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Regulators on Friday said a new version of a popular diabetes medicine could be sold as a weight-loss drug in the U.S.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug semaglutide, for long-term weight management.
In company-funded studies, participants taking Wegovy had average weight loss of 15%, about 34 pounds (15.3 kilograms). Participants lost weight steadily for 16 months before plateauing. In a comparison group getting dummy shots, the average weight loss was about 2.5%, or just under 6 pounds.
"With existing drugs, you're going to get maybe 5% to 10% weight reduction, sometimes not even that," said Dr. Harold Bays, medical director of the Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center. Bays, who is also the Obesity Medicine Association's chief science officer, helped run studies of the drug.
In the U.S., more than 100 million adults — about 1 in 3 — are obese.
Dropping even 5% of one's weight can bring health benefits, such as improved energy, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, but that amount often doesn't satisfy patients who are focused on weight loss, Bays said.
Bays said Wegovy appears far safer than earlier obesity drugs that "have gone down in flames" over safety problems. Wegovy's most common side effects were gastrointestinal problems, including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Those usually subsided, but led about 5% of study participants to stop taking it.
The drug carries a potential risk for a type of thyroid tumor, so it shouldn't be taken by people with a personal or family history of certain thyroid and endocrine tumors. Wegovy also has a risk of depression and pancreas inflammation.
Wegovy (pronounced wee-GOH'-vee) is a synthesized version of a gut hormone that curbs appetite. Patients inject it weekly under their skin. Like other weight-loss drugs, it's to be used along with exercise, a healthy diet and other steps like keeping a food diary.
The Danish company hasn't disclosed Wegovy's price but said it will be similar to the price of Saxenda, an 11-year-old weight loss drug injected daily that now typically costs more than $1,300 per month without insurance.
Dr. Archana Sudhu, head of the diabetes program at Houston Methodist Hospital, said Wegovy's usefulness "all depends on what the price will be." She noted patients' health insurance plans sometime don't cover weight-loss treatments, putting expensive drugs out of reach.
Sudhu, who has no connection to Novo Nordisk, plans to switch patients who are obese and have Type 2 diabetes to Wegovy. It makes patients feel full sooner and increases release of insulin from the pancreas to control blood sugar, she said. Patients would then be more likely to get motivated to exercise and eat healthier, she added.
Wegovy builds on a trend in which makers of relatively new diabetes drugs test them to treat other conditions common in diabetics. For example, popular diabetes drugs Jardiance and Novo Nordisk's Victoza now have approvals for reducing risk of heart attack, stroke and death in heart patients.
Phylander Pannell, 49, of Largo, Maryland, joined a patient study after cycles of losing and then regaining weight. She said she received Wegovy, worked out several times a week and lost 65 pounds over 16 months.
"It helped curb my appetite and it helped me feel full faster," said Pannell. "It got me on the right path."
Shortly after she finished the study and stopped receiving Wegovy, she regained about half the weight. She's since lost much of that, started exercise classes and bought home exercise equipment. She's considering going back on Wegovy after it's approved.
Novo Nordisk also is developing a pill version.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

subset: commoncrawl


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Apophyllite Cluster with Stilbite
Apophyllite Cluster with Stilbite
Apophyllite connects the physical and spiritual realms. It has the ability to attune to higher frequencies of energies, access multi dimensions, a window to other worlds and inter-dimensional travel. Apophyllite can be used to contact guardian angels and spirit guides or to access high angelic realms and help develop prophetic vision. Meditating and working with Apophyllite has a calming effect, ideal for those wanting to reduce stress, clear mental blockages and release negative though patterns. Also, Apophyllite can assist those wanting to overcome their anxiety, worries and fears. Having Apophyllite in the home can create a spiritual environment with a sense of purity.
Measurement Approximately: 11 cm x 8.5 cm x 5 cm
Weight Approximately: 775 g


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The Wrthar'ri - The Space Scavengers
These gene engineered alien vermin have been around since mankind first stepped into interstellar space. These 3 foot rat like creatures have been created to eat anything. They live aboard space craft feeding on low level electrical impulses 60% of the time in a semi torpor state.
The monsters become a hazard when entering the so called "Eater" phase of their life cycle. The creatures begin to sweat a low level corrosive paste capable of doing 1d4 points of damage to anyone handling the little beasts. Within 3 weeks they double the number of teeth that they have and begin looking for fresh organic meat and inorganic compounds. They're bio acid stomach furnaces can render anything down as fuel.
The bastards then create more of themselves by primitive budding and at least one 1d6 more of the beasts will be created within a 2 week cycle. Only a low frequency radio pulse will stop this from happening. Many ships employ radio pulse beacons to drive the beasts away. There appear to be several varieties of the Wrthar'ri who are actually attracted to them. Only a full spectrum radioactive bath may actually get rid of the little vermin. These baths are several hundred credits and many space stations offer this service for a nominal fee.
Many space stations have a 23 credit bounty on the little buggers. Many aliens actually raiser the things as bio part systems for certain types of space board bio organic machinery. Many times they are looking for certain metagenic types of the creatures. Rewards for their capture vary. Please set sensors to the beta spectrum for sensing these rarer types
They may appear anywhere that space craft have crashed as well.
The Wrthar'ri - The Space Scavengers
Stars Without Numbers
Armor Class 7
Armor Class 7
Hit Dice 2
Attack Bonus +2
Damage: Bite 1d6 , Corrosive Life Cycle Juice 1d4
No Appearing 1d6
Movement 30'
Morale: 10
Swords And Wizardry
Armor Class 9 (10)
Hit Dice: 2
Hit Dice: 2
Damage Bite 1d6
Special :Corrosive Life Cycle Juice 1d4
Move: 13


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It's scarcely a secret that time seems to past by more quickly the older that one gets (I've experienced this firsthand for many years now), but even I was a little bit floored by how incredibly quickly November whizzed past. It was, for me, the speediest month of 2014, despite the fact that it wasn't perfect by any means.
For example, it started out with a bad ear infect in my left ear (just a four or five days after the lengthy flu I had in October wrapped up; I strongly believe the two are connected) that is still going on and which as rendered me quite hard of hearing on that side (meds aren't helping much yet, but hopefully they will do their job soon!).
Then mid-month, I experienced the death of my beloved Canon DSLR, which had been my loyal friend, and diligent workhorse for over seven years (it had been living on borrowed time already for several months though and had a slew of issues, so I knew that the end really was near).
And most recently, two days ago on Friday morning I woke up with same cold that Tony had been battling since Monday. It was pretty much a given that I'd get it. We almost always share bugs - it's nearly impossible not to when two people spend so much time together in the same house.
Unlike the ear infection and cold, which don't have any quick fixes, when it comes to my camera - which is a must have piece of equipment not only for its own joys, but for taking photographs for all the photos for my Etsy shop (which I shot myself) - I splurged on the latest model, the T5i, of the Canon Rebel (I'd previously had a Canon XSi Rebel).
It's a such a stellar, lightweight, modern, versatile, delightful camera to shoot with and though it was a bit sad to part ways with my older Rebel (we'd been through so much and made so many awesome memories together), I must say, I'm head-over-heels with this new version and truly can't recommend it highly enough if you're in the market for a great, not-too-crazy-expensive DSLR yourself (I got the body only, not the kit, as objectively, much as I adore buying lenses, I don't technically need any new glace at the moment...yes, that stance takes major willpower on my part! :D).
Online things were buzzing with activity, too, and not just because of Chronically Vintage's first annual Vintage Secret Santa holiday gift exchange, which saw 260 participants join up to take part. Everyone has been emailed their VSS match, so on the very off chance that you haven't received yours (please check your spam and deleted message filters first), please email me right away so that I can resend that information to you.
Though this (the #vintagesecretsanta) was certainly a big and exciting part of November, again, it wasn't the only thing that had me my toes this month. Throughout the last few weeks, I've had the immense pleasure of being interview and/or written about on the following five websites, including by the stellar UK site We Heart Vintage, who tapped me to share some of my top tips for achieving success on Etsy.
I was incredibly touched that they did as much, especially given that I'm such a relatively new Etsy seller. I loved getting too talk about some of the things that are really working for me there (on Etsy) so far for the first time publicly and suspect that I'll probably post on this subject here on CV, too, as time goes on (and I've got my experience as an Etsy seller to my name).
The lovely folks behind Ruby Lane's stellar digital magazine, Ruby Read, asked me to take part in one of their magazine articles, which I did, along with numerous other leading vintage/fashion related bloggers. Turn to page 35 to see my contribution, then settle in a little while and enjoy reading the rest of this wonderful edition.
I shared a splendidly lovely interview with fabulous vintage shop Betty Rae Vintage over on their blog, which you can read here. I really enjoyed the range and scope of questions that they asked (especially question #7).
