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What is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is leaking of urine that you can't control. Many American men and women suffer from urinary incontinence. We don't know for sure exactly how many. That's because many people do not tell anyone about their symptoms. They may be embarrassed, or they may think nothing can be done. So they suffer in silence.
Urinary incontinence is not just a medical problem. It can affect emotional, psychological and social life. Many people who have urinary incontinence are afraid to do normal daily activities. They don't want to be too far from a toilet. Urinary incontinence can keep people from enjoying life.
Many people think urinary incontinence is just part of getting older. But it's not. And it can be managed or treated. Learn more here. Talk to your doctor. Find out what treatment is best for you.
A quarter to a third of men and women in the U.S. suffer from urinary incontinence. That means millions of Americans. About 33 million have overactive bladder (also known as OAB) representing symptoms of urgency, frequency and with or without urge incontinence.
Studies show that many things increase risk. For example, aging is linked to urinary incontinence. Pregnancy, delivery, and number of children increase the risk in women. Women who have had a baby have higher rates of urinary incontinence. The risk increases with the number of children. This is true for cesarean section (c-section) and vaginal delivery.
Women who develop urinary incontinence while pregnant are more likely to have it afterward. Women after menopause (whose periods have stopped) may develop urinary incontinence. This may be due to the drop in estrogen (the female sex hormone). Taking estrogen, however, has not been shown to help urinary incontinence.
Men who have prostate problems are also at increased risk. Some medications are linked to urinary incontinence and some medicines make it worse. Statistics show that poor overall health also increases risk. Diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and smoking are also linked.
Obesity increases the risk of urinary incontinence. Losing weight can improve bladder function and lessen urinary incontinence symptoms.
The brain and the bladder control urinary function. The bladder stores urine until you are ready to empty it. The muscles in the lower part of the pelvis hold the bladder in place. Normally, the smooth muscle of the bladder is relaxed. This holds the urine in the bladder. The neck (end) of the bladder is closed. The sphincter muscles are closed around the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine out of the body. When the sphincter muscles keep the urethra closed, urine doesn't leak.
Once you are ready to urinate, the brain sends a signal to the bladder. Then the bladder muscles contract. This forces the urine out through the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the body. The sphincters open up when the bladder contracts.
Urinary incontinence is not a disease. It is a symptom of many conditions. Causes may differ for men and women. But it is not hereditary. And it is not just a normal part of aging. These are the four types of urinary incontinence:
With SUI, weak pelvic muscles let urine escape. It is one of the most common types of urinary incontinence. It is common in older women. It is less common in men.
SUI happens when the pelvic floor muscles have stretched. Physical activity puts pressure on the bladder. Then the bladder leaks. Leaking my happen with exercise, walking, bending, lifting, or even sneezing and coughing. It can be a few drops of urine to a tablespoon or more. SUI can be mild, moderate or severe.
There are no FDA approved medicines to treat SUI yet, but there are things you can do. Ways to manage SUI include "Kegel" exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor. Lifestyle changes, vaginal and urethral devices, pads, and even surgery are other ways to manage SUI.
To learn more about SUI risk factors, diagnosis and treatments visit our SUI article page.
OAB is another common type of urinary incontinence. It is also called "urgency" incontinence. OAB affects more than 30% of men and 40% of women in the U.S. It affects people's lives. They may restrict activities. They may fear they will suddenly have to urinate when they aren't near a bathroom. They may not even be able to get a good night's sleep. Some people have both SUI and OAB and this is known as mixed incontinence.
With OAB, your brain tells your bladder to empty - even when it isn't full. Or the bladder muscles are too active. They contract (squeeze) to pass urine before your bladder is full. This causes the urge (need) to urinate.
The main symptom of OAB is the sudden urge to urinate. You can't control or ignore this "gotta go" feeling. Another symptom is having to urinate many times during the day and night.
OAB is more likely in men with prostate problems and in women after menopause. It is caused by many things. Even diet can affect OAB. There are a number of treatments. They include life style changes, drugs that relax the bladder muscle, or surgery. Some people have both SUI and OAB.
To learn more about OAB risk factors, causes and treatments visit our OAB page.
Mixed Incontinence (SUI and OAB)
Some people leak urine with activity (SUI) and often feel the urge to urinate (OAB). This is mixed incontinence. The person has both SUI and OAB.
With overflow incontinence, the body makes more urine than the bladder can hold or the bladder is full and cannot empty thereby causing it to leak urine. In addition, there may be something blocking the flow or the bladder muscle may not contract (squeeze) as it should.
One symptom is frequent urinating of a small amount. Another symptom is a constant drip, called "dribbling."
This type of urinary incontinences is rare in women. It is more common in men who have prostate problems or have had prostate surgery.
Each year, GVM specialists treat more than 8,500 people with urinary incontinence.
Expertise. GVM has doctors with extra training in bladder and urinary function. They specialize in diagnosing and treating urinary incontinence and have experience treating people who have had previous, unsuccessful treatment.
Efficiency. GVM is an integrated practice. It's not uncommon to have an evaluation one day and corrective surgery the next, if appropriate.
New ideas. GVM researchers are working to improve diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence. You have access to GVM's clinician-researchers.


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Official ARRL Badge Program
ARRL Call-Sign Badge Ordering Instructions
Participating engravers have agreed to sell official badges only to those who are authorized: Division appointees, Section appointees, National Traffic System (NTS) Officials, QSL Bureau Managers/Workers, Technical Advisors, Registered Instructors, Volunteer Counsels, Volunteer Consulting Engineers, Volunteer Examiners, ARRL Monitoring System appointees, Awards Managers, DXCC Field Reps, and Life Members.
- Print out and complete the order form. (See Below)
- Select a participating engraver from the list provided by ARRL HQ. (See Below)
- Gather all of the following:
- completed order form
- a check in the proper amount made out to the participating engraver of your choice (each engraver sets its own price for the badges, so make sure you remit the proper amount);
- proof of appointment (current appointment certificate, appointment letter, VE credentials);
- proof of ARRL membership (membership certificate, card or current QST label).
- Send the above to the badge engraver of your choice for processing.
- Print out and complete the order form. (See Below)
ARRL Field Organization Call-Sign Badge Order Form
Provide all of the requested information on the form below, following the instructions. Use a separate form for each badge order. (Copy and paste this form into any word processor, such as Microsoft Word to fill out and print.)
(as it should appear on the badge -- PRINT LEGIBLY)STREET ADDRESS:_______________________________________________
Daytime Phone:______________ Evening Phone:______________
E-mail address: _________________________
(only if you are a Section-Staff, Station, Emergency Communications or NTS Leadership appointee)
(only if you are an Assistant Director, Advisory Committee Member, Division Legislative Action Chairman, Legislative Action Coordinator, Legislative Action Assistant, QSL Bureau Manager/Worker, Technical Advisor, Volunteer Counsel, Volunteer Consulting Engineer, Volunteer Examiner, ARRL Monitoring System appointee, WAS/VUCC Awards Manager, DXCC Card Checker, or Life Member)
(see table just below for correct title)
[Life Members: enter "Life Member" or "Charter Life Member" as applicable]
(see table just below for correct color)CHOICE OF FASTENER:____________________________
ARRL Field Organization Call-Sign Badges: Eligibility and Colors
Section Staff Appointees -- GREEN
Assistant Section Manager, Assistant Section Traffic Manager, Affiliated Club Coordinator, Bulletin Manager, Net Manager, Official Observer Coordinator, Public Information Coordinator, Section Emergency Coordinator, Section Traffic Manager, State Government Liaison, Section Youth Coordinator, Technical Coordinator
Station Appointees -- BLUE
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Emergency Communications Appointees -- ORANGE
District Emergency Coordinator, Emergency Coordinator, Official Emergency Station, Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator, Assistant District Emergency Coordinator, Assistant Emergency Coordinator
NTS Leadership Appointees -- LIGHT GREEN
Any name badges issued should indicate the NTS Area and Region
NTS Area Staff: Area Net Manager, Region Net Manager, TCC Director, Area Digital Coordinator, NTS Area Staff Chair.
NTS Digital (NTSD) Appointees: Assistant/Deputy Area Digital Coordinator; NTSD Area Hub; NTSD Region Hub; NTSD State Hub; Digital Relay Station.
Division Appointees -- LIGHT BLUE
Assistant Director, Advisory Committee Appointee, Division Legislative Action ChairmanOther Appointees
QSL Bureau Managers -- RUST
QSL Bureau Workers -- RUSTLegislative Action Coordinator -- RUST
Legislative Action Assistant -- RUST
Technical Advisors -- BROWNRegistered Instructors -- WHITE
Volunteer Counsels -- PURPLE
Volunteer Consulting Engineer -- PURPLE
Volunteer Examiners -- TAN
ARRL Monitoring System -- BURGUNDY
WAS/VUCC Awards Manager -- GRAY
DXCC Card Checker -- GRAY
Life Member, Charter Life Member -- YELLOW -
ARRL Call-Sign Badge Engravers
The following participating engravers have agreed to meet and continue to adhere to ARRL's quality standards:
The Ham Badgers
Western US Office
Orem, UT 84058
Telephone: 801-810-8150
Eastern US Office
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email: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Please purchase ARRL badges on our website.
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Engraving 4 U
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Business Hours: 8AM - 9PM CSTIronclad Enterprises, LLC
P.O. Box 261
Tallmadge, OH 44278
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email: email@example.com Prints
Janet and Bob Boehm, Owner and Designers of Jericho Prints8608 Goldfinch Way
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Telephone: (513) 702-4641
Business Hours: Open 24/7 - since it is a web based companyNote: This company uses the dye sublimation process rather than engraving
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Business Hours: 9AM - 5PM Central with 24 hour answering service, messages promptly returned.
email: email@example.com
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Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00
About ARRL >> Organization Structure >> Field Organization >> Official ARRL Badge Program

