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A 2006 mission to remote ruby and spinel localities in Tajikistan.
Ruby & Spinel from Tajikistan • Moon Over the Pamirs
Seek knowledge, even unto China. Islamic maxim
In our business, travel should be de rigueur. But the headlines frighten so many away. Boo! Earth is one giant pool of war, disease and pestilence. Boo! International travel is undertaken only by the clinically insane or those with Special Ops experience. Boo! If the pox or pollution don't gettcha, al Qaeda is close behind. As Lou Reed sang: "You've got a black .38 and a gravity knife. You still have to ride the train."
Lou was singing about the New York subways. Having braved Manhattan's dangerous tunnels, we feel qualified to discuss what some might regard as an even greater peril: travel to Tajikistan.
We know what you're thinking. Tajiki-where?
But Tajiki-why?
Simple. For well over a millennium, this land has held one of the most important gemological secrets, that of the balas ruby. When one of the authors (RH) began researching his first book, he became intrigued by the accounts of these mines which, despite being the alleged source of the Black Prince's Ruby and Timur Ruby, had completely slipped off the gemological radar. How could such a famous locality go so utterly MIA?
The answer is one of bad politics and worse geography. Early accounts put the locality in Badakhshan and many writers (including Hughes), assumed this meant it lay in Afghanistan. In reality, the Badakhshan region straddles both NE Afghanistan and eastern Tajikistan. And since Tsarist times, what is now Tajikistan was a strategic border region of Russia, verboten to all foreigners.
That changed with the Soviet collapse in 1989. Several of the Soviet republics demanded and were granted independence, including Tajikistan. But the newly-independent Tajikistan almost immediately entered a period of civil war, one where the eastern Gorno-Badakhshan region became both a rebel stronghold and a war zone.
Despite the war, the gemological detective work continued. By the mid-1990s, Richard Hughes and Afghan gem specialist Gary Bowersox were comparing notes. Both had independently concluded that these mines lay right along the Afghan-Tajik border, somewhere in the vicinity of Ishkashim. But where? This town was literally bisected by the Panj (Pamir) River which formed the border between the two nations.
It was left to Bowersox to put together the final pieces of this puzzle. On one of his annual visits to Afghanistan's hinterlands, he was able to photograph the historic mines, at a place called Kuh-i-Lal. But they lay one bridge too far, across the border in Tajikistan. Following several aborted stabs, and with the end of the civil war, Bowersox was finally able to visit the mines in the summer of 2005. In addition, that same trip he journeyed to the relatively new ruby deposits in eastern Tajikistan near the Chinese border.
Flash forward to early 2006. Sitting in Bangkok, Vincent Pardieu began to see rubies from Tajikistan. Meanwhile, Schorr and Hughes were busy planning a gem-hunting trip to the Congo, where a close friend had an in with the Minister of Corruption. Suddenly, Hughes received a chance e-mail from Tashkent offering Tajik ruby. Hmmm… By Spring, Pardieu, Hughes and Schorr were comparing notes, thinking Tajiki-why-not?
Do you know the way to Dushanbe?
But how the Hun does one get there? First comes the visa. Like Russia and all other ex-Soviet republics, you need a letter-of-invitation (LOI). Which is asking a bit much of people who have never visited a place, but it does serve to keep the riffraff out. Such LOIs function simply as an entry tax. Wanna go to the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO)? You'll need an entirely separate permit for that. Give yourself a minimum of one month to get fully stampified.
Now comes the real fun. Getting there. With but few exceptions, no matter where you might be, Dushanbe is out-of-reach. Air connections appear to be based on the poppy principle, existing mainly between Istanbul (Turkey), Kabul (Afghanistan), Almaty (Kazakhstan), and Russia. Frankly, we were a bit surprised there were no direct flights from Burma.
Wanna go by land? Sweet. The Taliban stand ready with roadside assistance. And the nearest other nation of note, Uzbekistan, maintains such sterling relations with the Tajiks that on our flight we met an Uzbek who preferred to travel to Dushanbe via Almaty, rather than brave the drive from Tashkent to the Tajik capital. Understand one thing: Dushanbe is miles from nowhere; somewhere is even further afield.
So what are the options? Two members of our party chose the "pansy path," crossing the Khyber Pass from Peshawar (Pakistan) to Kabul (Afghanistan), then a short air hop into Dushanbe. Those of us wanting a bit more adventure opted for the more circuitous Frankfurt-to-Almaty route, then on to Dushanbe via Tajikistan Airlines.
Air Quirkistan
This is one carrier US airlines could learn from. Dump the expensive services. Tajikistan Airlines takes reservations only two weeks out. Customer inquiries? Our repeated e-mails elicited not even a single reply. On-time percentage? Arrive early – the printed schedule is just a rumor.
On the flight from Almaty, the entire rear third was filled with baggage. Boarding, a quick look round revealed cabin decor à la Cream, circa Disraeli Gears. All of it, ceilings, walls, seats, carpet, the whole shebong done up in psychedelic paisley patterns. Thanks god they weren't serving inebriants or things could have gotten quickly out-of-hand.
Hughes found himself wedged into anorexemy class. The metal tray table (yes, metal) had a notch ripped through where the peg was supposed to hold it against the seat back, leaving a jagged dagger just inches from his chest. Upon landing, he could only whisper "thanks god" that the seat in front was occupied by someone who understood his frantic slashing gestures, for even the slightest recline would have sawn him in two, a trick with no magician's happy ending.
Arriving at Dushanbe's airport, we taxied to the sight of a series of Soviet-era jets identical to ours, except for the various states of cannibalization. Comforting, we thought. Our plane had a full complement of gear. Of course, there's always the return flight…
Satellites of Love
The good news is that Tajikistan is no longer part of the Soviet Union. The bad news is that nobody who matters really gives a damn. Following independence, Tajikistan simply incorporated all appendages of the previous regime into the new government. Including the KGB. Think about it. If you've invested close to a century building a worst-class bureaucracy, why let regime change rain on the charade? Understand, this ain't Spain. No plains, and even if it did rain, the KGB has a lock on the umbrella concession. This is particularly true in the GBAO where – whodda guessed it – the gems are found.
Okay, perhaps that's a bit harsh. There are other reasons for the restrictions. Some of them involve the mining of stuff used to build things that go boom boom, while others involve simple "strategery." As one Cold War veteran told me: "I've never been to Tajikistan, but back in the day, if anybody in Dushanbe ever dropped a penny, I'd have a photo of it before it hit the pavement."
How does one describe a place? It often comes down to set and setting – mindset and surroundings. Those of us who had spent the previous month in Pakistan and Afghanistan discovered in Dushanbe a bygone world appearing before our eyes. Or half a world anyway – the female half. This was quite a set, amidst a lovely setting.
Dushanbe is nothing if not sublime, a beguiling blend of Central Asia and Russia – wide tree-lined boulevards where Islam walks in lazy tranquility with the more-permissive habits of a European city. We were left with a feeling of tolerance, such a rare commodity in today's polarized world.
Our arrival in Dushanbe was made all the more pleasant by Surat Toimastov, one of Tajikistan's top photographers, who has spent much of his life hiking, hunting and climbing throughout the Pamirs. In addition to Surat, we were joined by his son, Habib, and our driver, Valera. Together, they would shepard us across the remote eastern half of Tajikistan that is Gorno-Badakshan.
Pamir Highway
At the outset, let us say this: the road to the mines does not always lead to lands of milk and honey. During our three-week journey, we watched one travel companion retch out a car window (giardia?); days earlier another passed out on the floor of a yurt (malaria?), while a third rushed into the Murghab governor's mansion with a panic-stricken grimace that suggested breakfast was near detonation (liquid bomb?). Getting there is not always half the fun.
But perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves. The journey to the mines was by road, with the initial destination being Khorog, capital of the GBAO. This gigantic province encompasses virtually the entire eastern half of the nation, including the famous Pamir mountain range. While making up 45% of the country's landmass, GBAO has just 3% of Tajikistan's population. Traveling through it, one is carried on a song, leaping from one magnificent stanza to another. It is certainly among the most photogenic places we have ever visited.
Exiting Dushanbe, one passes first through rolling hills which quickly turn to craggy outcrops and scalloped canyons, hinting at the higher elevations to come. The initial night found us bedding down at a wonderful homestay arranged by Surat, our introduction to traditional Tajiki life. Early on the second day, we entered the GBAO and its extensive series of Tajik KGB checkpoints. This area was the scene of the fiercest fighting during the civil war. All along the road reminders are seen of the conflict that raged just a few years before, with burned-out tanks and mine fields littering the roadsides.
Down and nearly out in Khorog
Following a two-day drive through ever-changing landscapes we arrived at Khorog, district headquarters of the GBAO. Our main task there was to finalize permits for visiting the spinel mines at Kuh-i-Lal, just two hours south, along with the ruby mines near Murghab, located in eastern Badakhshan, near the Chinese border.
Did we mention that Tajikistan has quite a bit of red tape? It took us five days in Khorog before the size of our "gift" became large enough to pry open the doors of Badakhshan official obstruction. And none too soon, for, while Khorog is a pleasant enough town, serious boredom had set in. Another day and we might have found ourselves swimming the river to join the Taliban. Anything for a bit of action…
Thankfully, we were spared that fate. With a brief letter of introduction from the Deputy Governor of Badakhshan asking for "cooperation," we left Khorog to explore the places each of us had traveled so far to see.
Kuh-i-Lal's "balas ruby" (spinel) mines are among the oldest in the world, with the first recorded mention being that of the famous Central Asian polymath, al Biruni (973–1048):
The Badakhshani Ruby
Ruby mines are situated near the village of Warzqanj which is situated in the direction of Kharukhan while going from Badakhshan at three days' journey. It is a part of an emperor's domain, the capital of which is Shakasim, which is close to the mines producing this stone. The approach to the mines via this route is easier, and it passes between Shakkasmi and Shaknan. This is why the governor of Wakhan keeps the most precious jewels for himself, and precious jewels pass this way clandestinely. Jewels weighing beyond a certain size are prohibited from being carried outside the mine, and only stones weighing up to the sizes he has fixed or specified are permitted to be taken out.
