text: Hey all, we just scored a show at Club Oasis in Worcester, MA. The show is on Friday, July 13, 2012 at the London Billiards/Club Oasis. Club Oasis is located inside London Billiards at 70 James Street, Worcester, MA 01603. So far the bands on the line-up include Brand New Revolution, Backroom Blackout and Full Blooded Mutt. More info TBA. You heard it here first, in this blogroll. I haven't even had a chance to post it to the schedule yet. Rock on! m/


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It's all butter side up for Black Thorn..
Butter Side Up is a great name for this album. Your metaphorical dropped toast lands butter side up on a good day, and whacking this in your CD player is definitely a precursor to one of those!
If I could sum up playing it briefly (not my forté I realise!) then it would be that it feels optimistic, summery – it wonderfully encapsulates the kind of festival feeling in which you might invariably encounter Black Thorn strutting their stuff on a stage. I think it's the accordion wielded by Josie more than anything that soaks these tracks with cheerfulness and light-heartedness, with Joel's heartfelt vocal style, Jack's bass rhythms and Adam's guitar it all knits together into a well-honed collection of songs.
There's some development from the live performances I've seen – double bass, brass, melodica and synths feature in here, as well as guest appearances giving more vocals, percussion, didgeridoo, harmonica and cornet, but it doesn't detract one little bit from the kind of turns on stage I've seen the band put in a number of times over the summer. It's ambitious, but it doesn't over-reach by any stretch – add to your consideration that the whole thing was mixed and mastered by Joel himself – in a damp cellar in Derbyshire according to the album sleeve – and it becomes all the more impressive!
It opens up with Cabin Fever – one that felt immediately familiar with a few festival outings – starting with birdsong and guitar strums, a 'woo!' kicks the full track in (Black Thorn are a very woo-y band – and it fits them perfectly) – it changes rhythm and pace, I think the narrative is the anticipation of waiting for summer. Psychic Sally picks up a very different theme – on the dubious merits of the psychic industry, whether or not it's inspired by a famous 'psychic' of that name was fervently denied on Facebook by Joel – it carries on nicely in tone from the first track but is gently scathing by the same token with an empassioned chorus.
A break from such seriousness kicks in with a fun melodious and ponderously paced tribute to the love of red wine, Vin Rouge is an irresistable singalong.. a fruity little number that lingers on the ear – then half way in some wonderful slap bass and instrumental work changes the pace to a dancey didgeridoo overlaid jig. VCR slows the pace back down, building in intensity and layers only to fade away again to a near pause before a frenetic finish makes up the final third – ready to build a watching crowd into a dancing frenzy.
Slaves picks up the fairly familiar theme to many – the idea of being an office-based slave compelled to early starts and dressing up for corporate whoredom, and their refusal to do that. Of course, that's an easy prospect if you can pen and perform songs like this, ha! It's pretty uplifting musically, a middle-eight of gentle singing along sees the song kick back in with a vengeance. 'I won't be a slave, my freedom's what I crave' – it's hard to argue with that, tempered though I generally am by the reality of modern life!
Trumpet and delicate guitar work moves into almost chanted vocals for Fat Freddy, eventually the pace kicks in and Joel's voice soars into tunefulness. There's pace changes and flourishes aplenty – I couldn't even hazard a guess as to the subject matter, there's another trance-like middle-eight in here with brass and didgeridoo and dance beats before the singing resumes. Festive might be the sequel to the first track – cheerful from the off (it even has a 'woo' too!) it's a feel-good festival tribute, perfectly encapsulating the revelry of a festival goer (personally I'm not such a fan of the mud, though!).
