hard you try. Nobody will send a shock of neural ecstasy from your pulsating little cunt to the tips of your toes the way I will. Care to bet me?
Jessica Moore
MOST PEOPLE HAVE something they're good at: math, sports, music, art. I wasn't born with some common talent. I'm a master of making women come. I don't know why, or how it happened, it's just built into my DNA. I've always been able to talk to women and get them to do whatever I want. Ever since I was a teenager, if there was a girl nobody could bed, I got there first.
My name is Joel Hannover. Well, actually, that's a bit of a lie. Joel is my middle name. My first name is Herbert. I hate that name. It's like my parents were trying to cock block me from conception.
I work as an accounting software consultant. It sounds fancy like I should be good with math or computers. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm a salesman. My job, however, is perfect for my hobby. Most accounting departments are comprised of women. Women that most people think are boring or uneventful.
I meet these women every day. Insecure, dressed conservatively, hiding their beautiful bodies behind layers of clothing, afraid a few pounds of baby weight might still show. They're ladies who work crossword puzzles, and process numbers and transactions. It's all a façade though. These women are just like any others. Sexual creatures who want to have all of their desires met and all of their needs fulfilled.
They're practically begging for someone to explore them, to bring them out of their shell, and release the sexual tension that has saturated their entire being, afraid to break free. They get their rocks off reading erotica, watching porn, or using the shower head in a manner it was not intended for. I can't allow this. They need someone to open their mind, and release their fantasies into the wild. Someone to spread their thighs and take them to places they never knew possible, where all of their darkest fantasies reside. This is the environment where I thrive.
Meet Jessica Moore: mid-thirties, married with two kids, unhappy.
Fucking hot.
She's a senior fixed asset analyst at a company that's implementing my firm's new software. She is amazingly sexy and wasting away in a bad marriage that is held together solely for the kids. We've been working together on this project for about two weeks now and have grown somewhat close.
She cracks a smile as I walk through the door to her office. "Good morning."
"Jessica—" I pause for a moment and eye her curvy hips and round breasts. "—you look nice." She looks hot as fuck, if I'm being honest.
Jessica bites her lip and smiles. I want to put my cock in that beautiful mouth so badly. I have to have her. I've been observing her for the last two weeks, processing every bit of information she provides. She loves Starbucks, romantic comedies, and has an adventurous side to her that she's afraid to act on. Well, she didn't exactly say that, but like I said before, I can sense these things. It's an innate ability. "Did you have a good weekend?"
"Completely boring, didn't do much of anything. Philip went hunting and left me with the kids. So we had a movie night on Saturday. You?"
I can't really tell her I filmed myself banging two twenty-year-old co-eds, and then watched it while going a second round with them. "Oh, I had a movie night myself. New indie film, you wouldn't have heard of it."
Hey, you didn't lie to her.
I can't stop staring at her black, mid-length skirt hugging tight around her hips. I get the slightest peek at her tanned cleavage protruding through her low-cut red top as she reaches into the bottom of a file cabinet. She's dressed up today, and it's for me; we both know it. The first day I was here she wore mom jeans and a sweater.
Her wavy brunette hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and her bright-blue eyes send my stomach churning in knots every time I catch a glimpse of them. It's obvious that she works out and watches her figure, but she's got these curves that send blood straight to my dick. I have to fuck this woman. No, I want to make this woman come harder than she ever has in her life, if she ever has at all. She deserves it. She works hard and is a good mother.
I'm going to plow her so hard she wants to scream but the words won't come out. I can tell she wants it, constantly eyeing my six-foot-two frame, wondering what I'm packing in my slacks. It's not ten inches, but it gets the job done. A massive cock is overrated anyway. I'm not trying to scar her for life.
I pull a caramel macchiato with no whipped cream out from behind my back and set it down on the desk in front of her. It's all about paying attention to details.
"Oh my god. You're my hero. Seriously." She takes a sip. "I'm a slave to caffeine."
"I know how it goes."
Only my drug of choice is that yearning pussy that's heating up for me in your panties while you eye fuck the shit out of me.
"So, what's on the agenda for today?" She walks back behind her desk.
"Just a follow up consult, half a day. Make sure all the modules are functioning the way you like, and then I'm out of your hair."
Her head drops a little and she stares down at the desk for a moment before looking back up at me. "Well, I'm taking you to lunch before you leave. On the company, if that's okay?"
"I can't say no to a free meal." I laugh, knowing what I'll be dining on. It's under that skirt of hers. Today is a day she'll remember for the rest of her life. She just doesn't know it yet.
Most of the morning is uneventful, working out kinks in the software. Lunch can't get here fast enough.
"Hey, can you take a look at this? I'm not sure this menu is exactly how we'd like it." She turns back to me, then back to her screen.
I lean over her shoulder, perching up near her ear. God, she smells amazing. I try to look at the screen, but all I can focus on is a black lace bra corralling a pair of 38D breasts. She knows exactly what she's doing, breaking out the sexy underwear for my last day here, longing for them to end up on the floor. "I think we should switch options three and four on this window."
"Shouldn't be a problem." I don't even look at the fucking screen. My eyes are busy, working down those creamy thighs with her knees pressed together, calves running down to a pair of black heels, legs crossed at the ankles.
I look up at the screen and try to buy myself some extra time. "Well, wait, what if we moved option two, and had a separate pop-up option for four?" I don't even know if my words made sense or not, and I can tell she doesn't care. She starts to speak and I exhale lightly across her neck.
"Hmm, I—" Her voice cracks a little as her eyes close, the tiny hairs on her neck standing at attention from my warm breath.
I interrupt her. "No, never mind. I think I like your idea better." I breathe into her ear as I raise my head up.
I spy her brushing her hands across her legs and onto her knees as I walk away. She doesn't think I notice, but I do. I can't stop thinking about how wet her cunt is right now, her lips begging for my cock to drive into them. It's going to be a long lunch.
I ride with her to the restaurant, but don't make any moves. I want to tease her as long as possible. It's a long-term investment for the eruption that will take place between her legs later, when I press the buttons in every erogenous zone in her brain. The clacking of her heels on the tile floor of the restaurant and her ass swaying back and forth in that skirt have my cock rock hard against the zipper of my pants. She knows she's driving me crazy too. Jessica thinks she might know what's coming, but there's enough uncertainty to keep her wondering if she'll merely be dreaming about fucking me when she rubs one out later.
I pull her chair out for her, to her surprise. "Sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. My mom drilled the behavior into me since I was a boy."
"Aww. A mama's boy? I think it's sweet that she taught you to be a gentleman." She blushes.
"Yeah, she's old school. Guys sometimes look at me funny, but it always seems to work in my favor with the ladies." I flash her a devilish grin as I sit down.
The sexual tension is building, and for some reason seeing her wedding ring makes me want her more, as if it makes the game more of a challenge. I mean, I don't go out seeking married women, but I don't turn them down either. I didn't make any promises to anyone to remain faithful, that's their issue.
She's staring at me with those seductive blue eyes again. Goddamn they drive me crazy. I'm a sucker for beautiful eyes. Her hair pulled back makes them pop even more. I want that red lipstick smeared all over my cock while I stare into them.
"So, what are you having?" she asks.
Definitely not the salad you will order. I can tell she'll order one before the words leave her mouth. It's a funny thing. Honestly, if she ordered a cheeseburger or steak it'd probably turn me on even more. I'll order something decent, but not something that will make her feel bad for ordering salad. Grilled chicken or salmon is usually the go to.
"Oh, I think I'll have the lemon pepper chicken." I look over to see a guy tearing into a cheeseburger. Fucker. But it's a price I'm willing to pay to get inside Jessica.
We laugh for a while, trading war stories about work, bad relationships, all the while flirting. Instinctively, I reach for the check when it comes.
"I told you it's on the company." She shoves my hand away, but not before holding on to it an extra split second.
"Sorry, it's a force of habit." Yeah right. I know exactly what I'm doing. She's sharp, so I'm sure she's caught on to some of the bullshit. It's still worth it, as long as I don't overdo it.
The drive back is the longest of my life. I can see her subtly squirming in her seat, anticipating what will come next, afraid that it's going to end, and she's going to be left with nothing but her hand and a cold shower. A memory of what might have been. I smile at the thought and glance over at her.
Don't worry, Jessica. You're going to get everything you want and then some. Just wait. Tension is building in my balls already as we pull into the parking garage. I'm on the verge of exploding in my pants. This is what I live for, the moments right before. All the anticipation, the sweaty palms, the stomach butterflies, my prick growing hard in my slacks, the animalistic instincts of wanting to drill the woman sitting two feet away, separated only by a console and some cup holders.
Finally, we pull into the parking space, staring at each other momentarily before opening our doors. I pretend to be a little upset that she opened the door for herself. "I'm so sorry. I'm not used to the royal treatment. My husband would have been inside the building by now."
"Well, why don't you make up for it and walk me to my car?"
That gets a giggle out of her. It's cheesy as fuck, but she eats it up. Jessica holds out her arm to escort me, and I take it. I feel my forearm rub against her tight hard nipple and soft breast. It sends a warm sensation straight to my cock. The sound of her heels clacking on the concrete as we near my car has my pulse racing. I can see her biting her lip, knowing this is the moment for her. I can practically see everything she is thinking.
Is he really going to fuck me in his car, or in the dark corner of this busy parking garage? Why did he park all the way back here anyway? Did he plan this out?
You're goddamn right I did, Jessica.
We approach my '67 Fastback in the corner and she gasps. I've had it since I was 17 and restored it myself. Classic muscle cars are an aphrodisiac if there ever was one. She releases my arm to walk in front of me. Her ass is driving me wild in that skirt, I want to bite it and hear her squeal.
"Is that a '67?"
Jesus Christ, she knows her cars. I'm now rock hard.
"Sure is."
She's walking faster, and I match her pace as she turns to the driver's side door.
I have to check this out." She runs her hand down the sleek metal in the sexiest way possible.
It's time.
I walk up behind her and press my palm to the small of her back before smoothing it down to her ass. Her eyes close as she presses her tits up against the window, hands resting at the top of the car. I lean in close, next to her ear. "I have to check you out." My voice is a whisper as I watch people get in and out of their cars, nothing between us and them but my Mustang. "I know you want this." I whisper in her ear as I dig my fingers into her ass.
"But, I'm married." Her words are a muttered gasp. She moans lightly as I run my hand up her skirt. She's trying to tease me. She'll find out who's in control momentarily. "You sure? Last chance?" I exhale in her ear, and walk my fingers up her inner-thigh.
She won't resist anymore. "I think we both know the answer to that."
I rub my fingers back and forth on her hot, wet panties, circling around her clit. A shudder rips through her shoulders. I whisper in her ear again while breathing down her neck. "This is what you've wanted all week, isn't it? Me, behind you, my hand up your skirt, playing with this pussy? Look at all these people. They have no idea I'm about to shove my fingers inside you."
I lean forward and watch as she opens her eyes to see all the people in front of us who have no idea what we're doing. I can see the spark in her eyes as the heat rushes through her veins like a strong narcotic. "You've been dreaming about my fingers inside this tight little cunt, knowing you could lose your job if you get caught. But you don't care, do you? You want it too bad. You need me finger fucking this needy pussy, don't you?"
I slip my thumb inside of her, two fingers swirling on her clit.
"Oh my fucking god, yes." She coos, and spreads her thighs, giving me more access.
I roll one of her tight nipples between my fingers before running my hand over her breast. I can feel Jessica's heartbeat on my thumb inside of her, panties cocked to the side. I focus on her clit, still running my fingers over it in small circles.
"Keep an eye out." I drop to my knees slowly.