The wonderful Ms. Emileigh from the terrific vintage blog Flashback Summer honoured my Etsy shop and I with a post in November, in which she chatted about vintage sweetheart jewelry and highlighted some of the pieces of such that I had in stock at the time of writing. I've always had a great love of sweetheart jewelry myself, so I was all the more thrilled when I saw that Emileigh had very kindly featured my shop in a post on this great subject.
And last, but definitely not least, I was tickled pink to be included in a post about different, unexpected ways to style vintage cardigans, which appeared on the relatively new - and very charming - vintage blog, The Girl Kissed By Fire (which if you're not already following, I highly suggest you do - just as for the other blogs and sites mentioned above).
Now, elsewhere on the web throughout November, in posts I wasn't involved with :), there was no shortage of interesting, informative, and fun happenings as well. As usual come the end of the month, I've rounded up a dozen of the ones that stood out to me and which I'm delighted to share with you here today.
♥ Alice Guy, Cinema Pioneer: Alice Guy's name is one that I've heard in vintage movie circles over the years, but it wasn't until I happened upon this wonderful recent post from V is for Vintage that I really became well acquainted with this early female movie director and her extensive roster of films (400+!). She's a thoroughly fascinating, admirable pioneer of the film industry for sure and deserves to have the limelight shone of her, instead of just on the actors and actresses she filmed.
♥ Silver hair comb history: Hair combs are one of those immensely lovely accessories that one rarely sees worn these days, especially if we exclude weddings. Yet in decades and centuries past (and still to this day in some cultures around the world) they were an integral part of a woman's wardrobe of accessories, in no small part because most ladies of yore had long locks that were frequently worn partially or entirely up. In this beautiful post, Bianca (herself a passionate hair comb collector who has written other posts on the subject as well) takes a look a particularly marvelous type of comb, those made of silver, and leaves you wanting to add one (or more!) to your own hair accessory collection on the double!
♥ But it's my head we're talking about, sir (a look at the history of turbans): Turbans are one of those vintage accessories that I absolutely love and always enjoy seeing, yet for no particular reason, rarely sport myself (you're much more likely to see me in a snood or WW2 war worker style headscarf/bandana). This engagingly lovely post about their history from Marija shines the spotlight on turbans and was just the reminder I needed to actually wear them for one this winter.
♥ Fashion during the Blitz – Technicolor film by Jack Cardiff: I posted a link to this great piece from Glamour Daze on Facebook recently, but absolutely had to share it here as well as it is such a rare, marvelous look at ladies fashion during the endlessly challenging years of WW2 in the UK. I dare you not to go weak in the knees for every last garment and accessory featured in it!
♥ 8 reasons vintage lovers love themselves: Sammi Davis has been knocking it out of the ballpark this year with her delightfully entertaining (and informative) guides/posts about vintage for eBay, and this recent edition, which focuses on reasons why vintage lovers excel at loving themselves (no arguments there on my end) is no exception.
♥ The Faces of the Men who Fought in WW1: Penned in honour or Remembrance/Armistice Day, this moving post We Heart Vintage is a gripping, powerful reminder of the incredibly human side of war and how so many of the faces in these photos never made it home to their loved ones again, all in the name of ensuring that when the last guns of war range out during the atrocious four year fight, freedom prevailed.
♥ The Martian Invasion of 1938: In 1938, a live broadcast of H.G. Wells' famous War of The Worlds story caused a great deal of temporary stress and problems when certain listeners around America believed what they were hearing was in fact a live news report. This engaging post shares the author's mother's firsthand account of how that day unfolded for her and some of her relatives. In this day and age of CGI, news at our fingertips (and in our pockets), and a great deal more skeptics about a lot of things, it's easy to forget that there was once a time when something like this could happen a few short decades ago.
♥ Repro/vintage clothes in Denmark and the EU: Danish blogger and my dear friend, Sanne, has done a stellar job of rounding up some of best vintage and vintage reproduction websites from Denmark and elsewhere in the EU. If you live in Europe or are just searching for more great sources of vintage/repro (and who isn't?), this post is definitely for you!
♥ Grandchildren of classic film stars: Looking for proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree when it comes to appearance? Enter this terrific look at some of the grandchild of classic film starts from A Vintage Nerd that will have you going "wow" with each new entry that Daffny shares.
♥ Lady in Retirement: How Can I Dress Professionally Now That I Don't Have a Job?: Over the years I've received a few requests for suggestions on how to wear vintage after middle age. I may write a full post on that topic one day, but I feel like I need a few more years under my belt first. To help those who may be looking for fashion advice in this sphere, I highly recommend this great post Witness 2 Fashion.
♥ 6 reasons vintage suits trump modern suits: This Flashback Summer post gets a resounding nod of agreement from me from start to finish. Vintage suits are incredibly elegant, stylish and figure flattering (especially you involve, if needed, a bit of custom tailoring). They deserve a place in just every vintage loving lady's wardrobe and are a beloved staple in mine the whole year 'round.
♥ Oscar de la Renta's early years: On the heel's of legendary fashion designer, Oscar de la Renta's recent passing, Vogue (fittingly!) take a look at the early years of his career in this article that is sure to make anyone with a passion for gorgeous couture swoon!
{All images throughout the list of links above come by way of the post that they are displayed directly beneath the write up of here. Please follow the links provided to learn more about these images.}
Chances are you've already started to prepare for the holidays. Perhaps your halls are decked, your cards sent and your fruitcakes are soaking. We're about to head into a hectic, magical, fun filled, beautiful, and yes, at times, stressful, chapter of the year, but it is one that I doubt few of us who celebrate it would ever want to go without it. Here on the blog front, I'll be bringing you multiple festively themed posts and very much forward to seeing all of yours as well.
November might have been quick, and at times rocky, but it was also a welcome respite between the many activities of October and the even more jam packed schedule of December, and in a way I'm sad to say good bye to it. Not too heartbroken though, as I do love and cherish Christmas immensely and am also a bit eager to welcome the New Year and see what 2015 has in store for us.
{Yippee!!! Tomorrow December will be here and with it a return of this splendidly fabulous, fun filled season of giving, love, merriment, feasting, and celebrating. I'm in a really Christmassy mood this year and can hardly wait to enjoy ever one of the last remaining 31 days of the year. Image source.}
First though, let's trim our trees, send out our Vintage Secret Santa gifts, bake a million and one holiday treats, and savour everything that is good and beautiful about this enchantingly lovely time of the year!


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It's great to be a Boston girl! Go Pats!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sweet 16!
It's great to be a Boston girl! Go Pats!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Goodbye Sweet JJ
We just got home from doing a belated Christmas with my family in Gloucester to find out the sad, sad news.... Our kid's cousin Jasper passed over the Rainbow Bridge today. Jasper was the most sweetest, kindest, gentlest, loving Rottweiler I've ever known and he's going to be greatly missed. He'd had a couple of bad seizures and taken some spills, but the big guy hung in there to spend Christmas with all of us. Although he could barely get around without falling, I've never seen him so incredible happy to see us when we walked in to Matt's Mom's on Christmas Eve. Although seeing him in that state brought tears to my eyes, at the same time seeing the immense joy he got from us leaning down to give scratchies & lovings was absolutely wonderful... and I will never forget the biggest doggy kisses in the world!! The one he gave me as we said goodbye Christmas Eve night went up and down my whole face... Goodbye Sweet JJ, you showed us all lots of love in your 10 1/2 short years here and to say we will miss you dearly is surely an understatement...
Friday, December 28, 2007
Dear Sweet Eddie...
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Yappy Thursday!
Monday, December 24, 2007
We Did It..
10 Weeks of love...
10 Weeks of joy...
10 Weeks of wondering where this is all leading too... because my heart was certainly given in!
The cutest little red haired girl from the South has officially joined our family! Sometimes, they find us... and that is exactly what this wonderful little girl did. We might be eating more ramen noodles and pb&j, but she is so worth it... Merry Christmas!
On a Roll... 15 and 0!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Things That Make You Say Hmm..
Hello, You have reached 123-4567, Tender Hearts Rescue. Due to the high volume of calls we have been receiving, please listen closely to the following options and choose the one that best describes you or your situation:
Press 1 if you think we are veterinarians and want free medical advice.
Press 2 if you know we are a rescue organization but want to save money and have us give you free, untrained medical advice anyway.
Press 3 if you make $200,000 a year but still want us to pay to spay the "stray" in your yard (house).
Press 4 if you have a 10-year-old dog and your 15-year-old son has suddenly become allergic and you need to find the dog a new home right away.
Press 5 if you have three dogs, had a baby and want to get rid of your dogs because you are the only person in the world to have a baby and dogs at the same time.
