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There is a saying in many professions that three of the most dangerous words used are 'in my experience' as relying on it can cause some big problems. However, I also think there are another three words being used a lot recently that can be just as dangerous, these are 'research has shown'!
Over the past few decade's healthcare has been trying to move away from individual experience-based practice to a more scientific evidence-based practice, in an effort to reduce clinicians bias and ignorance adversely affecting patients care and treatment. This is true for physiotherapy where clinical experience has been in the past, and still is today, very much respected and revered despite patient outcomes being quite poor.
Now, before you all go crazy in the comments section and start accusing me of ignoring the role of experience or saying its completely useless, I am not. Clinical experience is useful for many things, in fact, I think for some things it is probably the most reliable tool we have (ref). However, clinical experience should never be solely or fully relied upon, as history is littered with examples of where experts have relied on their experience and been very very wrong (ref).
Drunken Evidence
Fortunately, evidence-based practice within physiotherapy is slowly being adopted, and there is a shift of more and more physios reading, engaging, and participating with research which is a good thing. But, there are issues here and it needs to be recognised that using evidence to help guide our practice can also have just as many pitfalls as using experience if it's not implemented carefully and sensibly.
Unfortunately, I see and hear many physios using research and evidence not so carefully and not so sensibly. In fact, I see many physios using research like a drunk uses a lampost, that is they use it more for support than illumination. Many physios, (and other healthcare professionals) like to find research to support what they already think and justify what they already do, or want to do.
Many think that if they find a research paper that has been published showing a positive effect of a treatment 'working' (usually with a p-value of >0.5) then they are evidenced based clinicians. They are NOT, this is NOT how evidence-based practice works, and this is NOT evidenced-based practice!
Pubmed Googling
Evidence-based practice is the practice of using the BASE of the evidence to support our methods, treatments and interventions. It's not about using one, two, or even a few papers to support your interventions. If you base your practice on one, or two, or a few research papers it's usually because you have only read one, two, or a few research papers.
Many healthcare professionals tend to cherry-pick the evidence-base, using what they want, and ignoring what they don't want. Most use Pubmed like they use Google, that is they do a quick keyword search, often don't go past the first page of results, and click on the first link that catches their eye. This means they find often what they want to know rather than what they need to know. It also means they get skewed views and beliefs about what they think works, and what they think doesn't.
One of the issues with the evidence-base is that there are literally papers published to support anything you want, especially in the field of physiotherapy which is notorious for publishing low-quality poor research (ref). For example, you can find papers showing how woolly pants cure low back pain, ultrasound applied clockwise is more effective, and even spinal manipulation reverses death. There is literally citable research out there to support what you want, or don't want, such as K-tape helps, or it doesn't, manual therapy helps, or it doesn't, even exercise helps, or it doesn't.
Another issue to consider is that there is literally a shit tonne of shit research out there. This quagmire of turd being produced daily means you do have to wade waist-deep through the crap to find the good stuff, which is time-consuming, frustrating, and hard work and not many can, or want to do it. This often means good quality research can be very hard to find and often goes unnoticed, whereas bad research is very easy to find and often gets promoted.
Bad Science
Many say that research is broken because of this, but that's nonsense. Research isn't broken, it's just very hard to do well, and it's often abused and misused by those who don't understand it well. Research is a tool, and like any tool, it's only as good as the person using it.
Unfortunately, levels of scientific literacy and understanding are terrible within the general public, with most not able to tell the difference between good quality, rigorous, ethical research from poor quality, flawed, biased research. And many healthcare professionals are not that much better either.
It still amazes me how many healthcare professionals hold a Bachelor of Science degree yet couldn't tell you the difference between specificity or sensitivity, reliability or validity, efficacy or effectiveness, statistically significant or clinically meaningful. And don't get me started on how many clinicians do not understand the role of p-values, effect sizes, blinding, control groups, randomisation, power, publication bias, data mining, p-hacking, and the reproduction crisis.
Some really useful resources for better understanding of all the issues I've just mentioned can be found here and here, also check out the Science Daily website and the Everything Hertz podcast as well as I often find these good resources to improve your understanding of research, statistics and the basic scientific method.
The Truth
The other issue I find with evidence-based practice is that many think it will give them answers to messy and confusing questions they have in how they should help and manage people with pain and with pathology. It won't if anything research and evidence can make things harder and more complicated.
A common misunderstanding and frustration of evidenced-based practice is that it will give clear and definitive yes and no answers, or simple do's and don'ts. It can sometimes, but often it doesn't. Research never really proves anything true, right or correct. Research only tells us what's more probable, more likely and less wrong!
Research should give clinicians an appreciation of uncertainty and an ability to recognise the probability of what's less wrong and what's more right. But only if they're able to think critically, have good levels of scientific literacy, and more importantly be tolerant of uncertainty, which unfortunately many are not.
Many healthcare professionals lack tolerance to uncertainty as they don't want to look ignorant or stupid to others, which unfortunately recognising uncertainty openly can make you appear. For example, no patient wants to hear or see a clinician dithering and dallying, stuttering and stammering scratching their head wondering what to do next.
A lack of tolerance to uncertainty is also due to societal pressures and deeply rooted constructs that healthcare professionals should always know what to do when patients come to see them. It is still assumed by many that the clinician alone decides what to do and how to proceed rather than it being a shared process between the patient and the clinician.
Due to these issues, many clinicians hide their uncertainty by abusing and misusing the research as mentioned above. They will go and find some research, no matter the quality, that justifies what they do, or want to do and use this to remove the need to think. I also saves them time and avoids having to have those difficult and awkward discussions with patients about ALL the treatment options and ALL the uncertianty and shades of grey around them.
As I said at the beginning there is no doubt that clinical experience can be useful and important in some situations, but using it alone is fraught with problems and issues. But, there is also no doubt that relying on poorly conducted, biased, and methodologically flawed research has just as many problems.
Healthcare needs to be careful that phrases like "We know this works" or "This is what we have always done" are not mindlessly replaced with "the evidence says" or "research has shown". Healthcare needs to try and improve levels of scientific literacy in all its professionals, as well as trying to reduce the amounts of poorly conducted research published or referred to.
In fact, I would say any that any research trial that doesn't show adequate blinding, sufficient power, and more importantly doesn't have a control, sham, or placebo comparator is now simply ignored.
As always thanks for reading