"What?" She glances back and down to me as I raise her skirt up, releasing her beautiful peach-shaped ass with black lace panties covering the upper half. She looks back up immediately before closing her eyes, finally giving in to the possibility of being discovered.
I massage her ass cheeks over her panties—I know she wore them specifically for this moment—before pulling them down around her knees, revealing her swollen, pink entrance, already wet and glistening between her thighs. I take my time, working up the back of her tan legs, teasing her slit with the tip of my tongue, before burying my nose in her ass, and darting my tongue into her.
Jessica lets out a slight squeal, and then covers her mouth, looking around to see if anyone noticed. A family of four is walking through the parking lot, oblivious to me tasting her sweet pussy a few cars down. I pick up the pace, flicking my tongue on her clit and probing her while she squirms against the car door, wanting to shout but knowing she can't.
I grip her ass, and turn her around to face me, staring eye-level at her pink, freshly shaved cunt. I can see the lust in her eyes, and it fills me with a sense of power and satisfaction, knowing that she is going to finally open her mind and release all of the tension that's been building for years in every bone in her body. I yank her pussy to my mouth, which sends her bending over me in surprise.
"Oh my god, oh my god." Her words are jumbled under her breath.
I start working my fingers up her inner thigh while teasing her bump with my tongue, licking her wetness that flows down onto my face. The closer my fingers get, the tighter she squeezes her legs together. I lean back and look up to her eyes. "Relax. You're about to experience something you've never felt before."
She loosens, and her legs slowly spread as I work my fingers in, still teasing my tongue on her clit and watching her paw at her breasts. Neither of us give a fuck about getting caught at this point. The attraction is too strong. Her eyes roll back as I take my two fingers to the hilt, curling them up to the ridge I find deep inside. Her walls squeeze tight around my fingers, and I imagine what they'll feel like around my cock later.
Wow, this pussy is tight. She definitely hasn't had it in a while.
The suctioning noise of my fingers pumping in and out of her echoes off the concrete walls surrounding us. My fingers are drenched as she grips the back of my scalp, the insides of her arms pressing those beautiful tits together. I snake my tongue over her and work it in circles as my fingers hammer away deep inside of her.
"Goddamn it, Joel, fuck!" Her words are a little too loud for comfort, but it doesn't slow me down. She's on the edge and doesn't realize what's on the other side. She's always been too afraid to let go and take the plunge. I'm about to take her there.
I lift up my pinky finger. My entire hand and her thighs are shimmering, and covered in Jessica's wetness. I slide my pinky finger between the crack of her ass with each thrust of my fingers, before teasing her tight little puckered asshole with it.
"Holy. Fuck." She's panting, barely able to breathe. Her hips fly back and try to push her ass through the car door, barely able to handle the intense nerve firings ripping to her core. I keep my head buried into her, my mouth latched onto her pussy, increasing the tempo of my tongue and fingers. I remove my head from between her legs for a brief second.
"Just let it happen," I whisper, before diving back in, lashing my tongue across her pussy.
"Okay, okay. Oh my fucking god!" She covers her mouth, trying not to scream as my pinky slides slightly inside of her asshole, and I start rubbing over her g-spot in small circles, my fingers fully plunged into the depths of her.
She's now bucking her hips into my face, fully engrossed in her fantasy. A shudder starts in her legs and shoots through her. Her entire body tenses as her thighs squeeze around my face, her nails digging into my scalp. Her pussy clamps around my fingers like a vise and she convulses against my face, before letting go and coming all over my lips, unable to make a sound. I savor every drop as time freezes for her, all of her sexual energy channeled into her pulsating clit, then shooting to her extremities. She finally relaxes a little, her beautiful breasts rising and falling with each deep breath.
I stand up slowly to meet her with a smile, running my fingers across her tight nipples just to see a shiver jolt through her torso. "You are a genius." A huge smile spreads across her face. "Holy fuck!"
I've unleashed the beast. It's inside of every woman, she just doesn't know it.
She throws me up against the car, and my cock immediately rises to attention as she rubs her palm over it. Her eyes widen as she feels my length in her hand, growing more and more the tighter she squeezes. "I have a few things I want to do to you."
"Do it then."
I grin. She drops to her knees and unbuckles my belt, then pulls it apart with her teeth, one of my weaknesses that I find ridiculously hot. Her bright, blue eyes staring up at me have my balls roiling with tension, and I haven't even been inside her yet.
She unzips my pants and pulls my briefs down with them in one quick motion, releasing my cock like a spring-loaded weapon. "Oh my." She strokes the length of my prick slowly with one hand, the other rubbing on her beautiful tits over her shirt.
She teases my tip with her tongue. A tingling sensation shoots through my legs as soon as her warm tongue curls around the head of my cock. "You've wanted to suck that dick, haven't you?" I stare down at her skirt that's hiked up over her beautiful ass.
She nods, taking me a little farther into her mouth, those blue eyes locked on mine, logging away every reaction in her memory. The inside of her cheeks closing around the head of my cock sends my head flying backward. She's surprisingly better than I thought she'd be. Accountants, they have a wild side to them.
She's now hit her groove, stroking and sucking in one smooth, rhythmic motion. It feels amazing. I can't stop staring at those ruby-red lips spread tight around my stiff prick, smearing her lipstick on the length of it. Suddenly, she lifts my cock and presses it to my stomach, before diving onto my balls and sucking on one and then the other, all the while stroking my cock with her palm.
"You like that, don't you?" She pauses for a moment. I'm not going to lie; it feels fucking amazing. Apparently, I don't answer her fast enough as she spits all over my balls, and takes one in her mouth, sucking forcefully on it.
Goddamn. I'm contemplating letting her have control of this whole ordeal. She might fuck even better than I thought.
"Hell yes, just like that."
"I saw you staring at my tits in the office. You've been teasing me with this dick all week. You want to fuck them. Don't you?"
I grin. What have I created? This woman is incredible, radiating sexual confidence. I'm going to change her life. "Thought you'd never ask."
She looks around as if she's suddenly worried about someone seeing her pull her tits out. Never mind the fact that she just smothered her face with my balls. Before I know it, she has her bra pulled out through her sleeve, and she's lifted her shirt up, releasing a beautiful pair of natural tits that bounce slightly. I want to bury my face between them and never come out.
She squeezes them together and lets her spit slowly fall into her cleavage. "You like these?"
"They're fucking perfect."
"I can't wait to watch you fuck them." She spits on my cock, then scoops under her tits with one arm, her free hand palming my shaft. She slaps the head of my dick on each one, then teases at her nipples with it. I'm about to explode every time her tight pearls rub against my swollen head.
"You like it when I slap your cock on these big fucking tits?"
"Hell yes."
Then she slaps it on her cheek and her tongue a few times, sucking the tip for a moment. Before I know it, she has those gorgeous breasts wrapped around the length of me, bobbing up and down.
God I love my dick between her tits.
She slides me back and forth between them, increasing and decreasing the tempo at will. I fist her ponytail in one hand, and cage her throat with the other. Her eyes grow wide as I thrust my cock back and forth between her tits.
I have to get inside of her. It's uncontrollable.
I grab her under her arms and yank her to her feet. She lets out a slight squeal that turns to a moan as I flip her around and shove her up against the side of the car. Her legs spread, offering her ass to me. "You want my cock inside you?" I smack her ass and dig in with my fingers, as I lean in next to her ear.
I slap my dick on her ass from the side, watching the unsuspecting people come in and out of the building. "You've been dreaming about this all week haven't you? This big fucking dick in your tight cunt. It's been driving you crazy. Hasn't it?"
"Mmhmm." She nods.
"Ask me for it."
"Can I have your cock?"
"How bad do you want it?" I grip her by the hair and she moans.
I rub my dick underneath her, back and forth between her soaking wet lips, coating it with her wetness.
"Give it to me. Please. I want to come on your cock."
I pull back on her hair and her face tilts toward the ceiling. Her tits press against the car window as I tease my head around the edge of her pussy. I slowly push into her, watching my cock disappear an inch at a time.
Goddamn. She's so fucking tight and wet.
She's moaning and I haven't even given it all to her yet. I can't wait for her hot walls to spasm around me.
I work about three quarters into her and I start to speed up. Surprisingly, nobody has even turned a head in our direction. I lean in next to her ear. "You ready for me to fuck this pussy?"
"God yes!"
I grip her around the waist and go into jackhammer mode. She starts to scream and bites down on her forearm that is resting on the car. My pelvis is ramming into her ass cheeks, smacking into her as I plunge balls deep. Her tits shake against the glass.
"You like that shit?"
She can't even respond. I grab her ponytail and smack her ass with my free hand, leaving a red hand print.
"You like that? You like being fucked like a naughty little slut?"
"Jesus, I'm going to come again."
"Yeah, come all over this fucking dick you've been craving."
Her hot cunt closes in on me. Her eager pussy clenching for more. She's going to make me blow my load. I reach around and play with her clit, working tiny circles around it while ramming her full speed. Her thighs start to tremble. It's all too familiar now. She knows what she's capable of, and she needs it. I push her past the breaking point and her pussy clamps down on me, her ass and hips vibrating out of control as she bucks back into my cock.
I hear a moan and she pauses, unable to speak. Number two is a success. Her mouth opens to scream but no words come out, just a slight squeal and heavy, deep breaths. I flip her around and lift her against the car, working my cock back inside of her. The car is supporting most of her weight as her tits smash against me.
"Are you going to come for me?" She grips my tie in her right hand.
"I want it on my face." She yanks me closer by the tie, those blue eyes locked on mine. I picture her on her knees, looking at me with those eyes, while I blast her face with my warm load. It sends me into a frenzy. I start pounding into her. The smacking sounds of me ramming her, coupled with my balls slapping up against her tight little asshole, have me in another world.
Tension builds inside me as I continue to fuck her as fast and as hard as possible. I can feel my load inching its way up my shaft as she starts convulsing on my prick with orgasm number three. When she squeezes that slick little cunt around me, it's all over. "Get on your knees." I slip my prick out into my palm and start stroking it furiously.
She kneels down and looks up at me, her mouth open wide with her tongue sticking out, those gorgeous blue eyes locked back on mine once more, begging for every ounce.
The head of my cock is expanding like a balloon. I can't speak. I can only nod to give her a warning before thrusting and letting loose. I spray across her nose and up under one of her eyes, grunting with each thrust. Her eyes close as I explode all over her. Each stroke of my cock sends a new stream into her mouth and onto her forehead, some of it dripping down to her tits. The sight of her face covered in my hot come makes my balls ache as my pelvis and thighs quiver. Finally, I finish, releasing the last of it onto her soft, pink tongue.
I grab a tee shirt from inside the car. She cleans up the tip of my cock and shaft, before wiping the rest from her face and tits.
I can't lie. I fuck all the time, but it never gets old. Every unique conquest is etched into my mind, a memory I'll keep forever. Each orgasm is like a symphony, in a different location, with different instruments. I look back down into those huge, satisfied blue eyes. A huge grin spreads across her face.
"That was amazing." My breath is labored as I admire her beautiful face.
"You think?" She giggles. "I didn't even know that was fucking possible. Who are you?" The panty whisperer.
Sloane Howell lives in the Midwest United States and writes dirty stories. When not reading or writing he enjoys hanging out with his family, watching sports, playing with the dogs, traveling, and engaging his readers on social media. You can almost always catch him on Twitter posting something goofy.
Visit his web page www.sloanehowell.com to sign up for his mailing list to get updates on new releases, promos, and giveaways. Thanks for reading.
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by Kaya Omodele 11-15-07
Lonely bird in a cage croons longingly
Day by day his tune sours, dims to a wail
Until one night his heart bleeds of silence
Caged and draped in only a muffled wail
Shivering, wings fractured, hauntingly silent
Languishes… Laments…Sighs longingly
One final breath, discomforting silence
Peaceful now? Finally, no more wailing?
No pain? Sorrows dry? No further longing?
Forget singing; I know why a caged bird
wails. Silence is Violence.
Copyright K. Omodele 2007