Press 6 if your dog is sick and needs a vet but you need the money for your vacation.
Press 7 if you just got a brand new puppy and your old dog is having problems adjusting so you want to get rid of the old one right away.
Press 8 if your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and cute and you want to trade it in for a new model.
Press 9 if you are elderly and want to adopt a cute puppy who is not active and is going to outlive you.
Press 10 if your relative has died and you don't want to care for their elderly dog because it doesn't fit your lifestyle.
Press 11 if you are moving today and need to immediately place your 150 pound, 8-year-old, unneutured, aggressive dog.
Press 12 if you want an unpaid volunteer to come to your home today and pick up the dog you no longer want.
Press 13 if you have been feeding and caring for a "stray" for the last three years, are moving and suddenly determine it's not your dog.
Press 14 if you are calling at 6 a.m. to make sure you wake me up before I have to go to work so you can drop a dog off on your way to work.
Press 15 to leave us an anonymous garbled message, letting us know you have left a dog in our yard in the middle of January, which is in fact, better than just leaving the dog with no message.
Press 16 if you are going to get angry because we are not going to take your dog that you have had for fifteen years, because it is not our responsibility.
Press 17 if you are going to threaten to take your ten year old dog to be euthanized because we can't get to your house in the next hour.
Press 18 if you're going to get angry because the volunteers had the audacity to go on vacation and leave the animals in care of one trusted volunteer who is not authorized to take your personal pet.
Press 19 if you want one of our perfectly trained, housebroken, kid and cat friendly purebred tiny dogs that we have an abundance of.
Press 20 if you want us to take your dog that has a slight aggression problem, i.e. has only bitten a few people and killed your neighbor's cats.
Press 21 if you have already called once and been told we don't take personal surrenders but thought you would get a different person this time with a different answer.
Press 22 if you want us to use space that would go to a stray to board your personal dog while you are on vacation, free of charge, of course.
Press 23 if it is Christmas Eve or Easter morning and you want me to deliver an eight week old puppy to your house by 6:30 am before your kids wake up.
Press 24 if you have bought your children a duckling, chick or baby bunny for Easter and it is now Christmas and no longer cute.
Press 25 if you want us to take your female dog who has already had ten litters, but we can't spay her because she is pregnant again and it is against your religion.
Press 26 if you're lying to make one of our newer volunteers feel bad and take your personal pet off your hands.
Press 27 if your cat is biting and not using the litter box because it is declawed, but are not willing to accept the responsibility that the cat's behavior is altered because of your nice furniture.
Press 28 if your two year old male dog is marking all over your house but you just haven't gotten around to having him neutered.
Press 29 if you previously had an outdoor only dog and are calling because she is suddenly pregnant.
Press 30 if you have done "everything" to housebreak your dog and have had no success but you don't want to crate the dog because it is cruel.
Press 31 if you didn't listen to the message asking for an evening phone number and you left your work number when all volunteers are also working and you are angry because no one called you back.
Press 32 if you need a puppy immediately and cannot wait because today is your daughter's birthday and you forgot when she was born.
Press 33 if your dog's coat doesn't match your new furniture and you need a different color or breed.
Press 34 if your new love doesn't like your dog and you are too stupid to get rid of the new friend (who will dump you in the next month anyway) instead of the dog.
Press 35 if you went through all these 'presses' and didn't hear enough. This press will connect you to the sounds of tears being shed by one of our volunteers who is holding a discarded old dog while the vet mercifully frees him from the grief of missing his family.
Author Unknown
Thursday, December 20, 2007
When will this white crap end?
I spent my day delivering resident holiday gifts in this crazy mess... oh the joys! Thankfully I have 4WD, otherwise I wouldn't have made it. It was just a ducky day... Seriously, I even have proof...
I ran in to those cuties in one of the parking lots. Don't ask what the heck 2 ducks were doing in New Hampshire in the winter, in the middle of a snow storm, in an apartment complex parking lot... but it was the perfect way to sum up my "just ducky" crap of a day! I would have much rather been home doing this...
Now, since today is actually Thursday... I must say please excuse last night's ramblings mistaken "dogs on thursday" post... I guess it wasn't actually Thursday yet, huh? Perhaps that means the week has already been much too long.... and it was really some wishful thinking?
Since today is Dogs on Thursday, I'll share with you Dottie's photo with Santa! Her Mom took her and brother Jack to see Santa... aren't they just darling?
It's so wonderful to hear from my foster's families... it really means the world to me to open up an email or card and see a picture or hear how they're doing!
As promised, still playing blog catch up... and wanted to actually show some proof that I really do knit sometimes! Some Christmas knitting...
A pair of Fetching for a friend... they've
since been finished & mailed off!
A pair of Fetching for my niece,
still have to complete mitt #2...
A neck scarf, with no one in particular in mind...
not yet finished, so it may not be a Christmas gift...
Nathaniel's hat... Jenn asked me to
make a larger size of the same hat
I made for her cutie last year...
I've since gotten much further on it and it's probably a night on the couch away from being finished. Here's Nate modeling the original hat from Fall 2006.Ok, I'm officially going to retire to the couch now... and yes, its still snowing!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Happy 1st Birthday...
I am very late in posting these pics, but since it is Dogs on Thursday, finally... here are Sophie's 1st birthday pics!!!!
There was, of course, a cake from Woof It Down...
She was afraid of the evil plastic box the cake came in and actually hid from the cake for a bit...
She was much happier when we ditched the evil box...
After cake, there was a birthday toy to play with...
Sophie also got her first taste of snow around her birthday time and her first reaction looked like this...
That's they "um... what the hell is this white crap? I am not going out there!" However, since we've been dumped on by the damn white stuff on what seems to be a daily basis gotten more snow in the month of December than we did all last winter... well, Sophie has not only adapted quite nicely, she actually loves it now!!! She runs and romps like nobodys business! Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to get any pictures since, so instead I'll share these of the other children ...
Here's Lola... "SNOW... Mommy, SNOW... let me out... Mommy, SNOW... Snow mommy... must go out...MOMMY... did you see the snow??!!"
Teutul... "Someone say snow??? Snow?? MUST. ZIP. IN. IT."
As I type, there's more of that
Monday, December 17, 2007
Its Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas...
On December 1 & 2, A Knitter's Garden held its annual Holiday Fair... at which I had quite a few of my own knit creations on sale, as well as homemade doggy cookies that I spent
Photos of the fair part, which was held in the dining room.
LOOK! Stitch Markers by Lapdog Creations are now
available... and get this, I'm right next to the
basket of Seacoast Handpainted Yarns!
You are also sure to hear find the shop's official greeters Luke & Angus.
14 and 0 baby!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Forgotten Dog's Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
With no thought of the dog filling their head.
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap
Knew he was cold but didn't care about that.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter!
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But Santa Claus - with eyes full of tears
He un-chained the dog, once so lively and quick.
Last year's Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick.
More rapid than eagles he called the dog's name
And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain."
Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home where he'll be loved by all.
I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear.
The gift of a dog is not just for one season.
We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons.
In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing that we missed.
A dog should be family, and cared for the same
You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain.
And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight
"You weren't given a gift! You were given a LIFE!"
Author Unknown
In the hast of the season, please do think before you act on adding a new family member to your household. Too many kittens and puppies are bought at this time of year, only to end up on a chain, abandonned or worse......... Thank you to Chan for emailing this to me today. Please pass it along... spread the word!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
And The Emmy Goes To...
And the winners are:
1st place - Becky at Becky Knits Too who adopted the cutest little puppy I've seen in a long time! Liza Jane is part Brittney Terrier and part Boston Terrier. Who could resist this cute face?!?!
Becky wins 2 skeins of King Tut 100% cotton, a bag of The Goodlife Recipe dog cookies and a rubber football dog toy.
2nd place - Angie at Dipsy Doodle who rescued Bill & Till in November. See her post with the cuties here!
Angie wins 2 skeins of Knit Picks Shine Worsted and 1 skein of Track from Dark Horse Yarns.
3rd place - Michelle at InsanKnitty who made a donation to my ASPCA fundraising goals.
Michelle wins 1 skein of Wool in the Woods, a Rachael Hale mousepad calendar and a rope dog toy.
Special Doggy Prize goes to Mr. Mugsy at Knit Tea!
Mugsy wins a bag of Nutri Dent bones and a rubber ball.
Special Humanitarian Prize goes to The Princess aka Krystal who made a generous donation to my ASPCA fundraising goals and donated the doggy prizes for my contest winners!
Krystal wins 2 skeins of Berroco Hip Hop!