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm a complete sucker for free stuff so when my Klout score was high enough for Sony to offer me a Sony Walkman NWZ-W262 for review, I said 'yes, please'.
Then, I got the Sony Walkman MP3 player in the mail and it just sat on the dining room table for weeks. I couldn't bring myself to break open the package. When I'm cycling, I typically don't have anything in my ears. When I do choose to engage in audio, it is with SanDisk Sansa because it is cheap (as low as $25 from Woot), has physical buttons, long battery life and seems indestructible having been dropped and rained on several times.
Finally I got to feeling guilty and was doing a solo ride so I gave the Sony Walkman a shot.
It was just as easy to load music on the Sony Walkman as it was the Sansa. This is great news. Other companies (I'm looking at you, Apple), make you load proprietary software. Not the Sony. All I did was plug it into a USB port and my computer saw it as a drive. I dragged and dropped my usual music selection and some podcasts onto the Walkman and it was good to go. Nice.
Sony Walkman: Comfortable, Secure Fit
The Sony Walkman fit like a glove. The earpieces were secure in my ears and very comfortable. Best of all, I didn't pick up any wind noise like I do with normal ear buds. These things were great at keeping out ambient noise. (Which, at best is illegal in my state and, at worse, is likely to get me killed in traffic. But, hey, that isn't Sony's fault. (Unless I get killed in traffic in which case I'm suing them for creating a faulty and clearly negligent product.))
I had never really noticed how annoying earbud wires were until I rode with the Sony Walkman. No wires snaked down my jersey to the player was a big improvement. I was worried that the Walkman would fall off when I removed one ear so I could still hear traffic but it fits snugly enough that I'm not worried about losing the device.
Good Button Placement, Easy to Use With Gloves
The buttons were easy to find and use with full-fingered cycling gloves. Unlike a touch screen which is iffy in gloves (see also: iPod), the physical buttons worked like a charm. I had no trouble skipping tracks and adjusting the volume while in motion.
Battery life was good. On a half-hour charge right out of the box, I was able to do a two-hour ride and still have a few hours of juice later in the week.
What's Not to Like?
There is no visual track indicator nor is it possible to queue tracks.
I listen to a lot of podcasts while on the road and most of them have the same audio intro. Sometimes I have to get two or three minutes in to be able to tell if I have heard the podcast already. If I had a screen, I could easily see that I've already listened to the May 7 podcast and go onto the next. Still, I'm willing to forgo the visual track indicator because there simply isn't room for it nor would it help this product with its target audience.
The audio cueing, however, is a problem. Let's say I started listening to a two-hour podcast at work on my computer and am 30-minutes in before I hop on my bike. I'd really like the ability to press and hold the 'track forward' button and have it fast-forward in the track. That would allow me to guestimate my way into the track to the unlistened to part. This should be an easy software change for Sony. I realize I'm probably in the minority for this feature but I don't see how adding this minor software tweak would negatively impact the Walkman's core audience.
Sony Walkman MP3 Player Review Summary
I really didn't expect to like the Sony Walkman: too much overlap with known-good product (Sandisk Sansa), a smartphone (Motorola Droid) and in an untested (for me) form factor. After a couple rides worth of testing, it may have replaced the Sansa. I really like the lack of cables and that it really blocks out the wind noise. I've tried a number of earbuds ranging in price from $4 to $45 and none have as good of fit as the Sony Walkman. All signs point to long-term durability similar to the SanDisk.
Nice job, Sony and thanks to Klout for hooking me up.


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For the fifth year in a row, Valentine shoppers will be spending more on jewelry than any other category, according to a survey just released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
The NRF is estimating that jewelry gifts will account for $4.1 billion, or 18.8% of the overall Valentine's Day spending total of $21.8 billion. Both spending figures for 2021 are a bit higher than the very strong totals achieved in 2019, but significantly down from 2020's record highs.
For example, jewelry spending was $5.8 billion in 2020, which represented a huge 48% gain over 2019's total of $3.9 billion. Overall spending was $27.4 billion in 2020, up 32% from $20.7 billion, which had been a record in 2019.
Pandemic-related shopping and gathering restrictions have negatively affected just about all the gift categories in the NRF survey, but the one most affected is "evening out." That category accounted for $4.3 billion in spending in 2020, but is expected to generate only $2.7 billion in 2021.
Even still, 41% of respondents told the NRF that they will plan a special dinner or celebration in the comfort of their own home.
"There is no question the pandemic has disrupted many aspects of Americans' daily interactions and activities," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. "However, there remains a special significance around Valentine's Day, and consumers are committed to celebrating with friends and loved ones, even if that means having to alter those traditional holiday celebrations."
Fifty-two percent of consumers will be celebrating Valentine's Day in 2021, a slight decrease from the 55% who celebrated in 2020.
According to the NRF, 73% of consumers celebrating Valentine's Day this year feel it is important to do so given the current state of the pandemic. It is clear the virus is still front and center, with 74% indicating it will directly impact their plans for the holiday.
The average gift-giving Cupid in 2021 has a budget of $164.76, down $32 from 2020's record of $196.31. Spending this year is slightly higher than the $161.96 recorded in 2019. This year, men will outspend women $231 to $101.
As noted earlier, jewelry dominates all categories. Shoppers plan to spend $4.1 billion on jewelry (given by 18%), $2.7 billion on an evening out (24%), $2.7 billion on clothing (19%), $2.1 billion on gift cards (20%), $2.0 billion on candy (54%), $2.0 billion on flowers (36%) and $1.1 billion on greeting cards (44%).
The NRF's 2021 Valentine's Day spending survey was designed to gauge consumer behavior and shopping trends related to Valentine's Day. The survey was conducted for NRF by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The poll of 7,882 consumers took place from January 4-12, 2021, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.
Credit: Image by BigStockPhoto.com.
The post Valentine Shoppers to Spend More on Jewelry Than Any Other Category, Reports NRF appeared first on Diamond Designs | Orange, CT Jewelry Store.