subset: commoncrawl


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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell pushed back on Tuesday against former president and current 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump's calls to terminate the Constitution.
"Anyone seeking the presidency who thinks that the Constitution could somehow be suspended or not followed, it seems to me would have a very hard time being sworn in as president of the United States," McConnell said at the top of his remarks to reporters on Capitol Hill.
McConnell did not answer if he would ultimately support Trump if he were the 2024 GOP nominee, and instead reiterated his same remarks.
Over the weekend, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, repeating his lie that the 2020 election was stolen from him. He said a "massive fraud of this type and magnitude" should allow "the termination of of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution."
On Monday, Trump posted again saying the media was trying to convince people that he called for the termination of the Constitution.
Few other Republicans have criticized the former president's remarks, though many, including Rep. Kevin McCarthy, have remained silent.
White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre responded to Trump's remarks on Monday and pointed to the results of the midterm elections.
"American people have been very clear: They oppose the way that Republicans have talked about this. They oppose the violent rhetoric that extreme MAGA officials have engaged in. And so, we should listen to what the American people had to say just a couple of weeks ago," she said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Flat cage assembliesare cages made from either plastic or metal and a large number of precisely guided rolling elements. Needle rollers provide a minimal construction height and optimum load carrying capacity and rigidity whilst cylindrical rollers are less demanding with regard to the connecting structure and have a slightly less rigidity. Balls create the lowest level of friction of all rolling bearings.
Flat cage assemblies are designed for use with precision guideways but can also be used directly with customer-specific elements with appropriate raceways.


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Sub-series A. Administration largely contains the business records of the Department of Athletics and its various officers. The sub-series spans 1925-2004, but the bulk represents the years of Herbert Gallagher's tenure of Athletic Director, 1953-1977. The sub-series includes contracts for sporting events (box 1, folders 30-37), records from the office of the Business Manager (box 2, folders 97-98; box 3, folders 124-125), and records from the office of the assistant Director of Athletics (box 3, folders 127-132). Also included in the sub-series are records from the office of Cooperative Work (box 3, folders 187-190), and records relating to sports publicity (box 1, folders 26-27; box 2, folders 85-87; box 3, folder 126). The emergence of Crew as a varsity sport in the 1960's is documented in this sub-series, including the proposal to establish crew as a major sport (box 1, folders 38-39). The correspondence of Herbert Gallagher from 1950-1968 is included in the sub-series (box 2, folder 64-79), along with the correspondence of Edward Parsons from 1945-1958. Parsons was Gallagher's predecessor, and the correspondence includes several letters from students and colleagues written from Europe detailing their experiences in World War II (box 2, folder 104). He stepped down in 1953 to become Northeastern's Business Manager. Also in this sub-series are the records of Irwin Cohen, who served as Athletic Director from 1983-1996. The majority of Cohen's records are correspondence and memos including correspondence with John Curry, Philip T. Crotty, Robert Culver, John D. O'Bryant and Phyllis Schaen (box 15, folders 572-583).Sub-series B. Varsity Club Hall of Fame contains files for each inductee, consisting of biographical data, induction programs, newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, press releases, and travel sheets. In addition, there are 3 folders of administrative material consisting of by-laws, constitutions, and committee meeting reports. There were no inductees for the years of 1998 and 2007. Additional material can be found in Subseries A: Administration. A sortable index of inductees is available online at http://www.gonu.com/hof.aspx?tab=halloffame.
Sub-series C. Baseball spans 1932-1999, with the bulk of the material documenting the period 1944-1969. The subseries includes a 1932 baseball banquet program, when Herbert Gallagher was a member of the team (box 4, folder 194), articles about the team (box 4, folder 193), programs and schedules (box 4, folders 212, 214), correspondence concerning the team and prospective game officials (box 4, folders 199-207, 211), a program commemorating the First World Series which was played in 1903 at Huntington Avenue American League Baseball Grounds (box 4, folder 197), and correspondence concerning the eligibility of R. Flynn to play baseball for Northeastern University. Mr. Flynn played professional baseball for a brief period of time before enrolling at Northeastern where he hoped to play collegiate baseball. The correspondence details the legal issues involved in determining amateur status in 1954 (box 4, folder 198). This sub-series also includes baseball scorebooks (box 20) spanning 1939-1980, with gaps.
Sub-series D. Basketball contains records spanning 1942-2008. The sub-series includes correspondence concerning the team and prospective game officials (box 4, folders 224-226, 229-232), the correspondence of basketball coach Richard Dukeshire (box 4, folders 218-223), programs and schedules (box 4, folders 233-235), brochures for basketball coach Jim Calhoun's Husky Basketball School (box 4, folder 215), score books (box 4), and films and VHS tapes of men's and women's basketball games (location 25/1/7, 25/2/1-4, 25/3/7, 30/1/1-2, boxes 41-52).
Sub-series E. Cross Country and Track and Field contains records spanning 1921-98, but the bulk of the records spans 1987 to 1997. The sub-series includes correspondence concerning the teams (box 5, folders 237-239, 252-256), programs (box 5, folders 240, 245-247), and the records of coach Gerald R. Tatton (box 5, folders 248-251) and of coach Irwin Cohen (box 15, folders 539-552, 584-587). The bulk of Cohen's records consist of correspondence, memos, rosters and track meet schedules. Cohen's records also include appointment books (box 16, folders 586-587) that record team workouts from 1963-1966 and correspondence with Joseph P. Zabilski that spans 1981-1983 (box 15, folders 584-585). This subseries also contains Cross Country and Track and Field programs from Northeastern track meets and championships (boxes 16-18, folders 588-590, 626-662) from both Men's and Women's programs. The bulk of the programs are from championships sponsored by outside organizations, like the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Programs from distinctive meets, such as invitationals and relays, are also included. The Records and Schedules folders encompass statistics, top running times, rosters, schedules and results from both Cross Country and Track and Field events (box 16, folders 591-611, 617-625 and boxes 18-19, folders 663-731).
Sub-series F. Football contains records spanning 1933-1996. The sub-series includes correspondence concerning the football team and prospective game officials (box 5, folders 264-270, 272-274), correspondence of Coach Joseph Zabilski who succeeded Herbert Gallagher as Athletic Director (box 6, folders 284-291), programs and press releases (box 5, folders 276-282), and films of football games (location 24/3/4-7, 24/4/1-7, 25/1/1-7), as well as videotapes of football games from 2000-2003 (boxes 23-27).
Sub-series G. Ice Hockey contains records spanning 1931 to 2003. The bulk of the sub-series covers 1942-1961. The sub-series includes correspondence concerning the team and prospective game officials (box 6, folders 298-301), correspondence about hockey arenas (box 6 folders 295-296), programs (box 6, folder 302), score books (box 6), and films and VHS tapes of hockey games (location 25/2/3, box 40).
Sub-series H. Outside Associations and Committees contains records that deal with the various intercollegiate athletic associations and committees that Northeastern University belonged to and/or Herbert Gallagher served as a member of, from 1931-1968. The sub-series includes records of regional and national organizations concerning most of the sports in which Northeastern competes. Also included in sub-series G. are records concerning the United States Olympic Committee, which Gallagher chaired (box 9, folders 375-380).
Sub-series I. Phil Bissell Cartoons contains original cartoons and program artwork by Phil Bissell. Bissell is a prominent Boston area sports cartoonist who worked for the Boston Herald and Boston Globe (1953-1965), where in 1960 he created the original Pat Patriot logo for the Boston (now New England) Patriots. Covering the years 1964-1985, this collection of Northeastern Athletics cartoons includes artwork for game day programs and cartoons celebrating individual achievements by Northeastern athletes and coaches. Football and Men's Ice Hockey receive the most attention, but Bissell covers a wide range of Northeastern sports teams.
- Creation: n.d., 1921-2014 (bulk 1952-2008)
- From the Collection: Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.). Department of Athletics (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access:
Records are closed for 25 years from the date of their creation, unless researchers have written permission from the creating office. Personnel and student records are closed for 75 years from their date of creation.
From the Collection: 165.80 cubic feet (55 containers, 1,667 reels of film, 7 flat file folders)
From the Collection: English
Organized into 9 subseries: A. Administration, B. Varsity Club Hall of Fame, C. Baseball, D. Basketball, E. Cross Country and Track and Field, F. Football, G. Ice Hockey, H. Outside Associations and Committees, I. Phil Bissell Cartoons
Physical Description
113.55 cubic ft.
Repository Details
Part of the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections Repository