Congratulations to all winners and THANK YOU to all of you who entered! Please keep adopting, rescuing, fostering, donating, knitting snuggles and whatever else it is you can do to help animals in need - remember, we are their voice! Please feel free to donate to my ASPCA fundraising goals - the banner is still at the top and I'm still hoping to reach that $1,000!


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Haven't felt like posting lately, so here's three weeks of comics to catch up on.
Best bets from the last few weeks: Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier #2, The Sixth Gun #3 and Ghost Projekt #4. Oni is publishing some good stuff, huh?
Three Weeks Ago:
- Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #1, by Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasaron & Cam Smith (DC)
- Superman #702, by J. Michael Straczynski, Eddy Barrows & J.P. Mayer (DC)
- The Unwritten #16, by Mike Carey & Peter Gross (DC/Vertigo)
- Zatanna #4, by Paul Dini, Chad Hardin & Wayne Faucher (DC)
- Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier #2 of 5, by Ed Brubaker & Dale Eaglesham (Marvel)
- A Skeleton Story #1, by Alessandro Rak & Andrea Scoppetta (GG Studio)
- The Sixsmiths #1, by J. Marc Schmidt & Jason Franks (SLG)
Two Weeks Ago:
- Batman Beyond #3 of 6, by Adam Beechen, Ryan Benjamin & John Stanisci (DC)
- Brightest Day #8, by Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes, Rebecca Buchman & Mark Irwin (DC)
- DC Universe: Legacies #4 of 10, by Len Wein, Jose-Luis Garcia Lopez, Dave Gibbons, Scott Kolins & Joe Kubert (DC)
- Ex Machina #50, by Brian K. Vaughan & Tony Harris (DC/Wildstorm)
- Fables #97, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha & Dan Green (DC/Vertigo)
- Green Lantern Corps #51, by Tony Bedard, Ardian Syaf & Vicente Cifuentes (DC)
- Justice Society of America #42, by James Robinson, Mark Bagley & Norm Rapmund (DC)
- Power Girl #15, by Judd Winick & Sami Basri (DC)
- Chew #13, by John Layman & Rob Guillory (Image)
- The Sixth Gun #3, by Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt (Oni)
Last Week:
- Justice League of America #48, by James Robinson, Mark Bagley & Rob Hunter (DC)
- Legion of Super-Heroes #4, by Paul Levitz, Yildiray Cinar, Francis Portela & Wayne Faucher (DC)
- Madame Xanadu #26, by Matt Wagner & Chrissie Zullo (DC/Vertigo)
- Time Masters: Vanishing Point #2 of 6, by Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund (DC)
- Wonder Woman #602, by J. Michael Straczynski, Don Kramer & Eduardo Pansica (DC)
- Astonishing X-Men #35, by Warren Ellis, Phil Jimenez & Andy Lanning (Marvel)
- Captain America #609, by Ed Brubaker, Jackson Guice & Rick Magyar (Marvel)
- Fantastic Four #582, by Jonathan Hickman, Nail Edwards & Scott Hanna (Marvel)
- Echo #24, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
- Dynamo 5: Sins of the Father #3 of 5, by Jay Faerber & Júlio Brilha (Image)
- Invincible #74, by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley & Cliff Rathburn (Image)
- Ghost Projekt #4 of 5, by Joe Harris & Steve Rolston & Dean Trippe (Oni)
Brian Vaughn & Tony Harris' Ex Machina came to an end this month. It's been one of those rarities, a long-running series published less than monthly (bimonthly, in this case), I believe because Harris isn't quite able to keep up with a regular monthly schedule. (James Robinson wrote many of the "Times Past" episodes of Starman to give Harris time to catch up or get ahead, I understand.)
The premise of the series is that Mitchell Hundred is the only man in the world with superpowers: A strange encounter in New York harbor gave him the ability to communicate with and command machines. He embarked on a brief and controversial career as a superhero, the "Great Machine", until he saved one of the World Trade Towers from being destroyed on September 11. Retiring from adventuring, he is elected Mayor of New York City, where he has a controversial term as a populist leader who holds strong positions, always annoying the left or the right. Meanwhile, his two friends from his heroing days have different opinions about his new position (one becomes his bodyguard, the other thinks it's a waste of his talents), and Mitch gradually learns about the origins of his powers. The series often felt at times like a mouthpiece for Vaughan's political views. Actually I have no idea if they're actually Vaughan's own views or not, but they were by far the least interesting part of the series, repetitively presenting Mitch as the voice of reason while various people were freaking out around him about his positions. It got pretty dull pretty quickly. I always saw the political milieu as a mundane backdrop to the more interesting story, that being: Why did Mitch get his powers, and what did it mean? But Vaughan clearly didn't see the series in the same way, as he spent most of the series dealing with the very mundane details of Mitch's life and friendships, none of which are really deep enough or complex enough to be very compelling, and only one of which (with his bodyguard Bradbury) has a really rewarding payoff. So the more fantastic elements get shoved aside for most of the series, but completely take over the stage when they do come up. For example, the man who's able to command animals. And then the explanations and drama over the last four issues. We do eventually learn the source of Mitch's powers, but ultimately it's kind of disappointing. I think my fundamental disappointment in Ex Machina is that it feels like it was a lot of text and noise, but not very much happened. Despite Mitch (and a handful of others) with fantastic powers, they don't really change the world (or even New York City) very much. Indeed, Mitch's tenure as Mayor doesn't really change him very much, besides putting some of his friends and family in harm's way. It doesn't feel like he really grew or changed as a character or person. Vaughan's other major work in comics is Y The Last Man, which is, by far, the superior series of the two. The characters are more engaging and more fully-realized, and despite characters with strong positions it rarely felt like the writer was preaching to us. The fantastic elements are omnipresent (since the premise is that every man on the planet save one has died), but serve to drive and inform the story, while still allowing plenty of space for drama and character development. Things happen, people go places, and change the world (and their lives) through their actions. And while there are some rough edges around the ending, it was on the whole moving and satisfying. Really, the polar opposite of Ex Machina in nearly every way. To be sure, Ex Machina had one major asset, that being Tony Harris' always-outstanding artwork, which has grown and evolved, retaining his touch for realistic figures with a stylized veneer, while slowly shedding the awkward facial expressions and compositions. Harris is one of the better artists in comics today, and I look forward to seeing what he does next. But overall I have to say it's been a disappointing series. It feels like it's been playing out the string for the last couple of years, and I can't really recommend to anyone to go back and read through it, because I don't think you'll find it rewarding. Pick up Y The Last Man instead, because it's going to stay on my bookshelf, while this one's probably going up on eBay. (As usual, Greg Burgas and I felt quite differently about this series.) |


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Note: since submitting this article for publication, terrorist-mortars have rained down on Damascus, with a reported 30 mortars on Wednesday-killing 8 and injuring at least nine — and another at least seven mortars on Thursday — killing two and injuring at least 20 people, according to the Damascus-based monitoring group, "A Mortar's Diary" (see their Facebook page).
In stark contrast to the sparse coverage of the brutality of ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria over the past few years, there has recently been substantial coverage of the emergence of ISIS in Iraq and the terrorist acts that this U.S.-backed and funded group has been committing. This surge of media focus on ISIS's brutality in Iraq and particularly on the recent alleged be-headings of two American journalists is extensively considered, amongst independent political analysts, to besetting the stage for NATO and the Axis-of-Imperialists to "fight terrorism" in Iraq and Syria, aka destroy both countries (note: there are valid doubts as to the legitimacy of the Foley video itself).
Glaringly absent from corporate media accounts of the proxy-war being waged on Syria is the fact that the very same terrorist group, as well as other Western-backed, al-Qaeda-aligned terrorist organizations (like al-Nusra and the so-called "Free Syrian Army"), have been terrorizing Syrians for years — beheading them, flogging, crucifying, amputating hands — to name but a few of their crimes against thousands of Syrians.
In a recent interview, scholar and author Zafar Bangash noted Western complicity in supporting ISIS and other mercenary groups, as well as NATO's complicity in the destruction of Syria thus far:
"As a member of NATO, obviously Turkey has close liaison with the United States, Britain, France, etc, providing them all kinds of information. A NATO member, that means by extension NATO itself, is involved in financing, supporting, arming, facilitating the transfer, or entry, of these terrorists into Syria."
Also omitted are the terrorist-insurgents' near-daily firing of lethal mortars upon civilian areas in Syria. According to political analyst and Damascus resident Mazen al-Akhras, in the three-month period of April, May and June 2014, terrorist-insurgents fired 994 mortars on Damascus and environs, 426 of which were fired in June (see list of locations hit and number of mortars below). On June 3, Election Day in Syria, the terrorist-insurgents fired 151 shells on Damascus, killing 5 and maiming 33 Syrians, Akhras said.