It is said that the mine was located when there was an earthquake in the area and the mountain was cloven. Big rocks fell down and everything was destroyed. Rubies were disgorged in the process. Women thought the stone was something with which clothes could be dyed. They ground the stones, but no colour came out. Women showed the rubies to men and the matter was publicised. The king ordered the miners to locate the mine. When they found it they began to excavate it.
– al Biruni, 11th century
The story above is virtually identical to what local miners told us during our visit. They also informed us that in 1970, Ms. Mira Alekseyevna Bubnova of the A. Donish Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography (Tajik Academy of Sciences) found evidence the mine was operating as early as the seventh century AD.
Stories of the Kuh-i-Lal mines are legendary, and are detailed in Hughes (1994, The rubies and spinels of Afghanistan: A brief history). Kuh-i-Lal is thought to have produced many of the most famous spinels in the world, including the Black Prince's Ruby and the Timur Ruby. But because similar stones from these mines have not been documented in the modern era, the question of whether these famous stones came from Kuh-i-Lal, or perhaps another locality such as Mogok, Burma, is still debated in gemological circles (see 'Balas Rubies: Myth or Reality' at the end of this article).
The Kuh-i-Lal spinel mines are almost halfway between Khorog and Ishkashim, high on a cliff overlooking the beautiful village of the same name. This is directly next to the Panj (Pamir) River, which forms the natural border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. From the mines themselves the views into Afghanistan and the Hindu Kush range are stunning.
Our first visit to Kuh-i-Lal was difficult, as we had not yet obtained formal permission. As a result, we were only permitted to enter the ancient galleries, which are no longer being actively worked.
The historic mines are located at 37°10'71"N, 71°28'47"E; elev. 2900 m (9514 ft). They were reached after a stiff 45-minute climb up a goat track. Donning hard hats and head lamps, we entered the mines. The tunnels quickly narrowed, twisting and turning in what was obviously an attempt to follow gem-bearing veins. We soon became lost in a mountain honeycombed with passages, some so narrow that access was only by crawling on hands and knees or slithering like snakes on our bellies. And yet in places the tunnels opened up into substantial rooms as much as 20 m in length and 8 m in height, suggesting the removal of rich pockets of gems.
Inspecting the tunnel walls, we did not locate any fine crystals in the marble matrix, not surprising since these tunnels were long ago abandoned, but we were shown two tiny pinkish crystal fragments. Sadly, due to bureaucratic restrictions we were unable to bring these home for further study.
Miners informed us that approximately 10,000 cubic meters of rock had been taken out of these ancient galleries over the ages, creating an incredible catacomb of meandering passages. It was clear that without a guide one could quickly become lost. At Kuh-i-Lal, there are said to be nine major tunnels, but only two currently in operation. One of these penetrates 800 m into the mountain, while the other is said to be 500 m deep.
Inquiring after production, miners told us that all stones were sent to Dushanbe, to the state-run Gubjemast Company, which had a monopoly over gem production in Tajikistan. In terms of color, we were told that over the past three years, spinels from the current workings were approximately 50% red and 50% pink. But when we examined production back in Dushanbe, we were not shown even a single low-quality red spinel. In Dushanbe, we were given various stories, everything from 10–50% red. Later, when we were actually afforded an opportunity to view stones at Gubjemast, we were told that red spinels are found just once every ten years. Perhaps red spinels are found, but don't know the way to Dushanbe?
The fact is that, while we know companies in Bangkok that sell Pamir spinel, they've never shown us a red stone. Instead, these firms sell pink and purplish stones, similar to those we saw at the mines and at the Gubjemast mining office in Dushanbe. Thus the mystery continues.
Following our visit to the ruby mines, we again returned to Kuh-i-Lal, but were once more thwarted in our attempts to enter the modern tunnels. While we did have a letter of authorization from the Deputy Governor of Badakhshan, we were told we would also need a KGB permit. On the farm, all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others…
Welcome to Yurtistan
Having visited Kuh-i-Lal, we next traveled east along the Pamir Highway, passing through ever-more spectacular mountain landscapes. Several hours of driving brought us to a pass. Crossing it, we dropped into an arid high-altitude region that, excepting the the grasslands along the valley floors, resembled nothing so much as the moon. Periodically the desolation was broken by small herds of yaks and the occasional yurt. This region was the home not of Tajiks (who are ethnically related to the Persians), but to Kyrgyz, a people thought to have originated from Siberia, but later pushed south by invading Mongols. We enjoyed several meals and one night in "Yurtistan." Our time in these comfortable dwellings amidst these hospitable people was an experience none of us will ever forget.
Murghab – Fly me to the moon
Murghab was reached following a ten-hour drive from Khorog. This regional capital is located on a swampy plain at 3576 m (11,732 ft). Its population of about 6500 people makes Murghab the largest outpost in sparsely-settled eastern Badakhshan.
Great things are planned for Murghab. Located near the border of western China's Xinjiang province, with the recent completion of a new bridge and road, it is now hoped it will become the eastern gateway to the Pamirs. Indeed, we were told that the Aga Khan Foundation, which has performed marvelous humanitarian work in Badakhshan, once brought in a European planning expert to see about sprucing the place up for the planned tourist onslaught. Taking a look at Murghab, he said that, regrettably, he would be unable to help, for, while he had over thirty years' experience in city planning, none of it was on the moon.
Upon our arrival we visited the local governor's office and found a warm welcome, with the red carpet rolled out. Unlike at Kuh-i-Lal, where suspicion was the watchword, officials in Murghab were most helpful. Indeed, the following day we left for the mines with an official provided by the local governor, along with M. Ramsy, the mine director. The one-and-a-half hour drive northeast was through a wonderful semi-desert landscape.
Discovered in 1979, a handful of stones reached foreign markets in the 1990s (Bank, 1990). We saw our first Tajik rubies during the first half of 2006, when stones reputed to be from this source suddenly reached the international markets through dealers from Tashkent, Peshawar, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Dubai (inclusion photos of some of these rubies can be found at Pardieu, 2006).
Initially, some traders represented these attractive pink-to-vivid-red rubies as being from a new mine in Burma, but others suggested they were actually from the Murghab region in eastern Badakhshan, near the Chinese border. Indeed, their inclusions and color closely matched published descriptions of Tajik rubies (Smith, 1998). Their arrival convinced us that a visit to Tajikistan was in order.
Tajikistan's ruby mines are located in a place called Kukurt. The Kukurt (a.k.a. Turakulominsky) ruby deposit contains a number of outcrops, including Snezhny, Trika, Nizhny, and Gloria). We visited the site at Snezhny (a.k.a. Snijnie, Snagnyi or Snezhnoye) ( 38°15'72"N, 74°23'37"E, elev. 4090 m; 13,418 ft). Snezhny is a Russian word for "snowy," a not-inappropriate name since it snowed a bit on the day of our visit. In July.
The Snezhny mining camp, consisting of about 15 rustic houses, lies about 42 km by road east-northeast of Murghab on a gentle slope at the end of an arid high-altitude valley. As one can see, the scenery surrounding the mines is just beyond spectacular.
The deposit was discovered in 1979 by Russian geologists. According to the miners, the present location has been worked since 2003. From the 1970s to 2003 another location at Kirkut, some 10 km to the north was worked, but due to time constraints we were unable to visit that area. It seems that the Snezhny and Kirkut mines represent a ruby-bearing marble zone measuring some 50 km by 200 km, extending all the way to the Chinese border.
At the time of our visit, mining consisted of digging trenches in places where the ruby-rich marble layers were exposed or close to the surface. This is not unlike the Jegdalek ruby deposit in Afghanistan. To our surprise, we witnessed no alluvial or eluvial mining. When asked about this, miners told us that, while they had prospected the valley floor below the marble outcrops, lack of water made such work difficult. This we could understand. Beyond snow melt, water appeared to be in short supply throughout the Murghab region.
Close examination of the walls of the mining trenches revealed bits of ruby and green fuchsite mica peeking out from the marble, which was found in a gneiss country rock. In discussions with workers and geologists at the mine, we were told that the closer the rubies are to the gneiss, the richer is the rubies' color.
At the time of our visit, roughly ten miners were working. Dynamite was used to break up the country rock in order to reach the ruby-rich zones, with a bulldozer later brought in to further expose the veins. Ruby is then extracted from the marble by hand, a laborious process. Production is then sent to the Gubjemast office in Dushanbe. Miners told us that the largest fine crystal found was around 200 grams.
On the short walk to the mines, garnet and kyanite were seen in the brief periods where our eyes were not focused on the stunning beauty of the surrounding landscape. In addition, at Rangkul next to Kukurt Lake near Murghab are found topaz, amethyst, polychrome tourmaline, amazonite, scapolite, schorl and jeremejevite.
During Soviet times, many Russian geologists worked in the Murghab area and the remains of a large geologist's base camp can be seen on the edge of town. We were told that numerous surveys were undertaken in pegmatite-rich areas. Both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan were the source of major uranium and rare-metal deposits. This is one possible reason why, to this day, Tajikistan's gemstone mines are still seen as "strategic areas."
Following our visit to the Murghab area, we continued our trip south to a hunter's camp at Jarty Gumbez, then through the Tajik portion of the Wakhan corridor to Ishkashim. From there, after another aborted stab at Kuh-i-Lal, it was back to Dushanbe, via an Afghan-border hugging route dotted with KGB checkpoints.
Downtempo in Dushanbe: A visit to Gubjemast
Have we mentioned Tajikistan's bureaucracy? In Tajikistan, gem production and the gem trade are strictly regulated. The precious stone business as it exists in most other countries is, in Tajikistan, illegal. Both the ruby and spinel mines are considered strategic resources. Thus even the most mundane procedure becomes a knot of Gordian proportions, one which even the tiniest of Persian fingers cannot unravel.
During our visits to the ruby and spinel mines, we learned that gemstone mining in Tajikistan is controlled by the Gubjemast company (meaning 'amethyst' in Tajik), headquartered in Dushanbe. Whenever we would inquire about viewing or purchasing samples, the answer would always be the same: "You must contact Gubjemast." Thus our first order of business upon returning to Dushanbe was to "contact Gubjemast."