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From here:
The Sri Lankan naval craft today attacked a suspected Tamil Tiger gun running vessel off the island's southern coast, a naval spokesman said.All well and good, but buried deeper is this:
The navy detected the boast off Dondra and despite repeated warnings to change course and arrive at a port for inspection, the vessel tried to get away, the spokesman said.
He said the vessel began firing at the navy when it fired warning shots.
"There were some explosions aboard the suspicious vessel and we think they were transporting weapons and explosives," the spokesman said.
The clash came one day after the Tigers shelled two military helicopters carrying ambassadors from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, European Union and the heads of UN agencies.More on that attack here:
The Italian and US ambassadors and the UN resident coordinator were lightly injured.
Ambassadors from Italy and the US were injured by artillery shrapnel yesterday after Tamil Tiger rebels shelled their helicopter seconds after it landed in eastern Sri Lanka on a fact-finding mission.
The attack - the first against Western diplomatic personnel since Sri Lanka's civil war began in 1983 - comes amid seven months of escalating fighting between rebels and government troops.
The ambassadors of Canada, France, Germany, Japan were also on the flight but escaped unscathed as the shells fell on a disused playground outside the eastern town of Batticaloa. Up to 12 Sri Lankan security personnel were injured.
Hospital officials said that the Italian Ambassador, Pio Mariani, had a piece of shrapnel removed from his head, but that the metal had not penetrated his skull. US Ambassador Robert Blake was treated for a slight graze to his arm.
Both men were later described as "fine" by officials, however the attack drew an angry response from the Sri Lankan government who ordered a series of air-strikes against rebel positions later in the day.
The Tamil Tigers expressed 'deep regret' at the incident, but blamed the Sri Lankan military for failing to advise them that diplomats were in the area. The Sri Lankan government described the attack as "deliberate".


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I love these no-bake cookies, and I'd almost forgotten about them. But this week I was looking for a quick recipe to make to bring to work and the last thing I wanted to do was go to the store. I searched tasty kitchen and this recipe jumped out at me when I realized I already had all the ingredients to make them. And I'm so glad because now I remember how much I like them.
The recipe is really quick and easy. You melt half the ingredients together on the stove, boil them for 1 1/2 minutes, mix in the rest of the ingredients, and drop them by the spoonful onto waxed paper. Then let them cool, or if you're like us, attempt to eat one while they're all hot and messy – so good! These only take about 10 minutes, create a minimal amount of mess, and taste great. I definitely recommend them 🙂
1/2 cups Margarine
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
2 cups Sugar
½ cup Milk
3 cups Oats (Old Fashioned or Quick)
½ cups Creamy Peanut Butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
In a large sauce pan, bring margarine, cocoa, sugar, and milk to a hard boil. Boil for a minute and a half, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add oats, peanut butter, and vanilla. Mix well. Immediately drop onto waxed paper using a spoon, as it will begin to set within a few minutes. Let cool.


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Our Passion leads to design, design leads to performance, performance leads to success. We believe that apps and websites should not only be eye
catching but actually provide a great user experience that users will remember.
Instalación en Empresa
Professional & Outstanding ideas of our passionate team makes us unique in every sense. Our Services. Our services are delivered by our team with years of experience are passionate about developing business.


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The Grand Flammes Millennium rotisserie is Rotisol's newest range of ergonomically designed rotisseries, boasting a number of innovative features for improved functionality and appearance.
Plastic switches and gas knobs have been replaced by attractive and durable brass fittings Edges have been rounded. Patented low-level stainless steel burners have been incorporated for superior flame-cooking results. A wide range of custom colours are available on request. The Rotisol rotisserie range is the only one in which you can actually see the flame, highlighted by a powerful quartz lamp, which not only enhances the cooking process but provides an attractive backdrop to your kitchen.
Based on Rotisol's renowned build-quality and design, the Millennium series of rotisseries are available in either traditional gas or electric models in seven different sizes, from two spits to eight, and have our vertical spit system as an option. All Millennium range rotisseries are available in 4 different finishes:
- MiE/G – Stainless Steel without trims (Electric/Gas)
- MiLE/G – Stainless Steel with chrome/brass trims (Electric/Gas)
- MSE/G – Standard Option Stainless Steel with black front panels and chrome/brass trims (Electric/Gas)
- MLE/G – Lux Option with full coloured enamelled body and chrome/brass trims (Electric/Gas)
Rotisserie Accessories
There are a wide range of spits available for this rotisserie. The range allows the cooking of a multitude of product, including vegetables and meats.
The optional decorative hood can also be personalised with laser cutting to show a restaurant name or logo, providing that extra personal touch to your rotisserie.
This range of rotisseries can be further enhanced by the optional range of base cabinets which have options for a simple storage solution, a heated cupboard style cabinet and a heated cabinet with drawers that allow you to place fully loaded cooked spits into the drawer for storage until ready to serve.
- Capacity 25/30 Birds
- Electrical Power (Electric Version) 23.7kw 3 Phase (with neutral; 220-240v/phase – phase to neutral)
- Electrical Power (Gas Version) 0.6Kw Single Phase
- Gas Power NG 158.4Mj/hr – LPG 151.2Mj/hr