While statistics on the number of Syrians civilians killed and maimed by such mortar attacks are not readily available, a tally from State media news reports for the period of Jun 18, 2014-current (the available reports) reveals at least 48 Syrians were killed (including 10 children) and 358 injured by mortar fire.
The terrorizing car bombings which were rampant in civilian areas of Homs (now secured by the Syrian Arab Army), and which continue to plague areas in Hama, have received some scant coverage. But the mortars continue (still out of the media spotlight), albeit to a lesser degree than a few months ago thanks to the gains of the Syrian army in areas like Mleiha (Damascus outskirts), where mortar fire originated, and increasingly in Jobar (Damascus outskirts).
In April and June 2014, I spent a cumulative month in Syria, in various areas of Damascus, with visits to Latakia, Homs, and Ma'aloula. At the time, Damascus was being intensely shelled by mortars, frequently in my vicinity, including just behind the hotel housing the Peace Delegation that I accompanied the first week. This attack killed three civilians and one Syrian soldier. We saw some of the 60-plus children injured in the April 15 shelling of a school, not an isolated occasion, an attack that also killed one child. Mortars rained down at close-proximity on many occasions in different areas of the Old City where I had then found lodging.
Prior to and since then, other residential, civilian areas I've become familiar with have been incessantly targeted, and none of those areas can be considered targets for a "revolution" — in other words, neither governmental nor military sites. The terrorist-insurgents are intentionally targeting high-density civilian areas, and often take videos of themselves manufacturing, preparing and firing the mortar shells.
Bab Touma (Thomas Gate), Bab Sharqi (East Gate), and the Shagour area of the Old City have all been repeatedly targeted, as have the commercial Shaalan district — particularly near the Dar al-Salaam school — and other areas of Damascus and environs, including Abasyeen, Dweilaa, Baramkeh, Jaramana, Yarmouk, and Mazzeh. These are areas housing shops, restaurants, homes, schools, hospitals and clinics, hotels, parks, and thus the victims are Syrian civilians, including children.
In June, I spoke with a National Defense Force (NDF) soldier, who explained to me the nature of the mortars being fired on Damascus, the surrounding areas and further afield in Syria. He began with an explanation of his own knowledge of weaponry:
"In Syria, when you are 18, you do mandatory military service (until 2005 it was 2.5 years; in 2011 it was reduced to 18 months). I served in a unit that specialized in rockets. But when they started teaching us about rockets, they had to first teach you the basic science, which is mortars. We began learning with 60-120 mm mortars. Then we learned about the larger sizes, like the 160 mm, and later about small rockets, then the bigger ones, like Scuds.
"There are different kinds of mortars here. There are local mortars, made in workshops by the terrorists, and there are larger, American-made mortars of the kind used in the second world war, 60-80 mm mortars. These are infantry-specific, not intended for buildings or vehicles."
But according to the NDF soldier, the homemade mortars are the dirtiest:
"They are shells, made in local workshops. Inside them they pack broken glass, nails, and anything that will hurt whoever is hit by the debris. They put explosives in the centre of these shards. Then they add the tail end and explosives to propel the mortar. When the mortar explodes, the metal container is destroyed and becomes shrapnel pieces which, along with the glass and nails, causes more extensive injuries.
"The U.S. mortars are stronger, intended for infantry. But the terrorists are using them as well. They won't cause much damage to buildings, but they can maim and kill a lot of people. The terrorists can't enter the city, so they're trying to stop daily life by firing mortars on the city. They've been very open about their reasons for firing mortars on Damascus and other areas: they are punishing the Syrians who do not support their 'revolution'. They say if you are living in an area controlled by the army and government of Syria, so you are against the 'revolution' and they are going to attack you, they say that it is halal (permitted by Islam) to kill you."
The NDF soldier was himself injured by shrapnel from mortar attacks on a residential and commercial area in central Damascus, the shells landing near a school and close to a popular cafe, not far from an open market area:
"On May 6, the day I was injured, 54 mortars were fired all over Damascus. In this neighbourhood alone, 27 mortars were fired on us. There is no military here, just civilians. The two mortars on this single street caused at least 15 injuries. By the end of the day, there were around 50 injured and two martyred.
"On June 3, Election Day, they fired mortars and then about five minutes later — when people had gathered to help — they fired more, just a few metres away from where the first ones had landed. So they caused many more casualties. They increased their mortars on Election Day because they wanted to stop people from going to vote."
Terrorist mortar and missile attacks on cities throughout Syria increased notably in the lead-up to and including Election Day.
Al Akhbar reported:
"Syrian rebels bombarded a campaign rally in support of President Bashar al-Assad's June 3 election bid, killing a number of citizens, Syrian state media and a monitoring group said Friday.
The mortar fire hit a tent where Assad supporters had gathered in the southern city of Daraa late on Thursday.
"Armed terrorist groups targeted civilians in a [national campaign] tent which led to the martyrdom of a number of citizens and injuring others," state-run SANA said.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the attack, saying at least 20 people were killed, including children, and 30 injured."
Press TV updated:
"The death toll from a recent mortar attack by foreign-backed Takfiri militants on an election campaign rally in southern Syria has risen to nearly 40.
Syria's official news agency SANA reported on Saturday that at least 39 people had lost their lives in the mortar attack on the election campaign rally in Syria's southern city of Dara'a late on Thursday.
According to the report, some 205 people were also wounded in the attack, while 14 of the injured are in critical condition."
In the lead-up to the elections, Syrian residents and media like Press TV noted the increase in mortar-fire, an attempt to intimidate Syrians from casting votes the following week.
On May 31, Press TV reported:
"Twenty people have been killed in mortar attacks carried out by foreign-backed militants on Syria's northwestern city of Aleppo.
The militants fired 40 mortar shells on several neighborhoods of the flashpoint city, destroying many buildings.
Takfiri groups have stepped up their attacks against Syrians in several cities and towns as the country prepares for the presidential election on June 3."
A month later, in increased shelling largely seen as vindictive attacks on Inauguration Day, July 16, terrorists fired 23 shells on Damascus, Akhras reported. Syrian State media reported that four were killed and 30 injured by the mortars which targeted Shaalan district, Umayyad Square, and a park near the Sheraton Hotel.
The BBC account of the April 15 school shelling includes such intentionally misleading phrases as:
"They're believed to be fired by rebels, but the government is also accused of launching them into neighbourhoods under its control."
To counter this allegation, the NDF soldier explained,
"After evacuating injured and bystanders from the scene of a mortar strike, the security looks for the tail end of the mortar shell, because from the size of the tail end you can know the size of the mortar and thus its range, its trajectory. The 80 mm mortar will fly between 800-1500 metres. The bigger the tail, the further the range."
Knowing the angle of impact, the range of travel, security can determine whether the mortars came from terrorist-insurgent controlled areas like Jobar (or formerly Mleiha, Barzeh and Daraya) and thus know its provenance:
"Mortars are routinely fired from Jobar, about 1.5 km from here (central Damascus). The main group there is the Nusra Front, though there are also some members of so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA). Some of the armed men were trying a while ago to surrender to the government, but when they would try, they'd get a sniper's bullet to the head from the other terrorists. There are so many civilians not involved in these attacks, so the army can't fully attack Jobar with heavy weapons."
In the three weeks I stayed independent in Syria, I had ample opportunity to speak with Syrians on the issue of the insurgent-fired mortars.
One evening, I sat talking with a restaurant-owner near Bab Sharqi in the Old City. Abu Shadi, the restaurant owner, lamented the lack of tourists, due to the war on Syria, and spoke of his own close encounter with mortars. As we spoke, mortars were fired on different areas of the Old City, one of which roughly 50 metres from where we sat [LISTEN HERE]:
"When I hear kazyif (shell), kazyif, kazyif, for children, for school…these is people rubbish…come to children, to people…this is something no good. Two times come two kazife to my restaurant. Before one minute, I would die if I don't go to sleep. I was here (roughly 2 metres from restaurant)."
Qamar, an employee in the hotel where I lodged at Bab Sharqi, spoke of her own worries:
"I have children, I worry about them going to school since the terrorists shelled a school last week. Last year, they shelled a school in my area, Mazzeh. A teacher was killed and students were injured."
The genial hotel owner spoke one day about a friend of his killed a few days prior. "My friend was martyred by a mortar three days ago. He was a pharmacist…He was at Bab Touma at the time, walking on the street, and a mortar fell there. They want to burn Syria from within, want to leave these factions fighting each until Syria is burned down and Syria is bled-out."
A university student I spoke with on a crowded Old City bus one morning commented on the formerly popular market area, Midan, as the bus passed by:
"People are afraid to come here now, because it's so close to Yarmouk. Midan is safe, but people think that the terrorists in Yarmouk will fire mortars here. I used to go to Yarmouk all the time, but now, no way."