Barely Breathing is a stand out track – a duet between Joel and Josie, minimal percussion, heartfelt – just when you think it might remain a charming dirge probably the treat of the album for me is unleashed – some wonderful Dave Gilmour-esque guitar work overlays the gentle bass and drums. What is this? Prog-folk? I'm not sure but I really can't get enough of it. Take a bow, Adam – I presume it's you making that axe sing! Silhouette is back to more regular form – a 'woo', and more pace – it sounds like it's recalling the past somehow, it's the perfect set up for the next track…
… Catch Me If You Can in my head at least is probably the Black Thorn's signature tune – catchy, infectious – it encapsulates their energy, drive and diversity – interludes for some funky bass work, but irresistibly returning to the singalong 'duh duh duh duhhhh duh' sections time and again. A slow start for The Little Things soon kicks into another pacey number – again, the backing vocal sections could make for a great live singalong device, there's more electric guitar work overlaid in here and complex pace changes and bass riffs that would certainly keep a crowd on its toes.
That leads us inexorably to the final track – Human Rave sounds like some kind of mash up of Daft Punk and Peatbog Faeries. I joked on Facebook they should press a load of 12″ white label vinyls of it and send it to leading DJs – this is dance-folk, I could actually imagine it crossing over into nightclubs brilliantly (not that I have any idea what nightclub DJs are spinning these days!) – these layers, paces and haunted vocals overlaid screams decadence – you can just imagine a foam party in Ibiza 'giving it large' to it (okay, so I'm never going to pull that kind of language off – but you know what I mean!).
Forty three minutes of pure feel-good cheerfulness – I love this album, it has complexity in layers and pace changes – but without ever becoming too busy or inaccessible, all the tracks are unmistakably Black Thorn but there's so many different styles and influences thrown in here, yet they hang together as a collection of songs fantastically well. It's made me realise that I really need to take in some full Black Thorn gigs as frankly a festival set list is just not long enough to make the most of them.
You can listen to Butter Side Up on iTunes, Spotify or Apple Music – if you want to avail yourself of a physical CD then head on over to Black Thorn's Bandcamp page. I can't think of many better ways to invest a tenner. Butter side up indeed! Band photos were shamelessly pinched from Snotography – thanks Ella!

subset: commoncrawl


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Collegiate cycling – A gateway to the top
It's that time of year again when collegiate road racers pile into a beat down 15 passenger university van and make the annual pilgrimage to collegiate road nationals. Equipment is often cobbled together, riders are tired, stressed and ready for finals week to come...
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RISE will be hosting a first of its kind Cycling Talent Identification Camp and Symposium
THE IMPORTANT STUFF Talent ID Camp for athletes of all ages El Paso TX - June 14-16 Coaches, administrators and sport directors from collegiate and club teams to elite, national and international programs will be present Networking and building relationships with...
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Rice is the major food crop of Asia, but it is also getting popular in other continents due to increasing urbanization, easy to cook, and human migration. Rice area, production, and productivity are continuously increasing since mid-1960 with the development of semi-dwarf varieties. Its higher yield, better profitability, wide adaptation, and international collaboration have helped in reducing hunger. The global population has now crossed 7 billion in 2011, and there is need to produce more rice for growing population. Africa and Latin America can bring more area in rice, but in Asia, there is need to increase productivity, as there is little scope for area expansion. After working for 37 years in rice research in Asia and Africa, I realized that there is need to share experiences of rice cultivation, cultivars, and strategies in different rice growing countries to increase rice production in each country. There is also need to improve house hold food security through better technology transfer and reducing knowledge gaps. In Chapter 1, Global perspective on rice is given, while in Chapter 2, Wild rices and its related spp. and their utilization is given. Rice in India is covered as separate in Chapter 3. This book provides the rice cultivation in around 92 countries of the world, their biophysical constraints, and strategies to increase production, productivity and profitability. Chapter 4 contains information on 32 countries of Asia and Oceania. Chapter 5 contains information regarding 29 countries of Africa. Chapter 6 has information regarding 23 countries of North & Latin America and Caribbean. And Chapter 7 has information regarding 7 countries of Europe. The alphabetical listing of around 4,000 varieties in Chapter 8 will help to know the rice cultivars