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© - Steven A. Cerra - copyright protected; all rights reserved.
"In addition to being the very definition of enlivening swinging, Dizzy Gillespie — whom I knew well — was also an invaluable teacher and humanist. All of Dizzy is here in this book, Music Is Forever, by Dave Usher and Berl Falbaum."
— Nat Hentoff, jazz critic for JAZZed Magazine,
The Wall Street Journal, and author of
At the Jazz Band Ball: Sixty Years on the Jazz Scene
"This book is a major contribution to our knowledge about Dizzy Gillespie, particularly his work in the early 1950s when he had a partnership with Dave Usher in the Dee Gee Record label. Many areas of background are fully fleshed out for the first time, and at the center of the story is the strong bond of friendship between an entrepreneurial Jewish kid and an African-American trumpeter eleven years his senior. Even when Dee Gee failed, due primarily to an error in judgment by Usher — he trusted someone he shouldn't have — the friendship continued, and Usher offers us a very personal view into the life of one of America's best loved entertainers and jazz musicians."
— Alyn Shipton, writer, broadcaster, jazz historian and author of Groovin High, The Life of Dizzy Gillespie
"In the jazz community, it is general knowledge that Dizzy Gillespie and Dave Usher were close. Dave's book discloses the depth of their friendship and the extent of their professional partnership. He tells the story with warmth, humor and detail that further illuminate not only the great trumpeter's genius but also his humanity."
— Doug Ramsey, author of Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond and Jazz Matters: Reflections on the Music and Some of its Makers
"We — John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie and I — were the embodiment of the odd couple. Throughout the years, I often wondered how we developed not only a professional relationship, but a very close personal bond, one that lasted just short of 50 years.
I was born in the North in Detroit; Dizzy was born in the South in Cheraw, South Carolina. I was the youngest of five children; he was the youngest of nine. I had limited musical talent; Dizzy taught himself to play the trombone and trumpet at the age of 10. I grew up in a home that listened exclusively to classical music; Dizzy was exposed to blues and jazz almost from birth, given that his father was a bandleader in Cheraw. I was Jewish; he a believer in the Baha'i Faith to which he converted when he was about 50. (Dizzy grew up in a Methodist household.) Oh yes, I was white; he was black, or more accurately, colored or Negro as African-Americans were called at the time."
- Dave Usher
In his Introduction to Music is Forever, Dizzy Gillespie, the Jazz Legend and Me, Bert Falbaum writes of his co-author: "Dave, I discovered, was a mensch, a Jewish word meaning that the individual has a heart and soul, and he/she is a person of honor and integrity. If anyone ever fit all the nuances of that word, it was Dave."
Not to engage in one upmanship with Bert, but I already knew that Dave Usher was a mensch because when I was preparing a review of the 3-disc set entitled Dizzy Gillespie in South America which Dave released under the banner of his Red Anchor Productions, I wrote to Dave and asked for his permission to use his interview with composer-arranger Lalo Schifrin [Vol. 2] in a video that I was preparing to accompany the blog posting.
Dave graciously wrote back right away and you can view the results of his approval in one of the video that concludes this piece.
I have also included at conclusion of this review a video on Dizzy that features Dizzy Orchestra's performing Cool Breeze from that 1956 South American tour.
Music is Forever, Dizzy Gillespie, the Jazz Legend and Me is available in both a paper bound and Kindle edition from Amazon, and as a paperback edition from Barnes & Noble.
Harmonically and rhythmically, Dizzy Gillespie gave us the basis for preserving and moving forward with the phrasing that alto saxophonist Charlie Parker used in developing the melodic aspects of Bebop.
In teaching Bebop to others, Diz used the two-foot rule: any musician within 2-feet of Dizzy who wanted to learn the language of Bop got a lesson.
I was one of those who got a lesson, although in my case, it had to do with the sound of my ride cymbal.
Dizzy's group was appearing at The Lighthouse Cafe in 1962. Howard Rumsey, the bassist who managed the music at the club was moving away from his set group of Lighthouse All-Stars which had been in place since 1949 to booking name bands into the club.
But in doing so, he kept another tradition that he also instituted in 1949 going: the 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM "All-Day" Sunday Session. He hired groups of young Jazz musicians to perform at the club from 5:30 - 8:30 PM to give the name band musicians a dinner break.
Over the years, Howard had created an enclosed room above the Lighthouse Cafe bandstand that served as a place for musicians to hang out between sets. It also served as his office and housed tape recorders that engineers used for "live" recordings at the club [and whatever else Howard may have wanted to tape].
Needless to say, with Dizzy in residence at the club, there was a constant procession of musicians who wanted to meet the Great Man, including the guys in my band.
During the 3-hour break, Dizzy didn't leave the club, but had food sent up from one of the local eateries.
After the first set, the melody and harmony guys in my band went up to meet Dizzy and to level a barrage of questions at him, mostly to do with harmonic substitutions.
Not wanting to be left out of the opportunity to meet Diz, I tagged along. After patiently answering what seemed like an endless stream of questions from the horn men, Diz looked at me and said: "And you, ask Chuck Lampkin [Dizzy's drummer] if you can use his ride cymbal for a set." When I asked "why" he explained that the overtones from my ride cymbal were "... too jarring and not blending in well."
The cymbal in question was a 20" K-Zildjan medium-ride cymbal, that had been drilled for stainless steel rivets and was flanged around the outer edges [turned up]. I had to admit that it was fun to play on and produced a much more mellow sound.
I found out later [from drummer Mickey Roker] that Dizzy carried that cymbal with him everywhere and made every drummer in his various groups over the years play that thing behind him when he soloed.
Sometimes referred to as a Turkish Trash Cymbal, or just a Trash Cymbal, it took me awhile to find one back in the day, but once I did, I never went anywhere without my "Dizzy Gillespie cymbal."
Upon his passing, composer-arranger-pianist Lalo Schifrin, said of Diz:
"People should understand the importance that Dizzy Gillespie had in the history of Jazz but also on music of the 20th century...."
Thanks to Dave and Bert's efforts in compiling and writing Music is Forever, there is now another primary source in print to further an understanding of Dizzy's significance.
Upon his passing, composer-arranger-pianist Lalo Schifrin, said of Diz:
"People should understand the importance that Dizzy Gillespie had in the history of Jazz but also on music of the 20th century...."
Thanks to Dave and Bert's efforts in compiling and writing Music is Forever, there is now another primary source in print to further an understanding of Dizzy's significance.
Here's the rest of Bert's intro to the book which will tell you all you need to know about how it came to be written.
"I first met Dave Usher sometime in 1991, and that meeting resulted from circumstances that occurred about two or three years earlier.
I was vice president of communications for a Detroit-based company and had written a letter to the editor of a business journal, lambasting its irresponsible coverage of my employer. Dave read the letter and when he met the chairman of the company I was working for at a social event, Dave told my boss that he was impressed. He wondered if I would do some work for him. Of course, that was impossible since I had a full-time job.
However, after I resigned from that position and founded my own PR company in 1989,1 included Dave on a list of potential clients that I intended to contact. I wanted to pursue the possibility that he might still be interested in PR work. I asked the chairman if he remembered the name of Dave's company, but he didn't. My research — checking all the phone books in the area searching for a company whose name might begin with "Usher"— proved futile. Regretfully, I ended my search. C'est la vie.
As luck would have it, one day I was reading the business section of a local paper and saw a photo of Dave Usher and a story about his company, Marine Pollution Control (MPC), which he founded.
I wrote Dave a letter, outlining what my former employer had told me, and Dave responded by inviting me to lunch. We ate, we talked — for about two to three hours — and, as they say, the rest is history. I was hired to assist with PR for MFC and the Spill Control Association of America (SCAA) which Dave also founded and was president of for many years.
Our relationship quickly developed into one of total mutual trust and respect, and, in fact, into a close personal friendship. Dave, I discovered, was a mensch, a Jewish word meaning that the individual has a heart and soul, and he/she is a person of honor and integrity. If anyone ever fit all the nuances of that word, it was Dave.
I learned that while demonstrating a tough and rough exterior, frequently coloring his language with profanity, he was actually a softy. He had a big heart and suffered fools too long, both in his professional and personal relationships. He just couldn't seem to cut ties even when warranted and well overdue. And I know he knows, though he may not admit it, he has paid a price for his humanity.
As I carried out my PR responsibilities for MPC, I discovered Dave's history with Dizzy Gillespie and the world of jazz. He told fascinating stories although he told them very matter-of-factly. There was no bragging, but just a recounting of his years in jazz, and his friendship with Dizzy which he valued immensely. It is no exaggeration to indicate he considered Dizzy a brother, as Dave states frequently in this book.
On one occasion, when Dizzy was in Detroit and stayed at Dave's apartment, I met the jazz giant and exchanged a few pleasantries with him. I was tempted to ask him to play a few bars. I was confident Dizzy would have done so, but I didn't ask, believing it would be an imposition.
Listening to Dave's stories, I recognized that he was a part of music history, important history that needed to be documented and saved. Here was a white Jew from the North and a black man from the South who practiced the Baha'i Faith, partnering to develop and promote jazz. And it was not just with Dizzy. Because of his relationship with Dizzy, Dave met, worked with and befriended some of this country's most outstanding jazz musicians: John "Trane" Coltrane, Ahmad Jamal, Baron "Toots" Thielemans, Ramsey Lewis, Kenny Clarke, Charlie "Yardbird" Parker, Annie Ross, The Jones Brothers, Yusef Lateef, and many others. I was in awe and a little jealous.
Moreover, this partnership with Dizzy began in 1944, at a time when race was still an incendiary issue. The South remained segregated; Brown v. Board of Education which would hold that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal, would not be handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court for another 10 years. Even after the Supreme Court ruling, Southern governors continued to defy court orders and the federal government to integrate schools, and lynching in the South was not yet a matter of history.
It is true that black musicians had "relationships" with record companies run by whites and with white agents, but these, as Dave indicates in his story, were, at times, tinged with distrust. Black artists knew that some white executives in the music business were exploiting them. With limited opportunities, if black musicians wanted increased exposure for their music they had no choice but to accept contracts and financial offers that were not always fair.
The Dizzy-Dave relationship piqued my curiosity. How did they meet? How was this Gillespie-Usher partnership born? Did they discuss the racial implications of their friendship? Did they consider that they might not be accepted? Was there resentment from white and/or black musicians? What was it like to work with Dizzy and the other world-class artists? I had so many questions, questions I believed Dave needed to answer not to satisfy my curiosity, but to satisfy history.
So I asked Dave whether he would be interested in working on a book on his Dizzy/jazz experiences. I argued that this history needed to be saved. He had a unique story that deserved and had to be recorded for millions of jazz fans, and future generations. I implied, subtly, that he almost had an obligation to do so. Dave reacted passively. "Yes," he said, "it sounds like a good idea. Maybe you're right. I'll sleep on it."
After I worked for Dave for about two years, he faced financial pressures at MFC, and told me he could no longer afford PR and ended our professional relationship. It was evident in his voice that it hurt him to do so. He felt bad for me, and he kept apologizing. I told him I understood and respected his decision. We maintained our friendship, and had lunch two, three times a year, as I did with Dave's son, Charlie, who became president of MFC in 2004. Dave and I called each other on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) wishing each other a gut yontiff (good holiday.)
The years passed, but he never raised the subject of the book, although I would revisit the issue with him periodically. The answer was always the same: "I'll think about it, sleep on it." And that he did for some 20 years.
I had given up until after I published a mobster thriller in December 2011. I was quasi-retired and found myself with time on my hands. I decided to call Dave and ask him again. This time his response was a bit more positive. I sensed a different tone in his voice. He listened more closely. I said I didn't need a decision during the phone conversation, but that I would call back in a few days (Dave, at 82 at the time, couldn't wait another 20 years, and I, at 73, couldn't either) and when I did call, it was apparent he had more interest than he'd had years earlier. Actually, he said, "Yes, let's do it."
I set up an appointment at his apartment by the Detroit River just west of downtown Detroit at which I outlined the entire process — the interviews, how much time I would need, my time commitments in writing a draft, reviewing drafts, legal considerations, searching for a publisher, marketing. At the same session, I spent more than two hours delving into his family history.
That was the first of many interviews, all of which I tape-recorded. I interviewed him over a seven-month period. He never tired of the process; he was never impatient no matter how trivial the point I was pursuing. He seemed to enjoy revisiting his past.
I also interviewed musicians who worked with Dizzy and knew Dave well, and I reviewed an archival catalogue covering Dave's 50-year relationship with Dizzy that was compiled by Carol Branston, one of Dave's long-time friends.
As I indicated, Dave is really a softy, his salty language and tough exterior notwithstanding. On numerous occasions, when he discussed particularly poignant remembrances, his eyes would tear up, and sometimes he would cry. I must admit, I fought hard to control my emotions when I saw his tears which were sometimes happy ones, and at other times sad, depending on the respective recollections.
One of the truly bewildering aspects of the interviews was that Dave never referred to any records. He did not make any notes or review papers or documents in anticipation of my questions. He did it all from memory. He could recall dates, spellings, and minor details most people would forget within a few days of their occurrence. Not Dave. He remembered everything.
He remembered street addresses and even apartment numbers in buildings he visited decades earlier. For instance, when he told me that in 1948 the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) enforced a recording ban on artists to protest the financial deals offered by record companies, deals it found unacceptable, he explained that the ban was the work of its president, James C. Petrillo. He recalled the AFM president's name, including the middle initial, and this had happened more than 60 years earlier. Actually, I had noticed this aptitude while working for him.
Throughout my relationship with Dave, I was continually impressed by how he engendered admiration and trust from all those who crossed his path, whether the relationships were professional or personal. The reason, I believe, was that he was committed to an uncompromising standard of honesty and integrity. Some may have disagreed with him on issues, but everyone respected him.
Dave also related fascinating stories on how his father was among the first to launch a recycling business by collecting and refining used motor oil, and how he, Dave, helped pioneer the oil spill and hazardous material cleanup industry. Indeed, Dave became one of the world's leading experts in the business.
When President George Herbert Walker Bush asked the U.S. Coast Guard, after the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, dumped millions of gallons of oil in the Persian Gulf during "Desert Storm" in 1991, who had the best expertise to clean up the oil, he was told "Dave Usher" by U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Joel D. Sipes. The President ordered Dave sent to the Gulf to represent the U.S. as an advisor to the Saudi Arabian government. The assignment almost cost Dave his life when he was caught in quicksand. The headquarters for the operation was located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, a coastal city on the Arabian Peninsula. During his first assignment, Dave was on foot inspecting an oil-damaged marsh when he suddenly began to sink. The quicksand was already above his waist when two coworkers managed to grab him under the armpits and pull him out. They literally yanked him out of his waders. When Dave described the incident, he told me, "My waders are still there." One of the men who saved Dave was MPC general manager, Jeff Heard, Dave's godson and nephew of the jazz drummer J.C. Heard.
After the U.S. ended its involvement in the cleanup, Dave was asked to continue work on the project for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) under the auspices of the United Nations. In all, "commuting" back and forth from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia, he spent one year on the Persian Gulf cleanup operation. Specifically, while an IMO representative, he worked for the Saudi's Meteorological and Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA.)
A sensitive problem which had to be faced and solved in assigning Dave to the Gulf was the fact that he was Jewish. Saudi Arabia did not welcome Jews on its soil, frequently prohibiting entry, particularly if they were Israelis. It was an open question whether Dave would be admitted if the Saudis learned that he was Jewish; it was a risk that needed to be addressed. The Coast Guard raised the issue with President Bush, who ignored the implications that a Jew might be barred by the Saudis. The President simply told the Coast Guard, "Have him at hanger No. 6 at National Airport at 0600." (Dave was told of the President's comments to send him to the Gulf and how the President handled the "Jewish issue" by his Coast Guard contacts.)
However, after the U.S. ended its involvement in the cleanup, his religion became an entirely different matter. When Dave traveled on U.S. government aircrafts, he did not have to worry because he did not need to go through customs or have his passport cleared. When he started flying commercial, however, which he would have to do on many occasions, Dave realized he could face serious problems if the Saudis discovered that he was Jewish. IMO officials addressed the problem while Dave was sitting in a Jaguar, the IMO secretary general's car, in London. The solution they proposed was: When filling out the papers required by the Saudis, Dave was instructed to write "n/a" (not applicable) in the space asking him to declare his religion. He followed the advice and told me, "I never had any trouble." Incidentally, while in Saudi Arabia, Dave periodically telephoned Dizzy in the U.S., and each time Dizzy would ask him, "So did you find a good delicatessen yet? Because if I come over, I want to be able to eat some good kosher food."
After we finished the interviews, I began writing, and as chapters were completed, Dave reviewed the drafts, corrected errors, and suggested editorial changes he deemed appropriate.
I could not have had a more rewarding writing experience. I learned about Dizzy Gillespie, about some of the hallowed figures in jazz, and the contributions my friend — and I consider it a privilege to be able to call him my friend — made to this soul-searing music and how, in his other career, he helped protect the environment by developing sophisticated processes and techniques to clean up oil spills and hazardous materials.
In addition, our friendship seemed to grow during the process, and many interviews concluded with the exchange of warm hugs and testimonials on how much we valued the friendship of the other.
It took Dave 20 years to say "yes," and I am delighted he did. I believe we saved some important jazz history (along with a little Detroit history), and I had the opportunity to spend many delightful hours with this engaging man as he told me about his historic relationship and regaled me with countless warm and very moving stories.