Following an April 21 mortar attack on Bab Touma, which killed 2 and maimed 23, I spoke withshop employees who had been present at the time of the attack. An employee in a shoe shop said:
"It was just after 3 pm, the area was packed with people. It happens a lot, a lot, a lot…all the time. Shrapnel flew everywhere, little bits and pieces. In the last two weeks, around ten mortars have landed in this area. This isn't a revolution. They've come from outside. Do you know how we were living? We had security, work…but, sorry, now?"
In a clothing shop, an employee present at the time said:
"We were inside, heard the explosion, went outside and saw the dead lying on the ground. We get these mortars all the time…"
Mazen al-Akhras, notes:
"The terrorists know that their mortars accomplish nothing practically, they are just a vengeful act against the people of Damascus for not supporting them. Sometimes they film themselves as evidence of their loyalty, presented to anyone who would sponsor them financially to keep fighting against President Assad."
In recent months, the Syrian Arab Army and National Defense Forces have made impressive strides in eradicating mortar-firing and sniping insurgents from their bases in civilian areas like Mleiha, and in the past in Daraya. The reconciliation of other areas like Moadamiyeh and Barzeh has also meant a cessation of mortar fire from those areas.
Insurgents in Jobar, however, continue terrorizing Damascus and environs. On August 29, SANA reported three university students and one other civilian were injured by mortar fire in different areas of Damascus. On August 30, SANA reported six civilians, including a girl, injured by shelling of Damascus districts, including near a hospital. On September 2, SANA reported the shelling of Damascus neighbourhoods, injured eight civilians, as well as in Hasaka city, injuring five, in Idleb, injuring two, and in Deir Ezzor, injuring two. These are just some of the continued terrorist mortar attacks in Syria.
This mortar terrorism, virtually unmentioned in corporate media, is further evidence of the intent of these foreign-backed insurgents to destroy Syria. As with the media's omission of ISIS' crimes against Humanity in Syria, the omission of the near-daily insurgent mortar fire upon civilians is ignored precisely because the destruction of Syria has always been on the agenda of the Axis-of-Interventionists, the U.S.-Zionist-Gulf-Turkish-British-French-Jordanian project.
Mortar statistics April, May, June (via Mazen al-Akras):
Terrorists showered Damascus with a total of 994 mortar shell in April, May and June 2104, 355 of them in April, 213 in may and 426 in June.
The shells landed on different parts of the city as follows:
Abbasyeen and surrounding areas 163 Shells
Jaramana 147 Shells
Dweilaa and surrounding 88
Tadamon 84
Qassaa, Qusour and Bab Touma 69
Assad Suburb (near Harasta) 61
Tijara, Adawi and Mezraa 59
Hamra and Salhiyeh 47
Mazzeh 42
Old City 35
Baghdad Street 34
Yarmouk 27
Malki & Abu Rommaneh 19
Qazzaz and Sinaa 19
Airport freeway 18
Midan 14
Rukneddin 13
Muhajireen 12
Umawiyeen Square 12
Baramkeh 11
Zahira 10
Marjeh 5
Kafarsouseh 4
Barzeh 1
Photos from "A Mortar's Diary" Facebook group (Damascus-based)


text: As Caroline and Elena prepare to host Friendsgiving at the dorm, they receive some hopeful news from Alaric and Stefan, who have traveled to Portland to gather some information regarding the Gemini Coven. Tyler is determined to help Liv after she and Luke reveal some disturbing information about their witch lineage and the impending plans their coven has for them. Meanwhile, dinner takes a drastic turn when Jo, who has revealed some painful details about her past, finds herself fighting for her life, leaving Alaric scrambling to help from a distance. Finally, Kai makes a dangerous discovery that brings him one step closer to his release.


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Art Sawai Madhopur Natural 28"
- Fragile Care and Shipping: INR 1000
- Textile Art is custom made. Ships in 14-21 days
- Free shipping (India) above INR 5000
- In stock, ready to ship
- Inventory on the way
The Ranthambore Series by BH. Take a journey into the wilderness of Rajasthan, where wildlife, historical architecture and adventure come together in an unforgettable cocktail.
Textile Art by BH takes the best of handcrafted textiles, and presents them in preservation-grade boxed frames. Our boxed frames have 3 dimensional depth and quality glass to preserve your artwork for years to come. Between the Pret Line, XL Line and Connoisseur Line - you can curate a look that reflects the character of your home.
At BANDHINI HOME, we believe that luxury must be effortless and deliver a lasting experience to you.
To this end, we ensure that your product is ready to perform the moment it arrives - just like you see it on the webstore or on the high street.
All BANDHINI HOME cushions come with a Hospitality grade Luxury Micro Fiber Filler.
These are form fitting and perform like feather fills, just as you would expect from your luxury purchase!
In Stock Items:
We ship out in-stock items within 1 business day
Pre-Order Items:
Most pre-order items ship in 7-10 days. However, some items can take longer and would be highlighted accordingly. Occasionally, delays can take place in pre-order items - the BH support team would keep you informed of any changes in the indicated delivery timeline of your pre-ordered item.
Easy Returns
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You may return a product within 7 days of delivery of your order. All eligible returns must be accompanied by an original bill.
Returns are broadly classified in two categories - Change of mind & Product issues (carrying defect / incorrect item).
Your return would be handled within the policy framework for these return categories. You can read more about this on the policy page for Returns & Refunds


text:
Getting your first job in a new industry can be a daunting process. Employers want you to have experience, but often you need to be given the opportunity in order to get that experience. The most important thing to think about when you're creating your first resume is your job goals and your audience.
Here are tips that will actually help you write a resume without any professional experience.
Highlight your great attitude
When you have no work experience, starting your resume with a clear objective is a great way to show that you are focused and you understand the mindset of the employer. Writing a resume is essentially about putting together a personal sales pitch. Hiring managers are hiring for attitude. Include your personal achievements, as it's all about attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes to get somewhere.
List skills rather than roles
This is where that prewritten list of skills and examples come in useful. You can quickly cross-reference different experiences so you have multiple examples under each heading, with the evidence to back up your claims. If you can do something which could be useful in the workplace, put it in. Applicable are computer programs you can use and languages you can speak you don't have to be fluent for it to be useful, but don't lie about your ability, no matter how tempting it might be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a bad idea. You might make it through this round of interviews and even get the job.
Add a Major Achievements Section
Don't make the mistake of leaving blank space in your resume just because you're lacking in work experience. The experience section of any resume is simply a way to demonstrate how past experiences would be useful to a future employer. A major achievements section can act as an extension of your educational experience and helps to fill space on your resume. The structure of your achievements is similar to that of a professional experience section. In this section, your activities and achievements are treated as a professional job.
Be Professional
Having no work experience does not mean you are unqualified. Maintain consistent tense, style, and font when writing your resume. Take the time to proofread your writing for typos. This will present a level of professionalism.


text:
Black Beans and Rice
Note: This recipe is suitable for a vegetarian (meat-free) diet, but may include ingredients such as dairy or other animal-based products that wouldn't fit in with vegan or some vegetarian diets.
This is a scrumptious and easy recipe. If you have leftovers, consider serving the beans on a salad the next day.
Prep time: 30 to 40 minutes
What you need:
- 2 15-oz. cans black beans, drained
- 1 c. onion, chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp. cilantro
- 14-oz. can diced tomatoes (low sodium)
- 1/2 c. frozen corn niblets, thawed
- 1 c. hot cooked rice
- 1/4 c. jalapeño jack cheese, shredded
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. chili powder
- red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
What to do:
- Sauté 3/4 cup onions, garlic, and bay leaves in oil.
- Add black beans, cilantro, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and corn.
- Simmer until heated through and flavors meld.
- Make a mold of cooked rice on a platter.
- Pour bean mixture over the rice.
- Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped onions.
- Sprinkle cheese over the beans.
Nutritional analysis (per serving):
- 307 calories
- 15g protein
- 3g fat
- 2g sat. fat
- 55g carbohydrate
- 12g fiber
- 8mg cholesterol
- 765mg sodium
- 157mg calcium
- 3.4mg iron
Serves: 4
Serving size: 1/4 cup rice and 1-1/4 cup beans
Note: Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.
Variations and suggestions:
If you do not have canned tomatoes, try using salsa. Add sliced red peppers.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2024 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com


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How completely bloomin' cheerful does this new Summer nail collection from Cosmetics A La Carte look huh?
The British company who are well-known for their bespoke makeup have released 5 bold shades that promise to extend this season's hottest trends beyond our clothes!
Flash: An envious bright green
Inka: A warm shade of zesty tangerine
Viola: A tranquil lilac
Bonheur: A bold hot pink
Rhythm: A classic red go-to shade for timeless style.