globally. Rice related terminology is given in Chapter 9. Rice Acronyms and Abbreviations are also given as Appendix, which are used mainly in rice literature. References have been quoted in brackets with superscripts [ ] during text. The figure for rice is given as milled rice and not as paddy or rough rice as reported in FAO Production Year Book or other IRRI publications. In India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan the rice figures are reported as milled rice, which creates confusion while comparing the production and productivity from other countries. The global trade, and rice consumption is always presented in terms of milled rice and not as paddy. USDA reports are also as milled rice. So uniform figure of 0.67 has been taken to multiply from the paddy or rough rice, as milled rice. The main purpose of the book is to bridge the knowledge gap amongst rice researchers, producers, traders, policy makers, and farmers to appreciate the importance of rice in global, national and household food security. There are many countries in world that does not grow rice, but consume rice through imports. The book also provides the extensive coverage of rice cultivation in different countries of the world which is not available as a single source in any book. The rice trade by different rice growing and rice consuming countries are also given. The wild rices provide an enormous opportunity for genetic enhancement through pre-breeding. The rice varieties, cultivars, land races, genetic stocks are used as source of donor or genes is also updated for the researchers in alphabetical order. Many of the varieties having the same name like Asha, Deepti, & Madhuri and released in other states of India, or in other countries have also been documented, which will help the readers to avoid such duplications in future. Some abbreviations are also similar. The disease, insects or other abiotic reactions have been mentioned, so that readers are aware of the problems for location specific Integrated Crop Management (ICM).
- Description
- Table Of Content
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Table of Content Foreword;Acknowledgements; About the Author; Rice in the Global Perspective; Oryza Species and Wide Hybridization; Rice in India; Rice in other Asian and Oceania Countries; Afghanistan; Australia; Bangladesh; Bhutan; Cambodia; China; Fiji; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea-North; Korea-South; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Russia; Sri Lanka; Taiwan, China; Thailand; Timor –Leste; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Rice in Africa; Benin; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Chad; Congo DRC (Zaire); Egypt; Ethiopia; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Ivory Coast; Kenya; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mozambique; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Sierra Leone , Sudan; Tanzania; Togo; Zambia; Rice in North & Latin America, and Caribbean; Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Suriname; U.S.A.; Uruguay; Venezuela; Rice in Europe; Bulgaria; France; Greece; Italy; Portugal; Romania; Spain; Rice Varieties, Cultivars, Land Races and Genetic Stocks; Rice and Related Terminology; Rice Abbreviations & Acronyms ;References; Subject Index
Series No Title Global Rice Cultivation & Cultivars Author's Name B N Singh Publisher Studium Press LLC Page No. 500 Year Of Publication 2018 ISBN 10 1626991073 ISBN 13 No Book size width 9.5
book size(hei) 6.5
Edition 1st Book Size(len) No Binding type Hard bound About The Book No
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Data on the speedy background on chilly sores infections.
A chilly sore is the exterior symptom of a herpes simplex virus outbreak (typically known as merely "HSV"), in all probability the kind 1 pressure of the virus (HSV-1) - HSV-2 is the pressure usually accountable for genital herpes. Though each HSV-1 and HSV-2 may cause each oral and genital herpes, it's the case that every of them is extra prone to trigger a particular situation than the opposite.
The oral herpes (chilly sores) is the most typical type of herpes, the second commonest is genital herpes, and there are numerous different kinds of problems that may be brought on by HSVs like herpes ocular (herpes keratitis - that is when it turns into in your eyes), herpetic whitlow and shingles (hearth of Sant & Antonio).
Most certainly you contracted to be kissed by an in depth relative as a toddler who was additionally contaminated with the virus and who in all probability had an energetic outbreak on the time (thanks, grandma), sadly there isn't any remedy for herpes and when you perceive that you just're caught with it for a lifetime, doomed to undergo from occasional chilly sore just a few occasions a 12 months (extra usually, maybe, when you've been just lately contaminated).
Though there are a number of vaccines at present in section III with the NIH (Nationwide Institute of Well being - Search "herpevac" for extra data). This vaccine is restricted to ladies and is designed solely to stop genital herpes, however the scientists who developed it imagine it may be simply tailored to stop chilly sores.