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Transportation news briefs, Mar. 27
US Department of Transportation � Cycla � Statoil � Tidelands Oil & Gas � Reef International Transmission & Storage
The US Department of Transportation has awarded a 3-year, $9.5 million contract to Cycla Corp., Alexandria, Va., to support a DOT pipeline integrity management initiative. Cycla analyses and information systems will be used both to support new rules affecting 87% of federally regulated hazardous liquid pipelines and to develop similar rules for other pipelines under federal or state oversight.
Statoil pipeline experts in have secured approval for ultrasonic inspection of pipe welds from Norwegian and international authorities. Automated ultrasound testing was used on four pipelines on the Norwegian continental shelf last summer.
Tidelands Oil & Gas Corp., Corpus Christi, Tex., has formed a subsidiary, Reef International Transmission & Storage LLC, to obtain state, federal, and international permits for a pipeline crossing between Texas and Mexico. The new company is intended to obtain permits for both a large-diameter natural gas pipeline crossing and permits for propane and butane pipeline crossings and storage facilities.

subset: commoncrawl


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My little dog
a heart-beat
at my feet ~Edith Wharton
They always say when it rains it pours. Sometimes that's the case, it certainly was this past weekend, starting Friday morning.
Let me set the stage. I've been developing and organizing the Dog Gone! Scavenger Hunt all month, getting ready to launch our first Thrill of the Hunt scavenger hunt event in Shadyside. So if you can image, there's a lot of details and last minute items that need addressed. All week I was unable to take the dogs, Scooby and Seven, for their daily three mile hike. That's my normal lunch break now-a-days. Plus, keep in mind, Kyle was at his Bricks 4 Kidz Lego Camp at Saint Vincent College. My lunches were consumed with Kyle, going to pick him up, getting him lunch and taking him back for his afternoon sessions. Then, the rest of my day and evenings, I was consumed with plugging away at the Dog Gone! Scavenger Hunt. Busy, busy, busy week.
Then, Friday morning rolled around. Naturally, I was up early with my head in my work, trying to wrap some items up before having to drop Kyle off at his Lego Camp. I knew I had to make a trip to Shadyside and meet with the participating business owners before the work day ended, and I had to send brochures to the printers, pick them up and assemble all the Thrill of the Hunt bags for the participants before the day came to a close. Needless to say, there was a lot on my mind and I was completely pre-occupied. I'm not making excuses, just outlining the events of the day.
Roughly around 7:00 am, mom emailed me telling me to change Seven's tracker, the battery was really low. We use Tagg, which is a great service for tracking our freedom seeking dogs. Only keeping a tracker on Seven, we've found that the buddies travel together so no need to weigh Scooby down. My response to mom's email? "I don't have time and I'm not planning on taking the dogs for a walk today, I have too much to do!" Mistake number one! Then around 7:30 am, Kyle was playing with my cat, Storm, on the porch and he had the front door wide open, without putting up the baby gate. I was also going back and forth to my car loading it up with needed Thrill of the Hunt paraphernalia.
Then by 8:00 am, we both noticed we were two dogs short! Around that time, I had to hurry up and update the Piper Reunion postcard and send it to press, since that was sneaking up on us; my friend Holly wanted to run hills and was calling; and mom called to ask me to bring her a large bowl to work. Yikes! Too much to do! Not to mention I had to get Kyle over to his last day of Lego camp by 8:30 am and now the boys are missing.
Right around this very hectic time, mom emailed me giving me the update on the already known missing dogs. She saw his last check-in was in Ridilliatown, not far from our house, but his tracker died so we really had no idea where their actual whereabouts were. My response? They'll come back. Did I mention this was when I was in route, between Saint Vincent, to Latrobe and mom's work?
You see the dogs have a track record of taking off, running through the woods for a few hours and then making their way back home after they are good and tired and completely muddy (Dog Gone). So who would have thought they would have deviated off of the norm? Certainly none of us did! In fact, we thought they would show up on the porch before dark, ready to sit out there punishment under the kitchen table. That's were they go when they're in trouble. The thinner, crappy doggie beds reside under there, making them really suffer their punishments out. (sarcasm)
Well, needless to say nightfall came and left and no signs of the dogs! I woke up Saturday morning around 5:00 am to get ready for the Dog Gone! Scavenger Hunt to find the house still a little empty. I hate to say it, but when I talked to mom, who incidentally slept on the couch so she could hear are late night arrivals, I said, "I bet someone shot them!" Mom agreed. I know what a horrible thought! I didn't say I wanted that to happen, I was just trying to be realistic and prepare myself for the worst. That's what happened to my cousin's dog when we were little, it was terrible! Jack the dog, came back with half of his jaw shot off!
Speaking of shooting dogs. That might sound like an over active imagination and not a present day reality, guess again! When we were going around to the local neighbors where the dogs were once spotted, a lady told us that someone in Youngstown, near Latrobe Pennsylvania is known to shoot stray dogs. She said they shot one before and wounded another! Can you believe it? I understand dog owners have to be in control of their dog at all times, but come on, things happen. There is no reason to shoot a dog! Maybe if it was bringing direct harm to another animal or person, sure for self defense, but just because they are loose and running around? Even if they were on your property, shoo them away! Don't just shoot them! What is wrong with some people? Apparently, they have no heart and we need to say prayers for them.
Wishing I could have stayed to help with the rescue mission Saturday morning, Kyle and I headed into Pittsburgh for the Dog Gone! Scavenger Hunt. Before I left I had time to make a missing poster and I distributed it to my social sites far and wide. While we were in Shadyside, the irony of the situation hit me! I was running a scavenger hunt for dogs, when ours ran away and were lost, called Dog Gone! Scavenger Hunt. Not funny at the time, but has brought new humor.
The scavenger hunt went really smoothly and was well received by all the participants and business owners. During the hunt, besides reaching out to our participants via social sites along with my sister, we were also helping to spread the word, on our very own missing four legged pals. I was taking calls, and checking Facebook, keeping in touch with my friend Tree who was following up on leads and touching base with my family. Talk about a lot going on!
As soon as I got back to the area, I joined the search and rescue team. Getting in the car with mom, we rechecked the the last areas the dogs were spotted, and a few areas we thought they might have gone through. What made this so difficult was the location of our runaways. They were running through mostly woods, even worse, mostly unfamiliar woods to me, making their appearance every now-and-again near someones house or a main road. Even though it was extremely frustrating, each report brought a bit of hope. At the start of this all, the last place we knew the dogs were located in Ridilliatown, early Friday morning. Keep in mind it is now Saturday afternoon.