But locating Gubjemast proved almost as daunting as gaining entry to the mines. This was clearly not a high-profile operation. After thirty minutes of hunting for an office that was smack-dabski in front of where the taxi dropped us, we finally ascended the stairs of a building that makes "nondescript" look like a Vegas casino. Gubjemast was clearly a company that was not – how shall we say this – "customer focused."
Our visit did not begin on an auspicious note. As we nudged open the door, a gentleman stepped out. We asked if this was the Gubjemast company and he answered in the affirmative. Indeed, he was the Managing Director, at least until the previous day when, after more than twenty years of service, he was sacked. Seems that Tajikistan's President preferred someone who was a party loyalist, albeit one with little experience in either minerals or gems.
We quickly explained our mission and the gentleman graciously invited us into his office, patiently answering all manner of questions regarding the mines and Tajikistan's gem business. But as he was now on the way out, he could not show us any samples. For this we would have to ascend yet another rung on Tajikistan's ladder of leadership.
Did we mention that bureaucracy is serious business in Tajikistan? In order to even view a single stone, we had to organize a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Industry. Through the good efforts of two of our local contacts, this was accomplished. Taking two hours of time of the number two man at the Ministry of Industry just to see some small gem lots might seem a bit bizarre, but – let's just come right out and say it – it was totally bizarre. Akin to having to meet the Postmaster General to purchase a few stamps. Thankfully, the Deputy Minister proved to be most cordial and, in addition to arranging permission for us to view samples, gave his blessing so we could examine documents regarding the mines.
Did we mention that bureaucracy is serious business in Tajikistan? Despite support from the Ministry of Industry, we discovered that buying gemstones in Tajikistan is not an easy task, at least if you try to do it legally. During our second visit to Gubjemast we attempted to buy rough samples for scientific research, but the process proved to be as complex the rest of the journey. The regulations are something like this:
- Foreigners are only allowed to purchase gems at special sales.
- Such special sales take place only in December.
Since it was July, and since we had misplaced our LOI from the Minister of Corruption, we were facing some serious downtime in Dushanbe.
Seeing the obvious disappointment on our faces, we were then told it might be possible to buy just a few samples during our visit.
Hopes now raised to the stratosphere, we confidently selected ten small pieces of rough worth perhaps $20 and requested a price. After a bit of hushed talk, the answer came back that these would lighten our wallets by $200. Huh? Perhaps an extra zero had mistakenly found its way into the equation?
No. $200.
Okay, an obvious rip-off, but for the sake of science and the brotherhood of man, we agreed.
Hmmm… Following further whispered discussions, we were then informed that the paperwork necessary to export the gems would cost us $600. And the export process would take a month. Did we mention that paperwork was important in Tajikistan?
This called for a bit of hushed discussions of our own. Hmmm… no. Put away the shears. These sheep would be leaving no wool behind in Dushanbe. No goal.
Jerry Springer moment
It is clear that some serious reconfiguration in the bureaucratic arena needs to be done before Tajikistan can develop a strong gem industry. Remarkably, the easiest legal way to purchase Tajik rough is to invest in the mining operations with Gubjemast. Companies from China, Ukraine and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) are said to operate under this type of arrangement. But for most, a serious investment in a remote mine is out of the question. Thus, for the time being, foreign dealers will simply purchase stones abroad. You see, most Tajik gemstones do not know the way to Dushanbe.
Bringin' it on home
Like I explained to you before, I'm a people worshiper. I think people should worship people. I really do.
I went out looking for God the other day and I couldn't pin him. So I figured if I couldn't find him, I'd look for his stash, his Great Lake of Love that holds the whole world in gear. And when I finally found it, I had the great pleasure of finding that people were the guardians of it. Dig that.
So with my two-times-two is four, I figured that, if people were guarding the stash of love known as God, then when people swing in beauty, they become little gods and goddesses. Lord Buckley, Religion
Let us clue you in on a secret. The most important reason to visit far-flung locales has absolutely nothing to do with stones. Watch the world via the evening news and you're bound to come away with a negative impression. Everyday kindness rarely makes the cut. And yet we have experienced it no matter where on this earth our feet have landed.
Witness the photograph below. As we were traveling through Badakhshan, our party paused on the roadside. This Tajik girl appeared, armed with a bottle of fresh fermented milk. Approaching, she smiled shyly, extended it to us and then walked away. Could this be a plot? The Afghan border was less than a kilometer away and Chitral (Pakistan), where Osama was thought to be hiding, just a turban's throw from that. Tossing caution aside, we drank deeply, and survived.
Days later, after a tough descent from Kuh-i-Lal, two Wakhi girls skipped past carrying an urn. Stopping, they offered us generous helpings of their fresh goat cheese. In one of the poorest regions of the world, these goddesses thought nothing of sharing what they had with visitors from abroad. When was the last time we treated foreigners with similar grace and decency?
Hate and distrust are easy at a distance, but more difficult up close, when people are not abstractions, but something real, something you can see, something you can feel, something you can touch.
All who walk this earth are born under the same moon. Our shared humanity is far greater than differences in language, culture or religion. This lesson is the true mother lode of travel, more precious than any stone we might bring home. Grasp this simple concept and wherever your feet touch down, it will always be a land of milk and honey.
And what of those New York subways? Despite their dangerous reputation, they too contain unexplored mysteries. Indeed, when Manhattan's tunnels were excavated in the 19th century, gem garnets were found.
So fear not. Go forth and explore this magical planet. Seek knowledge, even unto Manhattan!
Appendix: Balas Rubies – Myth or Reality? by R.W. Hughes From the historical record, it is clear that the Badakhshan mines were of great importance during the period from 1000–1900 AD. While some might argue otherwise, it is safe to say that, based on the numerous historical accounts, the Badakhshan mines were the source of many of the finest early red spinels in gem collections around the world, such as those in Iran's Bank Markazi, Istanbul's Topkapi, Russia's Kremlin, and England's Tower of London. Unfortunately, such mines are largely overlooked, with some gemologists even suggesting that the only historic source of big red spinels is Burma. This is not based upon any particular evidence, such as comprehensive inclusion studies, for these studies do not exist, either for Burma or Sri Lankan spinels, nor for those from Badakhshan. Instead, it simply rests upon the belief that what is today, has always been. But history is replete with examples that demonstrate otherwise. Witness the famous Kashmir sapphire mines, where within a brief blink-of-the-eye period (1881–1887), the "old mine" produced such a quantity of fine stones that they achieved a reputation second to none. So fine was their quality that, today, they remain the standard against which all other sapphires are measured. And yet in the more than 120 years that have since passed, few stones of the original quality have been unearthed. Utterly incredible, but absolutely true. Would any gemologist argue that the famous Kashmir sapphires came from another locale because the current mine does not produce stones of the original quality? Ditto Golconda diamonds. While evidence for the existence of the Badakhshan mines is not direct, it is substantial. As proof, we have the name balas ruby, which is apparently derived from an ancient word for Badakhshan, we have numerous detailed accounts of the mining, we have spinels with Arabic inscriptions and we have historical names, such as the Timur ruby. Circumstantial? Indeed. But if circumstantial evidence was of no value, the world's jails would be empty. In summing up the evidence for a Badakhshan origin for these stones, we will close with this from a Christie's catalog on Indian jewelry: The habit of inscribing objects and gems in order to personalize them was a Timurid fashion. The Timurids, a dynasty founded by Timur (Tamerlane) ruled over Afghanistan, large parts of Iran and Central Asia from the late 14th to the late 15th centuries. It was to the Timurids that the Mughals ultimately owed many debts in the development of their particular imperial style. A very large red spinel, known as the "Timur Ruby" now in the British Crown Jewels [actually in Queen Elizabeth's private collection], was once in the possession of Jahangir. The stone was presumably once inscribed with Tamerlane's name and thus may have set a precedence for the habit of inscribing precious stones. Several objects made of semi-precious stones and inscribed with his name are known. In the case of gemstones, every new royal owner had his own inscription added as a mark of ownership, often having the old erradicated. One of the spinels in the present necklace is inscribed with the name of Jahangir, along with the title sahib-i-qiran-i sani ("Second Lord of the Conjunction") referring to Shah Jahan, and another later owner, suggesting too that these stones were handed down as prized possessions. – Christie's, 1999, Important Indian Jewellery
References & further reading
- Aziz, A. (1942) The Imperial Treasury of the Indian Mughuls. Lahore, privately published, reprinted 1972 by Idarah-I Adabiyat-I Delli, Delhi, 572 pp.; RWHL*.
- Bala Krishnan, U.R. (2001) Jewels of the Nizams. New Delhi, Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India in association with India Book House, Mumbai, 240 pp.; RWHL*.
- Ball, V. (1893) A description of two large spinel rubies, with Persian characters engraved upon them. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 381-401, reprinted in Gemological Digest, 1990, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 57-68; RWHL*.
- Bancroft, P. (1989) Record Russian spinels. Lapidary Journal, Vol. 43, No. 4, p. 41; RWHL.
- Bancroft, P. (1990) Spectacular spinel. Lapidary Journal, Vol. 43, No. 11, February, p. 25; RWHL.
- Bank, H. and Henn, U. (1990) New sources for tourmaline, emerald, ruby, and spinel. ICA Gazette, April, p. 7; RWHL.
- Barthoux, J. (1933) Lapis-lazuli et rubis balais des cipolins afghans. Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences de France, Vol. 196, 10 avril, pp. 1131–1134; RWHL.
- Barot, N.R. and Kremkow, C. (1991) 1991 ICA world gemstone mining report. ICA Gazette, August, pp. 12–15; RWHL.
- Beach, M.C. and Koch, E. (1997) King of the World: The Padshahnama, an Imperial Mughal Manuscript from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle. London, Azimuth Editions, 248 pp.; not seen.
- Bernard, J.H. and Hyrsl, J. (2004) Minerals and Their Localities. Prague, Granit SRO, 808 pp.; not seen.
- Beruni, M.i.A., al- (1989) The Book Most Comprehensive in Knowledge on Precious Stones: al-Beruni's Book on Mineralogy [Kitab al-jamahir fi marifat al-jawahir]. One Hundred Great Books of Islamic Civilization, Natural Sciences No. 66, Islamabad, Pakistan Hijra Council, edited by Hakim Mohammad Said, 355 pp.; RWHL*.
