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Protecting Medical Device Endpoints
2017-01-12 Terry Gaul
The US FDA recently published new recommendations for both manufacturers and regulators to address medical device cybersecurity. The final document, Postmarket Management of Cybersecurity in Medical Devices: Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff, was issued on December 28, 2016.
In its guidance, the FDA said it "recognizes that medical device cybersecurity is a shared responsibility among stakeholders including health care facilities, patients, providers, and manufacturers of medical devices. Failure to maintain cybersecurity can result in compromised device functionality, loss of data (medical or personal) availability or integrity, or exposure of other connected devices or networks to security threats. This in turn may have the potential to result in patient illness, injury or death."
The report further noted that "A growing number of medical devices are designed to be networked to facilitate patient care. Networked medical devices, like other networked computer systems, incorporate software that may be vulnerable to cybersecurity threats . . . . manufacturers are encouraged to address cybersecurity throughout the product lifecycle, including during the design, development, production, distribution, deployment and maintenance of the device."
In the wake of the ongoing security concerns surrounding the IoT, security by design is a concept that manufacturers of all types of connected devices, including medical equipment, are taking into consideration.
The best way to combat cyberthreats is for manufacturers to consider #cybersecurity throughout the total product lifecycle of a device. |
Suzanne B. Schwartz, Associate director for Science and Strategic Partnerships, at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, commented in the FDA Voice, that "The best way to combat these threats is for manufacturers to consider cybersecurity throughout the total product lifecycle of a device. In other words, manufacturers should build in cybersecurity controls when they design and develop the device to assure proper device performance in the face of cyber threats, and then they should continuously monitor and address cybersecurity concerns once the device is on the market and being used by patients."
The endpoint security approach addresses several vulnerability areas:
- physical security to prevent uncontrolled changes to or the removal of the endpoint
- root of trust to provide confidence on the endpoint identity
- integrity protection to ensure that the endpoint is in the configuration that enables it to perform its functions predictably
- access control to ensure that proper identification, authentication and authorization protocols are performed
- secure configuration and management control updates of security policies and configurations
- monitoring and analysis including integrity checking, detecting malicious usage patterns or denial of service activities, and enforcing security policies and analytics
- data protection to control data integrity, confidentiality and availability
- security models and policies governing the implementation of security functions.
At Wibu-Systems, one of our major areas of focus is on the protection of medical device endpoints, where vulnerabilities may permit the unauthorized access, modification, or misuse. Our approach is to build multi-layered security measures directly into the design of sensors, PLCs, embedded devices, virtual systems or other connected endpoints.
For more details, Oliver Winzenried, President and CEO of WIBU-SYSTEMS AG, further explains the risks and rewards of endpoint security in his article, Protecting endpoint security of medical systems, published in Medical Device Developments magazine.
Terry Gaul
Vice President Sales USA
Terry Gaul is a sales and business development professional with extensive experience in the software and technology sectors. He has been involved with software protection and licensing technologies for more than 20 years and currently serves as Vice President of Sales at Wibu-Systems USA. When he is not helping customers with software licensing, Terry typically can be found coaching his daughters' soccer teams or camping with his family on the Maine coast.

subset: commoncrawl


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The close of every year seems to bring its own uncertainty from a tax-planning perspective. Last year featured the expiration of certain temporary tax provisions and the commencement of automatic federal government spending cuts. In October the President and Congress temporarily agreed on funding the government and increasing the national debt limit. But these issues may reappear in 2014 and could result in tax law changes that affect income tax and financial planning.
For now, the best approach is to focus on how to limit your exposure to the many new or increased taxes in 2013 and beyond.
Manage higher taxes
Many taxpayers will be faced with higher tax bills in 2013 as a result of:
- The temporary reduction in the Social Security tax from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent that expired at the end of 2012. This means an increase of $2,000 in taxes for $100,000 of wages.
- The tax rate on wage income that increased from 35 percent in 2012 to 40.5 percent in 2013. The tax rate on interest income that increased from 35 percent to 43.4 percent and the tax rate on capital gains and dividends that rose from 15 percent to 23.8 percent for high-income taxpayers.
- The Affordable Care Act, which was passed in 2010, that increased the Medicare tax from 1.45 percent to 2.35 percent for high-income taxpayers starting in 2013
Strategies that can help minimize these taxes:
- Avoid a transaction, such as selling stock, which would push you into a higher tax bracket.
- Accelerate any deductions that you control. For example— pay your January mortgage in December to get the interest deduction in 2013.
Note that tax considerations are only one factor when determining whether to buy, hold or sell an investment.
Understand the new investment income tax
The new 3.8 percent tax on investment income was created under the Affordable Care Act and became effective in 2013. The income threshold for this tax is $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for joint filers.
For those affected, there are short-term and long-term strategies that can help minimize this tax burden.
A short-term strategy involves trying to manage your tax position to keep below the threshold for the 3.8 percent tax or to minimize investment income in any year where you will exceed the threshold.
A long-term strategy is to consider investment options that avoid the tax or change the types of investments you hold to include more that are not subject to the tax.