The sightings included: Someone saw them together off of route 30 near Sleepy Hallow at 6:00 pm on Friday. Someone saw them near Kingston on Friday around 5:30 pm. Someone almost hit them with their car off of route 30 near Ligonier around 6:30 pm on Friday. What? How did they make it that far coming from Youngstown?
Well, later on Sunday when I hiked the woods in that area, I found out it didn't take me long to cross the ridges through the woods, only traveling about four miles. Piece of cake for a couple of four legged travelers.
Then God gave us another bit of hope, Dave Planinsek saw them off his property Saturday morning around 6:15 am. Great! They made the night. He did say it looked like the black one, Seven was foaming at the mouth. That would explain why the others who spotted our pups said the one looked like he had porcupine quills in his mouth. My poor Seven!
Saturday night was fast approaching and nothing, no sign, no word. I even walked back in unfamiliar woods of Sugarbush, calling the entire mile in and mile out. Once darkness completely took away my sense of sight, I reluctantly left the woods. I will admit, it was pitch black and I had about three quarters of a mile to go just to get out of the woods and meet up with dad, who was on the quad.
We arrived at my parents house Saturday night, feeling completely defeated! Especially knowing the dogs were going to have to spend another night in the woods and knowing that Seven was hurt and possibly Scooby.
That did it! I had a new game plan. I woke up early Sunday morning, we went to church the night before because Kyle had to serve mass, and packed my book bag. I was going to hike all the woods in the area to try and find them. Our logic, since no one had seen them since Saturday morning, they were hanging out in the woods. They were injured, tired, hungry, scared and lost.
I packed up my .22 pistol, some food and water, first aide kit and a few other essentials. I made sure my phone was completely charged so I could check my location on my GPS. Mom was nervous since I have a track record of getting lost, (Directionally Challenged) but I had no qualms about walking around the woods. I knew I'd pop out somewhere. To play it safe, as long as my phone was on, Kyle could find me on Find Friends apps. Not to mention I was using my RunKeeper app, which Tree and mom had my login information to track my last checked in status.
Breaking some of my RunKeeper records I continued on foot, while dad was on the quad and mom and Kyle were in the car driving around and checking with neighbors and putting up more posters.
This went on for hours on Sunday, it seemed like a lifetime. When I would make my way to a main road, I would have mom and Kyle come and get me, to drop me off closer to start again. By Sunday at 1:30 pm, I was with mom and Kyle in the car. We decided to call dad to see how his progress was going. When mom was talking to dad trying to outline our next plan of attack, possibly take a break for the time being, dad spotted Scooby! We were in complete shock! He called Scooby, and after Scooby recognized dad, he came running over to the quad, leaping up in his lap. All dad was saying was, "Bring the car around and get him!" I said, "Where are you?" His vague reply was, "By the woods." Really? Is this a joke? "What woods?" I said. Again, vaguely dad replied, "The ones we were by last night." Really? Again, we were all over the ridge on Saturday.
Trying to get dad's exact location proved to be as difficult as trying to find the dogs because he just wanted to talk to Scooby. He was even asking our blond pal where his pal Seven was.
Once we picked up Scooby, who had a few porcupine quills in his face, that I plucked out, Scooby fell asleep in the car on the way home. Then back we went to track down number two doggie delinquent. Apparently, the one house saw them, just before dad got to their house while he was on the quad, and they tried to call the dogs over. Scooby came to our good Samaritans, (to my complete surprise) but Seven was scared and took off (even more of a shock, I thought the opposite). Now for the first time in days, the dogs are separated.
We looked and looked, to no avail. Finally, as we were ready to make another pass at the ridge in the car, we got a call from the same house who found Scooby. Seven was in their yard! Mom drove like lightening to get there. Once I saw my obviously distraught, disoriented and in pain pup, I welcomed him with open arms. He reluctantly came to me, but eventually made his way into the car, for our ride home.
Seven and Scooby are safe back home! Seven spent Monday at the vets getting those darn porcupine needles out of his face. I was going to try and remove them like I did once for Scooby (Scooby Meets a Porcupine), but Scooby's weren't in for three days. Seven was also really dehydrated and starving. I thought it be best to wait out the night and take Seven to the vet first thing in the am. They weighed him and it seems he lost nearly ten pounds! Poor pup couldn't eat or drink or even sleep for that matter, for three days.
The boys were gone from Friday at 7:30 am and Scooby was brought home around Sunday at 2:00 pm, while Seven didn't make it home till Sunday at 8:00 pm. He also had to endure another night with the quills in his face before we could take him to the vet on Monday at 8:30 am. He's still not quite himself, but he is coming around, at least physically. Scooby's really stiff and his paw is proving to be hard to walk on, but he bounced right back.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to call in the sightings of the dogs, and those that tried to help completely strange dogs and unknowns owners! Your efforts made the world of difference!
While everyone was extremely helpful, I want to give a big thanks to specific people. One being my friend Tree. She gave me all the updates of the reported sightings, posted on Action for Animals Facebook, responded back to posts and inquiries, tracked me as I walked through the woods so I didn't get lost, sent us phone numbers and helped to remind me to keep the faith and reach out to my inner Wonder Woman! Thanks Tree, you rock! She was saying prayers and asking for Saint Francis and Saint Anthony to pray for us too. Then there was mom's friend Mary, who called all the police departments, local and state and reached out to specific key individuals in the area to spread the word and retrieve updates. All of the Planinsek's were most certainly helpful and patient with us driving around their property yelling for our delinquents, and walking and driving our quad through their woods. The Seminsky's went out riding around looking for beasts. Renee Yazvec Hall's husband and son drove around after seeing the posts on Renee's Facebook page. They also offered their services if we needed them, and truly meant it! And not to mention the fellows from Frowen's garage went looking with trucks and quads. Thanks everyone, and those who I did not mention, some taking it upon yourselves to make calls and assist. Thank you!
Although everyone in the surrounding areas were more than helpful, a big kudos goes to PJ Self and his family. That young man, saw the dogs and let us know. Then joined our rescue team on foot and ran through the woods and made a huge circle to look for Seven. He actually ran. Seriously, I mean he actually ran! He even kicked up some deer, I saw them leaping like gazelles through Steiner's field, while PJ ran along the tree line, miles from his house! We never asked, he just wanted to help out. Thank you so very much!
Thinking about it now, I wonder if our boys learned a lesson? Somehow I doubt it! But for now they are safe and sound!