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Purge in the Congregation of Divine Worship |
Previous Undersecretaries Have Learned of their Ouster from the Bulletin
New Undersecretary a "Staunch Bugninist"
Four Ratzingerians Dismissed in One Month
image: Riposte Catholique
Purge in the Congregation of Divine Worship |
bugnini will be beatified soon.
bergoglio is an evil, evil, evil man.
So much for the much-vaunted 'I'm only Bishop of Rome' collegiality. Nothing is allowed to get in the way of his ruthless determination to force through his personal agenda of 'reform'.
Are we observing some of the finishing touches of the protestant artwork of Vatican II? Are these some of the last nails in the coffin of what they think is the death of The 2000 year old (but ever more beautiful) Holy Roman Catholic Church?
So what?. The Pope is the boss and therefore he has the right to work with the staff he likes. Just like any other CEO does in a new job. Most of the Curia is still Ratzinger´s in fact.
The pope is an evil man? How do you still call yourself Catholic? Do we not trust that God has a bigger plan than your opinion? We might not like everything about the Church but get a grip - and trust in God!
Do you no longer believe that the Holy Spirit guides the Church? That the Holy Spirit was not involved in the election? How can you call yourself Catholic?
The Holy Spirit guides the Church, there have been many bad popes, like this one, yet the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church survives. You should join us....
There have never been evil pope's before?
Dear Anonymous,
Are you a recent convert?
The Catholic Church is not a cult like Scientology or Heavens Gate. The pope IS NOT a god-man, the pope is not automatically a saint that cannot commit a sin. There have been many, many, popes who have committed mortal sins and which were later condemned for teaching error of heresy. Many popes have been elected because of the sin of simony. The Holy Ghost cannot inspire mortal sin like simony.
The Vatican has art works of popes and abbots being tortured in hell. Dante's Inferno speaks of evil popes in hell. Many popes have committed simony and sexual sins. Please do some research on the history of the papacy, especially the Saeculum Obscurum.
Pope Julius II (1503–1513) had three illegitimate daughters. There is a litany of popes who used their papal authority to advance certain nations, family members, and politicians in worldly affairs. Certain popes created trade climates that favored Italian states over German states, they would excommunicate any ruler (thus making their land free for grabs) that went against them economically. Dante said it best; the Papacy is for taking care of peoples spiritual needs and the Empire is for creating prosperity and law and order, their roles should never be mixed up like they were for many years (Emperors appointing bishops, popes favoring nations for economic reasons, etc.)
To say that it is impossible for a pope to be evil goes against Catholic doctrine on the papacy and goes against the written record of history. St. Paul himself rebuked St. Peter in the book of Acts.
At the age of fifteen, Marozia became the mistress of Theophylact's cousin Pope Sergius III, whom she knew when he was bishop of Portus.
The bastard son, the grandson, the great grandson, and two great great grandsons of Marozia were seated in the Chair of St. Peter. Pope John XIII was her nephew, the offspring of her younger sister Theodora.
So ugh... was the Holy Ghost involved in the election of these popes? Serious question.
They're just angry because Francis, having a scientific education, is able to follow ideas (i.e. Vatican II) to their logical conclusion. People were blinded by Benedict's shinny red shoes and traditional papal attire, so when he said or did something manifestly anti-Catholic (e.g. Assisi meetings, hybrid Mass, etc.) they just ignored it because he wore sheep's clothing. Now that the Catholic magpies aren't distracted by a giant gold crucifix, they're actually paying attention to what the pope is saying and are starting to realize that something isn't right with the Church.
But don't worry, Vatican II was traditional. John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II were all saints. Also, Benedict XVI is a future doctor of the Church. Francis is just an anomaly who misinterprets Vatican II, him and the 99.67% of bishops and 99.997% of seminary professors since Vatican II. It's the council of the media I tells ya!
Now lets all stop worrying and eat some strawberry ice cream.
Holy Ghost or no. Who are you to judge?
The Pope is neither a Boss nor a CEO. Only an unchurched or unhinged pagan would make such a statement.
A scientific education? For real? He's a Jesuit. He's not Einstein.
This is begining to look like an enemies list. If I am wrong please correct me.
The Holy Spirit gives council to the conclave, however, men have free will and can ignore Him.
None of these foolish attempts by Francis and his Freemason friends attempting to wreck the Church are surprising at this point. They are probably trying to out-do their shameful Freemason idol Bugini in showing their hatred of Traditional Catholicism.
The Holy Ghost does NOT choose the pope. He confirms the choice and protects the pope from heretical ex cathedra pronouncements. He offers the graces of state to a valid pope, which the pope is free to accept or reject. That is all. There have been some manifestly bad men in the papacy, and probably a good many more who were discrete in their evil.
Probably. B16 tolerated even people who hated him personally in positions of authority. Sure, he might have promoted them to symbolic positions, but he always seemed to have a lot of respect for people and tried to keep them in the game, unless they were off the reservation, like a number of bishops, about two a month, who were being dismissed for various reasons, including sexual impropriety.
Come on people. This was an obvious troll. Don't feed the trolls.
This IS the anti pope otherwise he would NOT hate the ral Roman Catholic Chirch NOR the Latin Mass and NOR would he purge all of Pope Benedicts appointed heads . He is ourging our Vactican of all Holy Conservaive Roman Rite People, He HATES the Latin Mass and even here in Vhicago has appointed a VERY <Iberal socalled bishop who will destroy ou archdiocese as Bernadin did. Hid tanding with homosexuals and gay marriage and everything against our church PROVES his devil infiltration John 23rd was a 33rd degree Free MAson he as the Masons had vowed completed the take over of our Church as he used the name of john=that was NEVER to be used again as Pope as the 1400 era John the 23rd was an antipope and also head of the Freemasons as was John the 23rd of the 1960;s he sat as head of the masons & Catholic church and let Bugnini falsefy everything tha the council did pass- they changed NOTHING from Vactian one but BUgnini took those documents and changed every item to read =where it e=said "DO NOT CHANGE DO NOT REMOVE HE CHAMNED IT AND REMOVED THE 'NOT AND HAD T READ TO REMOVE TO CHANGE AND THEN SENT IT OUT O THE COUNCIL MEMBERS- WHEN THEY RECEIVED THEIR COPIES THEY SCREAMED AT THE POPE THEY DID NOT VOTE ON THESE HERTICAL THINGS BUT VOTED AGAINST THEM AND DID NOT CHANGE THE= JOHN THE 23 RD DIED AND WHEN THE NEW POPE CAME IN HE HAD WRITTEN 89 PAGES OF CORRECTIONS AND SENT IT OUT- =HE WAS KILLED BEFORE THE IMPLIMENTATION AND SO CAME ALL THE CORRUPTION . AT THE SAME TOME THE REBELLIOS HERTICAL NUNS WHO WERE TURNED DOWN FROM THE CONGREGATION TO REMOVE THEIR HABITS= THEY CAME BACK AND LIED AND SAID THE CONGREGATION APPROVED EVERYTHING THEY WANTED AND PROCEEDED TO DESTOY THE VOCATION OF NUNS- ND THEN PROCEEDED TO USE THE CLASSROOM TO POISON CILDRENS MINDS AGAINST THE TRUE ROAMN CAHOLIC CHURCH. AND HAT BEGAN THE RINATION OF CATHOLICS BEING TAUGHT THE TRUE AUTHENTIC TEACHINGSOF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND HAS BROUGHT US INTO THIS APOSTACY WE ARE IN NOW, PRAY GOD INTERVENES AND TAKE 'POPE' FRANCIS OUTOF THE VATICAN NOW SOMEHOW SOMEWAY THAT HE IS NOT ALOWED TO STAY IN THE CHAIR OF PETER
"Most of the Curia is still Ratzinger´s in fact."
Soon, soon.
He's trying very hard, every cunning ways but never be successful destroying the Church of Christ. All the good bishops should get together to pull him down. That 's only way to save the Church and save a lot, a lot of souls.
Looks like he is one of their agents. All he has done so far is to divide, confuse and undermine the Church. We're so grateful to God for sending us many good bishops who are very brave standing up against liberal, modern and heretical Pope.
Since I caught the picture of Pope Francis washing feet of female inmates on Holy Thursday, I shivered and knew that this one must be the one of St. Francis' prophecy-the destroyer. God saves the Church.
666....The truth will be revealed at Temple Mount on September 13th, 2016 after he has been on his throne for 3 1/2 years.
WHY... I am just trying to determine which 'Anonymous' is which.. There seem to be several. I cant tell which one is responding . I counted 12 above . Surely they can be asked to differentiate .....
Hello...there is a difference between a sinner pope and a manifestly heretical pope which we now have. It is blasphemy to blame the mess in Rome on the Holy Ghost.
Mr. Auricchia supposedly has received messages from Our Lady, Jesus, St. Michael, Padre Pio and other Saints, from 1990 to 2010. The church has not ruled on it, and its at your discretion to believe or not. One interesting phenomena about his messages is the four of his prophesies have come to pass.
Avola, ITALY May 30, 2010 Our Lady to Giuseppe Auricchia:
" My children, you walk on this bridge I have pointed out , to share with us the joy and your era of peace on earth . Evil will be cast out and the victory of My Son will set you free , but you must pray for guidance , because you will soon see the schism of My Church . My faithful remnant follows the current Pope , Benedict XVI, who they want to eliminate . Continue to follow him and remain faithful to Him and to the teaching of my church , established by the Apostles. Do not be fooled by the apostasy and heresy. I tell you that the next Pope will be the impostor and the evil forces behind this schism. My children , be prepared , so you can follow those priests loyal to the Pope and the Church's teaching . Preserve the saints missals and books of the old Mass , because the apostates will change the dramatic words ..
...well, now that's interesting...
With so many Catholics not attending Mass, not receiving Christ in the Eucharist, not fasting or doing any mortification, living their lives according to the world instead of what God has told us in the Gospel, maybe the Holy Spirit is whispering to the world via the actions of Pope Francis, you reap what you sow. If Catholics do not like what they see in Pope Francis, this is the time to get back on your knees and start to pray (start with the Holy Rosary as Our Lady will not leave us).