People who think they cannot be affected by high-income thresholds need to understand that the income amounts are not indexed for inflation. Over time, more and more taxpayers will be subject to the tax – even if their real or inflation-adjusted earnings are the same.
Consider converting retirement assets
Recent increasing tax rates created a unique opportunity to accelerate gain and pay taxes at lower rates. Individuals who converted assets from a traditional before-tax IRA to an after-tax Roth likely benefitted.
After-tax Roth IRAs generate tax-free income, subject to you holding the account for five tax years and reaching age 59.5. If you have a traditional 401(k) or IRA, you can convert that asset to a Roth IRA by paying the tax on the gain or before-tax value of the asset. While any conversion tax liability in 2013 will need to be paid with your 2013 income tax return, it may make sense to convert some funds to a Roth IRA and diversify your retirement assets from a tax perspective. In addition to possibly paying tax on the gain at lower rates, a Roth IRA offers other benefits, such as not being subject to age 70.5-required minimum distributions, and limiting the impact of Medicare surcharges and the 3.8 percent investment tax.
Contribute to an IRA
Many individuals do not realize they can contribute to an IRA each year regardless of their income or whether they have a retirement plan at work. The only requirements for making a contribution to an IRA are that you have earned income of at least the amount contributed and you have not reached age 70.5.
While you have until the due date of your income tax return in April of 2014 to make your 2013 IRA contribution, delaying the contribution until then results in you losing some of the opportunity for tax-favored growth. So consider making your 2013 contribution now and your 2014 contribution in January 2014. Depending on your income, you may be able to contribute directly to a Roth IRA and enjoy tax-free growth. Even if you earn too much to contribute directly to a Roth IRA, you can fund a traditional IRA and then convert some or all of the funds to a Roth IRA.
Prudential Financial, its affiliates and their financial professionals do not render tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors regarding your personal circumstances.


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My sister made this bunting for Valentines Day - it was the perfect prop for a baby born on Valentine's Day!
(and we found that doll bed in her big sister's bedroom ;)
One morning before the oldest sister went off to school, we got the girls dressed up and tried for a sister photo. It was quite a challenge! ;) haha I love the way this one shows what little Mommies her big sisters are to her:
We did get one shot of everyone looking happy and at the camera at the same time:
But I think this was their favourite one to pose for:
(about 2 seconds after I snapped this photo, baby Alexis tipped over off of her sister's back & onto her own back on the bed- and stayed asleep!)
I love this one of my sister holding her baby:
We had a little fun with the furniture as a backdrop as well:
And although it's not a newborn photo, I couldn't resist posting this photo of Sierra that I grabbed while I was checking the light on the bed :)
I had such a great time visiting these little nieces and miss them so much already!


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Grameen America receives a $1.5 million grant from Truist Foundation to empower Black women entrepreneurs
NEW YORK (Aug. 17, 2021) – Grameen America, a nonprofit community development financial institution helping low-income women entrepreneurs build small businesses, announced today it has received a $1.5 million grant from Truist Foundation to strengthen its current program model to empower Black women entrepreneurs.
"Seed funding from Truist Foundation will play a transformative role in innovating and adapting our model to advance economic independence for Black women entrepreneurs," said Andrea Jung, president and CEO of Grameen America. "Together we aim to remove systemic barriers in accessing affordable capital for small businesses led by Black women. When we invest in financial equality for all women, we're in turn strengthening microbusinesses, creating jobs and revitalizing local economies."
This grant will help lay the groundwork for Grameen America's 10-year plan aimed at providing $1.3 billion in loans to more than 80,000 Black women entrepreneurs by 2030. The dedicated program will offer loan capital, financial training, and asset and credit building tools to Black women entrepreneurs.
"Truist Foundation is committed to partnering with nonprofit organizations that address barriers to economic mobility for those historically excluded," said Lynette Bell, president of Truist Foundation. "We're excited to support Grameen America in getting the financial tools and resources into the hands of Black women entrepreneurs to help build better lives and communities."
Additionally, the funding will help the nonprofit lean-test a variety of new programmatic enhancements and community partnerships in select cities, with the goal to scale learnings and programs throughout Truist markets. This partnership will also help Grameen America advance program outcomes related to member outreach, recruitment, upfront training, retention, and financial and business education.
"As a single mother and entrepreneur, my business success means my children will have a better future," said Ruth, owner of a fashion studio in Harlem. "Having access to capital is everything. Loans from Grameen America allow me to rethink my business goals and focus on expansion."
Adapting Grameen America's current model will empower Black women entrepreneurs in cities across the U.S., address systemic racial inequity and play a transformative role in the nation's economic recovery, especially after a year that disproportionately impacted minority communities.
About Grameen America
Founded by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus, Grameen America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit microfinance organization dedicated to helping women who live in poverty build small businesses to create better lives for their families. The organization offers microloans, training, and support to transform communities and fight poverty in the United States. Since opening in January 2008, Grameen America has invested over $2 billion in more than 138,500 low-income women entrepreneurs. Opening originally in Jackson Heights, Queens, Grameen America has expanded to 18 cities in Austin, TX, Boston, MA, Camden, NJ, Charlotte, NC, Chicago, IL, Fresno, CA, Houston, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, Newark, NJ, New York City, NY, Omaha, NE, Oakland, CA, San Jose, CA, Trenton, NJ and Union City, NJ.