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ZIP to ARJ Converter Downloads
ZIP is a famous and widely-used archive file format that uses a lossless compression method. ZIP files may contain one or more compressed files and folders.
ARJ is the file format originally created for the high-efficiency compressing software by Robert Jung, which is reflected in its name: Archived by Robert Jung.
This set includes several applications that will help you convert your ZIP files into ARJ ones. Some of these tools can convert between other formats as well, like RAR, 7Z, JAR, TAR, etc.
ZIP to ARJ Converter download selection by Etan Bourke. June 15, 2015


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A tunnel, in Saginaw Mo, bathed in warm light on a late fall afternoon, stands at the threshold of a road of new beginnings and possibilities.
A tunnel, in Saginaw Mo, bathed in warm light on a late fall afternoon, stands at the threshold of a road of new beginnings and possibilities.
This piece was inspired by my friend Rob Mullin's 14 year battle with brain cancer. The tunnel, and corresponding road opening up to a warm and hopeful light, serves as a powerful metaphor for the final stage of Rob's journey and his passing. As with all of life's journeys the one in the photograph looks to be full of trials, tribulations and danger but with a hopeful/healing warm light beckoning. A road leading to ultimate possibilities and comfort beckons through the tunnel on the other side if you have the courage to make the journey through the dark first.
I will donate 10% of each piece sold to Rob's charity.... the Be Head Strong Foundation - an organization whose mission is to support, assist and provide services to brain tumor patients and their caregivers.
Thank you.
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Amy Killoran is a collaborative and diversely skilled leader. Using design-thinking, process, empathy, and a diverse range of creative experience to every project.
Her love for project management and collaboration, and her history in fashion communication and corporate/government design, means she is able to bring creative management solutions to many kinds of design and user experience challenges for a wide range of clients.
Her role as Creative Manager involves working with the Marketing department's Creative and Communication Teams; strengthening the customer experience, creating new merchandise and collateral, art directing for the five brands, and working with photographers and videographers around the world. Amy is a part of the management team which has achieved Gold Standard for Deloitte's 50 Best Managed Companies awards, and I Love Travel was named Global Youth Travel Awards 'Best Tour Operator'.
Amy also designs and illustrates for freelance clients such as The Tarragon Theatre, Randolph Academy, as well as doing live drawing for events, and painting portraits. Shop her original illustrations on Etsy.
Amy's past work includes Creative Direction at I Love Travel, a family of travel brands that includes S-Trip!, Campus Vacations, Breakaway Tours, and partners with Unleashed Travel in Australia and Stoke Travel in Spain. Designing for The Ontario Heritage Trust, The Ministry of Education, Qatalyst Magazine (now out of print), and The Printing House. Consulting for Ceremony, Walk Ward's Island, and private clients. She has been quoted on Inc., and her Work + Life series mentioned on the Hey Jules Blog. Amy is now the Product Lead at Groupdesk, where she is driving the product forward and growing the team.


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Abundant sources of information exist within and around nonprofit organizations that are just waiting for nonprofit leaders to put to good use. Evaluator Patricia (Patty) Montaño shares ways to reduce the burden of data collection with existing sources .Read More
Last week, we threw a party with family, friends, and partners to celebrate the launch of Elena's book, The Great Nonprofit Evaluation Reboot: A new approach every staff member can understand. This is the start of evaluation as a central tool in nonprofit strategy. And the book launch is just the beginning.Read More
Measurement and information are only useful when they adhere to a thoughtful and intentional approach with those who are most directly involved, using a balance of data sources. Elena illustrates how to improve the use of data by sharing an example from the education system.Read More
Our Meet the Vantage Team series is a way for you to get to know each member of the Vantage team, and why they love what they do. Today we feature evaluator Raquel Rubio, who is passionate about asking questions, and about the power of evaluation to lead to social change.Read More
Unfortunately for many folks working in the social sector, the word "evaluation" conjures negative reactions—worries about finger-pointing, concerns about funder reactions, or fear of negative public perceptions if the results aren't all positive. Deciding to evaluate your program's effectiveness, and then figuring out how to do it, can be a daunting proposition. But it shouldn't be. A guest post from Vice President of Philanthropy at The Colorado Health Foundation, Amy Latham.Read More
Are you hungry for evaluation reports that don't leave you feeling confused and grumpy? Check out Elena's tip for making impactful written reports with data sandwiches.Read More
We're excited to invite you to a celebration for our founder and CEO Dr. Elena Harman's new book: The Great Nonprofit Evaluation Reboot: A new approach every staff member can understand.