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Scots will vote today in regional elections that could determine the near future of that country. If the pro-independence parties win a majority, they're going to push for a referendum on whether Scotland should leave the United Kingdom. Here's NPR's Frank Langfitt in Edinburgh.
FRANK LANGFITT, BYLINE: When Scotland held its first independence referendum in 2014, 55% of voters opposed it. One was a Scottish American student named Emma Hodcroft. She'd spent the election day here in the city's old town, urging people to vote to stay in the United Kingdom. Here's her exchange with NPR's Ari Shapiro, who covered the referendum back then.
ARI SHAPIRO: I can tell by all the pins and stickers that you are a no vote.
EMMA HODCROFT: I am a no vote, indeed. We're not so different as I think a lot of people think we are, especially between England and Scotland and Wales. We have so much shared history. We have so much in common.
LANGFITT: Hodcroft said she also voted against independence because that seemed the best way to stay inside the European Union. Two years later came the Brexit referendum. Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain inside the EU. But England, which has 10 times as many people, voted out.
HODCROFT: The whole country has been pulled into a different future.
LANGFITT: This is Emma Hodcroft today. She now lives in Switzerland. Hodcroft says Brexit has made working in Europe less certain. And on the issue of Scottish independence...
HODCROFT: I certainly - I feel very far from where I was then. I feel much more on the fence about it now.
LANGFITT: John Craig, a saxophonist here in Edinburgh, has jumped over that fence. He voted against independence in 2014. But since then...
JOHN CRAIG: I've totally changed my opinion on independence because of things like Brexit. And what we need now is actually a Scottish government fully in control of all of our powers to take Scotland into the right direction. I never thought I'd be campaigning for independence.
LANGFITT: Shifts by people like Craig are a big reason why support for independence surged here last year, hitting a record 58% in an October poll.
Another reason people support independence is they feel Scotland is just so different from England. Fiona Geddes works in HR and theater. In 2014, when she lived in London, she opposed independence. But after moving back home to Glasgow a few years later, she changed her mind.
FIONA GEDDES: I started to understand the cultural differences between us as countries, which I hadn't been aware of as a teenager. There's more of a perhaps capitalist, profit-based, individualistic feeling in England and a much more collective, society-focused feeling in Scotland.
LANGFITT: But support for independence has dipped this year, and there remains a lot of opposition.
IAN WILSON: Very few businesses really think it's a great idea.
LANGFITT: Scottish businessman Ian Wilson worries that without financial support from the U.K., an independent Scotland would have to raise taxes, which, he says, could drive some businesses south to England.
WILSON: Increasing the taxation rate would put people off, and you would get an element of brain drain. People like security. And they've got increased uncertainty, then they're going to be very cautious.
LANGFITT: Fiona Houston, who runs a food business, says the last thing Scotland needs now is a referendum that could split the country.
FIONA HOUSTON: I just (ph) find it incredible that we've been through Brexit, we've been through a pandemic and that we're even considering this. I have a small business, and the thought of having to have more uncertainty, it's extraordinary.
LANGFITT: Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who led the Brexit campaign, says his government won't approve another independence referendum. But most people here think Scotland will eventually leave the U.K. Ailsa Henderson studies public opinion on independence and teaches political science at the University of Edinburgh.
AILSA HENDERSON: Just under 40% think that Scotland will become independent in five to 10 years, and a further 20% think that will happen within 10 to 15 years. So the Scottish electorate doesn't think that Scotland will still be in the union in a decade or so.
LANGFITT: Which means Brexit could eventually lead to the breakup of a country that once ruled a global empire on which the sun never set. Tom Devine is a leading Scottish historian.
TOM DEVINE: Can you think of a worse legacy for the British prime minister than to go down in history as having had the breakup of the union of 1707 between England and Scotland on his conscience and on his history? It would make Lord North, who lost the American colonies, seem irrelevant by comparison.
LANGFITT: Lord North served as Britain's prime minister during America's struggle for independence.
Frank Langfitt, NPR News, Edinburgh. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Mobile devices have eclipsed desktops, laptops and other devices, becoming our primary method for engaging with the digital world. For the first time, smartphones in 2015 accounted for over half of all hours US adults spent viewing digital media.
Not only have smartphones become central to our daily lives, they are our most intimate devices. Recent surveys show that for the vast majority of millennials their smartphone never leaves their side, day or night; and it's the first thing they reach for in the morning (87% and 80% respectively). It's no surprise then that businesses need to reach their customers on mobile, where they're spending most of their time. And with smartphone users spending 4-8x more time in mobile apps than mobile web, their preference for apps is clear.
While being at the center of our digital lives presents unmatched opportunities for businesses – and the customers that patronize them – there are also challenges. Mobile devices present a smaller form factor, vertical vs. horizontal orientation, and different input methods. Any design or user experience (UX) detriment is amplified; thus mobile apps must be well-designed. If a user can't quickly access the information they're seeking or accomplish their intended task, they will find another app that can. Businesses' mobile apps must deliver the right, well-designed experience to the right user at the right time.
At the same time, marketers are faced with mastering this new platform. Mobile's appeal extends beyond being the place where their customers spend most of their digital time. The ever-present, constantly-connected nature of mobile devices allows businesses to reach customers nearly anytime, but requires a different mindset. It's no longer about keeping eyeballs on your site. Rather marketers must understand and then engage customers at opportune times to help them satisfy their need. This distills down to getting the right message to the right customer at the right time.
When you put all of this together, a new type of solution is needed that works across the entire lifecycle of mobile users. Design and UX options must be tested and their tradeoffs understood. Personalized experiences within the app are needed to delight users and help them quickly accomplish what they need to. Users receive tailored messages at their time of need, instilling additional delight and illustrating how businesses can satisfy their need. Lastly, advanced analytics are required to drive all of these – because you can't optimize what you can't measure.
We found a remarkable team delivering such a solution to their customers. This is why we invested in Leanplum.
Leanplum provides an enterprise SaaS platform for mobile lifecycle marketing, driving engagement and results across the full customer journey. It spans personalized messaging, UX optimization, A/B testing and analytics. In web, each of these areas has given rise to material companies, so you would expect a startup tackling them all would face quite a challenge. To our surprise we found Leanplum excelled in each, even compared to other solutions focused on only one. It turns out there is a reason for this: there is a synergy between the functional pillars. To optimize user experience – both in determining the best approach (A/B testing) and ongoing personalization – you need a robust analytical ability to understand users and tradeoffs among different approaches. Armed with this analytical ability, a natural extension is to use this information to optimize the user experience outside of the app – to inform and engage users through targeted, personalized messages.
We're all delighted by quicker, easier mobile experiences and expect such from the products and services we consume. Businesses offering these products and services need to get the right message – and well-designed experience – to the right customer at the right time. An outstanding team at Leanplum is empowering businesses to engage and delight mobile users across the entire customer journey. This is marketing reimagined for our most used and personal device.
Michael Abbott and Creighton Hicks are partners at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.


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Distillation / rectification
Distillation / rectification setups
Glass overheads are typically built (in our standard chemReactor and production plant setups) for multipurpose and semi–batch operation mode under full vacuum. They mostly consist of feeder vessel, a distillation column, condenser and secondary condenser, phase separator, receiver, including valves and pressure equalization piping and a rupture disc as safety device.
For rectification, packed distillation glass columns up to DN600 are used with reflux condenser, a reflux splitter with a reflux controller to set the reflux ratio. In Buchi chemReactors, both systems can be combined.


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Organ Eye . Organ Eye
staubgold 74
2007. cd . dl . lp
The vinyl version is a limited edition of 250 copies in deluxe silk-screen sleeves.
The two raga-like tracks that comprise this first album equally reflect the qualities of the two contributing sides – Minit's loop-driven fragmented melancholic electronics and the hypnotic and ritualistic electro-acoustic drone studies of Maranha and Machás. Such a union forms an intense patchwork of eternal sound vibration in which fuzzed-out organ riffs keep realigning themselves and ululating digital scree unravels in a series of convulsive but cyclic turns, while delicate violin descensions and processed harmonium drones draw out a pulsating soundspace.
Despite its monolithic nature there is a lot of detail, and repeated listening will reveal a moody, unfixed world of miniature vibrations, harmonics and noise. Amidst an overall somber, foreboding atmosphere are sublime moments of ecstasy and serenity in which also a sense of directionless-ness allows space to breath.
Organ Eye is a turn towards a live improvised form that neither party has explored on record before. Referencing not only the overdriven noise-drone workout of VU's 'Sister Ray' but also the seminal teachings of the Young/Conrad/Riley axis, Organ Eye expresses a unanimous interest in the transportative / transcendental power of drone music and its various improvised forms - deconstructing the spiritual trip so as to be able to repossess it and make it their own.
Organ Eye - a volatile rocket of intense drone-mutation, fleeting sonic ghosts and suspended feedback on the brink of implosion. 44 minutes of vitriolic electric-acoustic drone. The outward and the inward eye.
Organ Eye
Born out of both creative empathy and chance, Organ Eye were formed in the wake of a live concert of David Maranha (Osso Exotico) and Minit (Jasmine Guffond & Torben Tilly), which took place at the ZDB Gallery in Lisbon, Portugal at the end of February 2005. With the addition of Patricia Machás (also a member of Osso Exotico), the quartet that now forms Organ Eye was completed and in March and December of 2006, they recorded their eponymous debut album.
Born in 1969, legendary Portugese underground figure David Maranha started his work in music in 1986, both solo and with the mythical group Osso Exótico of whom he is the founder. Plays and releases his music on a regular basis in Europe and in the USA, since then. His late works, using traditional or classical instruments sometimes modified, focus on small variations of harmonics and overtones, on the opposite of scientific, more in a ritualistic approach.


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Things A Parent Probably SHOULDN'T Say To Their Kid:
Im backkkkkkkk! The blogging bug has hit me recently and I figure its about damn time I do something about it! So I will set the stage for how this blog is going to go with my first post. If you are easily offended then this blog isn't for you. If you like sarcasm, aren't bothered by a potty mouth that would make Dane Cook cringe, and like to laugh then Hello my friend!
Things A Parent Probably SHOULDN'T Say To Their Kid:
1) "Quit talking and GO THE FUCK TO SLEEP!"
2) "Ignore your father, he's an idiot"
3) "Your grandmother is a psychotic whore" (my egg donor)
4) "Don't go in his house, he's probably a fucking pedophile!" (A neighbor)
5) "Tell your father to quit being an asshole, but don't SAY asshole you're not allowed"
6) "That kid ever touches you again punch him in the throat!"
7) "If your AWANAS leader tells you one more time that we should all get baptized, tell her Mommy worships Satan and the only reason she lets you come to AWANAS is because she thinks its a scout troop that allows gays. Nevermind don't say that!"
And last but not least...
"See that kid over there? Don't act like him because he's acting like a douchebag. He's one worth ganking" (Ganking is a word that my 10 year old and I picked up off our favorite show, Supernatural. It means kill on the show but mostly we use it as a way to say they need hushed up).