- Blair, C., Bury, S. et al. (1998) The Crown Jewels: The History of the Coronation Regalia in the Jewel House of the Tower of London. London, The Stationery Office, 2 Vols., 812, 630 pp.; seen*.
- Bowersox, G.W. and Chamberlin, B. (1995) Gemstones of Afghanistan. Tucson, AZ, Geoscience Press, xx, 172 pp.
- Bowersox, G. (2005) July–August, 2005 Hindu Kush/Pamir Mountains Expedition. Gems-afghan.com.
- Burnes, A. (1835) Travels into Bokhara. London, 2 Vols., see pp. 177–178; not seen.
- Christie's (1999) Important Indian Jewels. London, Christie's, 6 October 1999, 96 pp.; RWHL.
- Fersman, A.E. (1954–61) Ocherki Po Istorii Kamnya [Gems of Russia]. Moskva, Izdatelstvo Akademii Nauk SSSR, 2 Vols., In Russian, 370, 370 pp.; not seen*.
- Hauser, M. (2004) The Pamirs – 1:500 000: A Tourist Map of Gorno Badakhshan-Tajikistan and Background Information on the Region. Hinteregg, Switzerland, Pamir Archive, RWHL*.
- Henn, U., Bank, H. et al. (1990) Rubine aus dem Pamir-Gebirge, UdSSR. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 201–205; RWHL*.
- Henn, U. and Hyrsl, J. (2001) Gem-quality clinohumite from Tajikistan and the Taymyr region, northern Siberia. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 27, No. 6, pp. 335–339; RWHL.
- Hughes, R.W. (1994) The rubies and spinels of Afghanistan: A brief history. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 24, No. 4, October, pp. 256–267; RWHL*.
- Hughes, R.W. (1997) Ruby & Sapphire. Boulder, CO, RWH Publishing, 512 pp.; RWHL*.
- Kammerling, R.C., Scarratt, K. et al. (1994) Myanmar and its gems—An update. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 3–40; RWHL*.
- Keene, M. and Kaoukji, S. (2001) Treasury of the World: Jeweled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals. New York, Thames & Hudson, 160 pp.; RWHL*.
- Kievlenko, E.Y. (2003) Geology of Gems. Trans. by Soregaroli, A., Vancouver, Ocean Pictures Ltd., 432 pp. + xxxii; RWHL*.
- Koivula, J.I. and Kammerling, R.C. (1989) Examination of a gem spinel crystal from the Pamir Mountains. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 38, No. 2/3, pp. 85–88; RWHL.
- Kammerling, R.C., Koivula, J.I. et al. (1995) Gem News: Large spinel from Tajikistan. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 31, No. 3, Fall, p. 212; RWHL.
- Laurs, B.M. and Quinn, E.P. (2004) Clinohumite from the Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 40, No. 4, Winter, pp. 337–338; RWHL.
- Markham, C.R. (1859) Narrative of the Embassy of Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo to the Court of Timour, at Samarcand, A.D. 1403–6. London, Hakluyt Society, Burt Franklin reprint, 200 pp.; see pp. 163; RWHL.
- Mayhew, B., Clammer, P. et al. (2004) Central Asia. Footscray, Australia, Lonely Planet Publications, 3rd Edition, 512 pp.; RWHL*.
- Meen, V.B. and Tushingham, A.D. (1968) The Crown Jewels of Iran. Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 159 pp.
- Pardieu, V. (2006) Rubies from Tajikistan. Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences.
- Pardieu, V. and Soubiraa, G. (2006) From Kashmir to Pamir: An update on Ruby, Emerald and Spinel mining in Central Asia. Tajikistan: Gems from the Pamirs. fieldgemology.org.
- Peretyazhko, L.S., Zagorsky, V.E. et al. (1999) Miarolitic pegmatites of the Kurkurt Group of gemstone deposits, central Pamirs: The evolution of physical conditions in the Amazonitovaya vein. Geochemistry International, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 108–127; not seen.
- Phillips (1994) A Singular Private Collection of Mughal and Later Indian Jewellery and Other Properties. Geneva, Phillips, Tuesday, 17 May, 51 pp.; RWHL.
- Prior, K. and Adamson, J. (2000) Maharajas' Jewels. New York, Vendome Press, 205 pp.; RWHL*.
- Rossovsky, L.N. and Konovalenko, S.I. (1980) [Gemstones in the pegmatites of Hindu Kush, southern Pamirs and western Himalayas] in Russian. In Gem Minerals (Proceedings of the XI General Meeting of IMA, Novosibirsk), ed. by V.V. Bukanov et al., pp. 52–62; not seen.
- Samsonov, J.P. and Turingue, A.P. (1985) Gems of the USSR. Mockba, seen.
- Smith, C.P. (1998) Rubies and pink sapphires from the Pamir Range in Tajikistan, former USSR. Journal of Gemmology, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 103–109; RWHL.
- Stronge, S. (1996) The myth of the Timur ruby. Jewellery Studies, Vol. 7, pp. 5–12; RWHL*
- USSR Diamond Fund (1972) USSR Diamond Fund Exhibition. Moscow, 54 pp. + 66 color plates; RWHL*.
- Wood, J. (1841) A Journey to the Source of River Oxus. London, John Murray, 2nd ed., 1872, reprinted 1976, Oxford Univ. Press, 280 pp.; RWHL.
- Yevdokimov, D. (1991) A ruby from Badakhshan. Soviet Soldier, No. 12, Dec., pp. 71–73; RWHL.
- Younghusband, G. and Davenport, C. (1919) The Crown Jewels of England. London, Cassell and Co., Ltd., 84 pp.; RWHL.
- Yule, H. and Burnell, A.C. (1903) Hobson-Jobson. London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1st ed., 1886; 2nd ed. 1903 by William Crooke, reprinted 1995, AES, New Delhi, 1021 pp. (see Balass, p. 52); RWHL.
- Yule, H. (1872) Papers connected with the upper Oxus regions. Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. 42, pp. 438–513, 2 maps; RWHL.
- Yule, H. and Cordier, H. (1920) The Book of Ser Marco Polo. London, Murray, 3 Vols., 3rd edition, 1929, 462, 662, 161 pp.; RWHL*.
- Zolotarev, A.A., Dzhuraev, Z.T. et al. (2000) Jeremejevite from pegmatite veins in the Eastern Pamirs [in Russian with English abstract]. Proceedings of the Russian Mineralogical Society, No. 2, pp. 64–70; not seen.
Reference key
RWHL = References in the personal library of Richard W. Hughes
seen = References seen by RWH
not seen = references not seen by RWH, but possibly of interest
* = Denotes works of particular merit
The authors would like to thank all those who assisted their journey. First, the following individuals deserve special mention:
We also extend our gratitude to Swiss cartographer, Markus Hauser, whose map of Gorno-Badakhshan was our constant companion, and who introduced us to Surat. We thank Gulov Mamadali, Deputy Minister of Industry, who arranged permission for us to visit Gubjemast and Nureddin Azizi for his constant support. And also Gary Bowersox and Guy Clutterbuck, who over the years have been fountains of knowledge on all things Afghan and Central Asian. We thank the people from Gubjemast, Kuh-i-Lal and Murghab and the government of Badakhshan who supported us during this expedition. We thank Wimon Manorotkul of Pala International for her lovely photos, and Bill Larson for making her available for this work. Finally, we thank the friendly people we met from Dushanbe to Murghab and back again. Your generosity, hospitality and smiles were the best treasures we could ever find. May all your dreams come true.
About the authors
Richard W. Hughes is one of the world's foremost experts on ruby and sapphire. The author of several books and over 170 articles, his writings and photographs have appeared in a diverse range of publications, and he has received numerous industry awards. Co-winner of the 2004 Edward J. Gübelin Most Valuable Article Award from Gems & Gemology magazine, the following year he was awarded a Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award from the American Gem Society. In 2010, he received the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology from the Accredited Gemologists Association. The Association Française de Gemmologie (AFG) in 2013 named Richard as one of the fifty most important figures that have shaped the history of gems since antiquity. In 2016, Richard was awarded a visiting professorship at Shanghai's Tongji University. 2017 saw the publication of Richard's Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide, arguably the most complete book ever published on a single gem species and the culmination of nearly four decades of work in gemology.
Vincent Pardieu has held a number of positions in his gemological career. His writings and research can be found at www.fieldgemology.org and at the GIA's website.
Dana Schorr of Schorr Marketing was a Santa Barbara (CA)-based gem dealer and gold trader with three decades of experience in the business. He sat on the Board of Oregon's Desert Sun Mining & Gems, which owns the Ponderosa sunstone mine, and passed away in August 2015.
Penned in September 2006, following a July 2006 visit to Tajikistan.


text:
- Number of Players
- 4
- Genre
- Release Date
- 19th Nov 2006
- 8th Dec 2006
- 2nd Dec 2006
- Also Available On
- Series
- Tags
- Official Site
- downhill-jam.com
Sorry, no Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam review yet.
Screenshots 35
About The Game
For the first time ever, Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam™ lets players experience the breakneck speed of downhill skateboard racing as they tear up the steepest terrains in the world while performing tricks and outmaneuvering opponents in locations such as the crowded streets of San Francisco and rocky terrain of Machu Picchu.
Developed for the Nintendo Wii, gamers utilize an innovative and intuitive control system as they take on the role of Tony Hawk or one of nine characters and compete in specific time-based challenges in one of three gameplay modes including race, trick and slalom. Gamers can also challenge friends in head-to-head competitions as they pull off a variety of high-velocity stunts and crashes in living, populated environments filled with cars, pedestrians and buildings.
- Choose Tony Hawk or another colorful character: Players can choose to play as Tony Hawk or one of eight original characters. In addition they can create their own character with the Create-A-Skater feature.
- Arcade-style racing: Players can crouch for more speed, jump or grind over obstacles and pull off all of their favorite air tricks to gain boost as they race down the steepest terrains in the world.
- Ride a variety of skateboards: Players choose from a wide variety of skateboards such as current, old school "fishtails," longboards and 70's skateboards, all of which have different attributes that will have an effect on gameplay.
- Create-A-Skater: Fans create and customize their own skater with the quick and easy customization menu that allows them to instantly preview items and see them on their skater.