About Truist Foundation
The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. The Truist Foundation's grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at Truist.com/Purpose/Truist-Foundation.
SOURCE Truist Financial Corporation


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An extremely polite group of anonymous guerrilla road safety activists armed with $350 worth of reflective plastic pylons turned the painted Cherry Street bike lane under I-5 into a protected bike lane Monday morning.
The group—calling themselves the Reasonably Polite Seattleites—wanted to make a statement about how easy and affordable it would be for the city to use the method to make bike lanes safer all over the city. To stress how polite they are, they attached them using an adhesive pad for easy removal, according to an email sent to SDOT and Seattle Bike Blog.
The city has removed them, but responded with an equally polite email thanking them for making the statement, apologizing that they had to remove them and even offering to give the pylons back. Below are the shockingly polite emails, starting with the RPS:
Tom, I'm an avid reader of your blog and avid cyclist. We've attended meetings together, though I don't think we've ever actually met. I'm emailing because this morning a friend and I installed a string of plastic pylons along the Cherry Street bike lane under I-5. I've attached a couple of pictures. In New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, the city transportation department usually installs these things, which slow traffic to the posted speed limit, and afford cyclists some protection. Some might ask, very reasonably, how does a piece of cheap plastic protect you from a drunk or distracted driver in a two ton SUV? Based on my experience commuting in such lanes in other cities, 1) they slow speeding traffic by making the lane appear narrower (without actually reducing its size); and 2) it's essentially a warning system for a drunk or distracted driver; once he hits one, he's more likely to slow down, lessening the chance of hitting a cyclist or pedestrian down the road. This string cost about $350 in materials and required literally 10 minutes to install (admittedly, because SPD HQ is across the street, we hurried). SDOT will probably argue maintaining these things costs money, they complicate street cleaning, etc., etc. These are reasonable arguments, except that Chicago, D.C., San Francisco have confronted and overcome the same issues.
We chose this block fairly arbitrarily; we certainly don't enjoy riding it, despite the fact the bike lane is relatively new–cars race past, gaining speed for the approaching hill, or to accelerate onto I-5. The grade is inclined, so cycling is slow–thus, as cars accelerate to 45 mph, we're moving at 4 or 5. But this certainly wasn't the worst bike facility in Seattle. Our intention was merely to demonstrate how an incredibly modest investment and a few minutes of SDOT's time is capable of transforming a marginal, under-utilized and dangerous bike facility into one dramatically safer for cars, pedestrians and bicyclists. (This is not mere rhetoric; as you undoubtedly know, New York City's investments in pedestrian facilities, bike lanes and cycletracks led to the lowest number of traffic related facilities in the city's recorded history—not per capita, but in absolute numbers, despite exponential population growth; in other words, these facilities are safer not only for pedestrians and cyclists, but drivers.)
We sincerely hope the new master bicycle plan, which currently includes 137 miles of cycletracks, is fully implemented, though we're understandably skeptical. While we're waiting, many obvious, inexpensive, relatively non-controversial solutions exist, as we've sought to demonstrate here. We wish Mayor McGinn would explore such opportunities. We wish we didn't have to spend our own money on common-sense, unobtrusive traffic calming treatments, and risk arrest installing them, in order to feel safe riding in this city.
PS: Because we we're still polite Seattleites (even when we engage in acts of civil disobedience), we used an adhesive pad, which is removable, not epoxy, which is more permanent, meaning Mayor McGinn and SDOT can remove these in a matter of minutes, if they so choose.
Two days later, the group received an equally-polite response from SDOT's traffic engineer explaining why the bollards had to be removed (and offering to give them back):
Hello reasonably polite Seattleites,
Thank you for pointing out some easy ways to calm traffic and provide more secure feeling bicycle lane on our streets. Your sentiment of unease and insecurity riding on painted bicycle lanes next to high speed and high volume traffic is exactly what I am hearing from the our residents as we update our bicycle master plan. This strong message to me and my staff that we have be more thoughtful on facility design and implementation is being heard loud and clear. You are absolutely correct that there are low cost and simple ways to slow traffic, increase the sense of protection, and provide bicycle facilities that are more pleasant and accommodating for larger portion of people who ride bicycles. I am truly appreciative that you care enough to take time, money, and risk to send your message to me and my staff. It is my commitment to you that I will do my best to update our existing facilities and install new bicycle facilities that will be more thoughtful. Some of these will be low cost, such as what you demonstrated on Cherry Street, while others will require more resources to implement.
The posts that you installed on Cherry Street will be removed and I am sorry about that. The posts are 36 inches high and is higher than most road bicycle handle bars. A rider can hit the post with their handle bar, which is a safety concern. The bicycle lane narrow and is five feet wide. The travel lane is 11 feet wide, which is what the State DOT permitted us to narrow the lane to. Cherry Street is under the freeway and is owned by the State, so we do have to get their permission for reconfiguring the street. If we had more lane width to work with, we could installed shorter posts. Unfortunately, this is not the case here. Please let me know if you would like the posts back and I will have the crew leave the post in a safe area for you to pick up. Thank you, again, for your thoughtful demonstration.