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Lauran Neergaard
AP Medical Writer
WASHINGTON — The U.S. on Wednesday authorized its first update to COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses that target today's most common omicron strain. Shots could begin within days.
The move by the Food and Drug Administration tweaks the recipe of shots made by Pfizer and rival Moderna that already have saved millions of lives. The hope is that the modified boosters will blunt yet another winter surge.
"You'll see me at the front of the line," FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks told The Associated Press shortly before his agency cleared the new doses.
Until now, COVID-19 vaccines have targeted the original coronavirus strain, even as wildly different mutants emerged. The new U.S. boosters are combination, or "bivalent," shots. They contain half that original vaccine recipe and half protection against the newest omicron versions, called BA.4 and BA.5, which are considered the most contagious yet.
The combination aims to increase cross-protection against multiple variants.
"It really provides the broadest opportunity for protection," Pfizer vaccine chief Annaliesa Anderson told the AP.
The updated boosters are only for people who have already had their primary vaccinations, using the original vaccines. Doses made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech are for anyone 12 and older while Moderna's updated shots are for adults – if it has been at least two months since their last primary vaccination or their latest booster. They're not to be used for initial vaccinations.
There's one more step before a fall booster campaign begins: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must recommend who should get the additional shot. An influential CDC advisory panel will debate the evidence Thursday – including whether people at high risk from COVID-19 should go first.
"As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants," FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said in a statement.
The U.S. has purchased more than 170 million doses from the two companies. Pfizer said it could ship up to 15 million of those doses by the end of next week.
The big question is whether people weary of vaccinations will roll up their sleeves again. Just half of vaccinated Americans got the first recommended booster dose, and only a third of those 50 and older who were urged to get a second booster did so.
It's time for U.S. authorities to better explain that the public should expect an updated COVID-19 vaccination every so often, just like getting a fall flu shot or a tetanus booster after stepping on a rusty nail, said University of Pennsylvania immunologist E. John Wherry.
"We need to rebrand it in a societally normal-looking way," rather than a panicked response to new mutants, Wherry said. "Give a clear, forward-looking set of expectations."
Here's the rub: The original vaccines still offer strong protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19 for most generally healthy people, especially if they got that important first booster dose. It's not clear just how much more benefit an updated booster will bring — beyond a temporary jump in antibodies capable of fending off an omicron infection.
One reason: The FDA cleared the modifications ahead of studies in people, a step toward eventually handling COVID-19 vaccine updates more like yearly flu shots.
First, FDA checked human studies of earlier Pfizer and Moderna attempts to update their vaccines — shots matching the omicron strain that struck last winter. That recipe change was safe, and substantially boosted antibodies targeting the earlier variant — better than another dose of the original vaccine — while adding a little protection against today's genetically distinct BA.4 and BA.5 omicron versions.
But FDA ordered the companies to brew even more up-to-date doses that target those newest omicron mutants instead, sparking a race to roll out shots in less than three months. Rather than waiting a few more months for additional human studies of that recipe tweak, Marks said animal tests showed the latest update spurs "a very good immune response."
The hope, he said, is that a vaccine matched to currently spreading variants might do a better job of fighting infection, not just serious illness, at least for a while.
What's next? Even as modified shots roll out, Moderna and Pfizer are conducting human studies to help assess their value, including how they hold up if a new mutant comes along.
And for children, Pfizer plans to ask FDA to allow updated boosters for 5- to 11-year-olds in early October.
It's the first U.S. update to the COVID-19 vaccine recipe, an important but expected next step -- like how flu vaccines get updated every year.
And the U.S. isn't alone. Britain recently decided to offer adults over 50 a different booster option from Moderna, a combo shot targeting that initial BA.1 omicron strain. European regulators are considering whether to authorize one or both of the updated formulas.
AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone contributed to this report.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


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Modern networked controls, smart interval meters, and systems integration make available a rich set of data that can be used to improve a building's operational efficiency. Meanwhile, myriad tools and methods for analyzing that data are available. With so many options, building managers and operators often are left wondering where to start. What data are required for proactive energy management? Which analyses should be performed, and how frequently?
The new "Energy Information Handbook: Applications for Energy-Efficient Building Operations"1 targets users with little or no experience analyzing data and monitoring performance. It includes 18 methods of analyzing utility, interval-meter, and submetered energy and control-system data, as well as overviews of manual and automated fault detection and diagnostics (FDD).
This article provides an overview of the content of the handbook and the subset of analysis methods applicable to the operation of heating and cooling systems. The discussion focuses on loading histograms, efficiency analysis, and FDD. To conclude, a summary of complementary methods, such as load profiling and energy signatures, is presented, with a discussion of energy-saving benefits.
Handbook Design
The handbook is broken into five chapters—Introduction, Reporting and Tracking Methods, Fundamental Methods, Advanced Methods, Fault Detection and Diagnostics—and an appendix.
Reporting and Tracking Methods includes approaches to gauging financial, energy, and carbon performance. The approaches can be applied to specific building systems; however, they most commonly are used at the site or portfolio level. They can use utility billing information and may not require interval-meter data or sensor time-series data.
The fundamental methods include system-specific and whole-building analyses and require relatively more user expertise than the reporting and tracking methods and the advanced methods (Figure 1). The analyses tend to require interval-meter data or other time-series data, such as temperature. This core set of analyses is used to reveal energy waste and opportunities for operational-efficiency improvements and includes several methods applying specifically to heating and cooling systems.
Each of the advanced methods requires interval-meter data and (in best-practice applications) a baseline model that can quantify expected or forecasted energy use robustly. Although they are the most sophisticated and computationally intensive methods in the handbook, the advanced methods involve less manual inspection than the fundamental methods and, thus, require minimal expertise for interpretation. The FDD chapter and appendix contain more advanced concepts, technical details, and resources.
The handbook presents each analysis method beginning with a summary of purpose, applicable building systems, frequency of use, target audience, and underlying technical approach. This is followed by an overview of relevant commercial tools and step-by-step calculations. The remaining content is dedicated to interpretation and application examples.
Loading Histograms
Purpose. Loading histograms are used to evaluate whether HVAC equipment is sized and staged properly, given the operated condition of a building. They are useful in identifying potential retrofit solutions and optimizing control of multiunit staging (Figure 2).
Technical approach. Group system-load measurements into "bins," or ranges, and count the number of hours the system operated within each. Construct a bar chart, with load plotted on the x-axis and the number of hours at each load plotted on the y-axis (Figure 3). Then, compare the distribution of operational hours at each load to manufacturer load ratings and equipment staging sequences.
Interpretation. Equipment is sized according to expected building loads and a margin of safety. If a histogram shows frequent operation at loads far below rated capacity, downsizing may be appropriate. For example, a chiller's efficiency "sweet spot" typically is 70 percent to 80 percent of full load. Boilers, on the other hand, often cycle at loads below 20 percent, introducing energy waste and part wear.
Technical details. Sizing systems relative to actual building loads affects operational efficiency. Typically, system efficiency decreases as load falls below maximum rated capacity to part-load conditions. Because most systems do not operate at full capacity for the majority of annual run-hours, parallel units often are used to match capacity to load and improve efficiency.
Figure 4 shows a loading histogram for a chiller-retrofit analysis.
Heating and Cooling Efficiency
Purpose. Heating and cooling systems comprise a significant portion of commercial-building load. The efficiency of these systems commonly degrades because of (1) a lack of proper maintenance and (2) controls complexity, which can obscure energy waste. Operational efficiencies can be verified according to manufacturer performance specifications (Figure 5).
Technical approach. Using interval data, calculate the amount of heating or cooling produced and the energy required to produce it, and generate a plot, with load on the x-axis and efficiency on the y-axis (Figure 6). Compare performance to specifications, and use the plots to determine if efficiency changes with loading as expected. Some systems operate more efficiently at part load and others at full load. Changes or excessive scatter in an x-y plot may be indicative of control or sequencing problems.