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Every adult amateur knows how tough it can be to fit riding into a busy lifestyle. But the demands of Ann Romney's schedule would make her fellow competitors' collective heads spin.
She's raised five boys, doted after 11 grandchildren, managed charity programs at both state and national levels and played an increasingly active role in her husband Mitt Romney three—first Senate, then gubernatorial and now presidential—political campaigns.
Along the way she's beaten back multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease that, nine years ago, left her bed-ridden and in despair.
In the rarefied world of upper-level dressage, Romney has achieved goals many amateurs only dream of. Riding her beloved Baron, a 19-year-old, Austrian Warmblood gelding, and coached by her long-time trainer and friend Jan Ebeling, Romney earned her U.S. Dressage Federation silver and gold medals in 2006. That same year, she was the New England Dressage Association Adult Amateur Champion at Grand Prix level, on a score of 63.33 percent.
"I'm just like any other crazy horse person," she said. "You find a way to make the time to ride. If I have to get up at 5 a.m. to fly to California and then ride until 10 p.m. at night, because that'll be my only chance to ride for a month, then that's what I'll do."
Even the intense demands of her husband's presidential campaign haven't kept Ann out of the saddle. "I laid down the law after Mitt announced that, I'd have to ride once a week, or else," she explained. "The crazy breakneck pace of my life is not a natural rhythm for me. It's the soothing rhythm of horses and riding that sings to my soul."
Life Changes On The Road To Utah
Growing up in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Ann had ridden as a girl, "in a backyard, for-fun sort of way," she recalled. As a young teen, she saw the Lipizzaner stallions perform on tour, an experience she would never forget.
"I knew there was some magical, special connection between horse and rider," she explained.
But marriage, motherhood, and the busy lifestyle prompted by Mitt's burgeoning business career in Boston, Mass., left not a moment free for riding.
Finally, in 1998, when her children were older, Ann found time to take two riding lessons at a local stable near her Belmont, Mass., home, the image of those white stallions still firmly implanted in her psyche.
"I thought, 'I'm too old to jump now, so why don't I learn to ride like that?' " Ann recalled. "I really thought that I'd get it in a couple of lessons. My goodness, I couldn't even learn my diagonals—I had to learn to ride all over again."
Then suddenly, and dramatically, Ann's life changed.
Mitt accepted the position as CEO for the Salt Lake City Olympics, necessitating a temporary move to Utah. Then one fall morning, Ann woke up with numbness on her right side and suffered exhaustion, symptoms that were quickly diagnosed as multiple sclerosis.
"I had raised five boys, juggled everything at once, and suddenly I couldn't take care of myself," Ann remembered. "It was devastating."
Her condition worsened rapidly; she found herself in a hospital and began intravenous steroid treatment, which ultimately stalled the progression of her disease. Ann also used alternative therapies—reflexology, acupuncture, yoga and meditation—to manage her condition.
She insisted upon following Mitt to Salt Lake City in the spring of 1999 and, fearing that her disease might soon incapacitate her, began riding again. To her and her doctors' amazement, she discovered that
"riding was the best possible physical and emotional therapy for me."
"Riding exhilarated me; it gave me a joy and a purpose. It jump-started my healing," Ann said. "When I was so fatigued that I couldn't move, the excitement of going to the barn and getting my foot in the stirrup would make me crawl out of bed."
Dressage As Medicine
Seeking out dressage training, Ann signed on with Margo Gogan in Salt Lake City. "Margo was so patient with me," Romney recounted. "I'd trot around the ring once, then take a break and try again. The riding helped me gain back core strength and balance."
Gogan routinely participated in Utah-based clinics, given by renowned dressage trainer Ebeling. Ann routinely observed these clinics, captivated by what she saw.
"I would watch Margo and Jan ride and think, 'I want to do that myself,' " Romney recalled. "My mind was much more educated than my body. But I thought, 'Maybe if I can keep pushing, I can get there.' "
Soon Ann was riding in Ebeling's clinics too; then she and Gogan started traveling to Ebeling's farm, The Acres, in Moorpark, Calif., for further training. Over time Ann formed a training bond and a strong friendship with Jan and his wife, Amy.
"She was a teacher's dream," Ebeling recalled of his early days coaching Ann. "She was so determined to ride and do it correctly. She never made an excuse. She always said, 'I think I can do it, let me try one more time.'
"She was easily fatigued back then, so she'd have to quit early," Ebeling continued. "But then she'd stick around just watching, talking about and absorbing everything she could possibly learn about dressage."
By 2000, Ann was competing at first level on borrowed horses; by the next year, she reached fourth level. "I certainly wouldn't recommend this to anyone, skipping levels the way I did," she admitted. "But I was just so impatient."
That year Gogan and Ebeling traveled to Europe and found Ann the perfect schoolmaster and the equine love of her life—Baron, then 12. Ann's meteoric rise through the dressage ranks had everything to do with the partnership she forged with the horse, whom she calls "My best friend, my wonderful companion, my best boy."
Ann competed Baron successfully at fourth level in 2001, capping off her season with the reserve fourth level adult amateur championship at the ABIC/USDF Region 5 Championships. They moved up to Prix St. Georges in December 2001.
"I was so excited to put on a shadbelly," she recalled. "I remember riding up center line for Axel Steiner and wondering if he thought, 'What is she doing in my ring?' "
Reaching the FEI levels, although a huge accomplishment for Ann, also made her realize how much work lay in front of her.
"That's where the rubber hit the road," she said. "I was frustrated. I pushed myself beyond my ability level, and I knew that I didn't really know how to put a horse together."
Sights Set On Grand Prix
After the success of the Salt Lake Winter Olympics in 2002, Ann returned home to Massachusetts, where her husband campaigned successfully and was elected Governor in November.
Although she would still fly to California to work with Ebeling, she also began working with Boston dressage trainer Maria Harrington. For the next two years, Ann went back to basics.
"Maria took my position apart, then put it back together again," Ann said. "I learned to sit correctly, improved the effectiveness of my aids and finally began to understand what a true connection with my horse was all about."
Competing in New England from 2003-2005, her Prix St. Georges scores on Baron regularly hit the mid 60s, and she posted a personal best Intermediaire I score of 64.37 percent at the Connecticut Dressage Association spring competition in June 2005.
One final challenge remained for Ann—the Grand Prix ring. "I knew it would take blood, sweat and tears to get me there, but Baron was getting older and people were already talking about Mitt as a presidential contender for '08," she said. " I knew it was now or never."
Ann moved her horses back to Ebeling's California farm and committed to flying out to train with him as much as her schedule allowed. Competing in several California shows during the spring of 2006, she fulfilled her dream of competing at Grand Prix.
"I was a little overwhelmed the first time out at the new level [scoring 51.66%] but then I thought, 'OK, next time I'm just going to go out there and ride,' " she recounted.
Her score jumped to 64.58 percent in only her second Grand Prix attempt with Baron at Dressage at White Birch (Calif.) in March 2006.
Ann remembered being thrilled when she looked up after one test and saw one of her own equestrian idols—Debbie McDonald—applauding her.
She Supports Others
Ann put her competitive riding on hold when Mitt's presidential bid began in earnest in late 2006. Her next potential Grand Prix star—Sandrina—will wait in the wings until her life settles. For now her horses remain at Ebeling's farm—all except Baron, that is—and she flies out to ride whenever her schedule allows.
"She recharges, both mentally and physically, when she comes out here," said Ebeling. "She rides, spends time with the horses and just hangs out at the barn. She loves the whole scene."
"Ann supports everybody in her life in everything that they do; she is so generous," said Amy Ebeling. "She's been a tremendous inspiration to me. She's shown me that you can balance your life, take care of everyone else and still make room for your own passions and goals. We made her a promise that if Mitt decided to run, we would look after her horses, so she wouldn't have to worry."
Over the years Ann has bought other horses with Ebeling and has remained a staunch supporter of his flourishing career. In 2003, Ebeling qualified for the Pan American Games aboard Liberte, one of Ann's horses, although he eventually competed there as the highest-placed member of the U.S. gold-medal team, finishing an individual fifth on the stallion Feleciano.
"I had to choose between the two horses, and the decision came down to the last possible moment. Not one time did Ann ever—not even a hint—urge me to take her horse instead," Ebeling recalled.
Ann currently owns one of Ebeling's top horses—Sandrina, a 10-year-old, Oldenburg mare. She also co-owns Ebeling's hope for the 2008 Olympics, the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Rafalca, with Amy Ebeling and two other partners.
"I'm 58, and there's no way I'm going to compete at the elite level," said Ann. "But I enjoy being closely associated with this level of the sport. I'm grateful to Jan and all the help he's given me."