A house therapy process in 5 steps to do away with a chilly sores
1. Sterilize a needle with alcohol, fastidiously drill chilly sore and drain all of the liquid from it, utilizing a kleenex to dry it. Mainly, do with what you'll have carried out with a pimple if you have been a teen, when you had an thought.
2. Wash chilly sore as soon as each 2 hours with a humid and soapy fabric, ensuring to make use of a brand new towel each time to keep away from spreading the virus elsewhere on the face.
3. Apply benzyl alcohol (also referred to as "Zilactin") with a q-tip every time instantly after washing. If you cannot discover benzyl alcohol, then isopropyl alcohol will rub.
4. Apply an acne-based cream of benzyl peroxide (similar to Clearasil) on chilly sore with a brand new q-tip, this may maintain it fully dry within the subsequent 2 hours till you wash it once more. It's also possible to use nail polish remover, that is at the least as efficient (some say much more).
5. Begin taking l-lysine, it's an over-the-counter complement and has been proven to considerably scale back the period and severity of chilly sore assaults by interfering with virus replication. (Supply: Division of Drugs, Indiana Univeristy: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3115841?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed ). Personally I'd advocate 1000 mg of lysine Three occasions a day whereas having an energetic epidemic.
As well as, taking vitamin C to assist increase your immune system will definitely assist, and when you don't have a chilly sore but, however you're simply beginning to get tingled and do the identical 5-step process ( minus step one), usually will forestall the chilly sore from at all times rising within the first place. Additionally, some individuals (see: Eliminating chilly sores in 24 hours) have found that Witch Hazel may be very efficient in eliminating their chilly sore.


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Last week we posted Part II of my interview with Tarn Wilson about her memoir The Slow Farm. We talked about different ways of bringing back memories and how to write from a child's viewpoint as an adult. This week, she shares the way she approaches writing about family members consciously and compassionately way, provides … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2014
Last week we posted the first part of my interview with Tarn Wilson about her memoir The Slow Farm. Tarn and I talked about how she used artifacts to reconstruct the past and how she structured her book. This week Tarn and I discuss the art of remembering. Tarn tells us about how she finds … Continue reading
I am a person who saves things, from the obviously important letter my father wrote me right before he passed away to the "might need it someday" notes from middle school. I have shoeboxes of unorganized photographs, rocks and shells from past trips sit on my bookshelves, and, rolled in a back closet corner, sit … Continue reading
Bonnie Rough's memoir, Carrier, which won the 2011 Minnesota Book Award, includes extensive research via family stories, interviews, pictures, legal records, letters, and more, but it is her compassionate portrayal of her grandfather, Earl, who passed away soon after her birth, that keeps readers turning pages. He lived with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), a genetic … Continue reading


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Blood Pressure Channel
Related Channels
Avapro Uses
Related MultimediaClick on an icon to view.
Avapro is part of a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs for short). As the name implies, Avapro blocks angiotensin II receptors. This decreases the effectiveness of a chemical known as angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow (constrict). By blocking the effects of angiotensin II, Avapro causes blood vessels to relax, which can lower blood pressure.
Avapro has not been approved for use in children.
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Avapro for treating a condition other than those listed in this article. This is called an "off-label" use. At this time, there are no universally accepted off-label Avapro uses.
Avapro Medication
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD


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New Portomaso Gaming Casinos
Portomaso Gaming may not be quite so well-known as other software developers in the online gaming industry, but this is no reflection on their range of solutions. The company has 350 different games in their catalogue, more than 25000 registered users, and has a presence in 15 countries across the globe. Portomaso Gaming launched back in 2007, in Malta, with a focus on live dealer games only. They operated as a platform for live games, after establishing themselves as a land-based casino (the Portomaso) first, gathering valuable experience.
Not long after beginning their online casino career, Portomaso Gaming added another brick-and-mortar casino to their live-streaming service – St Paul's Bay's Oracle venue. This means operators choosing to work with Portomaso's online solutions today can stream live games from two separate casinos (alongside their other gaming options). Portomaso Gaming is licensed by both the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. They are based at Portomaso Business Tower, in Malta.