- Interact with objects and other skaters in the street:
- Dodge vehicles and pedestrians
- Crash through destructible areas and objects
- Find shortcuts and save time by using signs and other objects
- Knock down your opponents to get ahead
Head-to-head gameplay: Players can challenge friends in split screen competitions in a variety of modes: Race, Trick Attack, Slalom and Event.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Ortho Molecular Answer
Home | · | About | · | Credentials | · | History | · | FAQ | · | Testimonials | · | Contact |
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Cancer - Clinical Procedures in Treating Terminally Ill Cancer Patients with Vitamin C
Clinical Procedures in Treating Terminally Ill
Cancer Patients with Vitamin C
Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D
Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine,
Vol. 6 Number 3 &4 1991
Let me tell you what I am not. I am not an oncologist, I'm not a pathologist,
I'm not a GP, I am a psychiatrist. Therefore you may want to know what a
psychiatrist is doing messing about with cancer. I think that's a legitimate
question so I'd like to tell you briefly how I got into this very interesting
In 1951, 1 was made director of psychiatric research for the
Department of Health for the province of Saskatchewan. I didn't really know what
to do. I had one major advantage, I think, over my colleagues. I didn't know any
psychiatry. You may laugh but that's very important because I didn't have anyone
who could tell me what we could not do. The most important problem at that time
was the schizophrenias. (They still take up half the hospital beds, and we still
don't have an effective treatment Dr. Humphry Osmond and I began to research
schizophrenia. We developed the hypothesis that those with schizophrenia were
producing a toxic chemical made from adrenalin, adrenochrome. Adrenochrome is an
hallucinogen which we felt was producing toxemia, in the sense that the
adrenochrome worked on the brain in the same way as LSD. That was our
We knew that most hypotheses turn out to be wrong. We didn't
think we were going to be correct but we felt that since we didn't have much
choice we ought to work with it and we also wanted to develop a treatment for
our schizophrenic patients. Those were the days before tranquilizers. We didn't
have any effective treatment. We had shock treatment which was only temporarily
helpful and insulin coma was going out of style,
Adrenochrome is made
from adrenalin, so we thought if we could do something to cut down the
production of adrenalin, and if we could also prevent the oxidation of adrenalin
to adrenochrome, then we might have a therapy for our patients. And that
immediately led us to look at two chemicals. One is called nicotinic acid or
vitamin B3. Vitamin B3 is known to be a methyl acceptor, which, by depleting the
body of its methyl groups could cut down the conversion of noradrenaline to
adrenalin and that would be helpful, we thought. Secondly, we wanted to use
vitamin C as an antioxidant. Looking back now it seems that we were 30 or 40
years ahead of antioxidant theories, We wanted to decrease the oxidation of
adrenaline to adrenochrome. Vitamin C will do it but not very effectively. And
that drew our attention to these two vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin Its. I had
an advantage because I had taken my Ph.D, at the University of Minnesota on
vitamins, so I knew their background. That's why we started working with these
two compounds.
Why did we start working with cancer? We were very curious
about what these compounds would do. I recall that in 1952 when I was working as
a resident in psychiatry at the Munroe Wing which was a part of the General
Hospital in Regina, a woman who had her breast removed for cancer was admitted
to our ward. She was psychotic. This poor lady had developed a huge ulcerated
lesion, she wasn't healing, and she was in a toxic delirium. Her psychiatrist
decided that he would give her shock treatment, which was the only treatment
available at that time. I decided I would like to give her vitamin C instead. As
director of research, I had the option of going to the physicians and asking
them if I could do this with their patients, A friend of mine was her doctor and
he said, "Yes, you can have her." He said, "I'll withold shock treatment for
three days." I had thought that I would give her three grams per day, which was
our usual dose at that time, for a period of weeks, but when he told me I could
have three days only, I decided that this would not do. Therefore, I decided to
give her one gram every hour. I instructed the nurses that she was to be given a
gram per hour except when she was sleeping. When she awakened, she would get the
vitamin C that she had missed. We started her on a Saturday morning and when her
doctor came back on Monday morning to start shock treatment she was mentally
normal. I wanted to know, if vitamin C would have any therapeutic effect. To our
amazement her lesion on her breast began to heal. She was discharged, mentally
well, still having cancer and she died six months later from her cancer. This
was an interesting observation which I had made at that time and which I had
never forgotten.
There was another root to this interest. In 1959, we
found that the majority of schizophrenic patients excreted in their urine a
factor that we call the mauve factor, which we have since identified as
kryptopyrrole. I was looking for a good source of this urinary factor. We had
thought that the majority of schizophrenics had it. We thought that normal
people did not have it but I was interested in determining how many people who
were stressed also had the factor. Therefore, Iran a study of patients from the
University Hospital who were on the physical wards. They had all sorts of
physical conditions including cancer, I found to my amazement that half the
people with lung cancer also excreted the same factor. By 1960, a very famous
gentleman of Saskatchewan, one of the professors retired and was admitted to the
psychiatric department at our hospital. He was psychotic. He had been diagnosed
as having a bronchiogenic carcinoma. It had been biopsied and was visualized in
the x-ray and it had also been seen in the bronchoscope. While they were
deciding what to do, he became psychotic so they concluded that he had
secondaries in his brain. Because he became psychotic, he was no longer operable
and instead they gave him cobalt radiation. It didn't help the psychosis any. He
was admitted to our ward where he stayed for about two months, completely
psychotic. He was placed on the terminal list, I discovered that he was on our
ward, so I though he may have some mauve factor in his urine. On analysis he
revealed huge quantities. I had discovered by then that if we gave large amounts
of B3 along with vitamin C to these patients, regardless of their diagnosis,
they tended to do very well. He was started on three grams per day each of
nicotinic acid and ascorbic acid on a Friday. On Monday he was found to be
normal. A few days later I said to him, "You understand that you have cancer?"
He said, "Yes, I know that." He was friendly with me because I had treated his
wife for alcoholism some time before. I said to him, "If you will agree to take
these two vitamins as long as you live, I will provide them for you at no
charge. In 1960, 1 was the only doctor in Canada that had access to large
quantities of vitamin C and niacin. They were distributed through our hospital
dispensary. He agreed. That meant he had to come to my office every month in
order to pick up two bottles of vitamins. I didn't know that it might help his
cancer. I was interested only in his psychological state. However, to my
amazement he didn't die. After 12 months, I was having lunch with the director
of the cancer clinic, a friend of mine, and I said to him, "What do you think
about this man?" And he said, "We can't understand it, we can't see the tumor
any more." I thought he'd say, "Well, isn't that great." So I asked, "Well,
what's your reaction?" He responded, "We are beginning to think we made the
wrong diagnosis." The patient died, 30 months after I first saw him, of a
Here's another case that is very interesting. A couple of years
later, a mother I had treated for depression came back to see me. Once more she
was depressed. She said she had a daughter 16, who had just been diagnosed as
having an osteogenic sarcoma of the arm. Her surgeon had recommended that the
arm be amputated. She was very depressed over this and so I asked her, "Do you
think you can persuade your surgeon not to amputate the arm right away? " And I
told her the story about the man with the lung cancer. She brought her daughter
in and I started her on niacinamide, 3 grams per day, plus vitamin C, three
grams per day. She made a complete recovery and is still well, not having had to
have surgery. But this time I concluded that maybe B3 was the therapeutic
factor. The reason for that, of course, is very simple. I liked B3 and I didn't
have much interest in vitamin C.
When I moved to Victoria, another
strange event happened, In 1979, a woman developed jaundice and during surgery a
six centimeter in diameter lump in the head of the pancreas was found. They were
too frightened to do a biopsy, which apparently is quite standard. They thought
that the biopsy might disseminate the tumor. The surgeon closed and told her to
write her will. They said she might have three to six months at the most. She
was a very tough lady and she had read Norman Cousins' book Anatomy of an
Illness. So she said to her doctor, "To hell with that, I'm not going to die."
And she began to take vitamin C on her own, 12 grams per day. When her doctor
discovered what she was doing, he asked her to come and see me, because by that
time I was identified as a doctor who liked to work with vitamins. I started her
on 40 grams of vitamin C per day, to which I added niacin, zinc and a
multi-vitamin, multimineral preparation. I had her change her diet by staying
away from high protein and fat. I didn't hear from her again for about six
months. One Sunday, she called me. Normally when I get a call from a patient on
a Sunday, it's bad news. She immediately said, "Dr. Hoffer, good news! I asked,
"What's happened?" She said, "They have just done a CT scan and they can't see
the tumor," So then she said, "They couldn't believe it. They thought the
machine had gone wrong; so they did it all over again. And it was also negative
the second time." She had her last CT scan in 1984, no mass, and she is still
alive and well today.
By this time, I had learned about Dr. Cameron's and Dr.
Pauling's work with vitamin C and I began to realize that the main therapeutic
factor might be the vitamin C rather than vitamin B3. The reason I want to
present four cases is that one might my that I have seen four spontaneous
recoveries and the question is, how many spontaneous recoveries would one
physician see in his lifetime? I don't know. Maybe this is not unusual but I
think it is.
The last case I'm going to give details of was born in 1908.
His mother died of cancer and his father had a coronary at the age of 8O. My
patient had had a myocardial infarction in 1969, and again in 1977, followed by
a coronary bypass. In March of 1978, he suddenly developed pain in his left
groin and down the left leg. In February 1979, he developed a bulge in his left
groin, and later, severe pain with movement. In surgery, a large mass
infiltrating sarcoma was found, part of which was removed, but a mass the size
of a grapefruit was left. The tumor was eroding into a ramus of the pubic bone.