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Interpretation. Coefficient of performance (COP) is a unitless efficiency metric, with bigger numbers reflecting better performance. Kilowatts per ton is an inverse efficiency metric—the smaller the number, the better the performance. For chiller plants (including pumps and tower fans), a COP below 3.5 or a kilowatts-per-ton reading above 1.0 indicates relatively poor performance. Boiler efficiency tends to range from 80 percent to 83 percent for conventional units, 84 percent to 88 percent for efficient units, and 89 percent and above for high-efficiency condensing units. These are broad rules of thumb influenced by equipment type and age, climate, operating conditions, and system/equipment-analysis boundaries.
Technical details. The load produced in heating and cooling systems is calculated from a flow measurement, a temperature delta between system supply and return, and unit conversion factors. Boiler loads are computed from measures of water flow, while furnace loads are computed from measures of airflow. Similarly, water-cooled-chiller loads are computed from measures of water flow, while direct-expansion-chiller loads are computed from measures of airflow.
Figure 7 shows an example of chiller-efficiency analysis.
Fault Detection and Diagnostics
Purpose. The primary objective of FDD is to detect system-equipment faults early and identify their causes, preventing energy waste, system damage, and/or loss of service. FDD can be performed "manually" through visual inspection of charts and trends or fully automated. An example of manual FDD is presented in Figure 8.
Automated FDD. Automated algorithms use measured time-series data and set-up data describing equipment and system characteristics (e.g., setpoints and type of control) to generate actionable information. Automation streamlines the FDD process and enables continuous performance tracking. Many methods of automated FDD exist, but rule-based methods, broadly classified as first-principle qualitative models, are most commonly employed in commercial FDD tools. With this approach, qualitative relationships, or "rules," are derived from knowledge of underlying system operation. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the output of two such rule-based tools for outside-air economizers.
Complementary Methods
Load profiling, baselines, and energy signatures also are included in "Energy Information Handbook" and can be used to identify efficiency opportunities for heating and cooling systems.
Load profiling. Plots of 24-hr or longer periods of interval-meter data are inspected on a daily or weekly basis to understand the amount of energy used at given times and days of the week. Visible changes in load shape, or "profile," are readily identified as periods of either energy waste or energy reduction (Figure 11).
Baselines. Energy-consumption baselines characterize energy usage based on historic data, such as metered energy use and weather conditions. Typically, they are used as the basis of analyses such as benchmarking, automated energy-anomaly detection, and quantification of total or cumulative energy savings. Simple baselines normalize total energy use by key influencing factors, such as square footage, number of days in the period, or degree-days, and commonly are used to benchmark energy use over time or relative to a set of similar buildings. Energy-savings determination and anomaly detection typically require model-based baselines providing a mathematical relationship between energy use and the variables that drive energy use, such as time of day and air temperature. Regression models are the most commonly used baselines.
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Energy signatures. Plots of energy use and outdoor-air temperature are used to monitor the performance of temperature-dependent loads, such as whole-building gas and electricity. The data points in an energy signature should follow orderly lines reflecting consistent behavior; highly scattered points should be investigated as possible indicators of inefficiency. As shown in Figure 12, loads at which energy use does not change with temperature and the rate at which load changes with temperature (i.e., the heating or cooling slope) also are useful in identifying potential efficiency improvements.
The analysis methods in "Energy Information Handbook" are intended to be applied collectively to achieve low-energy building operations. They span several levels of analysis from portfolio to whole-building and system investigations and, used in combination, can generate multiple insights into a common set of "root" aspects of energy performance.
The energy savings achievable through continuous performance monitoring and analysis depend on several factors, including how bad the building performed before tracking was initiated, the depth of metering and availability of measured data, the level of engagement of the operator or facility manager, and the operator's or facility manager's ability to take action once problems are identified. Research on the costs and benefits of commissioning has shown that existing buildings waste 16 percent on average because of inefficient operations, much of which can be remedied with low/no-cost solutions.5
The system-level and FDD analysis methods presented in "Energy Information Handbook" can expose many operational inefficiencies identified during the commissioning process. Monitoring-based commissioning, or the use of permanent metering for continuous performance analyses, is documented to save 9 percent in energy use and increase persistence of energy savings over time.6 Moreover, performance analyses applied at the whole-building level can reveal inefficiencies in heating and cooling systems, lighting and plug loads, and loads that may not be individually submetered. Case studies have shown 5- to 25-percent site or portfolio energy savings, quick payback, high return on investment, and persistent low-energy performance in cases in which an organization has implemented a continuous energy-monitoring and analysis program in combination with enabling software tools and an accountable staff.7,8,9,10
The authors thank George Hernandez of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, for his support in developing "Energy Information Handbook" and Srinivas Katipamula of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for co-authoring the FDD chapter.
This work was supported by the assistant secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC02-05CH11231.
This article is an account of work sponsored by the U.S. government. While the article is believed to contain correct information, neither the U.S. government nor any agency thereof, nor The Regents of the University of California, nor any of their employees makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by its trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. government or any agency thereof or The Regents of the University of California. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U.S. government or any agency thereof or The Regents of the University of California.
1) Granderson, J., Piette, M.A., Rosenblum, B., & Hu, L. (2011). Energy information handbook: Applications for energy-efficient building operations. LBNL-5272E. Available at http://eis.lbl.gov
2) Piette, M.A., Carter, G., Meyers, S., Sezgen, O., & Selkowitz, S. (1997). Model-based chiller tracking for performance assurance at a university building. LBNL Report No. 40781.
3) Piette, M.A., et al. (1998). Development and testing of an information and diagnostic system for large commercial buildings. LBNL Report No. 41926. Available at http://imds.lbl.gov/pubs/ace3/aceee.html
4) Mazzarella, L., & Liziero, M. (Eds.). Neumann, C., & Jacob, D. (2009). Description of European prototype tool for evaluation of building performance and the national tools. Available at http://www.buildingeq-online.net/fileadmin/user_upload/Results/BEQ_report_WP5_090823.pdf
5) Mills, E. (2009). Building commissioning: A golden opportunity for reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. LBNL Report No. 3645-E. Available at http://cx.lbl.gov/documents/2009-assessment/LBNL-Cx-Cost-Benefit.pdf
6) Mills, E., & Mathew, P. (2009). Monitoring-based commissioning: Benchmarking analysis of 24 UC/CSU/IOU projects. LBNL Report No. 1972-E. Available at http://eetd.lbl.gov/emills/pubs/pdf/MBCx-LBNL.pdf
7) Capehart, B., & Middlekoop, T. (Eds.). (2011). Handbook of web based energy information and control systems. Lilburn, GA: Fairmont Press.
8) Granderson, J., Piette, M.A., & Ghatikar, G. (2010, June). Building energy information systems: User case studies. Energy Efficiency Journal, pp. 17-30.
9) Motegi, N., Piette, M.A., Kinney, S., & Dewey, J. (2003). Case studies of energy information systems and related technology: Operational practices, costs, and benefits. LBNL Report No. 53406. Available at http://eetd.lbl.gov/BT/hpcbs/pubs/E5P22T1e_LBNL-53406.pdf
10) Accenture. (2011). Energy-smart buildings: Demonstrating how information technology can cut energy use and costs of real estate portfolios. Available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/67751676/Energy-Smart-Buildings-Whitepaper-Microsoft-s-tudy
Jessica Granderson, PhD, is a research scientist and the deputy of research programs for the Building Technologies Department of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). She has a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and a background in intelligent lighting controls and whole-building energy-performance monitoring and diagnostics. Mary Ann Piette is the head of the Building Technologies Department of LBNL and director of the LBNL-led Demand Response Research Center. She has a bachelor's degree in physical science and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley and a licence in building-services engineering from Chalmers University of Technology. Benjamin Rosenblum is a research associate in the Building Technologies Department of LBNL. He has a master-of-architecture degree from the Yale School of Architecture and a master-of-science degree in architecture, with a concentration in building science, from UC Berkeley and a background in sustainable building design and whole-building energy-performance monitoring. Dan Harris, PE, is a senior project manager for the New Buildings Institute working primarily on projects related to energy metering, measurement and verification, and system integration. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering of control systems. A senior at the University of Toronto pursuing a bachelor's degree in engineering science, with a major in energy systems, R. Lily Hu was an undergraduate researcher at LBNL during the summer of 2011. Prior to that, she worked as a research assistant at the University of Calgary and the University of Birmingham.
Did you find this article useful? Send comments and suggestions to Executive Editor Scott Arnold at [email protected].