In addition to receiving a 10% discount on the purchase of the book, attendees will enjoy light appetizers, music, and mingling with Colorado's incredible nonprofit and foundation community.Read More
Our Meet the Vantage Team series is a way for you to get to know each member of the Vantage team, and why they love what they do. Today we feature evaluator Stacie Hanson, who shares the importance of finding and seeing connections.Read More
A continuation of our series about the Equitable Evaluation Design Sessions, this post focuses on why Vantage Evaluation decided to focus on what is considered valid findings, what we did (or tried to do), what we learned, and where we are going next. Our hope in sharing our experiences is that others might find inspiration to engage in similar work, and that those organizations will take what we did and improve upon it.Read More
As part of our participation in the Equitable Evaluation Design Sessions, Vantage Evaluation took on two design challenges. In this blog post, we offer a summary of one of them, where we created an Equity Learning Club. Our hope in sharing our experiences is that others might find inspiration to engage in similar work, and those organizations will take what we did and improve upon it.Read More
What does it take to incorporate equity into our work? What would that look like? Is that even something we want to do? These are the questions we set out to tackle this past summer as part of the first Equitable Evaluation Design Lab. Evaluator Laura Sundstrom reflects on what she's learned from the experience.Read More
Nonprofit leaders often use surveys to take the pulse of their communities and get a sense of the impact of their organization's work. Surveys are also beloved by politicians, marketing folks, and researchers. Unfortunately, they have become overused because they're easy to build and send with cheap online survey software options. This has led to survey fatigue in our communities that has real consequences for nonprofit leaders.Read More
We have gotten to the point where evaluation is such a buzzword in nonprofit and foundation work that we assume all nonprofits should be evaluating everything, and for the same reasons. However, that is not true. Evaluation should serve an intentional purpose. It should teach you something new, and something that you care about.
Learn how to create an evaluation purpose statement that outlines why you want to do evaluation in the first place, and what the results will be used for.Read More
An effective evaluation takes internal resources. Before you decide to ask an evaluator to figure out what to measure, it's important to sit down and think about the 30,000-foot view of why you are dedicating resources to evaluation in the first place. Learn about the five core elements of an effective evaluation, and what to consider before handing the project off to your evaluation team or external consultant.Read More
NOW HIRING: The Open Media Foundation is hiring for an Impact Manager to take a big picture view of both the organization and its clients, helping articulate, theories of change and measure social change and impact. This search is managed by Vantage Evaluation through our work to build evaluation capacity in our communities, through staffing solutions.Read More
The American Evaluation Association's (AEA) annual conference theme, Speaking Truth to Power, left us with a lot to process as a team and individually.
Our evaluator Aisha Rios, PhD explains how a tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame combined with the conference sessions challenged her to reflect on the role power plays in defining truth and knowledge, and offers steps for encouraging honest communication when power dynamics are at play.Read More
Listen to the Nonprofit Coach podcast interview with Elena about her upcoming book, "Learning on Purpose: How Each Nonprofit Position Can Use Evaluation To Get the Answers They Need."
In this interview, Elena talks about funder and donor outcome requests, staff engagement, and how to position your organization as a leader in the impact evaluation space.Read More
Vantage Evaluation turned five this August. In those five years, we've changed in structure and in scope but never deviated from our core focus of helping purpose-driven organizations throughout and beyond Colorado experience the joy of evaluation. Our new blog, Vantage Point, is part of the next evolution of our journey helping purpose-driven organizations infuse basic evaluation practices into their day-to-day work. Before we dive into what's next, here's a bit of background on how we got here.Read More
Our team is joining evaluation colleagues from across the globe in Cleveland this month for the 2018 American Evaluation Association Conference: Speaking Truth to Power. We're excited to be presenting on a wide range of topics, including: 1) being a woman-owned evaluation firm; 2) best practices for conducting virtual focus groups; 3) using an anthropological approach for addressing power and truth in evaluation practices, and 4) best practices for debriefing with clients.Read More
Nonprofit leaders who invite community and staff to the table when digesting evaluation findings make the findings more meaningful and useful. These stakeholders add critical insights when interpreting data on their own programs, and are best suited to decide next steps as a result. To ensure your data has meaning and engagement, you can invite others to participate in the analysis.Read More


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Writer poignantly shared heartbreak of Alzheimer's
The My View article written by Shirley Palmerton, "Oh, how I wish you would talk to me," which was published in The News on Sept. 9, really opened my eyes to the pain a partner of an Alzheimer spouse lives with.
She wrote eloquently and from the heart about the anguish a spouse experiences on a daily basis. The life they shared during a 66-year marriage, the good and the bad, her husband has no memory of. She has lost her partner in life, even though he is sitting right in front of her.
My heart goes out to her, and to other families suffering with this insidious disease.
Carol J. Russell


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Emilio Nuzzolese
President and Founder of the Civil Protection Association "Dental Team DVI Italia".
University of Turin
Contract Teacher in Forensic Dentistry at the Dental School of the University of Turin, since 2015. Graduated in dentistry at the University of Bari (Italy) in 1994. A post-graduate in Legal Medicine, Forensic Sciences and Forensic Odontology, holds a Research Doctorate degree on Analytic Morphometry. He presented over 80 papers in national and international forensic sciences meetings and has been invited speaker since 2006, in several congresses, among which the forensic dentistry session of the 2006 FDI World Dental Congress at Shenzen (Cina). Lecturer for forensic odontology at the University of Catanzaro and Lecce (Italy), Expert witness in civil and penal Court for dental disputes and professional liability, Expert before the International Penal Court, participating odontologist in the Forensic Odontology Working Group within the Interpol DVI standing committee and President and Founder of the Civil Protection Association "Dental Team DVI Italia".
Research Interest
Forensic Dentistry


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Low Income Housing and Subsidized Apartments in Mandeville, LA
Below is the listing of 4 affordable apartments and low-income housing in Mandeville, LA. Some apartments listed here will require prospective residents to meet income eligibility requirements and other guidelines specific to a housing authority, and other properties will be open to all residents needing affordable housing.
The listings are not comprehensive, but we do strive to provide as many listings as available. Our goal is to provider our users with as many affordable housing opportunities as possible. If your property is not already listed, you can add your listing for free.
We welcome user reviews and corrections of property listings, as we strive to provide the best and most up-to-date information possible. Simply click on the listing below for more information.
Pine Cliff Apartments
- Multi-Family Housing Rental (for Family)
Location: Mandeville, LA - 70448
Contact Phone: (504) 887-0900
Rouquette Lodge Ii
- Subsidized, Low-Rent Apartment (for Elderly )
Location: Mandeville, LA - 70471-3318
Contact Phone: (985) 626-5217
Rouquette Lodge Iii
- Subsidized, Low-Rent Apartment (for )
Location: Mandeville, LA - 70471-3318
Contact Phone:
St. Tammany Manor
- Apartment (for Elderly )
Location: Mandeville, LA - 70471-3318
Contact Phone: (985) 626-5217


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Introducing our eleventh Hero of Pride!
In celebration of the NYC arrival of WorldPride 2019, The Mixx is honoring 12 individuals who are making a difference in the lives of the LGBTQ community. Our eleventh Pride Hero is Eric Hildebrand, Lifestyle & Branded Entertainment at Mercedes-Benz USA. Read the interview below!
What does Pride mean to you?
ERIC: Pride is celebration! A celebration of honoring your self-truth and the self-truth of the community that surrounds you. Pride is the big wins, the small wins, and the defeated moments that create character and define the future.
When you think about important figures and moments in LGBTQ history, who is someone that stands out for you as having really helped pave the way for the community?
ERIC: Ellen DeGeneres. Since her "coming out," Ellen has been a strong voice for the LGBTQ community and has shown how celebrities can shape people's beliefs and values through entertainment. Ellen is a beacon of truth and positivity and she is part of the reason I have also been more vocal in honoring the LGBTQ community. We all need to be allies and participants in championing local and national LGBTQ conversations which continue to shape our community. It's often that such individuals go unrecognized despite the monumental sparks they ignite within their own communities. I'm so proud to be a part of the Pride Beyond 30 "mixx."
We know you are Atlanta-based, but what part of the New York City experience do you enjoy most when you are here?
ERIC: I may be Atlanta-based but there is nothing better than a Sunday Matinee on Broadway followed by dinner at a fun neighborhood restaurant. Being a fellow New Yorker, I still enjoy getting lost on the city streets discovering the new, the old, and the hidden. I love the sense of individualism and self-expression that floods the city. New York City is a community of communities where everyone "fits," no matter your background or talent.
The Mixx is very proud to be working with you and Mercedes-Benz USA on its LGBTQ-focused campaign, now in its fifth year. Will you share some thoughts on your brand's view of this program and the business imperative behind reaching the LGBTQ community?
ERIC: Authentic and thoughtful. These are the two words that kicked-off our first campaign. Five years later, it's hugely gratifying to look back on the body of work that we've sculpted together. We've created not only an authentic and thoughtful campaign, but one that has given our LGBTQ owners and brand supporters a safe space to be themselves and share the Pride they have for the Mercedes-Benz brand. It's been amazing to see how the community has interacted with the brand since the campaign's launch and the to hear the stories that have been voluntarily shared.
The LGBTQ community is one of trendsetters and early adopters. Loyalty runs high and economically it's a demographic that spends on what they believe in. It has been an honor to show the support Mercedes-Benz has for the LGBTQ community through our relationship with The Mixx and the work we've done together. The best is yet to come!
As a partner to the LGBTQ Community, The Mixx is thrilled to be able to put the spotlight on some of our personal heroes all year long. Stay tuned for the next installment, and reach out for more on how YOU can get involved with WorldPride 2019!


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Mosquito-Like Insects
Because of their bites and potential to spread disease, mosquitoes make homeowners wary. However, not all bugs that look like mosquitoes causes the same problems. Several common insects resemble these pests, but they do not hurt humans or take blood meals.
Crane Flies
Due to the pests' body shape and long thin legs, people often mistake crane flies for large mosquitoes. They seem intimidating but are harmless to humans. Like other mosquito-like insects, they pester people outdoors, but crane flies don't bite or sting.
In appearance, adult mayflies are mosquito look-alikes. Their behavior leads to even more confusion. These insects live in aquatic habitats like mosquitoes. However, the pests don't bite or pose any threat. In fact, mayflies play an important role in the ecosystem.
Though smaller in size, gnats can look like mosquitoes as both pests fly slowly in unusual patterns. In addition, gnats have long legs compared to their bodies like mosquitoes.
Mosquito Removal
Though most bugs that look like mosquitoes are not dangerous, many of them can be annoying. The experts at Western Pest Services have the right tools and experience to effectively get rid of mosquitoes and mosquito-like insects.


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Upcoming book
With Arcadia Press
available for Pre-order through Amazon
and Barnes & Noble
The Webb School of Bell Buckle (Campus History) Paperback – June 3, 2019
Knowledge Quest - Published bimonthly September through June by the American Association of School Librarians, a division of the American Library Association - a peer-reviewed journal offering substantive information to assist building-level library media specialists, supervisors, library educators, and other decision-makers concerned with the development of school library media programs and services.Feature Articles
Media Literacy a Moving Target
Knowledge Quest Journal - American Association of School Librarians
September / October 2018
With ever-changing technologies and the prevalence of news delivered through social media, news media literacy can seem like a moving target. Learn techniques from a librarian pushing the social media envelope and an experienced journalist now journalism professor. Be inspired to critically read news and spot quality responsible journalism regardless of the format.


text: Via Venanzio Marone 10Ischia, Ischia Island, Italy 80077View Large Map Phone: +39 081-992181Fax: +39 081-993201 Hotel E-mailHotel Website Commission Rooms Rates - 60 - Hoteliers! Is your information accurate? Update Here Overview Details Year Built: 1965Year Last Renovated: 2006Check in Time: 11:00 AMCheck out Time: 10:00 AMNumber of Floors: 4 Bristol Palace Terme Hotel GDS Codes Amadeus GDS: HS ISHADXSabre GDS: HQ 211982 Bristol Palace Terme Hotel Rates & Policies Credit Cards: Credit Cards Are AcceptedReservation Policy: Reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card Bristol Palace Terme Hotel Room Amenities Amenities are in all rooms unless noted otherwise. Rooms for Non-smokers Telephone Bristol Palace Terme Hotel Recreation On-Site Activities BeachHealth ClubHealth Spa/MassagePool (Indoor Pool) Bristol Palace Terme Hotel Hotel Services & Facilities Guest Services Multi-lingual StaffRoom ServiceCommon Area Internet Access (Wireless)


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Home Loans for St. Louis Area First Responders
At Lottmann Realty Group, we believe that the everyday heroes of our community—first responders—deserve nothing but the best…especially when it comes to home financing programs. If you are a first responder looking to buy a home in St. louis or the greater St. Louis area, we would be honored to help you find the home… Continue Reading
The Benefits of Building a Custom Luxury Home Versus Buying
If you've spent any amount of time trying to find your forever home, you know it can be a daunting task. Between location specifications, design preferences, and unique architectural needs, sometimes it can be downright impossible. After all, no matter how gorgeous an existing house may be, no one can envision your dream home exactly… Continue Reading


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Nigerian Afro-fusion star, Damini Ogulu better known as Burna Boy has declared his intention to release another album before the year runs out.
Concise news understands that this is coming barely a week after the release of the highly rated 'African Giant' album which was released on Friday July 26.
Burna boy made the declaration in an interview with American media executive and Radio personality, Oldman Ebro, on his show aired Apple Music.
According to Burna boy, the 'African Giant' album was not his intention, as he was working on the soon to be released one he titled 'Reckless and Sweet' before he went to deliver a world-class performance at the 2019 Coachella, that exposed him to more foreign audience and changed his perspective.
He said: "So this album wasn't even the album I was working on. I was working on a whole nother album titled "Reckless and Sweet," he said.
The singer's 'African Giant' album earned him the number one spot on Apple Music in more than ten countries in the world.
He also secured partnership with Luxury headphone designer, Beats By Dre.
Watch video below:
There's a reason why I've been a Burna Boy stan since primary 5, and this is one of them. pic.twitter.com/whzKYwYcLE
— ᴛʜᴇ ᴇǫᴜᴀʟɪsᴇʀ ⚖ (@TheDilichi) July 31, 2019


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Seabirds Kitchen Brunch | Costa Mesa/
Take a little drive down to Costa Mesa and you'll find a covert, one-level, urban space called The LAB–The Anti-Mall. Within The LAB there are a few shops, a few restaurants, an art exhibit and an outdoor area to sit and lounge.
It's the perfect location for Seabirds Kitchen–a small, organic, seasonal vegan restaurant.Read More


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Here are the most common types of heart diseases that can occur in diabetics.
Two major types of heart and blood vessel disease, also called cardiovascular disease, are common in people with diabetes: coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebral vascular disease. People with diabetes are also at risk for heart failure. Narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels in the legs, a condition called peripheral arterial disease, can also occur in people with diabetes.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease, also called ischemic heart disease, is caused by a hardening or thickening of the walls of the blood vessels that go to your heart. Your blood supplies oxygen and other materials your heart needs for normal functioning. If the blood vessels to your heart become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits, the blood supply is reduced or cut off, resulting in a heart attack.
Cerebral Vascular Disease
Cerebral vascular disease affects blood flow to the brain, leading to strokes and TIAs. It is caused by narrowing, blocking, or hardening of the blood vessels that go to the brain or by high blood pressure.
A stroke results when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off, which can occur when a blood vessel in the brain or neck is blocked or bursts. Brain cells are then deprived of oxygen and die. A stroke can result in problems with speech or vision or can cause weakness or paralysis. Most strokes are caused by fatty deposits or blood clots—jelly-like clumps of blood cells—that narrow or block one of the blood vessels in the brain or neck. A blood clot may stay where it formed or can travel within the body. People with diabetes are at increased risk for strokes caused by blood clots.
A stroke may also be caused by a bleeding blood vessel in the brain. Called an aneurysm, a break in a blood vessel can occur as a result of high blood pressure or a weak spot in a blood vessel wall.
TIAs are caused by a temporary blockage of a blood vessel to the brain. This blockage leads to a brief, sudden change in brain function, such as temporary numbness or weakness on one side of the body. Sudden changes in brain function also can lead to loss of balance, confusion, blindness in one or both eyes, double vision, difficulty speaking, or a severe headache. However, most symptoms disappear quickly and permanent damage is unlikely. If symptoms do not resolve in a few minutes, rather than a TIA, the event could be a stroke. The occurrence of a TIA means that a person is at risk for a stroke sometime in the future.
Heart Failure
Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump blood properly—it does not mean that the heart suddenly stops working. Heart failure develops over a period of years, and symptoms can get worse over time. People with diabetes have at least twice the risk of heart failure as other people. One type of heart failure is congestive heart failure, in which fluid builds up inside body tissues. If the buildup is in the lungs, breathing becomes difficult.
Blockage of the blood vessels and high blood glucose levels also can damage heart muscle and cause irregular heart beats. People with damage to heart muscle, a condition called cardiomyopathy, may have no symptoms in the early stages, but later they may experience weakness, shortness of breath, a severe cough, fatigue, and swelling of the legs and feet. Diabetes can also interfere with pain signals normally carried by the nerves, explaining why a person with diabetes may not experience.
Read more articles on Diabetes causes and risks.
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