City Traffic Engineer
Seattle Department of Transportation
Traffic Management Division


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Running Hommage—a purveyor of men's luxury grooming products—for the last 10 years, I have had the opportunity to observe men's grooming habits and the market itself on a global level, having served customers in more than 20 different countries. Men's grooming is a broad category, so in order to condense it, I'd like to assume that men across the world who go beyond the absolute basics of the everyday shaving and washing of their face, hair and body are the arbiters of men's grooming.
What I've learned is, it's not whether a man shaves and washes—it's how he shaves and washes. And perhaps more importantly, it's about what grooming products and which best practices men use in the daily ritual of grooming.
European Traditions
Men's grooming has always been global, but there is no question certain countries and cultures are more sophisticated in terms of grooming habits. A country that comes to mind with many grooming aficionados is England, and specifically London, where one can find the famous gentlemen's shaving parlors such as Taylor of Old Bond Street, Geo F. Trumper's, D.R. Harris, Truffit & Hill and Cyril R Salter. The barbers of England teach their clientele the traditions of shaving properly, traditions that have been passed down for generations.
Yet, the products from England that are applied to the face have, in many cases, also been passed down from generation to generation—without modifications and advances in modern skin care technology, active ingredients and so on. Perhaps English men have paid the price as a result and have not gotten the products best for their complexions.
All across Europe, in fact, grooming traditions come from years of experience. Italy is a country that has always taken pride in the profession of men's barbering. Many Italians believe a proper haircut and shave for a man can only be achieved through years of practice. Similarly, France is known for its celebrity hairstylists, or coiffeurs, who deal with the complexities of a women's haircut. They also can change a man's life after providing a haircut that actually, for the first time, may have been molded specifically to a male client's unique skull shape. The modern shaving brush can also be traced back to France circa 1750.
In Eastern Europe, you can find banyas, popular steam baths where many men spend time bathing or receiving a Venik treatment, in which a bundle of leafy birch or oak tree twigs are applied to the skin. During the treatment, essential oils are released that improve blood circulation, intensify capillary activities and prevent premature skin aging. A gentleman can also learn a lot from a Russian barber, many of whom dissect the face into multiple sections that are defined by which direction the facial hair grows. Learning which direction to shave according to a specific section of a man's face is critical to reduce rashes and abrasions to the skin.
Newer Grooming Customs
Although the European traditions for men's grooming go back generations, it's really only recently that U.S. men have a more vested interest in proper grooming. Hundreds of men's grooming products have been launched during the last 15 years, and a younger generation of affluent and aspirational gentlemen are educating themselves on grooming products, ingredients and best practices, widely available to everyone because of the Internet.
Unfortunately, a large percentage of men in the U.S. are still washing their face with something other than appropriate facial washes and not bothering to learn the proper products and steps that provide the best facial care.
And men in the States and Europe could learn a lot from the best practices found in Asian cultures.
Look East
Certain countries in Asia, in my opinion, lead the world in providing the most beneficial products, advantageous ingredients and best practices for men's grooming.
Japan, for example, has always been extremely particular about cleanliness. I've heard of Japanese men who shower before entering a bathtub. And both Japanese men and women are very careful about spending too much time in the sun—which helps them maintain complexions and avoid some of the negative impacts, both short term and long term, that the sun has on skin. The country has some of the largest and most prevalent cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies in the world, and the affluent men of Japan use face and body cleansers, moisturizers and other skin care products regularly—and shaving is an essential part of the culture.
This attitude about grooming extends across Asia. Grooming for men is a daily ritual practiced in Korea, Singapore and in affluent circles in China. You can find more than 4,000 men's clubs offering grooming services of all sorts in Shanghai alone. And many grooming treatments in Asian countries have a historical tradition as well.
A Growing Market
Grooming is a daily ritual and a big part of a man's lifestyle in the Middle East, too. Manicures and pedicures, facials, eye treatments and regular shaves from expert barbers are the norm in this part of the world. And because most of a Middle Eastern man's body is covered, men work hard to keep their face, hands and feet clean and manicured as a result.
And trends in tightly cut beards that are shaped and sculptured daily with a razor and special clippers, as well as sculpted eyebrows, owe their origins to men in the Middle East.
Grooming Goes Global
In summary, men worldwide all have similar challenges with grooming and can benefit from learning about products, ingredients, treatments and best practices in men's grooming from other cultures. As interest in men's grooming products continues to grow, so will the opportunities for beauty brands. However, that doesn't mean bringing a successful men's grooming product to a global market is easy. It requires dedication to developing and constantly improving products by incorporating advantageous new ingredients and formulations—wherever their origins—as well as being on the lookout for interesting new ideas and practices and carefully considering how they can be best brought to target consumers.
Tom Wilscam is CEO and founder of men's grooming brand Hommage, which has locations in more than 20 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.hommage.com. Wilscam also can be reached directly at [email protected] with questions or comments.