They concluded that it was not radiosensitive, In March he had palliative
radiation to his left half - 4500 rads. The pain was gone at the end of the
radiation. On May 28, he developed a severe staph infection, and in June he was
very depressed because his wife was dying of cancer and also he was suffering
from drainage of chronic infection. In July he still had a purulent discharge in
two areas. Now the mass was visible and palpable in the left iliac area above
the inguinial ligaments. In January of 1980, he saw me for the first time. I
started him on 12 grams of vitamin C per day and I recommended to his referring
doctor that he give him IV ascorbic acid, 2.5 grams, twice per week, which he
agreed to. I gave him niacin, vitamin B6 and zinc to balance it out. In April,
the mass began to regress and the ontologist wrote, "This is interesting, it
must be something else." In other words, the patient said, the vitamin C is
helping and the oncologist said, no it isn't, The oncologist put a note in the
file, "He's probably responding to chemotherapy." But he had never had
chemotherapy. The infection was gone. In May 1980, his x-ray showed
reconstruction of the left superior pubic ramus. In July he wrote to me telling
how grateful he was to be so well. In February of 1988, he went back to the
cancer clinic for some recurrent facial skin carcinoma. He died in the fall of
1989 of coronary disease when he was 81. This man survived 10 years after having
been diagnosed with cancer,
My practice began to grow because the first
patient felt it was her duty to tell as many people as possible that I had the
cure for cancer. Now I should tell you the nature of my practice. In Canada we
have a referral service. I do not take walk-ins. Every patient that comes to my
office must be referred by their family doctor or by a specialist, During the
early years, patients usually went to their doctor and said, "I have had all
this treatment, you have told me I'm not going to do any better, will you please
refer me to Dr. Hoffer." So I call these patient-generated referrals, The past
four or five years, it has swung around and I am now getting a lot more doctor
generated referrals. Doctors, themselves are beginning to refer their patients
to me.
I would think that 80% of my patients had failed to respond to any
of combination of treatment, including surgery, radiation or chemotherpy.
Usually the story was that they were told by either the cancer clinic or their
doctor that there was nothing more that they could do. Most of them were
terminal, but not all. I see three to five new cases of cancer every week. All
of them have been treated by their own doctor, their own ontologist, their own
surgeon. What I do is advise them with respect to diet and the kind of nutrients
they ought to take. I am seeing them much earlier in the stage of illness, which
I think is very good because the earlier I can get to them, the better are the
Here are the results. Generally, the patients were a lot more
cheerful. They had less discomfort and they lived a lot longer, A few years ago
I was at a meeting at Woods Hole with Linus Pauling. This was a Festschrift for
Dr. Arthur Sackler. I told Linus that I thought I had something, that I was
beginning to see the impact of adding vitamin C to their program. Dr. Pauling
encouraged me to work it up, to do a really careful survey and write it up for
publication, which I did. I examined every cancer patient referred to me between
July 1978 and April 1988 and followed them to January 1990. 1 did not miss a
single case. A total of 134 were seen. And I dated the time that they first saw
me as day zero. The only thing I wanted to look at was survival. I wanted hard
data, something that couldn't be argued with. I wasn't going to say the patients
were better or not better because these are subjective terms. These 134 fell
into two groups. It wasn't my fault that this happened because I treated every
one of them exactly the same way. I did not plan a double blind prospective
study. What I planned and what I did was to advise every patient what I thought
they ought to do in terms of their cancer. If they were getting radiation, I
suggested they stay with it. If they were getting chemotherapy, I suggested they
stay with that. I never advised them about their surgery, chemotherapy or
radiation. However, out of these 134, there were 33 who did not or could not
follow the program. For example, on chemotherapy, they were so nauseated that
they couldn't hold anything down and if they couldn't hold the vitamins down
they weren't going to do very much good. There were some who didn't believe in
the program. I remember one woman with breast cancer came to see me and I
advised her what to take, sending a consultation letter to the referring doctor
outlining what I thought she ought to be taking. When she went back to see her
doctor, he laughed at her. He made so much fun of her that she became thoroughly
ashamed and she wouldn't follow the program. She died two or three months later.
Another case was a doctor who had cancer and was given 30 days. He had left his
wife and was running around with his girl friend. Since he knew he was going to
die, he decided that he would spend the next 30 days living as riotously as he
could. He would travel all across the United States and have as much fun in 30
days as he could. His girlfriend brought him to see me because she wanted him to
live longer than 30 days. He didn't believe her and he never started the
program. He went to the United States and died 30 days later. These are some
examples of people who wouldn't or couldn't follow the program, Or they weren't
on the vitamin program long enough. I had found that they must be on the program
at least two months before it began to work. These were my pseudocontrols.
They're not really a double blind control, it's kind of pseudocontrol which
provides an estimate of the kind of patient that I was seeing.
The other
101 did stay on their program at least two months. Some went off in the third or
fourth month but they stayed on it for at least two months. I was encouraged by
Linus Pauling. I followed them all. First of all, I contacted their doctors. I
contacted the patients that were still alive. I contacted their families. I got
all their records from the cancer clinics. I had a complete file on every
patient I had seen so that I knew within a matter of months exactly what had
happened to them. The results were analyzed by Dr. Linus Pauling using a new
technique for analyzing cohorts. The data is as follows: 33 controls - they
survived an average of 5.7 months, from the first day that I saw them. There
were two treatment cohorts: a cohort of 40 females with cancer of the breast,
ovary, uterus or cervix. The second cohort of 61 were other types of cancer. The
cohorts were divided into two groups. First were the poor responders, those who
didn't do well; they survived an average of 10 months, nearly twice as long as
the control. The others, the good responders, were divided into two groups. The
female group survived an average of 122 months and the other group 72 months. I
think this is very significant. There was a tremendous difference in the
survival rate. Today, all the controls are dead, 50% of the treated group are
still alive. Over the past year, I did another survey and of the remainder only
three more have died. It can not be all due to cancer because I'm dealing with a
population with ages between 60 and 80. They are going to die of other causes as
well. This was published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Volume 5, p.
143, 1990.
The Treatment
First of all, as I pointed out, I did
not interfere with the treatment done by the oncologists. These patients were
treated by their own doctors and I went along with whatever they did. No one can
accuse me of depriving these patients of having had the best of chemotherapy,
surgery, or radiation. What I tried to do was to improve their general health,
to improve their immune system, to the point that they could cope more
successfully with their tumors. Many of them were depressed when they came to
see me, The first thing I would do would be to create a bit of hope. I don't
think many doctors in cancer clinics realize the absolute importance of
Let me give you another case. A woman came to see me with cancer of
the breast. She didn't want to have any surgery and so she had taken a huge
quantity of nutrients, including vitamin A, 500,000 units per day at one of the
clinics in the USA, She wasn't doing well, the mass had opened up, she was
ulcerated and in a terrible state. When she came to see me, she said to me, "Dr.
Hoffer, (she was very depressed) you are my last hope." I asked, "What co you
mean?" She replied, "A week ago, when I went to see my family doctor, I asked
when can I see you again. He said he would not give me another appointment,
because I would be dead within a week," Now, that's very negative, Hope is very
important. She didn't die a week later, We started her on the program.
Eventually, I persuaded her to have surgery and chemotherapy. She survived more
than 30 months after that first day,
Hope is extremely important.
Attitude is very important. Patients must want to live. You may be surprised to
know that many people, when they are told they have cancer, are quite relieved,
because they now know they don't have to live much longer. They are really quite
happy to go. So you have to test the attitude of the patient. Those who came to
see me, of course, were preselected, they selected themselves. So they did have
the right attitude, they did want to live. They have to be optimistic and I do
think it helps if they laugh a lot. I agree with Norman Cousins, that if you
combine laughter with vitamins, you do get better results.
Then I advise
my patients what kind of nutrition they ought to follow. The first thing I try
to do is to cut their fat way down. I try to cut it down below 30 percent of
calories, down to20or 10, if possible. I find that, in our culture, the easiest
way to do that is to totally eliminate all dairy products. If you eliminate all
dairy pro. ducts and cut out all fatty meats, it's pretty hard to get too much
fat in the diet. So, I put them all on a dairy free program. I reduce, but I
don't eliminate, meat and fish, and I ask them to increase their vegetables,
especially raw, as much as they can. I think it's a good, reasonable diet, which
most people can follow without too much difficulty. Having spent some time with
them going over what they ought to eat, I begin to talk about the nutrients. The
first one, of course, is vitamin C. I am convinced today that vitamin C is the
most important single nutrient that one can give to any person with cancer. The
dose is variable. I find that most patients can Lake 12 grams per day without
much difficulty, that's the crystallin vitamin C sodium ascorbate or calcium
ascorbate. They take one teaspoon three times per day. If they do not develop
diarrhea, I ask them to increase it until this occurs and then to cut back below
that level. I think in many cases it would be desirable to use intravenous
vitamin C and there are doctors now in Canada doing that. The amount that one
gives is limited by the skill of the physician, not by the patient.
also add vitamin B3, either niacin or niacinamide. I prescribe from 500 mg to
1500 mg per day. Before I did that empirically, now there is a lot of evidence
that B3 does have pretty interesting anticancer properties. Two years ago, in
Texas at one of the osteopathic colleges, there was an international congress,
Vitamin B3 and Cancer. There is a lot of work being done in this area today. I
also add a B complex preparation 50 or 100. 1 think vitamin E is an extremely
important antioxidant and I use that as well, 800 to 1200 1. U. They also get
25,000 to 75,000 units of beta carotene. I sometimes use vitamin A. I like to
use folic acid for lung cancer, and for cancer of the uterus because of work
that hag been done showing that folic acid might reverse a positive pap smear to
negative. I use selenium, 200 mcg, three times per day. I think the toxicity of
selenium has been greatly exaggerated. I had a patient from Chile, a refugee,
who developed a severe lymphoma. He was operated on but it came back. He had
radiation and it recurred. He had been a patient of mine for the treatment of
depression when he developed his cancer. He was given three months to live. I
had started him on selenium, 600 mcg per day. Like many patients, he thought if
600 is good, more is even better. He came back and said he was taking 2 mg per
day, or 2,000 mcg. I became a bit concerned about that and suggested he cut down
to 1,000. In any event, he recovered and he has now been alive for seven years.
There is no evidence of tumor, and his major problem today is reorienting
himself in a foreign culture. So I use selenium and I use a lot of it. I use
some zinc, especially for prostatic cancers and I do use calcium-magnesium
preparations. So this is the basic nutrient program that they all follow. The
cost ranges from $50 to $75 per month. People who are dying from cancer don't
mind paying this.