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Turbo Stick by Richard Sanders
See Video Demo Below:
Eye candy...on a stick!
Magician Leo Smetsers has produced a paddle that is made from 100% dry erase board. Whatever you write or draw on the paddle can immediately be wiped clean with your fingers. Draw anything on the paddle, transform it and then wipe it all clean in one swipe of the fingers. Turbo Stick allows you to perform almost any paddle trick...in one paddle!
In addition to the dry erase board paddle, you will also receive a training DVD explaining routines, ideas and concepts to use with your Turbo Stick:
12 moments of wow in under a minute. X's vanish, appear, transpose and multiply in rapid succession ending with an amazing visual production of the marker that you used at the beginning of the effect. You start and end clean. This is the perfect opening effect for table hoppers and working pros.
Sponge Red dots appear, disappear and multiply, ending by watching one of the dots visibly transforming into a sponge ball, this is repeated with a second sponge in an even more visual fashion, leaving you perfectly clean at the end with everything examinable. The perfect visual eye candy intro to your sponge ball routine!
Name Game Letters drawn on the Turbo Stick, begin to vanish and rearrange themselves, ending with the letters visibly transforming into the spectator's very own name! Once again, everything is immediately wiped clean, leaving you clean and immediately reset for another performance!
Any Time Hot Rod Draw any six objects on your Turbo Stick and have the spectator choose one. The magic starts to happen when the objects start to vanish, one by one, leaving you with only their selected object. As a crazy kicker, the paddle immediately becomes filled with their selected object one both sides! One swipe of your fingers and everything wipes away clean to end!
PLUS: Amazing production ideas, alternative endings, tips and more!
Turbo Stick, the paddle trick redefined!


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There were secret same-sex weddings in the 16th century
Professor Gary Ferguson, a queer studies specialist at the University of Virginia, reveals the 450-year-old history of same-sex marriage.
A same-sex marriage ceremony in… Renaissance Rome?
In the late 16th century, the famous French essayist Michel de Montaigne wrote about two marriages between people of the same sex.
The first involved women in eastern France, the second a group of men in Rome. At the time, same-sex marriages were not recognized by religious or civil law, and sodomy – a term that included a wide range of sexual acts – was a crime. As a result, when those involved were discovered they were usually brought to trial and punished, sometimes by death.
These episodes, along with many others, reveal that even in Renaissance Europe, marriage was a highly contested issue.
Marriage between two men or two women might seem like a concept that has emerged only in recent decades. For centuries, however, same-sex couples have appropriated marriage in their own ways. I investigate a particularly notable example of this – the second of the two cases recounted by Montaigne – in my recent book "Same-Sex Marriage in Renaissance Rome: Sexuality, Identity and Community in Early Modern Europe."
An evolving institution
Throughout the Middle Ages, marriage involved not only two individuals but also their relatives, local communities, and secular and religious authorities. Each of these had different – sometimes conflicting – ideas, priorities and goals.
From the 12th century on, the Catholic Church considered matrimony a sacrament that required only the free consent of the spouses, in the form of an exchange of vows. As a social institution, however, marriage was usually based on a legal contract for the transfer of property (the bride's dowry), which was signed in front of a notary.
The 16th century was a watershed period that saw sweeping changes and the introduction of stringent new requirements designed to prevent clandestine (or secret) unions that heads of families opposed. In countries converted to one of the new Reformed or Protestant faiths, marriage ceased to be a sacrament, and laws were passed strengthening parents' control over their dependent children.
In response to pressure from secular governments, the Catholic Church also modified its position considerably in 1563, when the Council of Trent decreed that a wedding must henceforth be performed in a parish church, by an authorized priest, in the presence of witnesses, and following the proclamation of "banns" (the public announcement of the ceremony).
Changes in legislation did not always translate immediately into changes in practice, however. Situations of doubt or dispute were common and frequently ended up in court.
On the margins of the papal city
This is the volatile background against which the marriages between men in Rome were set.
After piecing together information from several sources – diplomatic dispatches, newsletters, fragments of a trial transcript and brief wills – a much fuller, if incomplete, picture of what took place emerges.
Michel de Montaigne
On a Sunday afternoon in July 1578, a sizable group of men gathered at Saint John at the Latin Gate, a beautiful but remote church on the outer edge of Rome. Many of them were friends who had met there on previous occasions. They were mostly poor immigrants from Spain and Portugal but included several priests and friars. They ate and drank in an atmosphere that was festive, yet strangely subdued. It turned suddenly to confusion and fear with the arrival of the police, who arrested 11 of those present. The rest fled.
The Roman authorities had been tipped off about the group's plans to celebrate a marriage, perhaps not for the first time, between two of its members. In the end, the wedding between Gasparo and Gioseffe hadn't taken place: The latter – reportedly ill – failed to appear. But Gasparo was among those taken prisoner, and, following a trial that lasted three weeks, executed.
The exact nature and purpose of the intended ceremony remain uncertain. Some sources describe a marriage celebrated after Mass. Others refer to the giving of rings, a hermit who officiated or adolescents taking part under constraint or even disguised as women.
What we know for sure is that the afternoon was to culminate, like most weddings at the time, in a celebratory feast and the consummation of the union – that is, in the couple (and, in this instance, perhaps others) having sex.
Like husband and wife?
Although the same was not true of all the group's members, Gasparo and Gioseffe conformed to established gender norms when having intercourse: According to evidence from the trial, the latter took a "male" (penetrative) role, the former a "female" (receptive) one.
In other respects, however, their relationship didn't resemble that of traditional spouses. Most importantly, Gioseffe was a friar, prevented from marrying in the eyes of the Church. Gioseffe's attachment to a convent also means that it's unlikely the pair planned on living together.
This distinguishes them not only from men and women who married but also from the female married couples we know about from the period, who – like the women described by Montaigne – often did establish a common household, with one cross-dressing and living as a man.
In light of the group's generally promiscuous behaviour, it seems equally unlikely that Gasparo and Gioseffe intended to embark on a sexually exclusive relationship and thus that they believed the sacrament would remove the sinfulness that the Church attached to all extramarital sex.
Finally, the purpose of the feast following the planned wedding was not personal or religious but communal. Despite the fact that it greatly increased the chances that the men would be caught, it was clearly important to them as a way to express and build a sense of community. The socially marginalized friends at the Latin Gate had, in fact, developed several of the characteristics of a sexual subculture, like those that would later be found in large European cities in the 18th century. In a number of ways, they anticipated the networks of "mollies" in London and Paris' "gens de la manchette" ("men of the cuff"), with their regular meeting places, social activities and a shared slang.
The evidence, then, points to a handful of motivations behind the Roman weddings. Since the friends took the ceremony seriously enough to put themselves at considerable risk, it very likely served to recognize and sanction Gasparo and Gioseffe's relationship, claiming that such a union should be possible. At the same time, it may also have had a playful element, parodying and subtly criticizing elements of a traditional wedding.
An argument for marriage equality?
In one sense, the context for extending marriage rights to same-sex couples today is very different from the 16th century, when most marriages weren't based primarily on love and didn't establish legal equality between the spouses.
It was after the changes effected by the women's rights movement in the second half of the 20th century to make the institution more equitable that gay and lesbian activists adopted marriage equality as their major goal.
Nevertheless, the stories from the 16th century show that marriage has never been a universal and fixed phenomenon. It has a contested history, one that both excludes and includes same-sex couples, who have claimed marriage on their own terms.
When viewed through this lens, the ceremony planned that summer afternoon in Rome overturns the narrative that recent political victories were only the culmination of a modern, 20th-century campaign. The friends who met at the Latin Gate offer a striking example of how same-sex couples have long claimed the right to marry and, at the same time, challenged some of marriage's traditional norms.
Gary Ferguson is Douglas Huntly Gordon Distinguished Professor of French at the University of Virginia
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.


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- States:
- California
- Nevada
- New York
- Texas
- Illinois
- Washington
- Florida
Scroll through to discover the must-see spots to snap a perfect picture during your next adventure in the USA.
From coast to coast, the USA is adorned with iconic "double-tap worthy" locations that are guaranteed to inspire grid-envy from your followers. Iconic landmarks and surprising attractions await.
Angel Wings, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles-based artist Colette Miller has been painting these iconic colorful wings all over the country. Make sure to visit Downtown LA's Arts District to see where it all began! This angelic backdrop will guarantee a pop of color to your grid!
Angel wings around Los Angeles
Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington
When visiting the Pacific Northwest metropolis of Seattle, there's nothing more iconic than a visit to Pike Place Market. Don't forget to snap a picture with the retro sign and grab a coffee from the original Starbucks.
Pike Place Market in Seattle
Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York
A must-see for all New York City visitors is the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the USA's oldest bridges. On or off the bridge, you're sure to capture a gram-worthy photo to add to your collection.
Brooklyn Bridge in New York City
Fountains of Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada
A trip to Las Vegas would be incomplete without witnessing the stellar aquatic demonstration of the Bellagio Fountains. Layers of soaring water and the Las Vegas skyline serve as a picture-perfect focal point for all levels of photographers.
The Fountains of Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip
Wynwood Walls, Miami, Florida
Located only minutes from downtown Miami are the Wynwood Walls. Since its creation in 2009 the space has seen 50 artists representing 16 countries have made their mark across over 80,000 square feet of walls. Pick the perfect backdrop in this fast-growing South Florida neighborhood and sample the visually stunning murals for yourself.
Wynwood Walls in Miami
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
With a bright red contrast against the blue hues of the San Francisco Bay, it's easy to see why the Golden Gate Bridge is a popular stop for travelers. On its own or as a backdrop, you won't be disappointed when photographing this architectural masterpiece.
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
Hope Outdoor Gallery, Austin, Texas
If your hunt for color continues, make sure to head to Austin's Hope Outdoor Gallery for live painting from muralists and street artists from all over the world. This community paint park is one-of-a-kind and is sure to inspire your inner artist.
Hope Outdoor Gallery in Austin
New Orleans' French Quarter, Louisiana
Pay a visit to New Orleans' French Quarter for a culturally rich photo-op in the USA's South. As the city's oldest neighborhood, there is no shortage of focal points to create a compelling 'gram.
The French Quarter in New Orleans
Cloud Gate, Chicago, Illinois
Capture the reflective beauty of Cloud Gate, commonly known as "The Bean," while adventuring through downtown Chicago. Located in Millennium Park, this art piece allows for the perfect reflection selfie or opt for an alluring skyline view as it drapes along the tremendous stainless steel structure.
Cloud Gate in Chicago
Times Square, New York City, New York
Wander through the bustling streets of New York City and visit to one of the world's most iconic intersections. Located in Midtown Manhattan, Times Square is home to one of the largest New Year's Eve celebrations in the world, yet anytime is the perfect time for a visit.
What other Instagram-worthy places have you visited in the USA? Be sure to use #VisitTheUSA on your photos to be featured on the Visit The USA Instagram account.
List compiled from TripAdvisor and Lonny
Times Square in New York City
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More experiences nearby
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Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park
Hudson Valley
New York City