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Portomaso Gaming Strong and Weak Points
Portomaso Gaming describes itself as a company blending 'innovation, quality, and expertise', creating cutting-edge gaming solutions for both existing and new online casinos. This claim is reinforced by the sheer amount of gaming options they have available to operators and end-users. Live-dealer games and slots are part of the Portomaso Gaming portfolio, providing players with numerous different real-time streaming experiences.
The company runs a successful land-based casino, and so has access to their own authentic gaming floor. This carries more realism and engagement than live games presented from a contained studio, and is maximised by the inclusion of the Oracle casino's partnership too. Live dealer games have become increasingly popular at online casinos in the past few years, putting a more social, interactive spin on classic games.
Roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, craps, and others have proven to be attractive options for players, and Portomaso Gaming's live games include roulette, punto banco, and blackjack. They target desktop and mobile operators too. Portomaso Gaming tailors its solutions to suit operators at different stages of their careers, dependent on their requirements.
For example, an online casino which is already set-up can integrate the Portomaso Gaming software into their existing site, whereas those businesses in need of a casino can have the team create one for them. This enables them to cater to a broad demographic of operators, and helps their games to reach a wider scope of end-users. Portomaso Gaming may add further land-based casinos to its platform in the future, enhancing the range of games available to players.
Strong Points:
— Brand has invaluable experience as both a land-based venue and an online casino
— A varied selection of live games
— Plenty of slot games too, all developed in-house
Weak Points:
— Slots lack big-budget licensed titles
— Uncertain how long integration may take
Portomaso Gaming Portfolio
Portomaso Gaming's platform incorporates multiple front- and back-end features. Their tables are equipped with sensors and high-definition (HD) cameras to keep players' streams at the highest quality throughout each game. Moves performed by online gamers will be conveyed to the dealer instantly, minimising the risk of missed opportunities or delays; this is crucial to maintain that 'live' feel, and helps to make the experience more immersive for end-users.
The platform can be used in multiple languages, and includes an integrated messaging system, connecting end-users with the Portomaso Gaming's customer support team. Other back-end features include user-profiling tools, risk management, and a bonus system. Possible bonuses include rewards for signing up, making first deposits, and more, offering incentive to long-term members to return in the future.
Operators can customise the platform to suit their own brand requirements, choosing their own colours and styles, and dealer uniforms can be tweaked in a similar fashion. Interaction levels between players and said dealers may vary too, while multi-lingual dealers are available to satisfy international end-users. Portomaso Gaming's live-dealer roulette includes a recently-improved user interface, providing players with a more fluid game and modern design.
There are three distinct wagering levels available, catering to players with varying experience or skill levels. The HD streaming is stunning, offering slick production values across desktop and mobile devices. Punto Banco and blackjack are available too, hosted by glamorous dealers with real-time streaming. Their selection of video slots encompasses both 3-reel and 5-reel games, featuring diverse themes; they include bonus games and can be used on desktop and mobiles.
They are built with HTML 5, and their bonuses add extra depth. The range includes Roman Empire, Black Pearl of Tanya, Treasure Hunter, Ancient China, Burgers Paradise, Far West, Feldor's Island, Fairyland, Quarterdecks Launch, Egyptian Gods, Nefertari, Classic Slot, Templar's Mistery, Annunaki, Rock 'n Slot, Jungle Boy, Pink Rose Pirates, Horror House, Cats, Pirates Night, and many more.
There are dozens of different themes and presentation styles, varying from jungles, classic horror movies, cute animals, discos, and beyond. It's a solid selection that caters to diverse tastes, and each game benefits from outstanding design. Portomaso Gaming's video slots feature striking graphics, dynamic colours, smooth animations, and quality performance.
For casino operators, having access to such a huge range of slots enables them to complement those games from other developers. The live games are a powerful feature to incorporate into their sites, adding a cutting-edge touch. With just over a decade in the online gaming industry, Portomaso Gaming has made significant progress in that time.