What are this program's advantages? Well, first of all,
the increase in longevity. We have increased the longevity from 5.7 months to
approximately 100 months, which is very substantial, and half of the patients
are still alive. There has been a tremendous decrease in pain and anxiety, even
amongst those who were dying. We do not have the final answer, but we have at
least a partial answer. The use of nutrients, like vitamin C and B3 increase the
efficacy of chemotherapy by increasing its killing effect on the tumor and
decreasing its toxicity on normal tissues. The same has been shown to be true
with radiation therapy.
My conclusion is that vitamin C must be a vital
component of every cancer treatment program. I believe the other nutrients help,
adding 20% to 30% to longevity.
What do we need? We need a definitive
study. When I did the study, when I wrote it up with Dr. Linus Pauling, it
wasn't our belief that we had answered the question. We hoped that this would
stimulate enough interest for the institutes that have the finances and the time
to do these studies to get going and do them properly. We need a definitive
large-scale study to tease out the relative value of all the nutrients. This is
extremely important. I am not telling you that I have a treatment for cancer; I
say that we have improved the results of treatment. My conclusion is that the
best treatment for cancer today is a combination of the best that modem medicine
can offer, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, combined with the best of what
orthomolecular physicians can offer, which is nutrition, nutrients and


text:
Keying Sets(キーイングセット)
Keying sets are a collection of animated properties that are used to animate and keyframe multiple properties at the same time. For example, using keying sets you can press I in the 3D Viewport, Blender will add keyframes for all the properties in the active keying set. There are some built-in keying sets and, also custom keying sets called Absolute Keying Sets. To select and use a keying set, set the Active Keying Set in the Keying popover in the Timeline header, or the Keying Set panel, or press Shift-Ctrl-Alt-I in the 3D Viewport.
Keying Set Panel
- Editor(エディター):
- Panel(パネル):
This panel is used to add, select, manage Absolute Keying Sets.
- Active Keying Set(アクティブなキーイングセット)
The List View of keying sets in the active scene.
- Add(追加)
Adds an empty keying set.
- Add(追加)
- Description(詳細)
A short description of the keying set.
- Export to File
Export keying set to a Python script
. To re-add the keying set from theFile.py
, open then run theFile.py
from the Text Editor.
Keyframing Settings
- General Override
These options control all properties in the keying set. Note that the same settings in Preferences override these settings if enabled.
- Active Set Override
These options control individual properties in the keying set.
- Common Settings
- Only Needed
Only insert keyframes where they are needed in the relevant F-Curves.
- Visual Keying
Insert keyframes based on the visual transformation.
- XYZ to RGB(XYZをRGBに)
For new F-Curves, set the colors to RGB for the property set, Location XYZ for example.
Active Keying Set Panel
- Editor(エディター):
- Panel(パネル):
This panel is used to add properties to the active keying set.
- Paths
A collection of paths in a List View each with a Data Path to a property to add to the active keying set.
- Add(追加)
Adds an empty path.
- Add(追加)
- Target ID-Block
Set the ID Type and the Object IDs data path for the property.
- Data Path(データパス)
Set the rest of the Data Path for the property.
- Array All Items
Use All Items from the Data Path or select the array index for a specific property.
- F-Curve Grouping
This controls what group to add the channels to.
Keying Set Name, None, Named Group
Adding Properties
- Menu(メニュー):
- ショートカットキー:
Some ways to add properties to keying sets.
RMB the property in the User Interface, then select Add Single to Keying Set or Add All to Keying Set. This will add the properties to the active keying set, or to a new keying set if none exist.
Hover the mouse over the properties, then press K, to add Add All to Keying Set.
Whole Character Keying Set
The built-in Whole Character keying set is made to keyframe all properties that are likely to get animated in a character rig. It was also implicitly used by the Old Pose Library system.
In order to determine which bones to add keys for, and which bones to skip, the keying set uses the bone names. The following bone name prefixes will be skipped:


text:
by David Crane
The download link for the Calico Firearms/Calico Light Weapon Systems Promotional/Sales Video is located at the very bottom of this story. You'll have to click on "Read More" hypertext (below) to get to it.
DefRev is thrilled to be able to bring you this golden oldie. It's a little blast from the past that we here at DefRev like to call the "Calico Light Weapon Systems Promotional/Sales Video" featuring the Calico Firearms family of lightweight helical-feed 9mm submachine guns being fired in mock combat/CQB scenarios. It's entertaining to watch, and it's an exclusive.
The Calico family of helical-feed submachine guns' main claim to fame is its use of 50-round and 100-round helical magazines that are readily apparent in the video. The great thing about the helical magazine is that it allows one to fit 50-100 rounds into an unobtrusive envelope when compared to…
more traditional weapon systems utilizing standard box and drum mags that attach to the bottom of the weapon.
Of course, if Calico Firearms were still manufacturing and selling guns today, they would probably have to make a couple of modifications/design changes to the weapon system, in order to remain competitive in the small arms marketplace.
First, they would probably have to redesign the weapon so that the helical magazine attached to the bottom of the weapon (like the Bizon 9mm submachine gun made by Izhmash), instead of the top. Why is this? Because, nowadays, profesional military and LE operators want a true picatinny rail system that allows them to mount all kinds of stuff on, including optical gunsights and back-up flip-up iron sights on the top rail, and they just wouldn't be able to utilize those with the Calico's top-mounted helical mag configuration.
Calico would also probably have to convert the guns into either 5.56x45mm carbines/subcarbines or PDW's (Personal Defense Weapons), as submachine guns have been largely phased out of military Special Operations and LE SWAT/SRT use, in favor of 5.56x45mm carbines/subcarbines, over the last few years.
As a side note, DefRev's favorite Calico submachine gun is the M-960A mini-subgun, which is a sweet little piece. You'll see it being fired in the video.
The video was shot/produced by the Bill Nelson Media Group for Calico Light Weapon Systems (we believe) sometime between 1989 and 1992 (probably 1990). This is unconfirmed. It's our further understanding that it was shot in Bakersfield, CA with some help from either the Bakersfield Police Dept. or Bakersfield Sheriff's Dept. This is also unconfirmed, as of this writing.
Recommendation: DefRev recommends that you actually download the video and view it on your own system, rather than trying to launch/view it off the web. This is because it's a rather large file. An added benefit of downloading it to your computer and viewing it that way is that you will then have your very own copy of it. Since the video is in Quicktime format, you will need to have QuickTime on your system to view it. If you don't already have QuickTime, you can download the program here.
Very Important Instructions for Downloading and Playing Video: If you'd like to download and view the Calico Light Weapon Systems Promotional/Sales Video, please follow these simple steps, to the letter : 1) Right-click on the link (below) to the video. 2) Left-click on "Save Target As…" inside the box that pops open, which will start the download process and save the video to your computer. DefRev recommends that you save the video either to your "Desktop" or "My Videos" file. 3) Once download is complete and the video file is sitting on your system, either left-click on the "Open" button in the download window or close that window and double click on the file itself to launch it.
Right-click here (single-click) to download the Calico Light Weapon Systems Video.
We sincerely hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to email us and let us know.


text:
Patient Care Technician Urgent Care Part Time
Beverly, MA
Clinic Support – In-Clinic /
Part-Time /
As a physician-founded and led organization, ensuring everyone has access to quality healthcare is what inspires us. That's why we hire people who genuinely care about patients, solving healthcare challenges, and making a positive impact every day. Join us and help change the future of healthcare for the better.
• 120+ locations and growing, along with vast virtual coverage
• 1 million+ patients to-date
• 2,000+ caring clinicians and support staff serving their communities
• Backed by investors such as CVS Health Ventures and Blackstone Horizon
$18 - $20 an hour
• Forward-thinking, transparent, and inclusive company culture
• Competitive salary, with weekend and holiday increased pay
• Paid time off, paid sick leave, learning time off
• Comprehensive benefits package effective day one, including medical, dental & vision insurance
• 401k with employer match and pre-tax commuter benefits (transit and parking)
• Paid Sabbaticals at eligible time of service milestone years
• FSA, HSA, and dependent care options
• Employee referral bonus program, employee resource groups, and professional development
• Company provided high quality scrubs
*All benefits dependent on role and eligibility
All candidate email communication will be done through an @carbonhealth.com email address. If you ever receive communication regarding a job posting from an entity that does not match that or seems concerning, please contact email@example.com.
Carbon Health is a leading national healthcare provider with a mission to make high-quality healthcare accessible to everyone. We offer primary and urgent care to nearly two-thirds of the U.S. Leveraging our unique technology platform, we meet patients where they are by delivering care across a variety of access points, including in-person clinics and virtual care. Carbon Health also focuses on value-based care and other value-add services to employers, health plans, health systems and other ecosystem partners.
We recognize that the key to success lies in valuing the minds, experiences and perspectives of people from all walks of life. Carbon Health is proud to value diversity and be an equal opportunity employer. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Carbon Health is an E-Verify employer.


text:
Genuine Milwaukee M12BPS Spare Parts.
Prices for carriage to UK Mainland are as follows: Carriage on all orders to UK Mainland (exc Highlands) over the value of £50+VAT is FREE All orders under £50 - £4.99 +VAT .
- Spares delivery from Manufacturers has a 5-7 Working days lead time.
- If/When we have your item in stock we ship it using a next day recorded delivery service.
Orders are processed and delivered Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays)
We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return. To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, and in its original packaging. You'll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.


text:
Legal Notice
Nicolas Chaput
Maxime Dupuis
+ 33 (0)1 44 51 82 69
You are connected to the ODDO BHF Asset Management SAS website, am.oddo-bhf.com(hereinafter the "Website"). This web page is intended for French residents. It is the responsibility of investors to ensure that they are legally entitled to view these pages and use and consult the information, products and services presented on the website in view of the laws in force in their own countries.
Objective of the Website
This website and the information displayed were produced for information purposes only and do not constitute an offer or investment advice or an invitation to subscribe to the products and services presented. The information held on the site or in documents available on the site is given for guidance purposes only, has no contractual value and may be changed by ODDO BHF Asset Management SAS at any time without notice. The assessments made reflect only the opinion of their author on the publication date and may subsequently change.
Type of information available on the Website
The net asset values shown on this site are for guidance only. Only the net asset value recorded on the transaction notice and account statements will be binding.
The tax treatment of an investment in units or shares in an investment fund depends on each investor's personal situation. You are therefore recommended to contact a tax adviser before any subscription.