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Australian painter Colley Whisson has been painting from the age of 20, encouraged by his father, Eric Whisson, also an artist.
Colley Whisson uses a bright palette and an appealingly textural rendering technique, in which forms are defined by bold strokes of heavy paint, laid on with very visible evidence of the brush.
He utilizes both crisply delineated edges and contrastingly blurred passages. You can see this better when his work is reproduced larger than the small images I've displayed above. I've included a detail crop of the last image at bottom.
Whisson has a fascination for boldly defined forms, both in their geometry and in the value and color contrasts in which he delights. I particularly enjoy his room interiors, in which the geometry of forms and his economy of rendering come to the fore.
Whisson's art has been featured in magazines like International Artist and Australian Artist. He is the author of the instructional book Impressionist Painting Made Easy.
Whisson conducts workshops in Australia and the U.S. There is a video here of one of his workshops at the Tuscon Art Academy, and painter Ed Turpening gives a description of his experiences with a Whisson workshop, including a video demo and a description of Whisson's approach and materials.


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- From: Rob Glidden <email@example.com>
- Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 16:31:55 -0800
- To: "Henning Timcke" <email@example.com>, "Simon Gibbs" <email@example.com>
- Cc: <firstname.lastname@example.com>, "Philipp Hoschka" <firstname.lastname@example.com>, "Rodger Lea" <email@example.com>, <email@example.com>
Henning wrote: >This does not mean the the viewer must be logged on to the Internet, but this means the viewer has to >be logged on to something that allows him to interact, to send back a mouse click or something similar, >to buy. I'd like to know what you have in mind and how this would differ from I-Net architecture. No, a "backchannel" back to a server or the internet is not required for "Broadcast Web" content to be "consumed" (i.e. viewed and interacted with). This is the first conceptual leap of "Web on TV" -- the viewer may not necessarily be connected to the Internet! Watching television cannot be required to be "hooked up to the Internet" at all times -- it won't fly technically (at least not for a time frame relevant to business planning) and not from a business model. Of course, in the "buy-me button" example -- there may be many reasons to get the viewer to log back to the backchannel -- but maybe it is just an ad for a special at the local grocery store -- with no need to log back for it to be comercially meaninful. This is why they call it broadcasting. Rob -----Original Message----- From: Henning Timcke <firstname.lastname@example.com> To: 'Rob Glidden' <email@example.com>; Simon Gibbs <firstname.lastname@example.com> Cc: email@example.com <email@example.com>; Philipp Hoschka <firstname.lastname@example.com>; Rodger Lea <email@example.com>; email@example.com <email@example.com> Date: Wednesday, October 28, 1998 11:47 AM Subject: AW: Conceptual requirements Rob: >[>] Connection must not be on the same wire, but any kind of two way connection must be established for a relevant time intervall. To be clear, I hope we are talking about the same thing. I am talking about the scenario where the viewer is watching digital television, and the buy me button is embedded in the broadcast stream (as HTML+media data?) -- the viewer would not have to log onto the Internet (or do anything else) for the buy-me button to appear on the screen, be selected and display further information. From my point of view this is not a qustion of digital tv or analog tv. What I am thinking about is scenario where there is - in any way - a end to end and back topology implemented. This does not mean the the viewer must be logged on to the Internet, but this means the viewer has to be logged on to something that allows him to interact, to send back a mouse click or something similar, to buy. I'd like to know what you have in mind and how this would differ from I-Net architecture. Henning -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: Rob Glidden [SMTP:email@example.com] Gesendet am: Montag, 26. Oktober 1998 22:34 An: Henning Timcke; Simon Gibbs Cc: email@example.com; Philipp Hoschka; Rodger Lea; email@example.com Betreff: Re: Conceptual requirements -----Original Message----- From: Henning Timcke <firstname.lastname@example.com> To: 'Rob Glidden' <email@example.com>; Simon Gibbs <firstname.lastname@example.com> Cc: email@example.com <firstname.lastname@example.com>; Philipp Hoschka <email@example.com>; Rodger Lea <email@example.com>; email@example.com <email@example.com> Date: Monday, October 26, 1998 11:50 AM Subject: AW: Conceptual requirements >>For example, the "buy-me button" scenario: >> >>A Coke commercial comes on. >>During the commercial, a "buy-me button" appears on-screen. >>If the viewer selects it, further information appears about a local sale on >>Coke. >>When the commercial is over, the button disappears. >> >>Questions: >> >>How does the client know to launch the buy-me button? >>[>] The coke commercial has a PI to request the by-me button from >http://buy.coke.com > > >How does the client know the coke commercial has an XML Processing >Instruction in the first place? >[>] The client must have minimal parser functionality To parse what? XML fragments in the stream? >Is there coke.commercial.html somewhere? >[>] yes Where? Embedded in the broadcast stream? > >And why http? >[>] could be pnm or rpm >The TV may not be connected to the Internet. >[>] This is the point: connected or not. >No connection to an end -to-end net: no interaction >[>] Connection must not be on the same wire, but any kind of two way connection must be established for a relevant time intervall. To be clear, I hope we are talking about the same thing. I am talking about the scenario where the viewer is watching digital television, and the buy me button is embedded in the broadcast stream (as HTML+media data?) -- the viewer would not have to log onto the Internet (or do anything else) for the buy-me button to appear on the screen, be selected and display further information. >>What is put in the cache, and how is it queried? > >>[>] The buy me coke button is put in the cache or retrieved from cache > > >But how does the client know it is there, and it should do something with >it? >[>] The parser tells to the client Does it say -- Alert! new session to be launched? Or alert -- new web page for this channel? >>How does the clent know to remove the buy-me button? >>[>] From the Synchronization part of the buy-me button > > >So buy-me buttons stay up as long as the content creator wants them to? >[>] Of course But broadcast advertising business models seem to dictate that the button should only stay on the screen during the commercial, not during the next commercial. >Can't they be automatically killed if you change channels or another >commercial comes on? >[>] Do you think of an one-buy-me-button-fits-all ? >I think any commercial will have it's own buttons. Definitely not one universal buy-me button. >>What if the viewer tunes in halfway through the commercial? >>[>] Synchronization must allow to multiple request within an intervall > > >Could you elaborate? [>] I would like to work on this (where time comes in and how to change from absolute time layers to , maybe on saturday I will find some time to type out what's in my mind. Multiple requests to where ? [>] From the host through the parser to the client. But there is no host-- only a broadcast stream. > Similar to the Content refresh mechanism in the meta tag. During a given period (the time intervall defining the total appereance of the what-ever-now-button) the button has constantly to be on the screen, if not it must be rerequest: when your zapping you must get the information: Hey, some few seconds ago, there appeared a button right here, get it now, it has to disappear in 4 seconds from now on) Wouldn't the button have to be rebroadcast several times during the commercial? If the viewer is not watching at the beginning, then it could not be put in the cache. > > >>What if the viewer wants to save the local store address? >>[>] The commercial must also send a "save address" button > > >This seems to make sense to me -- otherwise broadcasters will fill the cache >with junk. > >> >>As you can see it's a matter of deciding at what exact time on a timeline >what happens. So that something can happen in the right time: the commercial >as well has to be made in a matter that allows interaction with the user. >> >>With superimpose all that is needed is a transparent imagemap. > > >What if the button rotates or bounces? >[>] It has to bounce within the polygon area of the imagemaps hotspot Why? Why not bounce all over the screen, if that's what the advertiser wants to do? Why does the button have to be an imagemap? Can't be a div tag or 3D object? >How will the client know where on the screen to put the button? >[>] This has to be coordinated during the design phase of the commercial. >The client just has to know the coordinates of event areas and what to do we this areas are selected for action. How does the button tell the client where to put itself on the screen? The client couldn't know this in advance, or hardwire the location in a standard. >>The client or viewer must be able to act like the early mosaic-browser. >>Cache can be within RAM (Basic Viewer) or on a PCMCIA like device >(Personalized Viewer). >>I'd like to have my personal cache with me. >> >>Henning >> >>Requirements: >> >>Open-standard end-to-end solution >>Robust, stable, and deployable architecture >> >>Rob >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Henning Timcke <firstname.lastname@example.com> >>To: 'Rob Glidden' <firstname.lastname@example.com>; Simon Gibbs >><email@example.com> >>Cc: firstname.lastname@example.com <firstname.lastname@example.com>; Philipp Hoschka >><email@example.com>; Rodger Lea <firstname.lastname@example.com>; >>'firstname.lastname@example.com' <firstname.lastname@example.com> >>Date: Sunday, October 25, 1998 12:38 PM >>Subject: Conceptual requirements >> >> >>>Rob: >>>I propose to use XML Processing instructions (PIs). >>>All the cached data should report their statuses to an application. >>>This application checks the caches and computes their relevance >>>(distance to time, accuracy of information, time to live downloaded). >>>Another application should mark the cached data with approriate >>information) >>>What has to be worked out is the relevance of the delivery time. >>>How many caches have to be established by reasons of topology (bandwith >>needed). >>> >>>I think it is of importance to get some things on the same level of >>abstraction and to sort them out: >>>1. How TV is made >>>2. How TV is broadcasted >>>In the far future there will be no difference, but in the near future >there >>will be many differences. For the present: we have to know on what level of >>differentiation the fileformats are. Is there a collection of all >>fileformats in use somewhere, beyond >>http://www.ora.com/centers/gff/specs.htm. >>>From a very conceptual point of view TV is only a Webpage (HTML or SMIL) >>with full screen resolution and zero net congestion. >>>For example an HTML Page with animated Gif's and with an embedded >Realvideo >>or an MPEG Stream can look the same as an HTML Page with an MPEG 7 Stream. >>And an HTML Page with an Full Screen RealVideo can be just an MPEG Stream >of >>Content made as a SMIL. >>> >>>A workaround might be to superimpose the signal of normal TV with the >>signal of a webbroswer. >>> >>>Simon wrote: >>>>Here are some of the things that I would like >>>>to see supported: >>> >>>>A URL/URI/URN that allows a browser to locate and access >>>>content obtainable from the following devices: >>> >>>>- consumer AV equipment (CD, MD, DV, DVD etc) >>>>- DTV receivers and set-top boxes >>> >>>>I'm also assuming that there is a network connection >>>>of some form between the browser and the device in question. >>>>This connection can carry both control information and content. >>> >>>>From my point of view all the contents can be addressed as URLs, all the >>data has a fileformat and a filename. Live streams can be addressed with a >>mechanism analog to the Real System, were a live stream has already an URL. >>> >>>And, of course it is true, when Dan Zigmond writes: >>> >>>World-Wide Web browsers are starting to appear on a variety of >>>consumer electronic devices, such as television sets and television >>>set-top boxes, which are capable of receiving television programming >>>from either terrestrial broadcast, satellite broadcast, or cable. On >>>these devices, some of the URL schemes described in [1] are >>>inappropriate. For example, many of these devices lack local storage, >>>so the "file" scheme is of little use. >>> >>>But, my TV (Monitor) and my VHS Recorder are not the same, conceptually, >>except they are both local devices. >>> >>>My TV cannot use the file scheme (no storage device!) but my VHS Recorder >>can (storage device!). >>> >>>Inapproriate is to locate content that has no filename and no fileformat. >>> >>>What my questions are: >>> >>>What, if we had a topology that allows to manage all existend content into >>URL conformance (e.g Regional Real Server Stations (TV within a >cablenetwork >>works even without IP (VOD), we build such an environement (with DNS and >IP) >>for Orbit'98 on MPEG and RS G2 and an additional MPEG hardware decoder) ) >>?. >>> >>> >>>What happens to the content broadcasted ? >>> >>>Shall the content be storable on the client side at all ? >>> >>>If any broadcasted content was in the proposed scheme of tv:<broadacst> >>>what fileformat will be used ? >>> >>>Still I believe: if the content has a fileformat and a filename we need >>nothing else to build on than XML and UR*. >>> >>> >>> >>>Henning >>> >>> >>> >>>-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- >>>Von: Rob Glidden [SMTP:firstname.lastname@example.com] >>>Gesendet am: Mittwoch, 21. Oktober 1998 21:33 >>>An: Henning Timcke; Simon Gibbs >>>Cc: email@example.com; Philipp Hoschka; Rodger Lea >>>Betreff: Re: AW: work on url for television started >>> >>> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: Henning Timcke <email@example.com> >>>To: 'Rob Glidden' <firstname.lastname@example.com>; Simon Gibbs >>><email@example.com> >>>Cc: firstname.lastname@example.com <email@example.com>; Philipp Hoschka >>><firstname.lastname@example.com>; Rodger Lea <email@example.com> >>>Date: Wednesday, October 21, 1998 11:12 AM >>>Subject: AW: AW: work on url for television started >>> >>> >>>>Rob: >>>>I will try >>>>Where do I find information about data carousels ? >>>>Henning >>> >>> >>>Conceptually -- data carousels are "constantly refreshed client-side >caches >>>of broadcast data objects". Think of tuning in to a TV channel -- if it >is >>>a web page -- how often does the web page have to be rebroadcast so you >can >>>see it when you tune into it? Does all of the page have to be rebroadcast >>>every second? how about just the top level page more often, with images >>>refreshed every few seconds (for example..) >>> >>>For background >>> >>>ATSC Specialist Group T3/S16 for Interactive Service Protocols: >>> >>>http://toocan.philabs.research.philips.com/misc/atsc/t3s16/ >>> >>>A faq on DSM-CC is at >>>http://drogo.cselt.stet.it/mpeg/faq/faq_dsm-cc.htm >>> >>>An Introduction to Digital Storage Media - Command and Control (DSM-CC) >>>http://drogo.cselt.stet.it/mpeg/documents/dsmcc.htm >>> >>>Rob >>> >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- >>>>Von: Rob Glidden [SMTP:firstname.lastname@example.com] >>>>Gesendet am: Mittwoch, 21. Oktober 1998 19:25 >>>>An: Henning Timcke; Simon Gibbs >>>>Cc: firstname.lastname@example.com; Philipp Hoschka; Rodger Lea >>>>Betreff: Re: AW: work on url for television started >>>> >>>>Henning: >>>> >>>>Yes, I think assistance would be helpful. Could you elaborate a little on >>>>how XML could meet these kinds of requirements? >>>> >>>>1) "referencing cache data" -- in transient caches and data carousels >>>> >>>>2) "querying caches" -- to determine what is currently in them and >>>>available >>>> >>>>3) "supporting session management" -- i.e. identifying, launching, >>>>subscribing, terminating multiple streaming sessions. >>>> >>>>I think a key challenge if finding the right level of abstraction -- some >>>>people think of all this a high-level, authoring issue, some think of it >>as >>>>low level exposing of the syntax of things like MPEG transport streams. >>>> >>>>Rob >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
Received on Wednesday, 28 October 1998 19:47:23 UTC