They have developed an extensive range of gaming options to appeal to a huge demographic, for those who prefer to immerse themselves in an authentic casino experience and slots-enthusiasts alike. Though their slots lack licensed properties or well-known titles, the variety is still incredibly impressive, including more mature themes as well as cuter ones.
The live-dealer games may not have the biggest selection, but they benefit from HD video, customisation for brand reinforcement, and cutting-edge sensors for maximum accuracy. Their licensing in the UK and Malta increases their reach too, ideal for international operators. Portomaso Gaming has plenty to offer casinos of different sizes, with a competitive platform and some excellent games in their portfolio.


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An Early Day Motion (EDM) has been put down by Labour MP Ann Clwyd on the detention of women's rights activists.
It has been sponsored by Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran and Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Stephen Gethins, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Jim Shannon and Labour MP Paul Farrally.
This EDM has been tabled in light of the continuing detention of the women's rights activists, the reports by human rights organisations including ALQST that some have been subjected to torture, and the recent campaign launched by ALQST calling to #StandWithSaudiHeroes.
ALQST encourages supporters and friends to contact their MPs, encouraging them to sign this EDM, which reads:
That this House is very concerned about the continuing detention of Saudi women's rights activists, including Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef, Eman al-Nafjan and Samar Badawi, many months after their arrests in 2018; is extremely alarmed by allegations that some activists have been subjected to sexual harassment, torture and ill-treatment, including electric shocks, floggings and beatings on the feet, during pre-trial detention, as reported by human rights organisations Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and ALQST (Justice), and which may be on-going; notes the recent creation of the cross-party Detention Review Panel which seeks to review the activists' detention conditions, and Saudi Arabia's failure to allow that body access to the detainees; recognises the vital role of civil society and human rights defenders in that country and the need for their protection; urges the Saudi Government to release the women activists immediately and unconditionally, along with all those detained for the peaceful expression of their opinions or their human rights work, and to allow prompt and impartial investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment to ensure those responsible are held to account; and calls on the Government to make a public statement immediately calling for the release of the detained women activists by the Saudi Government.
More details on how to contact your MP can be found here.
ALQST for Human Rights
Fulham, London
Follow ALQST on Twitter: @ALQST_ORG


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Find The RGB Value Of Any Object With Augmented Colors [WP7]
Being a relatively new field of technology, augmented reality hasn't got a lot of apps on any platform, let alone one like Windows Phone 7, whose app collection is not as large as iOS and Android. The apps that do feature Augmented Reality are mostly just for fun, and serve no serious and useful purpose. So, it is always nice to see an AR app that actually does something useful, no matter how small or insignificant. Augmented Colors is a rather simple app, but the functionality it offers is very useful if you use photo editing tools, or if you like to have an exact knowledge of everything that interests you. Using the app, you can point your WP7's camera at any object, and find out the RGB and hex value of its color. The user doesn't have to do anything, the app will just take a moment to scan the target object, and tell you the colour's exact name straight away.
Augmented Colors is designed to be as simple and easy to use as possible. The app has just one screen, and you don't have to navigate through a lot of options and screens before you can get to performing the main task. Just launch the app, point the camera at the target object, and you will see the scene in front of you on your device's screen, but with a crosshair overlaid. Align the center point of it with the desired point of the object, and you will see the RGB value of the color displayed at the bottom of the screen. Atop it the hex value is also shown, and you can note down any of those values for use anywhere. For the user's convenience, the app also changes the color of the bottom strip for the confirmation of the detected color. If you tap the screen, you are taken to the sharing screen. From there, you can share the color code via email, SMS, Facebook or Twitter. The app will also present you with the option to save a wallpaper of the detected color, or save its live tile to the Start screen.
Augmented Colors will cost you $0.99, but the trial is not time limited, and you can discover colors using it just like the paid version. The only difference is that the app will not let you share the code while in trial. A really useful app, with a nice layout. Do give Augmented Colors a try by going to the download link below.


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As a barefoot trimmer, nothing makes me happier than to see a well-balanced horse with a healthy hoof. So many of my clients understand the importance of allowing their horses to MOVE, and the horses benefit greatly in a more "natural" environment.
As the world seemingly gets more and more populated, it's difficult at times to find a place for your horse that gives them ample room to move. In addition to that, it's just become an easy and common practice for boarding barns to be on a very small parcel of land that only allows for stall boarding with minimal turnout in a small paddock. I see this time and again and stalled horses are not happy horses, nor do they get enough movement to make them (or their hooves) healthy. These horses tend to have more problems than horses who are living in a more natural environment. If you read children's horse books, they portray horses living in stables and with shoes. So we've gotten used to the idea of that being the way horses live, but that is not the best way for our horses.
Historical records from around 8,000 years ago showed that most horses have been ridden unshod and that they lived their lives in pastures. Both of these things are favorable for a strong healthy hoof and a happy horse. As civilization grew, particularly during the Medieval time period, the need grew for keeping horses in smaller areas like stalls and paddocks. This eliminated the need for large parcels of land, but it also eliminated movement for the horses. The horses stood in stalls, in straw bedding and waste, day in and day out. With this, the hooves weakened and began to deteriorate. Shoes were created to try and keep the hooves protected and elevated a bit off of the wet straw and waste. By the early 1800's, the ill effects of shoes were being recognized and documented by veterinarians. It's funny that since Medieval times, everything else that we do has evolved and changed, and improved. One thing that hasn't? The practices of confining and shoeing horses.
Even though these practices have been proven to be detrimental, some professionals still insist that it is alright and horses continue to "suffer". I know from experience that horses thrive in a more natural environment, where they have the opportunity to move at will. I recently came back into contact with a couple of horses that I've known for many years. They were sold and moved to a different ranch. Both of these horses had metabolic issues and one was frequently laminitic. These two horses are now turned out with a herd of about 20 horses, on nearly 150 acres of land. The changes in the horses were phenomenal, both physically and mentally! (The previously laminitic horse is also being treated with the EMS formula from For Love of the Horse to address the underlying metabolic condition.) Their hooves were in the best condition I had ever seen them and they both were very well balanced in their bodies and minds. All of the horses in the herd were the same, even a newer horse who has lived her entire life as a show horse. She, just being in this environment for about 6 months, has shown improvement in her flat feet and in her physical and emotional being. It was very exciting to see these horses thriving in a natural environment. The horses are all a part of a camp, trail riding, and therapy program for children. You couldn't ask for a better place for the horses. It made my heart happy.
Even though that sort of environment is not always an option for owners and boarders, there are things that we can do to make things better for our horses. If the horse must be confined for any reason, making sure that they have some sort of turnout and/or ample exercise every day is truly beneficial. Giving our horses free choice hay, in hay nets or spread around the paddock as well, will encourage movement and the feeling of "grazing" as they pull the hay through the holes (1 ½"-2" holes are ideal) or move about from pile to pile. This makes for a happier horse all around. Making sure our horses have the best hooves possible in a confined environment is tricky at times, but with a proper barefoot trim and no shoes, it is possible. A true barefoot trim is of great importance to the overall health of a horse. This is not simply a trim without shoes, but is done with full consideration to the natural structures of each individual hoof, allowing the foot to perform and function as it is intended by nature. This will eliminate the need for shoes and if done properly, any horse can live a full and happy life, barefoot! If horses have trouble on rough or hard ground there are hundreds of boot options to improve performance and keep them comfortable on difficult terrain. Boots are also a great option to help your horses transition from shoes to being barefoot and they are a much cheaper option than shoes.
If we look at our horse's bodies, their conformation, their feet, it is obvious that they were created to move. The more we are able to allow them to do that, the healthier and happier they are. When they are healthy and happy, we are able to create healthy relationships and bonds with them much easier than with horses who aren't. Being a true partner with a horse is an experience worth having, for both you and the horse. They are truly intelligent and majestic beings and I believe that making the effort on our part to create an environment for them that is beneficial to their health is something worth doing. They give us so much and are so willing to please us that I believe we owe them much the same.
This article is also published in The Horses Hoof: http://thehorseshoof.com/THHissueinfo.html