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I am writing this to share the life of a disabled person, specifically a PFFD, prior to WWII who grew up in the 30s. Life was different and medicine, knowledge and sophisticated equipment were not available as in today's world. A month after I was born, which would be about February or March of 1931, I was whisked away to a hospital to ascertain the problem related to my right leg - hip. X-rays revealed no head to the femur and no hip socket. There were no known cases to compare. I was told later there was one other a female who died before her 12th birthday. The diagnoses were, rather unique and quite descriptive: "Congenital Absence of the Proximal 2/3 of the Femur and Acetabulum." That's easy to envision, no trochanter and no hip socket.
Unable to walk, I had to wait three years before anything could be done, and sometime in 1934, I went through some kind of exploratory surgery (all these records were lost) They were unable to "fix" it! However, I was at that time fitted with a prosthetic device that kept my leg stretched preventing me from taking any weight on my leg. It was designed with a padded ring (called a ring brace). All my weight as I stepped on the right was taken at the crotch, enabling me to walk. This was a unique brace made by "Charlie the Brace man" who ran the brace shop for the Children's Hospital, in Brookline (Boston MA), now known as The Children's Medical Center. Initially, to prevent weight bearing on the leg, two strips of a heavy adhesive material, taped to the both sides of the right calf, about two inches in width and about six inches in length with hospital webbing material sewn on the bottom of the tapered end of the adhesive (tapered to the width of the webbing material. This webbing material was threaded through a spindle attached between the two bars of the brace about two inches from the end of the brace, which had a rectangular piece of steal about ½"x ½" x what-ever the width of the brace for person three years of age. There was a key (like the old roller skate keys for those who remember) that fit this spindle. I would then have to wind the threaded web until it pulled my leg such that the brace was snug against my crotch and I could than walk, very difficultly but I could walk.
In those days plaster cast was used to immobilize a person during healing and convalescing after surgery. To remove the cast a carpet knife was used. If you've never seen one, they are a curved blade about 2 inches in width with the end curving around to a sharp point. The doctor would than cut the sides so it could be removed and if necessary put back together for further healing by strapping it shut. Well when the doctor doing this, did the unthinkable. While carving around the Achilles tendon the knife apparently slipped and severed the tendon. It was sewn back together, but the foot flopped around after that and no longer functioned normally as it should. This would haunt the surgeon later on in life. I felt, in retrospect, as a penance for this orthopod pup, Dr William T Green I became his patient for him to resolve. In retrospect, this accident was a Godsend. If the foot were sturdy enough, I probably wouldn't be here today. Because I was so active I probably would have stabbed myself to death with the head of the femur.
Somewhere between age 3 and 6 or 7, a new method to attach to the brace was designed. I was having difficulty walking. For some reason, as I walked along, my left foot would buckle bending inward causing me to fall. To counter this I began wearing ankle high shoes supporting the ankle. Making use of this, the right shoe had a ½ leather strap attached to the heel, the length depended on that which was necessary for the following: The strap was equipped with a buckle and holes, as a regular belt, the end was looped around the bar on the bottom of brace and then fastened using the buckle which was near the base of the heel and brought up taut to keep my leg stretched, again, to prevent weight bearing. I walked like that until 1942. I should add that I was able to attend public school. In the 30s disabled persons were institutionalized (closeted) into "homes for crippled children." Well I came from a town with a progressive minded Superintendent of Schools, who allowed me to take tests and because of my high IQ, I was able to attend a public elementary school. I may have been one of the first "cripples" to attend a public school.
By 1942 new ideas were unfolding. In April the femur was pulled from the obturator foramen. A story I would hear repeatedly as each year he would tell his new pups and residents when the femur was pulled out fluid gushed out. Apparently a sac had formed and built up with synovial fluids protecting me. Had the femur punctured this membrane it would have penetrated the peritoneal membrane, and, once again, I doubt I would be here today. My leg was in traction for a few weeks preventing the femur from slipping back in the obturator foramen in preparation for the second phase of surgery. In June of that year, an ilio-femoral fusion-the first ever was successfully performed. For the first time my femur was attached to my body permanently. I now represent 73 years; and, counting, of postoperative ilio-femoral fusion. Exactly how this was fused, to this day I have no idea, but, the femur was fused in 30 degrees flexion and 10 degrees abduction. In this position, I would be able to sit but I would walk with a limp. It took about 3 hours on the operating table using fluoroscopy, after cutting the sharp point, about 1/3-1/2 of the femur, and somehow it was attached to the ilium. I was in a body cast from below my armpits to the left knee. I was totally immobilized for 10 weeks while the bone knit and recovered. Remember this is the dark ages of surgery, before all the sophisticated equipment, antibiotics and chemical anesthetics. In the 30s and 40s, there were no antibiotics other than sulfanilamide. A huge tablet about ½" in diameter and ¼" thick, a real struggle to swallow. The infections that were part of the healing process left some ugly suture lines and stitch marks that were replaced with masses of connective tissue. Immediately after this surgery, after being brought back to my bed in the ward (5 Lower) I began getting chills and shook until my body temperature rose to over 100 degrees and my body temperature then fell to where I got the chills again. A cycle that lasted several minutes I can still hear Dr David Grice saying, "Nurse 500 cc of blood, stat!" After receiving the blood I became quite cold. They placed a 2" felt blanket over me to keep me warm. To this day I get very cold at night. I need a blanket even if it is 90 degrees. It was like a malaria attack. They convinced me that I did not receive blood from my father. He had malaria when he was in the service. Coincidence?
A couple of things stand out in my mind subsequent this surgery. In those days, catgut was the choice for sutures. These held the wound closed and were removed 10 days after surgery. Not a very pleasant experience. The way this is done: a window is carved out in front of the wound, the cotton wrapping and gauze is pulled away exposing the wound. For some reason, Dr Grice, the orthopup at the time, took the back of the scissors and thrust them toward the wound. I reacted and pulled my body in the cast such that if possible I would have turned on my left side to avoid that lunge. I'm not sure who was more surprised - Dr Grice for my reaction or me. I knew he would not have shoved those scissors into my wound, but I reacted before thinking it out.
I think that effected the positioning of the fusion which required additional surgery later on (1951).
In 1944 I began having hip pains and it was thought that the fusion done in 1942 was pulling apart. So I was to go through a procedure to reinforce the femur. The procedure included duel surgery. From the tibia from my left leg a slice of bone would be removed and grafted to the right femur. This was attached with screws. At the same time, somehow, Dr. Green made a patella for the knee joint which was very effective and still in good working order today. There was a price to be paid. I was on the operating table about 12 hours; went on it about 8 am Wednesday morning and woke up about 2 pm Saturday, briefly, to see my mother and father with looks of horror on their faces while I had an IV going in my left arm and blood going in my right arm. I was out for almost 2 weeks. During that time I received 5 pints of blood - three on the operating table and two at different times while I was still out. Once again I convalesced about 10 weeks in a full body cast from just under my arms to the tip of my toes on my left leg. The price I paid: I lost my immediate recall system. Something I didn't realize until around 1972 when I began putting my life together.
Because I hadn't finished growing, other than planning, nothing further could be done. Dr. Green had developed a method of determining when a person's growth would be complete through X-raying of the hands and wrist. I would have to wait.
They also weren't sure how to continue. At some point in time discussions took place which included such ideas as rotating the foot and using the ankle as a knee joint; or, just amputating the foot. The problem was the length of the leg. As it stood my foot was 14" from the ground. In order for the ankle to line up with the knee joint of the left leg my right leg would have to be shortened 3 inches. Well, this wouldn't happen until after I graduated from High School (1949) - the beginning of a nightmare that was to last until 1971.
I entered college in September of 1949 and by December my tonsils were so bad I had to have a tonsillectomy. At age 18 that was no fun! I couldn't get a job anywhere because no one wanted to hire a cripple, so I had to work in a bowling alley and set pins (now pins are automatically reset by machines), but, in those days a person had to sit just above and between the pits separating one lane from the other. All this for 5 cents a string…but, I did earn spending money while in college. Later I slipped on ice and wrenched my back to such an extent that I couldn't walk and was bedridden 6 weeks. During this recovery, I ran a temperature of about 103-104 degrees. I asked my mother to call Dr Grice and tell him and make an appointment. I visited the doctor and was told I probably would never walk again and was fitted for a special back brace. Bear in mind that in the 40s and into the early 50s there was a serious polio epidemic. Four of my class mates came down with it; 3 with non-paralytic polio, and, one, with paralytic polio. In retrospect I was never sure that I didn't have non-paralytic polio. I was never tested for it. Somehow I recovered from the back injury and survived my first year of college. By this time the plans were complete to "fix" me so I could become cosmetically acceptable to society and hopefully gainfully employed. The plans were to fix the leg to swing anteriorly-posteriorly (it swung laterally, and I developed a unique way of walking), shorten it so that the ankle would line up with the left knee joint and then amputate the foot such that the heel could be used as a cushioned stump. This would take 3 surgeries and was to be done over the next 3 summers. In retrospect I should have done this all at once so that I could attend college without any interference. As it were I got very little out of my undergraduate years of college.
In 1951 I entered the hospital expecting to go through a muscle transplant to correct the swing of my leg. However, after getting there, Dr Grice visited my bed and explained that because I was missing a muscle, I don't remember which, but I do know that I only have one hamstring where normally there are two. He said, what they decided had to be done was: they would have to fracture the femur, rotate it 55 degrees from lateral to anterior and secure it. I was prepared for a muscle transplant and this change of plans hit me like a ton of bricks dropped on my head. He said think about, if you would like you could go home and let us know of your decision. After going through some real emotional trauma I decided, I'm here I will go through it and get it done. Unfortunately there is more to this sordid story. In the 50s the types of anesthesia and pre-op preps had changed. The anesthesia of choice was Sodium Pentothal, better known as truth serum, replacing the antiquated GOE (Gas, Oxygen and Ether combo) and pre-op was now a Phisoderm scrub replacing the alcohol scrubs. Both have disappeared from the scene, I wonder why? In any case Sodium Pentothal is administered as so many ccs per kilo-gram of body weight. I was not aware of that and neither was the nurse who weighed me the second day of my hospitalization. I was weighed in at 168 pounds fully clothed with brace on. In reality I had 8 pounds of clothing and prosthetic that should have been deducted and on top of that I lost 8 pounds by the time I was ready for surgery. My actual body weight at time of surgery was 150 pounds. Because of this error I was given 9% too much sodium pentothal. When I woke from this surgery, I was so hungry and thirsty (I felt as though I had been on a weekend drunk) I drank a gallon of water, ate a dozen eggs (I can remember downing them raw and went through a loaf of bread. Ms Kerr, the Nurse Supervisor and former Major during WWII, over the ward, was visiting me and I can remember telling her to take the blanket-blank IV (I was having an IV administered at the time, and I hated them), out of my arm reminding her of the fluids and food I just consumed. She did, and then complimented me for having such a well developed left leg - the only person in my life to recognize the positive side of me. This surgery did the job. By straightening my leg gait I was able to walk better and it relieved the strain on my back. I was able to make significant improvements physically.
In the summer of 1952 I was to go through the most critical surgery of my life - a shortening osteotomy. I was told, the dangers of a shortening osteotomy is, I could develop osteomyelitis, a permanent debilitating bone disease. What could I say? I was committed. I consented. The surgery was never complete without some additional drama. While administering the anesthesia, sodium pentothal, something happened and they were trying to put a mask over my face. I asked them not to put that mask on me, I kept pushing it away as little did they know I was recalling something out of the past. Unfortunately, in 1942, my roommate could not swallow pills. In those days pre-op patients were given Nembutal so they would be asleep for anesthetizing. He couldn't take the pills and Ms "Maggie' Maguire the head nurse of 5 Lower, tried to scare him into taking them by telling him, if you don't take this pill and you vomit when they put the gas mask over your face they won't know it and you will smother! That fear made me want to get off the table. I was so scared that I looked to my right and saw the anesthesia tray and told them if you put that mask on my face I will knock over the bottle of cyclohexanone, a highly explosive anesthesia requiring all personnel in the operating room to wear shoes with a ground to prevent static electricity from building up and discharging. Anyway, that is when Dr Henry Banks, the anesthesiologist blindsided me with a vicious upper right cross and that is all I remember until I woke up post surgically in my room. My tongue had a hole in it, I could not discern right from left, I thought the attending nurse, Julie Wadeleigh was twins as I saw her on both sides of the bed. As a result of that, I have a TMJ jaw, tinnitus and have frequent headaches. Interestingly enough, after this surgery I realized I was different. My foot was now 17" off the ground. I have excellent peripheral vision (then it was about 175+ degrees. With my foot 14" off the ground I knew exactly where my body was at all times. I now had to re-learn where my foot (leg) was. This change was never part of a discussion with the doctors! On top of all that happened, I was to meet the only person I would ever fall in love with, a beautiful blue eyed nurse. I had to let her go because I had 2 operations and two more years of college and an uncertain future employment-wise, From past experience I knew it would take about 5 years to recover from these surgeries. I've never forgotten her! She changed my life forever!
The summer of 1953 was to be the final surgery to "fix' my disability.
After graduating from college, instead of going to work I would go to the hospital. Before the surgery, I was to meet several prosthetic companies; hopefully, one of them could build prosthesis for me. The difficulty was the length and girth of the stump only one company could come up with a design. This was the Boston Artificial Limb Company (I believe that was the name. I have since forgotten the name [a Mr. Martinez?] of the owner). Because of the Korean War, the medical profession learned allot about Symes amputations. This was the type of amputation I went through. The advantage is the heel is used as a cushion for the stump. If done correctly a very comfortable stump. Unfortunately the surgery was sloppy. Because my Achilles' tendon had been severed and re-sewn together in 1934, when the heel was brought around, they failed to correct for it.
Before the Amputation After the Amputation with a Conventional Prosthetic
(June 1953) (September 1953)
Things weren't quite right. Because of the sloppy stump I was in quite a bit of pain when I walked bearing weight on the end of the stump. I would make appointments with Dr Green and he would do nothing about. Each time I went to see him he would slough me off to one of his resident pups. He would shave the callous and say that should do it. It didn't. Because the pain continued and Dr Green would do nothing about, I tried making appointments with other doctors. They wouldn't have anything to do with me. So from 1953 to 1971 I walked in excruciating pain. I had a home in Acton, MA. I could just barely walk by now. For some reason, someone was writing about me in the local newspaper. I was advised to go to the Emerson Hospital, in Concord, MA where I would meet a Dr Leroy Wolf (I think that was his name) and asked him if he could get me out of pain. We discussed my condition and how the stump should be brought over correctly. He understood and at the same time removed the bone spur that was pressing against the nerve that was causing me the pain. The surgery was a success. I was finally out of pain!
I sent a note to Dr. Green letting him know I was finally out of pain and assuring him that the concept of "fixing" PFFDs was correct and despite everything, he did the right thing. I also asked him to compliment Dr. Wolf for his excellent work. The first surgery I went through without a hitch. This was to be my last correspondence with Dr. Green. Dr Green never documented the surgery or the work he did on me, as he had promised, and, by not doing so he set the PFFD population back 20 years. It wasn't until around1972 where there is much literature on the subject. The work performed on me was well known in the medical world. In 1951 I demonstrated my gait in an amphitheater to some 200 top orthopedic surgeons in the country, physical therapist and other medical personnel. After this demonstration a Dr Seaver came up to me advising me that a person can only go through so much surgery. I assured him that I was committed and would see it through to completion. Little did he know that in 1944 after I recovered from the surgery I told Dr Green I couldn't take any more surgery. Little did I know that I would undergo 11 more surgical experiences! I have spent about 48 hours of my life on an operating table under anesthesia.
Despite all this I was able to maintain, successfully I might add, an excellent work record. I was a New Product Development Engineer. However, I was to learn that the aging process can have some interesting consequences on our bodies. My arthritic bones began wearing out and by 1983, the hip of my good leg seized and hip surgery was imminent. By this time I'm living in Orlando, FL. I met a Dr Flynn and we discussed Hip replacement surgery. Since there were no known cases of a person with one-leg having hip replacements, I had to make the decision, should I or should I not? If not a success, I would have been wheelchair bound from age 52 on. He did his best assuring me he could do it. I agreed and it was a success. I could walk again, pain free. However, this wore out and in July of 1992 I had to have this replaced. I'm retired living on a limited income (SSDI) as I am no longer employable by Southern standards. My Humana Insurance directed me to a Doctor, a DO. I had no choice. While fitting the prosthetic acetabulum, for some reason, he aligned it to the right hip positioning (30 degree flexion and 10 degree abduction). When I was recovering and taking my first steps I knew something was wrong. There was, and 3 months later it broke. In October of 1992, the third hip replacement (and hopefully the last) was installed. From that day on I used crutches to prevent it from wearing out as I no longer want to go through any surgery of any kind. Prior to 1992 I walked without any aid, just a unique limp. The cost of today's surgery is astronomical. To give you an idea of how they have changed: In the 30's, it cost $14 a week for hospitalization; in the 40s $22 per week and the 50s $100 per day. Because of my parent's financial situation, Easter Seal Society paid for the Doctors bills. In any case I survived and despite everything I have the following accomplishments:
1. In 2nd grade I played the role of Abe Lincoln reciting the pre-amble to the constitution;
2. In 5th grade I was manager of a hardball baseball team, playing catcher, the team was named, The Boston Red Sox, one of an intramural league. We came in 2nd, the winners, of course, The New York Yankees;
3. In high school I was a class officer, Vice President, home room officer, Business Manager of our School magazine, Chairman of the Class Ring Selection committee, 3 Letter man in Sports, Basketball, Baseball and Track (manager of course) and I graduated with honors;
4. I was a successful Engineer for 26 years with the (20 years with the WR Grace Co.
5. I have 2 patents and have written patents for 2 other people;
6. I've flown over 100,000 air miles and driven over 800,000 miles;
7. I've been to Europe twice, Canada 5 Times, Puerto Rico twice all over the United States as far West as Aptos California, lived in San Antonio TX, Bradford PA, Butler NJ, Winter Park and now Daytona Beach, FL (Came to FL in 1980);
8. Owned a business and failed miserably at it after running out of money;
9. I've been married and divorced, no children;
10. Have 10 years of college;
11. A registered Chess Player since 1949. Played in over 1200 tournament games, including 9 US Opens and 2 Senior Opens;
12. Played Golf for several years. A typical Sunday golfer with about an 18 handicap;
13. An ADA Advocate.
Did I let my disability interfere with my life?-Absolutely not!!