Authorisation to access the Website
The products and services presented on this Website may only be consulted and subscribed in the countries in which they are authorised for distribution. ODDO BHF Asset Management SAS shall not provide any of the products or services presented on the Website to a given person if this is prohibited by the law of said person's country of origin or any other country concerned.
The funds have not been and shall not be registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as provided for by the US Investment Company Act of 1940 and the amendments thereto, or any other regulation relating to transferable securities. Consequently, none of the prospectuses published on this Website may be introduced, transmitted or distributed in the US or in its territories or possessions, or provided to US institutional residents or to companies, associations or other entities created under or governed by the laws of the US, or to any US person as defined by the United States Securities Act of 1993.
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Investors should note that the investment funds referred to herein all carry a risk of capital loss; the net asset value of funds may rise or fall in line with market fluctuations. Investors may not recover their initial investment. Fund subscriptions and redemptions are made at an unknown net asset value. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Performance may vary over time.
Before subscribing to a fund, investors would be advised to contact an investment adviser and must read the Key Investor Information Document (KIID) and prospectus available on this website to understand the risks incurred.
The regulatory documents are also available from ODDO BHF Asset Management SAS at 12, boulevard de la Madeleine, 75440 Paris Cedex 09 and can be sent free of charge on request.
In no way shall ODDO BHF Asset Management SAS be held liable for an investment or divestment decision made on the basis of information held on this site; investors must at all times consider their investment objectives, investment horizon and ability to bear the risks involved before subscribing. Neither shall ODDO BHF Asset Management SAS be held liable for any direct or indirect damage resulting from the use of this publication or the information that it contains.
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The Website may suggest various links to websites published by third parties not belonging to the ODDO BHF group. ODDO BHF Asset Management SAS disclaims all warranties with regard to the information appearing on such websites or any content, product or service described or offered on such websites.
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Please see here for our data protection principles .


text:
Hurricane deductible could cost homeowners thousands
Oct 29, 2012
The following article was posted to the Local10.com Website on October 29, 2012:
Hurricane Deductible Could Cost Homeowners Thousands
By Les Christie
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) – Thanks to a little-known hurricane deductible, homeowners with property damage from Hurricane Sandy could be on the hook for thousands of dollars before their insurance payments kick in.
Increasingly, insurers in hurricane-prone states — including almost all of those in states affected by Sandy — have been adding hurricane deductibles to their homeowner's insurance policies that go into effect when named storms have sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or more, as measured by the National Weather Service.
Unlike regular deductibles that require you to pay a set dollar amount, typically $500 or $1,000, hurricane deductibles often require homeowners to cough up 1% to 5% of their property's value. In places like Florida, the deductible can run as high as 10%.
That can result in thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. A loss on a $200,000 house covered by a policy that carries a 5% deductible could cost the homeowner $10,000 before the insurer pays any part of the tab. As a result, many claims result in no insurance payoff at all.
The ins and outs of hurricane deductibles vary by state, insurer and by individual policy. In New York State, for example, the Department of Financial Services site lists various insurers' hurricane deductibles and each one varies dramatically. Allstate's 5% hurricane deductible only kicks in when wind speeds exceed 100 miles per hour. Meanwhile, State Farm's deductibles are 2% or 5% and can apply to storms with lower wind speeds of 74 miles per hour. ACA Insurance has a 1% deductible for Category 2 (96 to 100 mile per hour winds) or higher hurricanes and a fixed deductible for Category 1.
Generally, the more at-risk the home is — the closer it is to the shoreline, for example — the more likely it is to have a stiff hurricane deductible. And the coverage only affects damage caused by high winds. Private homeowners insurance almost never covers flood damage. Consumers should examine their policies to see how their deductible impacts their coverage.
Insurers along the Eastern seaboard and in the Gulf started putting these deductibles in place after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which caused $15.5 billion in damages, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The insurers claimed hurricane-related losses were so high that they had to add the deductible in order to keep property insurance available and affordable.
Hurricane Sandy is expected to cause as much as $10 billion in damages, according to Eqecat, a disaster modeling firm.
View the original article here: http://www.local10.com/news/money/Hurricane-deductible-could-cost-homeowners-thousands/-/1717308/17187246/-/5sitsjz/-/index.html


text:
Aurifil Cotton Makò 50 Wt. Thread features a superior fine long staple mercerized Egyptian cotton and has become very popular for a variety of uses. This weight provides great results when working by hand or machine and in the bobbin. Aurifil 50 wt. is fine and thin which is helpful in creating a very flat seam when machine piecing. While using it for machine applique, this weight disappears so your fabric is the feature. Quilters love it for piecing and is the finest of Mako' threads.
Its versatility, strength, lustrous color and the fact that it produces virtually no lint is the reason Aurifil threads have achieved worldwide success, adored by a dedicated tribe of quilters, sewists, and textile artists. Originally conceived for the Italian high fashion and luxury bed linen markets, Aurifil are purveyors of 100% Egyptian cotton threads, grown in the Mako region of Egypt and manufactured in Milano, Italy. Thread is not "just" thread when it's Aurifil.
- Brand: Aurifil
- Color: 4644 Smoked Blue
- Thread Weight: 50 Weight
- Contains: 1422 Yards/1300 Meters (Large Spool)
- Material Content: 100% Long Staple Mercerized Egyptian Mako Cotton
- Origin: Made in Milano, Italy
- Recommended Uses: Basic Machine Piecing, Machine Applique' (Straight Stitch, Zig Zag, Blind Hem and Blanket Stitch), Needle-turn Applique', Raw Edge/Fused Applique', English Paper Piecing, Hand Piecing, Foundation Paper Piecing, English Paper Piecing, Machine Embroidery, Domestic Machine Quilting (Dense Machine Quilting, Subtle Machine Quilting, Free Motion Quilting, Stitch In The Ditch Quilting), Thread Painting, Decorative Stitching, Embellishment, and Basting.
- Needle Recommendations for Domestic Machines: 80/12 Microtex/Sharp, Universal, Quilting or Denim Needles


text:
by Robert Jordan
audiobook: 30 hours
*** About the Book ***
In this first book of the Wheel of Time series, three farm boys and two young women are ripped away from the quiet life of their village when creatures out of myth attack in the night. They are guided by an ageless woman with mysterious powers and her quiet protector. The group ventures out into the world with one goal in mind: to evade the evil forces that continue to track them. They encounter new friends and new enemies on their journey and learn some unsettling facts about themselves as well.
The series is based on a cyclical notion of time and the idea that everything has happened before and will happen again.
Of course, it is really hard to summarize epic fantasy so just go with, ok?
*** Why I (re)Read it ***
I've read this book at least twice and listened to the audio version at least three times. A while back I gave away a copy of this book in a contest. Nicole won it and was excited to read it. When she asked me to be a guest on her blog talk radio show she said I had to pick a book to discuss with her. This seemed to be the perfect thing, and she agreed. So I had to revisit it to prepare for our discussion.
*** My Thoughts ***
As difficult as it is to summarize an epic fantasy novel, it is far more challenging to share my thoughts about a book that is so familiar to me. I love this book and have loved it for so long that I really don't know what to say about it.
Ok, I'll give it a shot ...
- The characters in this book are wonderful. They are kind, cruel, smart, stupid, tormented, conflicted, loving ... in short, they are REAL.
- There is Adventure! And who doesn't like Adventure?!
- This is a new world but it isn't all that different from our own (albeit in an older time period) so I can imagine things quite clearly.
- Jordan is a master of description; he's been compared to Tolkien in case that helps you get an idea of his writing style.
- The plot is exciting and unpredictable - no guessing the ending ahead of time with this book/series.
- There are things you learn as side notes in this book that become important plot points later in the series. In fact, I seem to find more and more of these every time I revisit this book.
*** Your Thoughts ***
I posted some discussion questions for this book yesterday in preparation for my interview tonight on That's How I Blog! - be sure to check them out if you haven't already. I'm thrilled by the response I got when I encouraged people to read this book for the show. If you did read it, THANK YOU for trusting my opinion and I hope I didn't let you down.
Here are some other reviews you might like to check out:
- It's All About Books - read it for the show
- One Day At A Time - I dared her to read and she ended up liking it
- My Two Blessings - was surprised that she hadn't read this before
- and I KNOW that more of you have read this book so please link to you review in the comments!


text:
Along with the launch of the new Easy Workstation we announce with pleasure the availability of the new tool for the search, selection and preparation of Lechler colours and products: EASY BOX MAP
It is based on a hardware similar to traditional personal computers and it is supplied with the software Lechler MAP™ which is pre-installed and configured to work with all scales, automatic dispensers and spectrophotometers marketed by LECHLER.
The activation of the licence Lechler MAP™ allows you to configure EASY Box MAP to utilise with one or more businesses of the LECHLER value proposition (DECORATIVE, HABITAT, INDUSTRY, REFINISH, YACHTING).
Its small sizes (18 x 18 x 4 cm) and its limited weight (only 700 g) allow to easily install it directly on the steerable arm (code TSP246) of the EASY Workstation or, as an alternative, behind a normal LCD monitor, through the VESA plate supplied together.
Lechler Map ® - Management software designed for final users of Lechler Colours and Products.
Lechler MAP ›
COLOR DESIGN is the Lechler's new concept connects chemical development with the evolution of the language of colour. Color Design ›
Discover all the items we have realized to support you in your working activities and in your leisure time!
Lechler 4 You
General contacts at Lechler S.p.A.


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Trumpet Lessons
Hear the difference that private trumpet lessons from In Home Music Teachers will make on your trumpet performance. Maybe you're looking for guidance on trumpet fundamentals like posture, breath control, mouth shape and vibration. Perhaps you're looking to for guidance with embouchure and quality of sound. Dallas
Dallas In Home Music Teachers are the best in the field and will increase your talents through lip flexibility exercises, guidance with articulation, and fingering techniques. They will also help you better understand music with instruction in music theory, sight reading and notation.
To register for trumpet lessons, contact Dallas In Home Music Teachers at 214-295-8381 or fill out our Lesson Request Form online, and we'll be happy to match you with one of our professional teachers, answer any questions or help you register for lessons.


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