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Whether you drive a hybrid or an old beater, your car needs some love. Preventative car care can save you time and money in the long run by keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape. Even if you aren't planning on selling or trading in your vehicle soon, proper maintenance will ensure that it lasts as long as possible. I've put together this list of essential car repairs to help keep your vehicle running smoothly for years to come:
The engine
- Engine oil.
- Coolant (coolant).
- Transmission fluid and gear oil (transmission fluid).
- Brake fluid (brake fluid).
- Power steering fluid (power steering fluid).
- Battery
Spark plugs
Spark plugs are the little electro-mechanical wonders that convert your car's fuel into power. They can be a little tricky to deal with, but if you know what you're doing and follow these instructions closely, you'll be able to change your spark plugs in no time!
- To check if your spark plugs need replacing, simply remove one from its socket and examine it closely under good lighting conditions–you should be able to see whether there are any signs of wear or damage on their surfaces.
- If they're dirty and need cleaning before removal: use an old toothbrush dipped in some soapy water (or a specialized cleaning solution) to gently scrub away any grime around each electrode until they shine brightly once more; then rinse off all traces of soap before re-inserting into its proper place within its respective cylinder head unit housing unit assembly line assembly plant factory floor machine shop building structure workshop facility complex production facility manufacturing plant assembly line plant operation department team work group staff team personnel staff member employees workers laborers laborers employees workers technicians technicians engineers engineers designers designers architects architects draftsmen drafters surveyors surveyors planners planners managers managers supervisors supervisors directors directors presidents presidents vice presidents vice presidents second vice presidents second vice Presidents third vice Presidents third Vice Presidents fourth Vice Presidents Fourth Vice Presidents Fifth Vice Presidents Fifth Vice Presidents Sixth Vice Presidents Sixth Vice Presidents Seventh Vice Presidents Seventh Vices
You may be wondering what coolant is and why you need to change it. Coolant is a fluid that helps keep your car's engine running smoothly. It keeps the temperature of the engine down, so that it doesn't overheat or freeze up during cold weather.
If you don't change your car's coolant regularly, it could cause serious damage to your vehicle's engine in the long term–and possibly even lead to its early death! If you notice that there's something wrong with how well your car runs (for example: if it seems like it takes longer than usual for the engine to warm up), then this could be an indication that there are problems with its cooling system or even just plain old bad coolant causing trouble for everyone involved here today
Air filter
If you don't know, the air filter is a device that cleans the air that enters your car's engine. It prevents dirt, dust and other particles from entering the engine and causing damage. A dirty air filter can reduce your car's fuel efficiency by reducing airflow into the combustion chamber.
A lot of people don't realize how important it is to keep their air filters clean until they notice their gas mileage dropping off or their check engine light comes on. You should change your air filter every 15,000 miles (or more often depending on what type of vehicle you have). If there are any signs of dirt or grime around where your old one was located then it's time for an upgrade!
You can check if your current one needs changing by looking at its condition or using a pressure gauge which will tell you if there's any damage done internally due to clogged passages caused by excessive buildup over time
Transmission fluid and gear oil
Transmission fluid and gear oil are two very different substances that both play a crucial role in your car's transmission. Transmission fluid is a synthetic lubricant, while gear oil is mineral-based (and usually made from petroleum). Both are necessary for keeping your vehicle running smoothly, but they each have their own specific jobs to do as well:
Transmission fluid keeps gears moving smoothly and prevents wear on internal parts of the transmission by acting as a coolant as well as providing lubrication. When it gets dirty or old, it can cause problems like premature wear on gears or seals–which means that you should keep tabs on your levels so they don't get too low!
Gear oil does double duty in terms of protecting against damage caused by friction between moving parts inside your vehicle's transmission system; when combined with proper maintenance practices such as changing out worn parts before they break down completely (instead of just replacing them after something happens), this makes sure that nothing gets damaged prematurely due to excessive wear caused by improper care over time."
Preventative car care can save you time and money in the long run
Preventative car care can save you time and money in the long run. If you don't know what you're doing, however, it may end up costing more than if you let a professional handle it.
If your vehicle is running smoothly but has some minor issues that could become major problems down the road (such as worn tires), bring it in for a checkup before an issue arises. For example:
- Tire pressure monitoring systems warn drivers when tires are underinflated or overinflated by displaying warnings on their dashboard's digital display screen. Underinflated tires wear out faster because they have less contact with pavement; overinflation increases rolling resistance which reduces fuel economy and causes excessive wear on tire treads. Low pressure isn't always visible from outside inspection so regular inspections are important!
If you go through the list above, you'll see that there's a lot to keep track of when it comes to your car's maintenance. However, if you're diligent and proactive about doing these things on a regular basis, it can make all the difference in how well your vehicle runs over time.


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Are you looking for organic living resources and solutions to help you create a more harmonious and stress free life?
Would you like to know more about how to live a healthier, more organic lifestyle?
Are you concerned about the planet and where we are headed? Would you like to go green and help stop global warming but don't know where to start?