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Designing wind turbine blades is about balancing aerodynamic performance and structural integrity, but design and analysis is often disconnected from the blade manufacturing process. Dr Olivier Guillermin, Director of Product and Market Strategy, VISTAGY Inc, discusses the current situtation. 28 February, 2011
Using the experience it has gained from the aviation industry, LAP GmbH Laser Applikationen is now helping wind turbine blade manufacturers to improve accuracy and reduce costs. Axel Rieckmann, sales manager industry at LAP, explains the use of the company's laser projection equipment, which Germanischer Lloyd has certified for use in the production of turbine blades. 15 February, 2011
Although computer models of wind flow over terrain have improved dramatically in the past few years, there is still no substitute for data recorded at the site. 11 February, 2011
Planning permission and consents can be the death of many a renewable energy project. Which is why it remains vital to properly assess the environmental impacts of development. 10 February, 2011
In the first of a special Renewable Energy Focus series looking at the key stages and processes involved in taking a wind project from A to Z, Gail Rajgor gives some rules of thumb that are vital from the offset, and takes a closer look at the all important issue of choosing the right site for your wind farm. 10 February, 2011
Damage to wind turbine blades can significantly lower the turbine's performance. On site repair of wind turbine blades has traditionally been time consuming and of variable quality. David Cripps, Global Account Manager, Gurit Wind Energy, describes a new blade repair system which is clean, fast and can be used in a wider temperature range. 01 February, 2011