Ann warms up Sandrina for Jan when she visits the Ebelings, but she won't do anything more than walk Rafalca. "I don't want to mess this one up," she quipped.
Life On The Campaign Trail
After years in the public spotlight, Ann is used to the media's constant presence in her life. But trying to explain dressage to journalists has not been easy, and Ann can only laugh at some of the inaccuracies that have found their way into print.
"Let's see, one article had me buying and selling horses for profit," Ann remarked. "Another time, I read about how I won the gold medal for the United States—I sure enjoyed that! Ninety percent of whatever I say about horses gets reported wrong, but by now I just take it with a grain of salt."
The horses do provide interesting fodder for the campaign tour, however. At a Mitt Romney event last June in Dubuque, Iowa, Ann stumbled as she stepped off the stage she shared with her husband. She recovered quickly and told reporters that she was bucked off a horse earlier in the week and this was nothing compared to that.
However hectic Ann's life gets, Baron is never far away. "Baron goes wherever I am," she explained. "Even if that means he's only a trail horse in New Hampshire [where the Romneys have a summer home] for now."
Once in a rare while, Mitt will steal away from the campaign and join her for a trail ride on one of three Missouri Fox Trotters she keeps for guests to ride. She hopes her grandchildren may take up riding someday too.
In May of 2007, Ann's entire family—all of the kids and grandchildren—met in California for the first presidential debate at the Reagan library. Afterwards they traveled to Ebeling's farm to watch her ride.
"Everyone in her family adores her, and they all cheered her on," Amy said. "It was a very special moment to see Ann share her love for her horses with her entire family."
And although duty most often dictates Ann's schedule, she has already carved out one day on the '08 calendar—the opening day of the Beijing Olympics.
"If Jan goes up the centerline in the Olympics on Rafalca, you had better believe I will be there, no matter what I have to do to make it happen," she explained.
Annie Eldridge


text: Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner Cameraria ohridella Horse chestnut leaf miner damage [Credit: David Holt] Horse chestnut leaf miner damage [Credit: David Holt] Adult horse chestnut leaf miner [Credit: David Short ] Adult horse chestnut leaf miner [Credit: David Short ] Host Plants: In the garden: Horse chestnut trees Where Found: Throughout England, but spreading north and west. Also in Europe. Description: The horse chestnut leaf miner is a small moth, dark reddish brown in colour, with white fronds. It has an 8mm wingspan and lays its eggs on the leaves of the white flowered horse chestnut tree. The eggs hatch into larvae that burrow into the leaves and feed on the cells within. This causes characteristic 'mines' across the leaves. Heavy infestations will cause the leaves to turn brown and give the appearance of the tree in autumn. Damage: The cells within the leaves are destroyed and the leaves are unable to photosynthesize. Trees are not killed by these unsightly infestations although heavy infestations will result in smaller conkers being produced. Preventing Problems: Damage caused to horse chestnut trees is mainly cosmetic although it will lead to smaller conkers being produced. Some amenity areas are having their horse chestnut trees replaced with species that are not affected by these types of pests. Managing Outbreaks: Affected leaves can be removed and incinerated when they are easily accessible. Tips: Horse chestnut trees have been shown to adapt to heavy infestations by increasing the hydraulic efficiency of their wood. < Back


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Child Development
A caesarean section1 , or C-section, is an operation to deliver your baby through a cut made in your abdomen (tummy) and uterus (womb).
The cut is usually made across your tummy, just below your bikini line.
A caesarean is a major operation that carries a number of risks, so it's usually only done if it's the safest option for you and your baby.
Although the majority of Australian women have vaginal births (i.e. vaginal births including vaginal breech, forceps and vacuum), there appears to be a trend away from normal birth.
Australia has high rates of births by caesarean section (30.9% of births in 2007) compared with the OECD average of 25.7% of births. This rate is increasing in both the public and private sectors, but continues to be substantially higher in the private sector.
Why caesareans are carried out
A caesarean may be recommended as a planned (elective) procedure or done in an emergency if it's thought a vaginal birth is too risky. They're usually performed after the 38th week of pregnancy.
A caesarean may be carried out because:
- your baby is in the breech position (feet first) and your doctor has been unable to turn them by applying gentle pressure to your tummy, or you would prefer they didn't try this
- you have a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia)
- you have pregnancy-related high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia)
- you have certain infections, such as a first genital herpes infection occurring late in pregnancy or untreated HIV
- your baby isn't getting enough oxygen and nutrients – sometimes this may mean the baby needs to be delivered immediately
- your labour isn't progressing or there's excessive vaginal bleeding
If there's time to plan the procedure, your midwife or doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of a caesarean compared with a vaginal birth.
Asking for a caesarean
Some women choose to have a caesarean for non-medical reasons. If you ask your midwife or doctor for a caesarean when there aren't medical reasons, they will explain the overall benefits and risks of a caesarean compared with a vaginal birth.
If you're anxious about giving birth, you should be offered the chance to discuss your anxiety with a healthcare professional who can offer support during your pregnancy and labour.
If after discussion and support you still feel that a vaginal birth isn't an acceptable option, you're entitled to have a planned caesarean.
What happens during a caesarean
Most caesareans are carried out under spinal or epidural anaesthetic. This mean you'll be awake, but the lower part of your body is numbed so you won't feel any pain.
During the procedure:
- a screen is placed across your body so you can't see what's being done – the doctors and nurses will let you know what's happening
- a cut about 10-20cm long will usually be made across your lower tummy and womb so your baby can be delivered
- you may feel some tugging and pulling during the procedure
- you and you birth partner will be able to see and hold your baby as soon as they've been delivered
The whole operation normally takes about 40-50 minutes.
Occasionally a general anaesthetic, where you're asleep, may be used, particularly if the baby needs to be delivered more quickly.
Recovering from a caesarean
Recovering from a caesarean usually takes longer than recovering from a vaginal delivery.
The average stay in hospital after a caesarean is around three or four days. You may be able to go home sooner than this if both you and your baby are well.
While in hospital:
- you'll be given painkillers to reduce any discomfort
- you'll have regular close contact with your baby and can start breastfeeding
- you'll be encouraged to get out of bed and move around as soon as possible
- you can eat and drink as soon as you feel hungry or thirsty
- a thin, flexible tube called a catheter will remain in your bladder for at least 12 hours
- your wound will be covered with a dressing for at least 24 hours
When you're well enough to go home, you'll need to arrange for someone to give you a lift as you won't be able to drive for a few weeks.
When you go home, you'll need to take things easy at first. You may need to avoid some activities such as driving for six weeks or so.
The wound in your tummy will eventually form a scar. This may be red and obvious at first, but it should fade with time and will often be hidden in your pubic hair.
Risks of a caesarean
A caesarean is generally a very safe procedure, but like any type of surgery it carries a certain amount of risk.
It's important to be aware of the possible complications, particularly if you're considering having a caesarean for non-medical reasons.
Possible complications include:
- infection of the wound or womb lining
- blood clots
- excessive bleeding
- damage to nearby areas, such as the bladder or the tubes that connect the kidneys and bladder (ureter)
- temporary breathing difficulties in your baby
- accidentally cutting your baby when your womb is opened
Future pregnancies after a caesarean
If you have a baby by caesarean, it doesn't necessarily mean that any babies you have in the future will also have to be delivered this way.
Most women who have had a caesarean section can safely have a vaginal delivery for their next baby, known as vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC).
However, you may need some extra monitoring during labour just to make sure everything is progressing well.
Some women may be advised to have another caesarean if they have another baby. This depends on whether a caesarean is still the safest option for them and their baby.
Although uncommon, having a caesarean can increase the risk of certain problems in future pregnancies, including:
- the scar in your womb opening up
- the placenta being abnormally attached to the wall of the womb, leading to difficulties delivering the placenta
- stillbirth
1 Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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Does anyone have experience with running Web maps (tile server + client JS scripting) on Amazon Web Services (S3, EC2 etc...)?
What kind of AWS configuration is needed for running a low-to-medium bandwidth Web map app, covering a small(-ish) area (city to small-country size)?
All of the tiles would be pre-rendered and uploaded to S3. Ideally I would need a tile serving app on the web server that could serve MBTiles (instead of uploading hundreds of thousands of tile bitmaps individually).
Some kind of EC2 instance would be needed, but what kind?
What I'm basically looking for is some feedback about how viable AWS is for hosting your own web maps as an individual (which means it shouldn't cost too much, say up to $30/month). I've been hosting my web maps for some time through "ordinary" hosting providers, but these have their own limitations (upload bandwidth is one, speed is another).
I'm also looking for any good alternatives to AWS and anything to watch out for when using cloud services for web maps.