Are you worried about the toxins and chemicals that we are all exposed to on a daily basis? Are you looking for safer, healthier and more eco-friendly alternatives?
If you are seeking answers to these questions, then you have come to the right place! Green-Organic-World.com is all about organic and green living. Our online resource guide offers you a variety of natural and organic solutions to help you create the life you would like to live – and the planet you would like to live on.
Life in these changing times is challenging. Many of us sense that humanity and our planet as a whole is on the verge of a crisis situation, burdened by senseless violence, environmental pollution in our air, toxins in our water, pesticides on our food, and the threat of global warming.
We hear of rising infertility rates, national epidemics of obesity and autism in our children, extreme weather conditions all around the globe, genetic mutations, an increase in species extinction and the mass disappearance of honeybees. Many of us are stressed out, overworked, rushed, tired, and plagued with chronic health problems.
Unlike previous generations and many indigenous cultures that still exist today, we have lost our sense of connection to each other and to our natural surroundings. Our world, our earth, and our lives are out of balance. Mother Nature is ringing the alarm bells, and we need to listen!
The good news is that there is a solution and an alternative to all this madness – organic living.
At Green-Organic-World.com, organic living encompasses everything from going green and making choices that reflect eco friendly and sustainable values, to nature conservation, supporting fair trade practices in the marketplace, and using our power as consumers to buy organic products.
It includes the celebration of nature throughout the year with the changing of the seasons. It provides tools for spiritual awareness through yoga and compassionate action. At its core, organic living refers to a deepening awareness of the oneness of all life. It is the realization that we are not separate from each other and our planet, but deeply connected to the entire web of life on a fundamental level.
Here at Green-Organic-World.com you will find a wealth of information to help you live a more natural and organic lifestyle. Find out how you can be a part of the solution...
Copyright © 2007-2011 Green-Organic-World.com. All Rights Reserved.
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text: The common fitted kitchen is normally arranged with base cabinets, typically covered with a continuous surface called a worktop countertop. There is a huge variety of materials the kitchen worktop can be made from. One of the most popular choices is solid wood worktops which are manufactured in a number of different ways including Full plank or stave wood worktop or finger jointed construction of the worktops commonly called butcher block style. As a company specializing in solid wood worktops we have the most extensive range of wooden countertops, oak, walnut, beech, ash, cherry and many more different species of wood. Along with the above traditional wooden tops, we have a wide range of exotic wood countertops including wenge, zebrano and iroko. The kitchen is not the only place where wood worktops can be used. It is a very popular solution for making wood shelves, tables, benches, bar tops, desktops and more. Before the solid wood worktop is fitted, it needs to be treated to ensure long life, durability and less maintenance. We recommend that all real ones are treated with Danish Oil at least 3 times on both the top and bottom. It is essential that all solid wood worktops receive the correct amount of treatment. Their exposed edges can be decorated in a manner ranging from plane to very chunky profiles once they are fitted. They can be fabricated to accommodate sink, hob, dispensers, sockets, drain boards or even a granite slate for a more modern and stylish look, especially in a contrast between black granite tile and with the golden colour of an oak worktop. As the wooden worktops are made from a wide range of wood types, they may vary in price. Normally the most affordable ones are the oak and beech worktops with butcher block type of manufacturing, as they are the most commonly used and easy to source. Normally the ones made from full planks are more expensive, because of the higher price of the raw material prior manufacturing. The exotic types of wood can also be quite pricey, because they are rare and difficult to source, especially wenge and zebrano worktops. All wooden worktops in our range are made from hardwood. As you can tell by the name, they are much harder than the softwood ones and have more complex structure, even though all hardwood worktops have their own characteristics and they vary in density and weight. One of the most popular types - Oak Worktops have great strength and hardness and beautiful grain marks. The oak is also very resistant to insect attacks, because of its tannin content. They are a good example of achieving a beautiful finish and durability at a reasonable cost. Another example of a nice looking and very durable kitchen is the iroko worktop. Initially the iroko is yellow, but darkens very quick to a richer brown colour over time. Iroko is hard wearing and durable and does not require regular treatment, because it has a very high content of natural oils. Probably the most attractive ones for our customers are the different variations of walnut. The region of harvesting walnut lumber vary from California to Europe and China, we have selected 3 variations of walnut. European walnut worktops, simply called walnut, american walnut or also known as black american walnut and African walnut popular as Tiger Walnut, because of the dark stripes. All walnut worktops are very durable and have similar characteristics, but slightly differ in colour. American walnut worktops are very uniform in colour with rich dark chocolate brown tones. European walnut have more colour variation, but with a generally dark appearance. The most distinctive patterns in grain, you can see in wenge and zebrano worktops. They are a very heavy and dense wood type. Wenge is very dark in colour. Zebrano have a light colour with dark stripes, reminiscent of a zebra pattern and is commonly called zebra wood. All of our products come from suppliers certified by the local forestry authorities. Our wooden worktops come from very well managed forests and controlled harvesting methods. Top Worktops also provide pre-oiling service and all our products comes with 14 days peace of mind guarantee so if you are not 100 percent satisfied we will refund your money in full. If you need to know anything more about our products and services why not use our live chat system especially designed to help and advice you immediately and enjoy your stay on our web site. Our wood is imported from suppliers who share our commitment to sustainable forestry. We use a range of suppliers who are all FSC certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Top Worktops striving to keep our planet green.