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Neal Cassady Chair of Psychedelic Folk Art Philip Graham and Professor of Rockthropology Alma Gottlieb lead Cristy and William through some of the uncharted early albums of the nexus of the cultural myth known as the "Summer of Love." Learn which ruthless, murderous dictator the pacifist Country Joe was named after, and which band member went on to be a voice actor for the Smurfs. And lots of great music eclipsed in the shadow of the Grateful Dead and Woodstock.
All recorded in an authentic underground basement. Download here or listen below:


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♥ Team Spark Animation
Hey Lovelies! I have been pretty busy lately, so I wasn't able to make something crafty for you today. I was working on a dance animation for my favorite group, Team Spark a Chinese group. They announced a Dance Cover Contest about a month ago, and because of reasons, I can't dance. I tried to think outside the box, as I usually do and decided to draw an animation of the dance. But never realized how much work that actually is. I thought I could do the whole MV before the deadline, turned out, I could only do half of it. xD. I'll gonna explane how I made it and show you what my end result is in this blog. So, if you feel like doing it as well one day, you know how to do it!
First, I downloaded the Joker dance MV by Team Spark. I needed it for the technique I wanna use, called Rotoscoping. That basicly means you are gonna trace every frame of the movie/clip you wanna use. Usually this is done digitally, but there's always going something wrong if I work digital, (I've some fun stories about me and electronics tho, but not now!) so better not for me. That's why I chose to do it on paper, what's actually more work, I'll explane later.
Then I opened Photoshop and opened the 'Animation' option (You can find that under the tab window). Then I dragged and dropped the MV in there. I set the frame rate to 11FPS, normally it was 25.. gosh I can't imagine if I had to draw 25 frames per second. I would have never finished even 30 seconds xD. I probably could have set the frame rate to 10, but yeah, not sure what I was thinking xD.
Now everything was ready to go, I had to cut my paper from A4 to A6. I didn't wanna use big sheets for this, just big enough to make it work. So yeah, that's another extra step I had to take. I am used to cutting paper sheet and survived them all without getting injured haha!
From here I made sure that I positioned my paper at the same spot every time. This is very important to make it work at all. So I got the rulers out in photoshop and dragged some guides for the size of my paper, those lines need to stay there all the time, so I locked them. When that was done, it was time to start.
I taped my paper to my screen and made sure I could see though it, I made my room dark and my screen as light as possible. This way I could see the image through my paper and start tracing.
Make decisions
While tracing I was in control who I wanted to draw and who should dissapear etc. I had fun playing around with people coming in and out of screen. This way it was also faster to finish it. If I had drawn everyone on screen all the time, it would have taken me even more time. And this way you also could get a creative aspect in there.
I sometimes had to make up things as well, when it got covered by something or someone, but I guess it's not noticeable in the video, yay!
No clue if it would work out
I wasn't sure if it all was working out, I only could flip all pages in my hand to check a bit. But I would know for sure if I scanned/edited/animated everything together. Most of the time it was just praying it was going to work.
After I had drawn all the frames I wanted (I wanted to go up to after the chorus, so around 1min 35sec). I realized how many papers I had to scan and edit. I had drawn 1035 individual images, my pile was huge. These all had to be scanned. I did it per 2 at the same time. To give my scanner a break as well. Those scans needed to be cutted out to the right, same size and saved as the right number of frame. I couldn't mess up, if I did, my animation was ruined. This process took me a few days >_<.
I did this in photoshop, used the same thing as I used in the beginning, only a bit different. First is was a timeline animation, but now I was using frame animation. Every image got it's own frame and I set the time that the frame was shown to 0,09sec. While the first frame of every sec was shown for 0,1sec.
This was pretty time consuming to do, but not as much as the
other things I had to do before this. It went pretty smootly up till the moment
I got to the end and photoshop refused to save my work. so I tried to render
the video without it all being saved, and guess what. Photoshop crashed.
I had to redo about 300 frames, so not that much, but by that time I was pretty
frustrated and running out of time. I actually wanted to have it up that day.
That did not happen, it was already 9pm when photoshop crashed. I decided it
was better to stop, calm down and
continue the next day.
Make the Video
So the next day I got the animating process done pretty fast, it went smoothly this time. But I knew I wasn't done yet. I still had to add music and I wanted to film a small part where I show the pile of paper I used.
I switched to the program Magix to finish it all up. What I noticed was when I added my animation with the music, it didn't line up. So I actually set the frame rate in my video to I believe 12,20FPS. Now it sorta lined up properly with the dance moves. I added my video of the pile of paper and some text and exported the whole thing. Now it was finally almost over. Just uploading on youtube and other social media and I got it all done before the deadline.
I'm pretty statified with hou my video turned out!even tho it took forever to finish, over 80 hours >_<. I'm happy everything worked out. Now the waiting game starts and I am not even sure if my entry gets accepted. Let's find out. At least I've shown my boys some love! That's what counts, right?! ^^
Now I need a massage (any volunteers?! xD) and plenty of time to relax/sleep xD


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For maximum protection, most oil companies say to change the oil every 3,000 miles or three to six months regardless of what type of driving you do.
A new engine with little or no wear can probably get by on 7,500 mile oil changes. But as an engine accumulates miles, it dumps more unburned fuel into the crankcase which dilutes the oil. This causes the oil to break down. So if the oil isn't changed often enough, you can end up with accelerated wear and all the engine problems that come with it (loss of performance and fuel economy, and increased emissions and oil consumption).
Regular oil changes as part of preventative maintenance are cheap insurance against engine wear, and will always save you money in the long run if you keep a car for more than three or four years.
To reduce the costs of vehicle ownership and maintenance, many car makers say the oil filter only needs to be replaced at every other oil change. Most mechanics will tell you this is false economy.
The oil filters on most engines today have been downsized to save weight, cost and space. The "standard" quart-sized filter that was once common on most engines, has been replaced by a pint-sized (or smaller) filter. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that a smaller filter has less total filtering capacity. Even so, the little filters should be adequate for a 3,000 mile oil change intervals but may run out of capacity long before a second oil change at 6,000 or 15,000 miles. Replacing the oil filter every time the oil is changed, therefore, is highly recommended.