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Item #0174
65 days. Join the beet renaissance! Aside from the health benefits, which include significant amounts of fiber, potassium, folic acid, and vitamin C, beets come in a variety of colors, shapes, and textures. Varieties include Bull's Blood with deep red tops and "candy-striped" roots, Chioggia with interior rings of bright pink and white, and Golden with bright yellow flesh. Recipe inside packet.
This packet sows six 10-foot rows.
Seedling Image
Days to Emerge:
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Seed Spacing:
Row Spacing:
When to sow outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before average last frost, for early summer crop, and late summer for fall crop. Growing during hot temperature periods should be avoided. USDA zones 10 and 11 can sow fall through winter.
When to start inside: Not recommended.
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Harvesting: For early spring sowings, harvest beets before summer heat. For late summer sowings, harvest before first heavy frost. For winter sowings in mild, frost-free climates, harvest in early spring. Harvest when roots are anywhere from 1"-3" in diameter. Do not let them get too big; the smaller they are, the more tender. Foliage can be harvested when 3"-6" tall for the most tender leaves, or as large as 18". You can take as much as one third of a beet plant's outer leaves without harming the root crop; leave at least 2" of center foliage above ground level.
Artist: Carolyn Crawford
Item #0174
3.00 grams
Each Botanical Interests seed packet is rich with information on the outside and inside to guide you through each step of growing from seed to ensure…More…
What is Soil?
Soil is a diverse mix of substances, teeming with life and composed of minerals, decayed plant and animal matter, water, and air. It…More…
To take a small, dormant capsule of life and unlock its culinary and/or…More…

subset: commoncrawl


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Please enter the full name, registration number or studbook number for the Sire & Dam below.
When searching by name you must include the exact spelling of the dog's registered name as it appears on the dog's registration certificate and in the BRS.
Copyright © The Kennel Club Limited 2020. The unauthorised reproduction of text and images is strictly prohibited.