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Individuals planning for a vacation, but nevertheless are ineffective to finalise the cost of trip because of extreme air fare, ought to avail the providers of low cost flight tickets suppliers. Journey brokers are very artistic in producing low cost flights to the South Pacific. You will notice how some of the time a small alteration in the day of your reliving might have an essential change within the worth of the air fare. It's arduous to imagine, but at present, air travel has turned highly affordable for the common man.
This journey frequency increases the probabilities of availability of low-cost flights to Canadian cities. Boston, air fare one reverent Swap ambitiously put preparatory to at least one grievous dachshund. Our staff all the time in good phrases with Airways to supply prospects low cost flight tickets at cheaper prices.
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For instance, you can cease at a smaller airport that is situated near to Mumbai by way of a cheap flight to the Indian sub-continent deal earlier than taking the land route into Mumbai. In fact, advance booking is also a great way to enjoy cheap airline flight that may enable you to in a better way!
If you happen to discover that low-cost ticket bundle would not fulfill your requirements, you needn't go with that bundle. Cheap Flights – Book low cost flights and avail great discounts in your Udaan Low cost Flights ( उड़ान सस्ती फ्लाइट ), cheap Airfare tickets with greatest price assured!


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Sometimes I get California envy. Sometimes it's about the weather, other times it's about the citrus, but last week when this review of Three Trees Nutmilk popped up on Serious Drinks, it was about pistachio milk. It was a Veruca Salt situation and I NEEDED IT right away. Of course, it's only available in the Bay Area, so I set out on a mission to make my own.
I did break down and buy a nut milk bag from amazon a few months ago, but–real talk–I have not used it once to strain nut milk. I have, however, used it many, many times to strain boozy infusions. If you don't have a nut milk bag, you could strain this through a double layer of cheesecloth if you prefer, but I found it didn't really need it. I followed my basic method for cashew milk as a base for this recipe and found that, like cashews, pistachios get soft enough after an overnight soak that the final product doesn't require straining. If you've made homemade cashew milk before without straining, that is what you can expect from the final texture here.
I have been drinking this straight as an after-work snack. So good! It manages to be both rich and incredibly light and fresh-tasting at the same time. Plus, the taste of pistachios really shines through in the final product. Although it's great on its own, check back tomorrow for a pistachio milk recipe.
- 1 cup shelled pistachios, unsalted
- 3 cups water, divided
- a pinch of salt
- In a bowl or jar in the fridge, soak the pistachios in water for 8 hours or overnight.
- Strain and rinse the pistachios, discarding the soaking water.
- Blend the pistachios with 1 cup water until a chunky puree forms.
- Add the additional cup of water and blend until smooth. Depending on your blender, this could take a few minutes.
- If you prefer, strain through a nut milk bag or double layer of cheesecloth at this point.
- Pour the mixture into a quart jar and stir in the final cup of water and the pinch of salt.
- Refigerate
- My pistachios were roasted and unsalted. I imagine raw pistachios would produce an even more vibrant milk, but in my experience they're quite a bit harder to track down.
- When I make homemade nut milks, I usually leave them unsweetened so if I use them in a recipe, I have more control over the sweetness level. Of course, you can add your preferred liquid sweetener to taste here.
- It's normal for the milk to settle a bit as it sits in the fridge. Give this a good shake before you use it each time.


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Dual Brush™
The new Champ Dual Brush™ has a comfortable grip that keeps your hands clear of cleats and dirt. The zip line pulls out 23" for ease of use and conveniently hooks to any golf bag. The brush has dual durometer of bristles; one side nylon and the other side brass to allow choices for cleaning golf clubs.


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Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 30 Mar 2010 04:42 and updated at 30 Mar 2010 04:45
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Section 117
CXVII Narada said, Galava then, addressing Madhavi, said, The ruler of the Kasis is an illustrious king known by the name of Divodasa. He is the son of Bhimasena, is endued with great prowess, and is a mighty sovereign.
O blessed maiden, we are now going to him. Follow me slowly and grieve not. That ruler of men is virtuous and devoted to truth and hath his passions under control' Narada Continued, When the muni came before that king he was received with due hospitality by the latter. Galava, then, began to urge the monarch for begetting a child. Thus addressed, Divodasa said, I heard of all this before. Thou needest not speak much. O Brahmana. I may tell thee, O best of Brahmanas, that as soon as I heard of this matter, my heart was set upon it. This also is a mark of great honour to me that passing over all other kings thou hast come to me, Without doubt, thy object will be gained.