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We are pleased to announce that eight Robbins LLP attorneys were selected to the 2021 San Diego Super Lawyers list.
2021 Super Lawyers
Brian J. Robbins – (Top 50: 2021 San Diego Super Lawyers)
Craig W. Smith
George C. Aguilar
Kevin A. Seely
Shane P. Sanders
Stephen J. Oddo
2021 Rising Stars
Eric Carrino
Michael J. Nicoud
This is an exclusive list, recognizing no more than five percent of attorneys in the state. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Attorneys are selected from more than 70 practice areas and all firm sizes, assuring a credible and relevant annual list. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes:
• Peer nominations
• Independent research by Super Lawyers
• Evaluations from a highly credentialed panel of attorneys
The objective of Super Lawyers is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys to be used as a resource for both referring attorneys and consumers seeking legal counsel. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country, as well as the San Diego Super Lawyers Digital Magazine.
For more information about Super Lawyers, go to SuperLawyers.com


text:
Launchpod episode 11: Launchpad teams and OpenID, future of LP UI and community help
Launchpod: the Launchpad team podcast!
Hosts: Matthew Revell, Graham Binns and Joey Stanford.
Theme: Obscurity by Barry Warsaw.
- 01.11: Each weekday, a member of the Launchpad team is available to help you with your Launchpad queries. We discuss our new help rotation.
- 05.53: Martin Albisetti discusses his new role looking after Launchpad's UI and also talks about the team's vision for the future of Launchpad's web interface.
- 16.12: Stuart Metcalfe talks about the Drupal plugin he's created that allows Drupal sites to grant additional permissions to users based on their Launchpad team memberships. It's now in action on the Ubuntu Fridge.
Talk to us! Episode 13 of Launchpad will be recorded in London at the end of October. Send us your questions because the full Launchpad team will be available to take them!


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Go figure that pregnancy with all of it's rapidly and vastly changing hormones is one of the most common triggers for gallbladder sludge, and it's also one of the hardest times to do anything about it. Let's look at why it happens and what you can do about it. If you're unclear about what the gallbladder does, and what sludge is then read this post first.
Symptoms of Gallbladder Sludge in Pregnancy
Gallbladder can cause a wide range of issues ranging from mild to severe, but any issue is worth discussing with your doctor because untreated disease can lead to complications for the pregnancy. Symptoms include:
- Itching – on belly, palms and soles or all over. This can happen with or without a rash. If it's serious, go to your doctor.
- Right sided digestive pain – at the bottom of your rib cage on the R side or radiating into the R shoulder blade, R shoulder or even L shoulder blade.
- Gas
- Bloating
- Digestive discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
Why is Gallbladder Sludge So Common in Pregnancy?
Gallbladder sludge essentially happens when your gallbladder is overwhelmed by too much cholesterol and not enough bile. You'll recall that the bile acts as kind of a "soap" to emulsify fats and make them more water soluble so that they can be both excreted and absorbed in the digestive tract. Just like with dish soap, if there is too much fat or grease and not enough soap you get a sludgy goo that tends to stick to everything and generally get in the way. Hence gallbladder sludge. But why does this happen in pregnancy? Many reasons:
- Huge hormone shifts – Rapid changes in hormone levels mean that lots of hormones (fat soluble) are being excreted by the liver, and fat soluble toxins are excreted via bile. In fact, below are pictures of a cholesterol molecule and an estrogen molecule – no doubt you'll notice the similarities (and estrogen along with the other sex hormones is made in your body from cholesterol).
- High Water Use – Pregnancy uses a lot of water – your body is building a human and that's no small task. It requires that you also create lots of extra blood, extra fluid to protect and support the baby and of course, all the water that goes into the baby. Not only that but there are thousands of extra metabolic processes happening to make all of this go. It's just a big time for water, and so mild to moderate dehydration is incredibly common – especially in early pregnancy before mama's intake has adjusted sufficiently to cover it all. Dehydration is also a risk factor for gallbladder sludge just because all bodily fluids, including bile, get a little thicker and sludgier if there is less water to go around.
- Estrogen – High estrogen is a risk factor for gallbladder sludge, or cholestasis, independent of pregnancy as well (at least it is in animal studies). In fact, the risk factors for gallstones are called the five F's – Fair, Female, Fat Fertile and Forty. Lovely.
- Genetics – There are some genetic conditions associated with gallbladder sludge (more specifically with Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy, or ICP). So chances are if your mother, aunties, sisters or grandmother had troubles, you may be at greater risk.
Are There Natural Ways to Help Gallbladder Sludge in Pregnancy?
Yes and no. Pregnancy is a risky time to use any natural or medical treatment and many drugs and supplements are off limits because they may cause harm to the baby. If you're not pregnant, then here's a whole post about gallbladder sludge and stones. If you are, then here are the things you can do:
- Diet – Pregnancy is a great time for a healthy diet anyway, so might as well do a healthy gallbladder-friendly diet. This means:
- No fried foods
- Lots of fruits
- Limited red meat, butter, shellfish and eggs
- LOTS of veggies – especially dark green leafy veg
- Good lean meat, poultry and fish
- High fiber foods – aim for 30 – 50 g per day – some examples below
- Split peas – 16.3 g per cup cooked (split pea soup. Yummy.)
- Lentils – 15.6 g per cup cooked
- Black beans – 15 g per cup cooked
- Artichokes – 10.3 g each and also gently boost liver function
- Broccoli – 5.3 g per cup boiled
- Raspberries – the yummiest 8 g per cup ever
- Bran flakes – 7 g per cup
- Avocado – 12 g each
- Water – Bump the water WAY up. Aim for 12 eight ounce cups with 8 eight ounce cups being the absolute minimum. This will suck because pregnancy makes you pee all the time anyway and drinking this much water will have you running to the bathroom constantly. Sorry! It's better than a gallbladder attack, believe me.
- Lecithin – Lecithin is safe in both pregnancy and nursing because as it turns out, one of it's major ingredients, choline, is great for baby. Typically midwives and doctors suggest 1200 mg 3-4 times per day with lots of water, but here's more information about lecithin and it's use in gallbladder issues. It's also great for blocked ducts when you're nursing and gallbladder sludge even when you're not preggers.
- Gentle Exercise Regularly – Exercise is good for everything in the human body, including the gallbladder. For many women this will actually eliminate mild symptoms.
- Castor Oil – Topical (NOT INTERNAL) castor oil over the right side of your abdomen and back can help your body to deal with some of the sludge in a gentle way. Here's a whole post on it with more detailed information. And Here's info on a great lazy method of doing a castor oil pack. This is both anti-inflammatory and also good for the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.
- Lukewarm Epsom Salts Baths – The magnesium in the Epsom salts will help to relax the bile duct and allow sludge to pass more easily, and the lukewarm bath can help to relieve the itching.
What About Not-Natural Ways to Relieve Gallbladder Sludge in Pregnancy?
If you're having gallbladder attacks on top of the already uncomfortable state of being pregnant, then sometimes you want a faster option. Also severe gallbladder attacks with protracted vomiting, inflammation or infection can be a serious risk to your baby, so there's that too.
- Ursodiol – this prescription drug may be suggested by your doctor to help manage symptoms and increase bile flow.
- Surgery – It is possible to have your gallbladder removed during pregnancy and sometimes it's necessary. The second trimester is considered the safest time for both mother and baby to undergo this procedure. Depending on your doctor they may suggest laparoscopic removal or open gallbladder surgery.
Remember pregnancy is a rough time anyway because your body is doing so much, changing so fast and generally working so hard. Be gentle with yourself, talk with your doctor, and don't judge – sometimes you can use the natural methods for working with gallbladder sludge in pregnancy and sometimes you really do need something more intense, like surgery.


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A total of 119 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in B.C. ahead of the Thanksgiving long weekend.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a statement Friday (Oct. 9) that there are 1,406 active cases of the novel coronavirus in the province. Sixty-eight are in hospital, 19 of whom are in intensive care.
A further 3,180 people are under active public health monitoring due to possible exposure to known cases.
No new deaths were reported Friday, leaving the total to 245 fatalities in B.C.
Henry reiterated the need for British Columbians to make appropriate decisions this long weekend, including physical distancing and practising good hygeine.
"The care we show each other today will help protect all of us tomorrow, so let's make this Thanksgiving about safe connections and safe celebrations," a statement reads.
"We offer our thanks and gratitude to everyone throughout the province and in particular, our front-line essential workers, for doing so much to keep our communities safe and strong."
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