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LinedUp Responsive Coming Soon Template is a clean theme built with Bootstrap from Twitter.
This template is a great solution for promoting your upcoming website! It has subscription and contact forms so people can stay in touch with you during time when your proper website is in development.Features:
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For decades, the theory that lowering cholesterol is always beneficial has been a core principle of cardiology. It has been accepted by doctors and used by drug makers to win quick approval for new medicines to reduce cholesterol.
But now some prominent cardiologists say the results of two recent clinical trials have raised serious questions about that theory and the value of two widely used cholesterol-lowering medicines, Zetia and its sister drug, Vytorin. Other new cholesterol-fighting drugs, including one that Merck hopes to begin selling this year, may also require closer scrutiny, they say.
"The idea that you're just going to lower LDL and people are going to get better, that's too simplistic, much too simplistic," said Dr. Eric J. Topol, a cardiologist and director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, Calif. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is the so-called bad cholesterol, in contrast to high-density lipoprotein, or HDL.
For patients and drug companies, the stakes are enormous. Led by best sellers like Lipitor from Pfizer, cholesterol-lowering medicines, taken by tens of millions of patients daily, are the largest drug category worldwide, with annual sales of $40 billion.
Despite widespread use of the drugs, though, heart disease remains the biggest killer in the United States and other industrialized nations, and many people still have cholesterol levels far higher than doctors recommend.
As a result, drug companies are investing billions of dollars in experimental new cholesterol-lowering medicines that may eventually be used alongside the existing drugs. If the new questions result in slower approvals, it would be yet another handicap for the drug industry.
Because the link between excessive LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular disease has been so widely accepted, the Food and Drug Administration generally has not required drug companies to prove that cholesterol medicines actually reduce heart attacks before approval.
They have not had to conduct so-called outcome or events trials beforehand, which are expensive studies that involve thousands of patients and track whether episodes like heart attacks are reduced.
So far, proof that a drug lowers LDL cholesterol has generally been enough to lead to approval. Only then does the drug's maker begin an events trial. And until the results of that trial are available, a process that can take several years, doctors and patients must accept the medicine's benefits largely on faith.
"You've got a huge chasm between F.D.A. licensure and a clinical events trial," said Dr. Allen J. Taylor, the chief of cardiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Nonetheless, the multistep process has worked well for several cholesterol drugs including Lipitor and Zocor, which are in a class of drugs known as statins. In those cases, the postapproval trials confirmed that the drugs reduce heart attacks and strokes, adding to confidence about the link between cholesterol and heart disease.
Doctors generally believe that the amount by which cholesterol is lowered, not the method of lowering it, is what matters.
That continues to be the assumption of Dr. Scott M. Grundy, a professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center who was the chairman of a panel in 2001 that set national guidelines for cholesterol treatment.
"LDL lowering, however it occurs, delays development of coronary atherosclerosis and reduces risk for heart attack," Dr. Grundy said this week. In atherosclerosis, plaque builds up in the arteries, eventually leading to blood clots and other problems that cause heart attacks and strokes.
In the last 13 months, however, the failures of two important clinical trials have thrown that hypothesis into question.
First, Pfizer stopped development of its experimental cholesterol drug torcetrapib in December 2006, when a trial involving 15,000 patients showed that the medicine caused heart attacks and strokes. That trial somewhat unusual in that it was conducted before Pfizer sought F.D.A. approval also showed that torcetrapib lowered LDL cholesterol while raising HDL, or good cholesterol.
Torcetrapib's failure, Dr. Taylor said, shows that lowering cholesterol alone does not prove a drug will benefit patients.
Then, on Monday, Merck and Schering-Plough announced that Vytorin, which combines Zetia with Zocor, had failed to reduce the growth of fatty arterial plaque in a trial of 720 patients. In fact, patients taking Vytorin actually had more plaque growth than those who took Zocor alone.
Despite those drawbacks, that trial, called Enhance, also showed that patients on Vytorin had lower LDL levels than those on Zocor alone. For the second time in just over a year, a clinical trial found that LDL reduction did not translate into measurable medical benefits.
The Enhance trial was not an events trial and was not intended to study whether Zetia or Vytorin were effective at reducing heart attacks. But the growth of fatty plaque is closely correlated with heart attacks and strokes.
Without data from events trials for Zetia and Vytorin, no one can be certain if the drugs help or hurt patients. But Merck and Schering did not begin an events trial for the drugs until 2006, nearly four years after the F.D.A. approved Zetia. That trial will not be completed until 2011.
Dr. Robert M. Califf, the vice chancellor for clinical research at Duke University, and a co-lead investigator on the Zetia trial still under way, said companies should have started the trials more quickly. "Outcome trials ought to start when you know you're going to get on the market," he said.
On Tuesday, the American Heart Association called for the Zetia outcome trial to be completed as quickly as possible.
Merck has asked the F.D.A. to approve its drug Cordaptive, which raises HDL cholesterol and lowers LDL, without waiting for the results of an events trial. Merck has begun an events trial for Cordaptive, but data will not be available until 2013.
Merck has submitted the application for Cordaptive and has said it expects an answer from the F.D.A. before July. Doctors, patients and the drug industry will be waiting to see whether regulators are still willing to accept the theory that lower cholesterol is always a good thing.


text: VJ SOFTS Home / VJ SOFTS / VJ SOFTS VJ SOFTS Oct 10, 2017 fluke No comments yet About the author: fluke Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Search for: Recent Posts Recent Comments No comments added yet. Archives Meta Log in


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Saab has just announced that the 2008 Turbo X — the new range-topping version of their 9-3 sedan — will start at $54,995 — just shy of 55,000 loonies. Do the math and that's $53,898 in real money, $11,388 (USD) more than the car will start at south of the Windsor-Detroit line. Yet vehicle sales in Canada remain strong, despite continuing price disparities and in contrast to US sales, which are on the decline.
Report on Business reports that while US auto sales are projected to fall to 14.9 million this year - the lowest level since 1997 and down from 16.1 million last year - Canadian sales are projected to hit 1.645 million, only a slight decrease from last year's 1.653. The strong market there is being credited to strong job creation.
The paper goes on to report that vehicle prices in Canada have fallen about 5% so far this year, due in part to widespread publicity about vehicle price disparities between the two countries. This despite the stabilizing exchange rate between the two currencies during the same time period. But this correction only goes a small way to addressing the higher prices Canadians are asked to pay for vehicles, which, as evidenced here, are often 20% more than their US equivalent.
Saab's Press Release announcing Canadian pricing follows:
Saab's Turbo X and Innovative New Cross Wheel Drive Technology Take Vehicle Handling and Control To New Levels
Oshawa, Ontario (April 9, 2008) - General Motors of Canada today announced pricing on the new, limited edition 2008 Saab Turbo X 9-3 variant. The all-black Turbo X takes Saab "back to the future," evoking the iconic appeal of the first black 99 and 900 Turbos while introducing Saab's cutting-edge "cross wheel drive" (XWD) technology, with pricing starting at $54,995 for the Sport Sedan version and $56,305 for the SportCombi. Saab's advanced new XWD system is also available as an option on 2008 9-3 Aero models, in both body styles, for $2,340.
Turbo X
Saab celebrates three decades of leadership in turbocharging by launching the 2008 Saab Turbo X, a driver-focused performance car that sets new standards of performance and capability for the brand. The Saab Turbo X has enhanced aerodynamic performance and a distinctive appearance, including specially designed 18-inch alloy wheels that have a grey, titanium-like finish and draw on Saab's classic three-spoke design. The "black turbo" theme is continued in the uniquely equipped interior which includes premium leather.
The Turbo X is the ultimate performance expression of the new Saab 9-3 range. It delivers levels of driver involvement and dynamic chassis control never experienced before from Saab. To exploit the full benefits of Saab XWD technology, the chassis of the Turbo X has been lowered 10 mm and the springs and dampers optimized to minimize body movement. To maintain a constant ride height, self-leveling dampers are fitted at the rear.
Stopping power is also increased with larger brake discs fitted: internally ventilated, 345 mm-diameter (13.6-inch) at the front; and externally ventilated, 292 mm (11.5-inch) at the rear. Standard 235/45 R18 tires ensure excellent grip for the 18-inch alloy wheels.
XWD driving experience
Developed in Sweden with Haldex of Stockholm, the Saab XWD "Cross Wheel Drive" system is designed to optimize vehicle handling and stability in all driving conditions. It is offered in the 2008 Saab Turbo X and Aero versions of the 9-3 Sport Sedan and SportCombi, in combination with an uprated 280hp, 2.8L V6 turbo which now delivers almost 15% more maximum torque (295 lbs./ft.) to exploit the greater traction available. Engine design features include a lightweight, all-aluminum construction, with a 60-degree angle between the cylinder banks for perfect balance; variable-inlet valve timing and twin-scroll turbocharging. XWD is offered with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
The state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system on the Turbo X includes two innovative features: pre-emptive engagement of the rear wheels to optimize traction at take-off; and an active rear limited-slip differential (eLSD), allowing variable torque transfer between the rear wheels.
Saab XWD is a fully automatic, on-demand system capable of sending up to 100 percent of engine torque to the front or rear wheels, whenever necessary. While offering drivers sure-footed handling in low-grip conditions, the system's sophisticated operation also enhances the sporty driving experience in all road conditions. Fine balancing of the drive torque between the front and rear axles raises the threshold at which ESP throttle and braking interventions are triggered, providing more scope for closer driver involvement.
At take-off, a torque transfer device (TTD) is initially activated engaging the rear drive module. This pre-emptive function is a valuable improvement over current technology, which requires the detection of wheel slip before the TTD is activated. For the driver, the enhanced functionality gives maximum traction immediately for smooth, strong acceleration from rest without the possibility of any initial hesitation.
On the open road, drive torque is seamlessly and continuously varied between the axles by the control of a valve in the TTD. When cornering, Saab XWD rewards the driver by providing enhanced, more finely balanced chassis dynamics through the application of rear drive to balance oversteer and understeer characteristics, improving stability and road holding.
In highway cruising conditions, when traction or optimum grip is not an issue, only 5- to 10-percent of engine torque is typically transmitted to the rear wheels providing a greater measure of stability while helping to save fuel.
The Turbo X also features an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential (eLSD), which uses inputs from the rear wheel speed sensors and can transfer up to 40 percent of torque between the drive shafts, to whichever wheel has more grip. It represents the first application of an electronically controlled, rear limited-slip differential in the segment.
The eLSD also gives the driver enhanced control when cornering hard or completing a high-speed maneuver, such as a lane change, by momentarily applying more or less torque to either of the wheels to help the rear of the car more closely follow the direction of the front wheels. This yaw damping effect can keep the car better balanced and more tightly controlled, without requiring "outside" intervention from electronic stability aides.
General Motors of Canada (GMCL) is engineering and manufacturing advanced environmental technologies ranging from Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and hybrid systems to E85 biofuel and fuel cell vehicles - more than any other auto company right here in Canada. Headquartered in Oshawa Ontario, GMCL employs more than 19,000 people nationwide. GM of Canada manufactures vehicles, vehicle powertrains, and markets the full range of General Motors vehicles and related services through 732 dealerships and retailers across Canada. Vehicles sold through this network include Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer, Saab and Cadillac.


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Arizona Diamondbacks Selling Mega-Stuffed $25 Corn Dog [PHOTO]
If you think ticket prices for pro sporting events are spiraling out of control, then wait until you hear about the cost of the food.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have unveiled the new D-Bat Dog, which fans can buy during home games this year.
The culinary concoction is a foot-and-a-half-long corn dog jammed with cheddar cheese, jalapenos and bacon. In case that doesn't fill you up or wreak havoc with your digestive system, it also comes with a side of fries. It all comes with a $25 price tag. Shame and regret after finishing are free of charge.


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A black maternity skirt or pencil skirt makes for perfect office wear, while a denim skirt will go with any of your pregnancy shirts, and we love the airy, printed skirts from 1 et 1 font 3 . Discover all these items and more at émoi émoi!


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Updated 2:11 p.m.
• Building Windows for the ARM processor architecture – Microsoft finally provides some details about how Windows 8 on ARM processors will work. It won't run legacy desktop apps, but there will be a desktop interface available, Windows chief Steve Sinofsky says.
Updated 9:14.a.m.
• Apple to Announce iPad 3 First Week in March – According to AllThingsD, sources indicate it will have better display and a faster processor.
• Steve Jobs' FBI File Released – The file contains a background investigation for a possible appointment to the President's Export Council, and an investigation into a 1985 bomb threat against Jobs' life. The document is embedded below.
Original post
• Google Near Launch of Cloud Storage Service – Google's long-rumored "Gdrive" service is closer to reality, the Wall Street Journal reports, and will compete with services like Dropbox.
• Google letter to standards bodies indicates no improvement whatsoever over Motorola's FRAND litigation tactics – If a product contains even a small component that uses a Motorola patent, Google will want 2.25 percent of the product's entire selling price. And Justice Department Poised to Clear Google-Motorola Deal
• Protesters target Apple stores in 'ethical iPhone' campaign – Groups will protest against conditions in Chinese electronics factories where Apple's products are made. The protests will take place in six cities: Washington, D.C., New York City, San Francisco, London, Sydney and Bangalore.
• Apple's iTunes Match (aka iMatch): The First Royalties Are In – Artists are being paid by Apple every time a song is played via iTunes Match. One artist made $10,000 in two months.
• The iPhone is a nightmare for carriers – The subsidies they must pay Apple to keep the cost of the iPhone low on their networks significantly hurts their bottom lines. The more iPhones they sell, the lower their margins.
• Alleged iPad 3 casing photo appears, sources say coming soon with improved GPU but no quad-core, thicker profile – If it's February, these must be new-iPad rumors.
• Foxconn hacked by group called SwaggSec, here's what they are looking at… – What appear to be intranets between Foxconn and its vendors – apparently including Apple – has been hacked through an unpatched Internet Explorer vulnerability.
• Tim Berners-Lee Takes the Stand to Keep the Web Free – The man who invented the Web testifies in a patent case that could end up costing every site operator whose pages include "interactive features". And Patent Troll Claims Ownership of Interactive Web – And Might Win
• We are sorry. – Path apologizes for uploading iPhone contact lists without asking. The company destroyed the contact data it acquired and has moved to an opt-in process for acquiring contact information.
• Zuckerberg Takes Control, You Get $100 – New documents filed with the SEC shows Facebook's founder gained control of more than 57 percent of the company's stock by paying other big stockholders $100 each in exchange for being able to vote their shares. Also Facebook Details Bonuses for Top Executives
• T-Mobile offers its whole 4G phone selection for free Feb. 11 to spread the love
• Why we are buying paidContent – GigaOM acquires paidContent.
• Youths Are Watching, but Less Often on TV – Traditional TV watching among young people is down, but that's because they've shifted their television habits to tablets and smartphones.
• Groupon Reports Quarterly Loss, But Beats Revenue Expectations in Its First Earnings Release


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CHICAGO — After all the dust has settled, it appears that Bally Total Fitness, Chicago, will not only emerge from bankruptcy faster than analysts predicted, but it also appears the number of Bally casualties as a result of bankruptcy has been greatly exaggerated.
A bankruptcy court ruled on Sept. 17 that Bally had met all the requirements to confirm its Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. With this ruling by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, Bally expected to emerge from Chapter 11 as a private company by the end of last month.
Only one Bally club was scheduled to close as a result of the company's bankruptcy, says Bally spokesperson Matt Messinger. Analysts had predicted that Bally would close 100 or more clubs during bankruptcy. In a liquidation analysis submitted by Bally's attorneys, the company said it expected to close 53 clubs.
In the end, Bally rejected the lease of just the one club in Mission Viejo, CA, and that club was scheduled to close at the end of last month, says Messinger, who adds that there are more than 375 Bally clubs worldwide, including 356 in the United States. Some clubs closed during the time Bally spent in bankruptcy, but that was not a result of the reorganization process, Messinger says.
According to Bally's prepackaged plan, shareholders led by Harbinger Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, would invest approximately $233.6 million in exchange for 100 percent of the common equity interest of reorganized Bally. That would make Harbinger Capital Partners the new owner of Bally Total Fitness.
"The court's confirmation of our plan paves the way for our emergence from Chapter 11, and we look forward to a rejuvenated Bally Total Fitness under Harbinger's leadership," says Don Kornstein, Bally's interim chairman and chief restructuring officer.
One of the reasons for Bally's apparent quick exit from bankruptcy was its prepackaged plan, in which Bally obtained approval in advance from bondholders before going to bankruptcy court.
In August, the court ruled that Bally could alter its Chapter 11 plan without re-soliciting approval from all creditors, who still hold some of Bally's debt but do not have any of the stock now held by Harbinger. (As of Dec. 31, 2006, Bally listed $396.8 million of assets and $761.3 million of debt.) Once the court ruled that Bally did not have to re-solicit approval from creditors because of Harbinger's superior alternate plan, the company expected to emerge from bankruptcy in 60 to 90 days, Messinger says.
The court also overruled objections to the reorganization plan from landlords of some Bally clubs, most of whom wanted to ensure that Bally was going to continue their leases, Messinger says.
Harbinger Capital Partners, which this year bought more than 400,000 shares of stock from Bally's second-largest shareholder, Liberation Investment Group, has traditionally invested in troubled companies. Typically, private equity firms like Harbinger invest in companies for only a few years and then sell them.
As of June 1, 2007, Harbinger Capital Partners was managing in excess of $8.7 billion through its strategies.


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We help businesses transform their workforce so they can accelerate performance.
We can help you solve a variety of workforce and talent related challenges.
Whether you need to transform an entire workforce, improve the effectiveness of leaders or teams, or simply help one person succeed or transition in their career, we can help.
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Corporate realignment can be difficult for everyone involved. You'll need to mitigate any risks and assist your employees to ensure a smooth career transition.
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A new Module Downloader is now built into the program. With it you can view all available resources and download any of them directly into e-Sword. You can see which ones you currently have installed and which ones you have yet to install. You can also see if any of the installed modules have been updated.If you haven't already tried e-Sword, I suggest you check it out.
All of the Search routines have been enhanced, providing even more information for study.
"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'"
Monday, January 17, 2011
e-Sword Updated to Version 9.8.2
5 comments:
TheWord is also a fine free Bible study program, as powerful and, I think, more flexible than e-Sword. I used e-Sword for many years, switched to TheWord and haven't looked back!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the comment. There are many who would agree with you, and I am personally thankful for having such good options to choose from.ReplyDelete
The new Module Downloader is definitely a much appreciated feature! I always wondered if I was missing new resources, but didn't want to take the time to compare my installed modules with those that were listed on the site. I hope the Module Downloader eventually adds resources created by users...that would be an awesome tool!ReplyDelete
I couldn't agree more.ReplyDelete
I just wish it was available for the Mac.ReplyDelete


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Bandhani Bonanza is a Printed Jutti made from Pure Chiffon and Pure Leather. A Hand Crafted Piece perfect to go with any outfit. "Jutti" is an Urdu word for a shoe with a closed upper attached to a sole. Juttis come in many variations according to regional tradition, period and shoemaker, and are adapted according to the environment and materials. One of the unique characteristics of this kind of footwear is that they have no left and right distinction, and are inevitably flat-soled.
Dimension: Sizes 35,36,37,38,39,40,41
Color: Red
Finish: Handmade
Sole: Pure Leather
Material: Cotton
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Imagine the possibilities. Take something everybody uses, such as pepper, and find a way to charge breathtakingly higher prices for it, as in "peppercorn mélange." We're seeing this every day. Food processors are turning to exotic versions of common condiments to up the prices and margins.
Imagine the possibilities. Take something everybody uses, such as pepper, and find a way to charge breathtakingly higher prices for it, as in "peppercorn mélange."
We're seeing this every day. Food processors are turning to exotic versions of common condiments to increase the prices and margins.
McCormick Peppercorn Mélange costs six times as much as common black pepper in a 1.62-ounce bottle, and you do the grinding.
Table salt costs about 49 cents for 26 ounces. French gray sea salt fine crystals (grains is too common) runs about $5.50 for the same amount. Sicilian fine grain? Ask for the market price, but expect to pay at least 20 times more than for common salt.
And then we have balsamic vinegar, made for many centuries in Italy but suddenly discovered eight years ago. Word is that a fabulous Paris restaurant took a chance on it and a famous food magazine hopped on in a review. In a year, balsamic became a darling, but at a price. It was about 10 bucks an ounce, compared with $1.99 for 24 ounces of domestic red-wine vinegar.
We all know what happened to mustard. French's yellow, excellent on anybody's list, is about 25 cents per ounce, as good a mustard as you can find. Dickinson's Family Stone Ground is almost two bucks an ounce in their thumb-size jars. Imported French mustards run seven to 10 times French's cost.
Then something happens. These products get a mention on a TV cooking show. Overnight they suddenly have a mass market. In the food business, that can mean only one thing: Competition.
So the pepper blend is available on other labels for less than half of the McCormick price. Sea salt is mainstreaming in at $1.75 for 26 ounces of Roland's Mediterranean. Balsamic vinegar has gone from astronomical to a down-to-earth $2.50 for 17 ounces, imported from Italy.
Prices for gourmet mustards in fancy jars have held up, but some gourmets have made the jump to the standard and are selling at standard prices. Grey Poupon is one, originating as a French delicacy, now produced by the ton at Kraft Foods. Cleveland's fine Ballpark mustard once was a neighborhood favorite, now produced for the masses at low cost.
One more: Olive oil. Fine ones can run $30 an ounce or more. Still, oils imported from Italy without fancy bottles can run $2 an ounce.
The question always is of worth. Granted, the cute jars cost more than plastic squeeze bottles, but should you invest in luxury?
Pepper blends
We've consumed black pepper for decades. The blends will open your eyes, and your nostrils. If you like pepper, you'll love them, and be sure to grind your own. Pepper oil, their source of flavor, is fleeting, so buy in reasonable quantities. WORTH IT.
Sea salts
OK, there's less sodium in sea salt, so it's better for us, plus a lot of trace minerals that may be beneficial. Still, I think the emphasis should be on removing salt from our diet, not increasing it. I cannot tell the difference when cooked. NOT WORTH IT.
Balsamic vinegars
This is vinegar at 100 mph, created from waste wine grapes in Italy. It is a treat after a lifetime of our tepid vinegars. The difference between cheap and costly is strength. You can make cheap as strong and smooth as expensive by boiling some of the water out of it. WORTH IT.
Good old common French's yellow and Gulden's classic brown consistently score high in taste tests against their costly brethren. Price has no relation to quality in this business. (Don't pay premium prices for the addition of horseradish. Mix your own.) It's more the atmosphere of the container than anything else. Of course, if what you love is costly, then it's worth it. Otherwise: NOT WORTH IT.
Olive oil
You can buy imported olive oil that is so diluted with vegetable oil that it might as well be sold as it. Then there are expensive oils fine enough to eat raw on a piece of bread. You should have at least one expensive bottle in your pantry and use it for dipping only on extravagant occasions. WORTH IT.
The Repository (Canton, Ohio)


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Alyssa Henry has served as General Manager, Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), since February 2007. Before Amazon S3, Henry was Director of Software Developer for Ordering with responsibility for Amazon's ordering workflow software and databases. Prior to joining Amazon, Henry spent 12 years at Microsoft working on databases and data access technologies.
Reach business leaders and technology influencers at the Web 2.0 Summit. Call Kristen Nicasio at (415) 947-6283 or email email@example.com
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As many of you prepare for the upcoming March Break, we'd like to post a little reminder about some of the construction that has been happening here at the Harbour front.
For the remainder of March, the TTC will be limiting access on the University line affecting those traveling between St. George and Union stations. Major re-signalling work over four weekends this month will modernize the TTC signals, relays, wiring and cabling equipment, much of which was originally installed when the University line opened 50 years ago. To accommodate surface travel, a frequent, accessible bus service will operate and shuttle service information is available on the TTC site.
The following weekends will NOT have service between St. George and Union station:
- Sunday, March 10 (starting Saturday, March 9 at midnight).
- Sunday, March 17 (starting Saturday, March 16 at midnight).
- Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24.
For those who are already close to the Harbourfront, demolition work will continue at the Peter Slip Bridge after having been delayed due to bad weather. Pedestrian access on the southside of the Peter Slip Bridge is not available due to the confined working space. The northside sidewalk remains open at all times. Crews are expected to remain working in the area until May when the surface of the bridge including the new TTC corridor is complete.
The York Street construction of the new parking lay-by (which will provide a safe area for short-term passenger loading and unloading from coaches and tour buses visiting the waterfront) is nearing completion. Final paving is expected to be completed this week and regulatory signs will be posted once the lay-by area is finished.
If you'd like to avoid all the driving detours our pedestrian directions from previous blogs still apply or you can plan your route based on the full construction details found at the Waterfront Toronto website.
– Posted by Brittany Holliss, MIA's Visitor Services Officer


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(CNN) -- Ryan Giggs is venturing where few footballers have gone before.
On Friday the Welshman turned 40, marking the start of a new chapter of a career which has seen him achieve unprecedented success with Manchester United.
Twenty two years, eight months and 27 days on from his debut for the Old Trafford club, Giggs is officially the most decorated player in English football history.
The explosive winger turned midfield playmaker has won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League titles, not to mention numerous personal accolades.
Whle most middle aged men are worrying about their waistlines, Giggs seemingly remains impervious to the ravages of time.
So just what is his secret?
According to the man himself -- yoga
Happy 40th birthday, Ryan Giggs. Retweet this to show your appreciation for #mufc's record appearance-maker. pic.twitter.com/rVpysXkOig— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 29, 2013
"You can feel it working and you can feel the benefits straight away," he was quoted as telling the Manchester Evening News. "My body feels so much better having done the yoga.
"I still get the odd hamstring strain, which you are going to get playing football, but it wasn't about curing the problem, but making it less frequent. I wish I had done it from the start of my career."
At an age where most players have long since hung up their boots, 8308 days on from his first United appearance as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat by Everton, Giggs is demonstrating rare longevity.
"Ryan is obviously a different player now compared to when he broke through as a 17-year-old winger," Henning Berg, who played alongside Giggs at United between 1997 and 2000, told the club's official website.
"But that says a lot about how football has developed in terms of sports science to make sure that players still have enough power and energy to play the physical part of the game."
Even accounting for advances in sports science, Giggs' ability to remain effective at the top level as he enters his fifth decade is still exceptional.
Read: Belounis back in France after Qatar "nightmare"
Italian defensive stalwart Paolo Maldini, a picture of durability and the rock of a successful AC Milan defense for 24 years, called time on his own glittering career at Giggs' age.
Brazilian striker Romario retired in 2008 aged 42, before making a one-game comeback in 2009, saying he was unable to regulate his body weight while not playing regularly.
It is Giggs' ability to remain in peak physical condition which sets him apart from other aged soccer stars.
Few players could have controlled a top-level match the way Giggs did this week, orchestrating United's 5-0 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen in a Champions League group match.
United manager David Moyes, who took over from Ferguson at Old Trafford, is still a keen admirer of Giggs' talents.
The Scot highlighted Giggs as the perfect role model for any young player looking for a long, successful career in the sport.
"People mention his age but all you should mention is his football ability," Moyes, who has appointed Giggs as a player/coach, told a press conference.
"He's an unbelievable footballer. All round he is a wonderful player and I am really fortunate to be working with him.
"Ryan will tell us when he has had enough, or when he thinks his time is up," the former Everton manager added.
"He keeps training day in day out and his performances since I came to the club in the summer have been excellent.
"I think, when you get to Ryan's age, it's best to make decisions at the end of the season. It's how you feel, how you've done over the year and what your body is telling you.
"There's no quick decisions on that one. He's on the staff now, so we can always use him at any time!"
Giggs also credits his continued influence and fitness to spending his entire career at one club, avoiding the upheaval which can accompany numerous transfers.
"If I'd moved from club to club I'd be finished by now," Giggs said after his virtuoso performance in Leverkusen.
"I'm lucky that I have been at one club, where I am surrounded by good players. I also have a good manager.
"I look after myself and try to train every day in order to make myself available for selection.
"I enjoy it as much as I can and, of course, try to contribute to the team."
Read: Six arrested in UK match fixing probe
For much of his time at United Giggs was part of a group of homegrown players affectionately known as the "Class of 92" -- referring to the year United won the FA Youth Cup.
Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville all broke into the first team together and went on to achieve era-defining success under the tutelage of legendary United manager Alex Ferguson, who retired last season after 26 years at the helm.
In his recently-released book Ferguson refers to Giggs as the leader of the group, who are celebrated in the forthcoming documentary "Class of '92."
"He was the King, the man," says Ferguson when referring to his longest serving players.
On Sunday Giggs could make his 954th appearance for United in its match against Tottenham Hotspur.
At 40, he is four years older than Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas, a statistic which puts Giggs' incredible staying power into perspective.
Read: Social media making mockery of privacy laws


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In a year where its sales fell and losses mounted, Eastman Kodak Co. finished 2011 with 5,129 Rochester-area employees, down 780 from a year ago. That decline puts the onetime local giant below Xerox Corp. and out of the top five largest private-sector area employers.
At the end of 2011, Kodak employed the full-time equivalent of some 17,081 people, including 8,341 in the United States. A year earlier, the company employed 18,800 people worldwide, with 9,600 in the United States.
Kodak had reported having 7,100 Rochester employees a year ago, but the apparent big drop reflects a change in its classification system, Kodak spokesman Christopher Veronda said. Its system previously counted as Rochester employees a number of non-local staffers—1,200 in 2011—who report to Rochester-based supervisors. Kodak employed 5,909 locally in 2010 using the new methodology.
Kodak reported the employment numbers with its 2011 results late Wednesday in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The annual report shows Kodak struggled mightily in the year leading up to its bankruptcy.
In 2011, the company burned through more than $763 million in cash as sales dropped sharply and it suffered a bigger loss.
Kodak posted of a net loss of $764 million, or $2.84 a share, compared with a loss of $687 million, or $2.56 a share, in 2010. Net sales totaled $6.02 billion, down 16 percent from $7.17 billion in 2010.
The company finished the year with $861 million in cash, down from $1.6 billion a year earlier.
Chairman and CEO Antonio Perez had said in November the company expected to finish the year with $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion in cash. Kodak had finished the third quarter with $862 million in cash. Hitting the full-year cash forecast depended on the company executing its operational plans and assumed full-year sales of non-strategic assets totaling some $200 million and intellectual property licensing transactions of $250 million to $350 million, Perez said in November.
Prior to Kodak's Jan. 19 bankruptcy filing, analysts had expected the company's revenues to decline 13 percent to $6.2 billion. That was below Kodak's guidance of $6.3 billion to $6.4 billion.
A big hit for Kodak came on the intellectual property front where revenues from non-recurring IP licensing agreements tumbled in 2011. The agreements contributed $82 million in 2011, down from $838 million in 2010 and $435 million in 2009.
In addition to the IP revenue drop, the company's top and bottom lines were hurt by industry-related volume declines and increased commodity costs, particularly silver, the company states in the filing. Revenue declines also resulted from competitive pricing pressures and participation choices made by Kodak in digital cameras.
Kodak last month announced plans to phase out its dedicated capture devices business—including digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames—in the first half of 2012.
Some revenue decline was offset by sales growth in consumer inkjet and the graphic communications group, but profitability was hurt by Kodak's ongoing investment in the consumer and commercial inkjet businesses, the company said.
Kodak reported net sales from continuing operations for its consumer digital imaging group of $1.74 billion, down 36 percent from $2.73 billion in 2010. The graphic communications group saw an uptick of 2 percent—including a 3 percent foreign currency impact—to $2.74 billion. The film, photofinishing and entertainment group saw revenues fall 12 percent to $1.55 billion for the year.
Consumer digital imaging group reported a loss from continuing operations of $349 million, compared with income a year ago of $278 million. The graphic communications group loss grew 101 percent to $191 million, compared with $95 million in 2010. The film, photofinishing and entertainment group posted the only segment income, at $34 million, down 63 percent.
(c) 2012 Rochester Business Journal. To obtain permission to reprint this article, call 585-546-8303 or email email@example.com.


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Hi I need to make a program to implement classes for the amazon website with crc cards provided. I have to implement the basic classes for the website(Book, Profile, Member, RecallItem, BookItem, Review, Statistics, Order, Event). The first question for implementing classes says: Classes should show attributes, at least one constructor, getters, setters, toString() behavior that returns a String representation of the state of an object
How can I know weither my class attributes and methods are static, private or another access level? And for the constructor, what should it take or return as arguments ? What does getters and setters mean?
For the toString() behavior shlould I implement it in each class so that i can use it after to show the state of the objects ?
Please I really need help, I a just starting java and my level is not good, and this assignement is due in 2 days


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This is a guest post by Saunder, a Holy Paladin from Non-squishy Heals.
Before I start I guess I should say a bit about myself. I have 2 level 80 Holy/Ret dual-specced Pallys (instance as holy, solo as ret), a 73 hunter and a 58 druid. Well I have lots more, but they are the important ones.
Most of you will be familiar with the idea of Symbiotic relationships. One definition of such relationships is that it occurs where both organisms benefit. I see alts as exactly this sort of relationship.
The hunter was my original toon. I leveled him in the blissful ignorance that comes from not reading about game mechanics, and running instances in the totally blithe knowledge that the tank will *always* have aggro, and the healer will *always* keep you alive. After all, a hunter is DPS so all that matters is how much damage he or she can do, yes?
I then rolled a Pally, and enjoyed it. I liked healing and now my Pallys are unquestionably my mains … Can you have multiple 'main's? Anyway … And I found out some rather nasty truths. The first one was that Hunters who don't manage their own aggro, even at the expense of their DPS are very very unpleasant group mates to have for healers at times. I have come to realise that my play as the hunter has been immeasurably improved by playing a healer. You may ask why – well, now I know that DPS isn't everything. You need to find ways to put out the best DPS *without* pulling more threat than the tank and, if that isn't enough, sometimes there is no better thing for the group and the run as a whole than for the DPS to fall on their sword and protect the healer, even at the expense of their own life and repair bill. It's not what you signed up for, but it *is* the hard reality. Not only have these observations led to much improved play as the hunter, I hope that the number of pug members swearing at me behind my back has decreased markedly. I firmly believe that to be a really effective DPS, you need to play a healer, most likely to a high enough level to run some reasonable instances with pugs and learn some of the mistakes that will keep you on your main, and your group mates, alive and happy longer.
The second truth I found was that of healing priorities. In an instance, your first and foremost role as a healer is to stay alive. That may be a very selfish view, but seriously, how much healing can you do dead? The best tank and group in the world will need heals at some point (ok, with a couple of Blood DK's or a hybrid class that can step in that may not be an absolute, but you know what I mean) and that means you the healer need to be alive and kicking so that you can provide those heals. (It's also a pain in the behind to have to keep running back from a graveyard if you are the only one who can res but that is secondary). The next priority is the tank. Obviously anyone who is going to keep the attention of the instance denizens away from you and the rest of the group is a good person to look after. And, in case you hadn't noticed, healers tend to be high up there on the threat table. Second on a threat table is a bad place to be if the first on the table dies, usually leading to the situation above where you can't heal the rest of the group as you are dead!
So there it is, Healing Priorities in a nutshell. Now, now, now, before I hear all you DPS baying at the moon for my blood (do feral Druids in kitty form still bay? *grin*), I don't mean that I don't heal the DPS, far from it. I will heal anyone in a party or raid, players, pets, mind controlled mobs or whoever but I will heal them after I heal myself and the tank. In a perfect world no-one will die in an instance run, but, with the exceptions of DPS-races where the boss enrage-wipes, the death of a DPS is merely an inconvenience. The death of a tank or healer is often disastrous. DPS need to understand that there are times, and that is particularly true if they do something crazy, that death is inevitable. Live with it, and know that we your healers try to keep it to a minimum.
Then there is the very uncomfortable truth that there are players out there who just don't seem to 'get' it. You can tell them that unloading the full barrage of their uber talents and abilities before the tank has established threat is a bad idea until you are blue in the face and they will not change their ways. Surprising how fast they learn when you let them die as a result of their actions. Explain to them the pain they are causing, then if they don't learn, just practice tough love. They will, and the group as a whole will thank you for it in the long term.
So on the one hand, playing a healer alt really is a good thing for the DPS classes out there, and as a side effect, obviously, some percentage of you will find that you like healing, thus helping with the perpetual healer shortage. Excellent. I can live with that! On the other hand, it is just as valuable for a healing class to play the DPS role. Why you ask? As a healer, you need to know as much as possible that will make your runs more successful. After all, rightly or wrongly, the finger of blame is often pointed at the healer when there are problems. That means knowing the mistakes the other classes are likely to make. It can be a general knowledge such as the hunter example above, or it could be something much more specific. When that particular glow comes from the mage's hands, for example, a LOT of AOE damage is about to happen, and that, in turn, leads to a LOT of threat. So have the big heal part way throughcasting so that if the mage *does* get aggro you might save them from being one-shotted. For those classes where you have emergency buttons, bubbling a mage in those sort of circumstance is not a bad idea. How cool is it to hear the anguished sounds that the clothies make on vent when they get aggro only to find they are still alive! You get to sit back and bask in the adulation of your peers. Ok, they mostly just grunt at you and expect it, but that's the life of a healer
Really look at the benefits of the different instance roles. Playing a different role is a big way to get fresh enjoyment and experiences. It will keep it interesting at the very least, and you never know, you might actually learn something and make life easier for everyone around you.
For more great rants (and commentary), do visit Non-Squishy Heals and be sure to subscribe!


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From M., 8 August 2011, rabbit – ways to liven up a bland meat?/
Q: There is a chance I will be able to go bunny shooting soon (they are a ferral pest here).
I quite like rabbit but find it is a fairly bland meat on its own. Could you suggest an interesting variation – a friend here has suggested a Thai red curry.
A: Thanks for your question. Rabbit is a curious meat – I often order it if I see it on menus, and I've prepared it numerous times, but although I like it, I don't really love it. I think I order it repeatedly to see whether this time will be the one that makes me a fan. It hasn't happened yet, and for the reason you state. It's a delicate meat, and dry, without the dark meatiness of game birds like quail and pigeon, or the fatty crisp skin of chicken and duck. With care, the delicacy comes through, but in many cases, it fades to blandness – particularly the loin, which can be dry.
Red curry certainly is a possibility – the coconut milk will provide much-needed richness and moisture, and the red curry spices – chiles, ginger, coriander, lemongrass – complement many proteins, including rabbit. But for me, the delicate and distinct taste of rabbit is the main reason to choose it over, say, chicken. Why hide it in a rich, spicy sauce?
The two recipes below use rabbit leg, not the dry, lean loin. The loin should be cooked rapidly, to just about medium doneness, like pork tenderloin.
Rabbit leg confit
You need enough oil or duck fat to cover the legs completely. Unlike duck legs, which are sheathed in fat and will sort of self-confit, rabbit legs, especially from wild rabbit, are lean and you must submerge them in oil from the start. Don't try to confit the loin – it lacks the collagen necessary to make a tender confit and just turns chalky.
Delicious with gnocchi or spaetzle and tender young vegetables like peas, carrots, asparagus, or with braised savoy cabbage.
4 rabbit hind leg quarters, about 2 lbs
2 tbsp salt
2 juniper berries
1/4 c parsley leaves
leaves from about 12 sprigs thyme
duck fat (if you have it) or olive oil and vegetable oil 50/50
8 sprigs thyme
2 bay leaves
Combine the salt, parsley, juniper, and the thyme leaves in a small spice grinder or in a mortar. Grind until the salt is green and loose. Rub evenly over the rabbit legs, place in a single, tightly packed layer in the smallest possible vessel, and cover with clingfilm. Refrigerate overnight or up to two days.
Oven 200F/93C.
Rinse the green cure off the rabbit and pat dry. Return to the vessel on top of the bay and thyme. Cover in enough oil to submerge completely. Cover with a layer of foil and load into the oven.
Cook until fork tender, about 4 1/2 hours. If not tender, continue to cook, covered, until tender. You can store the finished confit, covered in oil, for up to two weeks under refrigeration, or use immediately.
Rabbit ragout, olives
This ragoût is prepared in the manner of a blanquette – the meat is not browned, and neither is the browning fat.
4 rabbit leg quarters, cut into two pieces each
one medium onion, small dice
one leek, white and light green only, small dice
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 celery stalk, peeled and diced
2 tbsp flour
2 1/2 c dry white wine
2 1/2 c rabbit or chicken stock, plus up to 2 c additional
2 bay leaves
1 small sprig rosemary (about 3″)
6-8 sprigs thyme, tied together
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 dozen picholine olives (or other green olives), halved and pitted
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 c shelled pistachios
2 tbsp stock
Season the rabbit with salt on both sides. Place a deep (at least 4″), heavy pan over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp butter and, when just bubbly (and not brown), add the rabbit pieces. Reduce the heat slightly and, as the rabbit surface becomes white and opaque, turn the pieces over and repeat. Remove from the pan. Add another tbsp of butter and add the onions. Sweat until translucent. Add the carrots and celery and sweat until translucent. Add another tbsp butter and melt. Whisk in the flour and increase the heat, whisking until bubbly. Cook for several minutes to assure no floury taste.
Add half the wine and whisk as the mixture comes to a simmer. Reduce by 2/3 and add the rest of the wine. Whisk well, bringing again to a simmer. Reduce again by half. Add the stock, whisking well. Return the meat to the pan and add the herbs and olives. Cover and reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting. Cook for about 2 hours, testing for tenderness. The meat should be fork tender. Remove the bay, thyme branches, and the rosemary stalk; stir in the mustard.
Place a small skillet over medium heat. Add the 2 tbsp butter and, when foamy and beginning to brown, add the pistachios. Cook until golden, stir, and add the stock. Cover and reduce heat. Shake the pan as the pistachios braise. After a few minutes, remove the lid. Garnish the ragoût with the pistachios.
Excellent on buttered spaetzle or egg noodles.


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She almost missed out on "American Idol" due to her hospitalization earlier this week for undisclosed "medical issues," but when Crystal Bowersox hit the stage on Wednesday's live round for the FOX reality show, she left the judges awed.
The dreadlocked 24-year-old mom brought out her acoustic guitar as she performed an older tune – Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Long As I Can See The Light" — singing with heart, depth and passion. Her performance didn't just make her a standout, it made her the "contestant to watch."
"You are the truth and you do what you do," a moved Randy Jackson said. "I just love that you're not trying to be anybody else… I love that girl. That girl is hot."
Ellen DeGeneres was also impressed and she thanked Crystal for her performance.
"Please stay healthy. We need you here. You're amazing," she said.
And although Wednesday's show was just the second week of live competition for the public vote, British judge Simon Cowell said Crystal's performance had echoes of one from the original "American Idol."
"The vocal was incredible and I promise you, this was like, the moment we realized with Kelly Clarkson that we've got a serious artist here," Simon said. "I think we've got a really serious artist with you. Congratulations."
So how did the rest of the pack do? Here's a recap:
Teenager Haeley Vaughn was full of smiles as she performed the Miley Cyrus hit "The Climb," but Randy slammed it, dubbing her rendition "excruciating" and "pitchy."
"There's a certain irony for you singing a song about climbing when you actually fell off," Simon added.
Redheaded Lacey Brown took Kara DioGuardi's advice last week and rolled out her version of Sixpence None The Richer's "Kiss Me." Her version was true to the tune, but it lacked a spark according to Randy, who said it felt "like we're doing karaoke."
Katie Stevens, the teen with the big voice, made an uncomfortable impression last week, singing what the judges thought was a not-very-age-appropriate "Feeling Good," the sexy tune from Michael Buble. So on Wednesday she opted for a younger selection – Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put your Record On." "I liked it," Ellen said.
Didi Benami performed the Bill Withers classic "Lean On Me," but despite hitting the notes, Randy said she picked the wrong song. "I would just have not chosen a soul song like that — that deep rooted soul for you," he said. "I don't think it really worked. It shows the imperfections."
Curly haired Michelle Delamor, the beauty who bears a resemblance to Simon Cowell's "X Factor" protege Leona Lewis, took a chance on stage, singing Creed's "With Arms Wide Open." The gorgeous gal got props from Randy for her perky white dress, atop skinny pants – "the outfit is dope," he said – but he said the performance "fell flat."
Lilly Scott, who the judges have complimented for being unique, tried a rendition of Sam Cooke's much-covered classic, "A Change Is Gonna Come." Randy, Ellen and Kara enjoyed it, but Simon threw down the gauntlet. "I thought it was good. I wasn't crazy about it like the others," he said. "I thought Crystal was stronger than you."
Katelyn Epperly, the ringlet-haired blonde, took to the piano for Coldplay's "The Scientist." Ellen slammed it for being too slow, but Kara offered high praise. "You're really good, you're seriously good and when you get to that sweet spot it's like, 'Wow! That is hot. Figure out who you are though, real quick."
Paige Miles, the girl with the big voice, performed Kelly Clarkson's "Walk Away," which was co-written by Kara. Her rendition was dubbed, "fantastic" by Ellen, but Simon said it was "forgettable."
Finally, Siobhan Magnus, who Simon previously called "a funny little thing," tackled "Think," a song made famous by Aretha Franklin. And while in the past judges have slammed contenders for trying Aretha songs, Siobhan sang it well enough to impress.
"Most people would say don't take on a big song, but you know, they also said don't mix sleeves with a blanket, but look at the Snuggie, it's huge. Man, that was good," Ellen said.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: A Look Back: Adam Lambert On 'American Idol'
PLAY IT NOW: Ryan Seacrest On Simon's Engagement & 'American Idol'
PLAY IT NOW: Dish Of Salt: Ashley Rodriguez & Joe Munoz Talk 'Idol' Elimination
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: American Idol - Reality TV - TV - Miley Cyrus - Ellen DeGeneres


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MELBOURNE, Australia (WKEF/WRGT) - A woman cheats death after a freeway sign fell on her car, crushing it while she was in the driver's seat in Australia.
The woman, 53, suffered just minor neck injuries in the ordeal.
Terrifying dash camera video shows the sign falling onto the woman's SUV, crushing it as she drove on Melbourne's Tullmarine Freeway on Tuesday.
According to local media in Australia, the woman was taken to the hospital in stable condition.


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Cops Reviewing 'Teen Mom' Violence
Cops Reviewing 'Teen Mom' Violence
Cops now have the unedited video of a recent episode of "Teen Mom" -- which allegedly shows T.M.'s Amber Portwood beating the crap out of her ex-fiance ... this according to Anderson, Indiana cops.
The Anderson P.D. tells TMZ, MTV turned the tapes over yesterday -- after receiving a subpoena for any evidence of domestic violence.
Cops launched the probe after a recent "Teen Mom" episode aired -- showing an altercation between Amber and her baby daddy Gary Shirley. During the episode, Amber repeatedly hits and kicks Gary.
Amber could face felony domestic violence charges if the couple's kid witnessed the altercation.
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Ngara Kungala – Aboriginal Cultural Awareness - Workshop 1/2 Day
- Süre: 6 Saat (Tahmini)
- Lokasyon: NSW
- Ürün kodu: CulturalAwareness
Ngara Kungala – Aboriginal Cultural Awareness
This Cultural training package is designed to be a dynamic, interactive exchange explaining the ways in which the Aboriginal Dreamtime shapes daily Aboriginal behavior, etiquettes and protocol across society & a workplace Reconciliation Action Plans.
Course content includes:
§ The origins of the Dreamtime Creators and their Dreamtime Purpose
§ The origins of the Dreamtime Spirits and why they remain in the homelands, waters and skies
§ The role the Dreamtime Creators play in creating individual and collective Aboriginal identities
§ How an understanding of the Dreamtime strengthens mutual respect and meaningful relationships between all people across the workplace.
Participants can expect to gain:
§ An understanding of the skills required to enhance Indigenous Cultural inclusiveness in the workplace
§ Increased knowledge of appropriate ways to supervise and mentor Aboriginal employees
§ Increased understanding of Dreamtime and how it influences recruitment, training, communications, productiveness and performance
§ Increased understanding of how the Dreamtime Creators omnipresence continues to influence daily Aboriginal rituals, belief systems and modern Aboriginal living.
The course is flexibly designed to be conducted over either 1 or 2 days in-house with additional, optional tour excursions "on country".


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This Week in God
First up from the God Machine this week is an unexpected twist in a tiresome annual exercise – the time of year in which the right says the left is waging a "war on Christmas." This week, one of the leading culture warriors on the subject, Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, presented an argument I hadn't heard before.
"Christianity is not an organized religion…. Christianity is a philosophy. You don't have to believe Jesus is God in order to admire his view on life.
"Millions of Muslims admire Jesus as a prophet. In fact the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian philosophy, that's what shaped our constitutional tenets. Again if you are stone-cold dumb and don't understand the difference between an organized church and a philosophy, I cannot help you."
The conservative host added that those who believe Christianity is a religion "are so stupid, it's painful."
Putting aside the fact that our constitutional tenets are entirely secular, what's striking here is that it's highly unusual for a socially conservative culture warrior to insist, proudly on national television in pre-written remarks, that Christianity is not a religion.
Every year, I think this annual exercise can't get sillier. And every year, it gets a little worse.
Also from the God Machine this week:
* TV preacher Pat Robertson this week came out against young-earth creationism, putting him to the left of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)
* Just as the Ugandan parliament again mulls a draconian law that would brutally punish gay people, the country's leadership is drawing praise from Family Research Council leader Tony Perkins.
* In Northern Mali, religious fundamentalists have banned all music and exiles have described "a shattering of their culture, in which playing music brings lashes with whips, even prison time, and MP3 and cassette players are seized and destroyed" (via reader R.B.).
* A federal judge this week dismissed "a lawsuit filed by a church coalition seeking to challenge Santa Monica's ban on nativity and other seasonal displays in public spaces" (via reader R.P.).
* And the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer said this week that if Americans use fewer fossil fuels, it's an insult to God.


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The traditional designated hitter is fading from the American League. Guillen looks at the landscape and sees Travis Hafner in Cleveland, David Ortiz in Boston and nobody else really making it a full-time job.
"You're not gonna see (another) Harold Baines," Guillen said. "You're not gonna see the Dave Parkers. You're not gonna see the Big Papis (anymore)."
What is Ozzie talking about? If he's eager to trot out a DH-less lineup all he has to do is look at the results of interleague play to see what happens when a team with a DH plays a team without one. And don't forget this gem: "We are not a home-run team anymore."
More here.


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Category: Green Living
5 Things You Should Do to Stay Clean and 'Dry' During the Rainy Season
The rains are here again (well, in this part of the world where I live presently). The reality of it is that you have to get ready whether you prefer sunshine or not. To stay clean and dry during the rainy season requires a bit of planning which is often overlooked. I noticed that the approach is mostly a reactive one. From leaking roofs to blocked drainages, we try to resolve at the same time when there is a downpour. Not to mention the fact that some people neglect to pick up an umbrella on a cloudy day because it's a bit of a burden to carry around.
Anyway, my concern at this time hovers around the home and the environment. You know that with the rains, comes other cares like keeping our homes clean and dry, and protecting our possessions from damage. So I will describe a list of five important aspects of our lives that requires a little preparation as we get into the rainy season.
5 Things you should do to stay clean and dry during the rainy season
1. Keep Drainage clean and Clear
– You have to keep the drainage clean and clear of debris else it will become clogged. This may cause flooding or damage to your pipe as the case may be. With stagnant dirty water in a clogged drainage, insects like mosquitoes will breed and wastes will decompose to release harmful bacteria. So will the spread diseases in that environment. It is important to clear gutters and drainage channels to help water drain during the rainy season
2. Prevent Floods
– As mentioned, there is need for a clear path for waste waters during rainy season, floods can pose a big threat to your health and safety at this time. I would suggest that you work with your local government authorities on this point.
A good idea would be to cooperate with other residents to contact the local authorities, when it is obvious that your area is at risk of flooding. You may want them to dredge the small river in your area (to increase the flow of water) or to put up concrete structures in order to slow down the pressure of water flow in that area as the case may be.
3. Keep your garment dry
– You have to choose the right time to air your clothes after washing to get them to dry. You should make sure that clothes are completely dry before storing in the cabinet (if you do not use a drying machine) because wearing damp clothes will make your body to smell and could cause some skin irritation. Mildew may also set in. Some alternatives if you cannot get some sunshine on your clothes are to squeeze properly and let them drip dry in the bathroom.
In order to remove smells that could possibly arise from drying your clothes indoors, add a little baking soda or vinegar to the water before you start to wash.
4. Protect your Car parked in the rain
A coat or two of fresh wax polish is enough to repel rain and dirt when it rains. Apply grease to the doors to reduce friction. A moisture spray will also help you keep open metallic surfaces from becoming rusty.
5. Check for a Leaking roof
– It is important to check if your roof is leaking from any spot before the rains start. This could lead to a greater damage if left unchecked. Besides, the cost of replacement can be enormous if it is not done early.
Being able to spot where the leakage is coming from may not be so easy but note that water stains across the ceilings and water tracks on your walls are signs of a leaking roof.
It would be worthwhile to give a thought to some of these suggestions. You health and safety may depend on it. I can imagine some of you with kids who would like to play around just like when it is sunshine. There would be little you can do to help them if you do not prepare your home and environment for the rainy season.
Share your ideas on how to stay clean and 'dry' for the rainy season. It will be good to hear from you.


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