In the matter of the steeds, O Galava, my wealth is like that of king Haryyaswa. I shall, therefore, beget only one royal son upon this maiden' Hearing these words, that best of Brahmanas gave that damsel unto the king, and, the king, thereupon, duly wedded her. And the royal sage then sported with her, as Surya with Prabhavati, Agni with Swaha, Vasava with Sachi, Chandra with Rohini, Yama with Urmila, Varuna with Gauri, Kuvera with Riddhi, Narayana with Lakshmi, Sagara with Jahnavi, Rudra with Rudrani, the Grandsire with Saraswati, Vasishtha's son Saktri with Adrisyanti, Vasishtha with Arundhati called also Akshamala, Chyavana with Sukanya, Pulastya with Sandhya, Agastya with the princess of Vidarbha Lopamudra, Satyavan with Savitri, Bhrigu with Puloma, Kasyapa with Aditi, Richika's son Jamadagni with Renuka, Kusika's son Viswamitra with Himavati, Vrihaspati with Tara, Sukra with Sataprava, Bhumipati with Bhumi, Pururavas with Urvasi, Richika with Satyavati, Manu with Saraswati, Dushyanta with Sakuntala, the eternal Dharma with Dhriti, Nala with Damayanti, Narada, with Satyavati, Jaratkaru with Jaratkaru, Pulastya with Pratichya, Urnayus with Menaka, Tumvuru with Rambha, Vasuki with Satasirsha, Dhananjaya with Kamari, Rama with the princess of Videha Sita, or Janardana with Rukmini. And unto king Divodasa, that sporting with and taking delight in her, Madhavi bore a son named Pratardana. And after she had borne him a son, the holy Galava came to Divodasa at the appointed time, and said unto him, Let the maiden come with me, and let the steeds also thou art to give me remain with thee, for I desire to go elsewhere, O ruler of Earth, for dower' Thus addressed, the virtuous king Divodasa, who was devoted to truth, thereupon, gave back the maiden to Galava at the appointed time
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Bangladesh is a low-lying riverine country in South Asia, bordered by India to its west, north and east, and Myanmar to its southeast. Due to its unique biophysical setting and abundant water resources, Bangladesh is endowed with a rich heritage of plant and animal species, and supports a diverse array of ecosystems.
Bangladesh joined IUCN as a State Member in 1972. IUCN started its operations in the country in 1989 and established a country office in 1992.
To achieve its goals and objectives, IUCN in Bangladesh works in close collaboration with its Members comprising national non-government organisations, with key support from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, a State Member.


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Please visit our Open House at 2103 612 FIFTH AVE in New Westminster.
Open House on Saturday, August 17, 2019 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Spectacular 2 level, 2182 sq ft, NW & S facing 3 bds/2 bths reno'd Penthouse in the extremely well maintained & conveniently located "Fifth Avenue". Soaring 17' ceiling in LVRM along w/ floor to ceiling windows, modern high efficiency gas FP, engineered Brazilian Cherry hardwood, air conditioning, new paint, light fixtures & fans & a sleek wet bar tucked away. Reno'd kitchen w/newer appliances, granite counters, cabinets, back splash, double undermount sink, tile flooring & access to one of 2 patios w/ sweeping city, river & bridge views! 2 huge bdrms, large W/I closet & silk wall paper in Mstr & reno'd bath w/deep soaker tub, stand up shower, His & Her sinks, slip proof tiles, cabinets & storage. 2nd full bath features wood tiles, soft close cabinets, marble counter & new taps. Glass staircase leads you upstairs to 3rd bdrm, storage, family room & more views! 2 SxS parking included. Outdoor pool, hot tub, gym, library, games room & more. No Pets or Rentals. **OPEN HOUSE: Sat, Aug. 17, 2-4pm**


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Miranda Lambert Is 'Uneasy' Not Knowing When She'll Able to Tour
Like many artists, Miranda Lambert hasn't been on tour in months due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and she admits that not knowing when she'll be able to return to the stage is nerve-wracking.
In a recent interview with New York's Country 94.7, Lambert shares that cooking has been a frequent pastime in her and husband Brendan McLoughlin's Nashville-area home, and while she's enjoyed the time off, she's also eager to get back on stage.
"I cooked too much and ate way too much, and then I had to roll that back a little bit," the singer says with a laugh in an interview with Kelly Ford. "There's stuff to do, it's just the adjusting of not knowing when I'm going to work again. It's uneasy."
Another major adjustment for the country hitmaker is having to perform for fans virtually. Though online performances are a mainstay during quarantine, Lambert is not a fan of having to sing in front of a screen, longing for that in-person connection with fans.
"The fans and the feeling," she answers when asked what she misses most about touring. "I guess nothing made me realize that more than singing into a screen, which I absolutely hate. I just can't do it. I started this career 18 years ago for that feeling, not for my Zoom call. I just can't do it."
Though touring is on hold indefinitely, Lambert and her husband hit the road in a different way in May of 2020 when they purchased an Airstream they've named the Sheriff and traversed 1,000 miles across the country from their home in Tennessee to McLoughlin's native New York. They also added a new kitten, Tequila Sunrise, into the mix.
Lambert's single "Bluebird" is currently in the Top 5 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. It's her first solo hit to reach the Top 5 since "Automatic" in 2014, and it's expected to reach No. 1 on Monday (July 27).
Miranda + Brendan's House Is Simply Stunning: