text:
2018 BMW X4 pricingin Ashburn, VA
Which X4 does Edmunds recommend?
The 2018 BMW X4 xDrive28i is already a potent little performer and will satisfy the majority of drivers. Almost all of the features from the range-topping M40i are available as options, so you won't be missing much other than the overabundance of power.
BMW's suite of advanced safety features is among the best in the industry, so for either the xDrive28i or the M40i, we'd recommend adding the Driving Assistance package. Otherwise, we caution against adding much else since options are expensive and quickly send the price into another bracket.
Edmunds' Expert Review
Overall rating
How much are you willing to sacrifice for fashion? This is an important question to answer as it will largely dictate how much appeal the 2018 BMW X4 is going to have for you. The X4 is a lot like the larger BMW X6. Both have a distinct sloping rear roofline for a coupelike profile, plus plenty of aggressive styling flourishes to up the sporty quotient. Compared to the X3 on which it is based, the X4 certainly looks cooler. But let's not forget what the "U" in SUV stands for — utility. That fastback rear hatch significantly cuts into cargo capacity as well as rear-passenger space.
If style is a priority for your small luxury crossover SUV, the 2018 BMW X4 is certainly a strong contender. But for everybody else, we suggest checking out more capable alternatives, some of which are within BMW's own model lineup.
2018 BMW X4 configurations
The 2018 BMW X4 is a compact luxury SUV with a sloping rear roofline, much like the larger but equally sleek BMW X6. It is available in two trim levels: the xDrive28i and M40i. The xDrive 28i is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (240 horsepower, 260 pound-feet of torque) while the M40i gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (355 hp, 343 lb-ft). Both come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
Standard xDrive28i features include 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic adaptive xenon headlights, LED foglights, rain-sensing wipers, a sunroof, heated and power-folding exterior mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors, a power liftgate, front and rear parking sensors, selectable drive modes and cruise control.
On the inside, the features list continues with dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-way power front seats with driver memory functions, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, simulated leather upholstery, 40/20/40-split folding rear seats, a universal garage door opener, BMW Assist emergency telematics, BMW's iDrive infotainment system, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, and a nine-speaker CD player with HD radio and USB-auxiliary input.
Stepping up to the X4 M40i will add an adaptive suspension, keyless entry and ignition, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system with satellite radio. It also comes with the M Sport package that includes unique aerodynamic exterior touches, black exterior trim, a sport-tuned suspension, an increased top speed, sport seats and a sport steering wheel.
Bundled options include the Cold Weather package (heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel and headlight washers); the Driving Assistance package (forward collision warning and mitigation, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, a head-up display and a speed limit display); and the Parking Assistance package (a surround-view camera system and an automated parking system). The M40i is also eligible for the Lighting package (adaptive LED headlights and automatic high beams). Other add-ons include a navigation system, a wireless charging pad, a Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2015 BMW X4 xDrive28i (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).
NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current X4 has received some revisions, including an update to BMW's iDrive infotainment system. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's X4.
Seat comfort
Ride comfort
Noise & vibration
Ease of use
Getting in/getting out
Small-item storage
Cargo space
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2018 BMW X4.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Features & Specs
Our experts' favorite X4 safety features:
- BMW Assist eCall
- Automatically calls for help in the event of a collision and also allows passengers to notify roadside assistance with a single button.
- Active Blind Spot Detection
- Warns if there is a vehicle in or approaching your blind spot with visual alerts or vibration through the steering wheel.
- Forward Collision Warning
- Alerts you if the system detects a possible front collision and automatically applies the brakes if you don't react in time.
2018 BMW X4 for Sale
Get more for your trade-in
Edmunds shoppers get on average $235 more for their trade-in.
Receive offers from our dealer partners fast.See your car's value
The 2018 BMW X4 should appeal to fashion-conscious shoppers who like the elevated height of an SUV but don't particularly need all the space for either passengers or cargo. If you're like most who aren't willing to sacrifice utility for appearances, BMW's more traditional X3 is a better bet.
The X4 is offered in xDrive28i or M40i trim levels that are distinguished mostly by their engines. The xDrive 28i is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and the M40i gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder. Both come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
Standard feature highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, a sunroof, heated, power-folding exterior mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors, a power liftgate, parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery, BMW Assist emergency telematics, BMW's iDrive infotainment system, and a rearview camera. The X4 M40i adds unique exterior treatments, a sport-tuned adaptive suspension, an increased top speed, keyless entry and ignition, sport seats, and a premium audio system with satellite radio.
Notable options include heated front and rear seats, forward collision warning and mitigation, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, a head-up display and a speed limit display, a surround-view camera system, an automated parking system, LED headlights, a navigation system, a wireless charging pad, a Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay.
The X4's closest competitor is the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe, which has a similar sloping rear roofline but makes fewer sacrifices in the utility department. In terms of price, performance and feature content, both the BMW and Benz are comparable. The Porsche Macan is more performance-oriented and starts in the same price neighborhood but has fewer standard features. Another fashionable alternative is the Jaguar F-Pace that is positively spacious compared to these SUVs.
Considering how many sacrifices the 2018 BMW X4 forces in terms of rear passenger and cargo space, we suggest checking out the competition first on Edmunds.
2018 BMW X4 Overview
The 2018 BMW X4 is offered in the following submodels: X4 SUV, X4 M40i. Available styles include xDrive28i 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A), and M40i 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A).
What do people think of the 2018 BMW X4?
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2018 BMW X4 and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2018 X4 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2018 X4.
Edmunds Expert Reviews
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2018 BMW X4 and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2018 X4 featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Edmunds Scorecard
Our Review Process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
Which 2018 BMW X4s are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2018 BMW X4 for sale near. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2018 BMW X4.
Can't find a new 2018 BMW X4s you want in your area? Consider a broader search.
Find a new BMW X4 for sale - 11 great deals out of 22 listings starting at $14,241.
Find a new BMW for sale - 5 great deals out of 16 listings starting at $22,798.
Why trust Edmunds?
Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color.
Should I lease or buy a 2018 BMW X4?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out BMW lease specials


text:
;;;; ;;; ;;;;; ;;; ;;;; ;; ;;;; ;;;;;; ;;
empty pool house that's been renovated into a spectacular
family home, let alone stumble upon two (Pool House Conversions, Pages 100 and 108). And how likely is it that we would
find, and love, two former film industry buildings in Boston's Bay Village that have undergone, dare we say it, dramatic changes from which emerged two stunning residences
(Curtain Calls, Pages 88 and Page 94). But here they are in all
their very contemporary glory. Don't worry, we haven't gone
all Dwell on you. We have also included the home and studio
of one of America's great sculptors, Paul Manship (think
Prometheus at Rockefeller Center). His compound on two picturesque granite quarries in the Lanesville section of Gloucester, Massachusetts (" 'Bid It Stay,' "
Page 116), was the heart and soul of the artists' colony there, and now, 50 years a;er his death,
the Manship Artists Residency + Studios is preserving this beautiful and hallowed property
for today's artists to live and create in. "O;en, the best way to preserve a historic place is to
use it," says Rebecca Harris of the National Trust for Historic Preservation of this project. We
couldn't agree more, which is why we bring attention to New England's historic African meetinghouses (Icon, Page 70). Their origin stories inspire us and make it clear that these are the
monuments to our fellow Americans that are worthy of our admiration.
Residential Renovation
& Restoration
Celebrating 25 years
of providing quality renovationsin the Cambridge area. Thank youto all our clients, suppliersand exceptional tradespeople.
;;;; ;;;;; got all the angles on two projects in Boston's Bay Village appearing
in this issue. In one, a narrow four-story town house, he fearlessly tackled the
dizzying open staircase ;;;;;; to get some vertigo-inducing shots. Across the
street, he captured the urban digs of a family that loves city living. For our cover
story, he stayed on ground level to make his images of a Modern pool house
turned home in the Boston suburbs. ;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;, ;;;; ;;; ;;;;;; ;;
;;;;;, ;;;; ;;; ;;; ;;;;;;; ;; ;;;;;;;;;, ;;;; ;;;.
;;;;;; ;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;; ;; ; ;;;;;; ;;; ;;;;;;; ;;;;; ;;;;;;
is a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, studying journalism, and
was our intern this summer. "Learning about home design has been a treat," she
says. For this issue, she wrote about interior designer Justine Sterling's Melrose,
Massachusetts, house. "It was reflective of her life story," says DeFeudis, "and it
was fascinating to learn about her native South Africa through personal pieces
she uses in decorating. Sterling's style gives her house beauty, and the memories
she incorporates in the design make it a home." ;;;;;, ;;;; ;;.
;;;;;;; ;;;;;;; was born in Boston and lived in the area for many years but
knew little about the city's Bay Village until her research for this issue. Now, she's
enthralled by the tiny enclave. "It's packed with architectural history and delights,
from crooked Colonial-era homes to Federal-style town houses to Art Deco
industrial buildings," she says. "I can't believe it remains under the radar." Today,
O'Neill lives in Newport, Rhode Island, where she is a freelance writer and editor.
;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;, ;;;; ;;; ;;;;;; ;; ;;;;;, ;;;; ;;.
;;;; ;;;;;;;;;; lives on Massachusetts's North Shore with his wife and two
daughters. For nearly two decades he has been shooting commercial, editorial,
and fine-art work with an emphasis on travel, lifestyle, and portraiture. We sent
him in pursuit of art and its creators on two assignments for this issue:
photographing metal sculptor Gillian Christy in her Dorchester, Massachusetts,
studio and capturing the soul of the late American sculptor Paul Manship's
studio in Lanesville, Massachusetts. ;;;, ;;;; ;;; ;;;; ;; ;;;;,; ;;;; ;;;.
;is a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, studying journalism, andtrMassachusetts, house. "It was reflective of her life story," says DeFeudis, "and ita o seey

subset: commoncrawl


text: So if you look at this link: http://alturl.com/rxdg You will see that the iPhone 3GS actually has a CPU that can run at 833MHz with 720p video The article goes on to say that the reason they think Apple is underclocking the CPU is to save on battery power. How important is that to you? Would you prefer your phone to be faster and have less battery power? Do you think with the continual improvements on battery technology there may be a upgrade on the 3GS as soon as they develop a battery that can handle the 833MHz processor (A 3GS.2 if you will or Maybe 3GSr - the pimped sport version). Is there any other reason not to use the chips full 833MHz processing power? And then what about the 720p video capability, surely this would make the iPhone a viable Apple TV alternative with the right adapters (iPhone to HDMI) Let me know your thoughts


text:
or WATCH HERE
Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon find forbidden love under the big top in their new period drama 'Water for Elephants,' and Reese says the film is "full of peril and drama and danger and love and romance."
"It's that kind of romance that is about second chances," explains Reese. "Sometimes you can be in your life and sort of trapped in a circumstance that you just can't get out of, and one day someone comes along and throws you a rope and you have an opportunity at a new life."
"He falls in love with her at first sight," says Robert of his character. "She just seems kind of magical to him, and she doesn't see herself as that at all. She sees herself as just like a work horse, that's it, and thinks there's no fantasy in life and all, and he just refuses to see her as anything else other than this complete fantasy figure."
via robstenation


text:
PAN Asia Innovation TourBy 1+1=11 Productions Follow | Public
PAN Asia Hong Kong & Shenzhen Innovation Tour is a promising opportunity to familiarize yourself with Hong Kong's, as well as Shenzhen's start-up ecosystem. Expect 3 days worth of inspiring networking. Engage in pivotal conversation regarding global energy, sustainability issue, politic and social bridging, as well as how to build better and healthier cities.
Sail through different interesting destinations that makes Hong Kong the fragrant harbor of Asia's World City.


text:
MySQL Replication and Slow QueriesPeter Zaitsev
I just filed a bug regarding slow queries executed by replication thread are not being logged to the slow query log.
This is not a big deal but it is ugly little gotcha which I think few people know about. It is especially bad if you're using tools to analyze slow query log to find what queries take up the most resources on your server – in certain configurations replication load itself may be very significant contributor.
But even if you do not, as I wrote in the bug report it is quite handy to have this information our where as query times on master and slave can be different in a lot of circumstances.
One more thing to consider – slow replication queries also identify replication lag, ie if you have query which ran 10 seconds on the slave and your replication is well loaded, this means at some point in time your replication lag was at least 10 seconds.


text:
Image source and article: http://vitaminw.co/society/what-consent-looks
Tag Archives: consent
I am so fucking sick of teaching our daughters not to get raped
"We need to teach our sons that no means no. And that silence means no. And that drunkenness means no. And that being passed out means no. And that "I don't know" or "I'm not sure" or "maybe we shouldn't do this" means no."
The Healthy Sex Talk: Teaching Kids Consent, Ages 1-21
Teach consent, empathy, self-awareness. Start young.
"Keep talking about sex and consent with teens as they start having serious relationships. Yeah, they'll tell you they know it all, but continuing the conversation about healthy consent, respecting our partners, and healthy sexuality shows them how important these themes are to you. It also normalizes talking about consent, so talking openly and respectfully with partners becomes second nature to teens."
Image source and article: http://goodmenproject.com/families/the-healthy-sex-talk-teaching-kids-consent-ages-1-21/
5 Ways We Can Teach Men Not to Rape
Replace "no means no" with "yes means yes." LOVE this idea!
(To be fair, this is work that feminists have been trying to do for YEARS.)
" Rape culture is a pervasive part of our society because of social conditioning. Yet we struggle to find ways to avoid patterns of victim blaming and many of us would rather advise women on the precautions they should take to avoid being raped as opposed to starting at the root of the problem: teaching men and boys not to be rapists in the first place."
Image source and article: http://www.ebony.com/news-views/5-ways-we-can-teach-men-not-to-rape-456#axzz2NY83JhWh
No Touching: Consent As the First Step
"Consent is asking at every step "Is this okay? Does this feel good? Can I touch you here?" and getting a unequivocally positive response before proceeding."


text:
Jan 24,2013Tomorrow is the 3 year anniversary of Amy's accident.
This is a day of sadness and a day of celebration. We are sad because we miss what was and what should have been. Amy would be in middle school this year. Being obsessed with her clothes, starting to experiment with make up and being boy crazy!
Reality is so far from that dream that it is almost to painful of a comparison.
Amy Sue has defied the odds and survived the unimaginable....not many can say that! She is still always a happy young lady and I thank God every minute of everyday that she smiles!
Amy Sue Root is a beautiful girl inside and out and I am grateful for the time God has allowed her to be with me! I believe the reason she did not die was because God knew it would destroy me heart & soul. Although my dreams for my daughter may never be reality, her love for us all has given me the strength to endure challenges that I would never believed I could tolerate!
Thank you my child for giving me hope and love! Thank you for your unwavering smiles and spirit! Your mom loves you and I am truly blessed to have you in my life...you are a gift from God! Who knew angels lived among us....
Mommy <3 span="">3>


text:
Step 1: Design blog posts that can have pin-able elements.
This includes pictures for my recipes,
Book Covers that lead them to my reviews,
and memes they want to save that will point them back to my blog.
Step 2: Pin to Pinterest
Step 3: Check your blog's analytics to see which pins people are interested in following back to your blog post. For me, they come for the original recipes.


text:
Friday, January 19, 2007
Prophet Posse -The Return: Part 1
Posted by Raney Rane at 2:29 PM
1 comment:
- Silvia Jacinto said...
Life is a battle, if you don't know how to defend yourself then you'll end up being a loser. So, better take any challenges as your stepping stone to become a better person. Have fun, explore and make a lot of memories.
- September 21, 2015 at 4:50 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Presented by International Carwash Association, in partnership with BOVAG (in the Netherlands), BTG (in Germany), and BBRV (in Belgium), Car Wash Show Europe is the only event that meets the needs of today's independent car wash entrepreneur. How can Car Wash Show Europe help you succeed?
✔ Get new ideas by building relationships with car wash professionals from across the globe.
✔ View new products from suppliers throughout Europe, North America and around the world.
✔ Hear about the latest in car washing trends, from the best operators and suppliers.
✔ Learn about customer trends from the first multi-country European car wash survey.
✔ Celebrate the awarding of the Car Wash Hall of Fame to industry legends.
If you put car wash first - if you begin your day focused on washing more cars, more profitably - then this is the event for you. No one else brings together car wash operators from 5 continents, offering the world's best opportunity for learning and networking. Join us in Amsterdam to not only see the world's best display of car wash services and equipment… but to meet successful car wash operators from around the world – your car wash community.


text:
The problem with finding motivation and self confidence is that now I need to somehow bend space and time and find a money tree so that I can get all that I want to get done in 2013.
Last week when I was thinking about how to go about manifesting my goals for 2013, I came to realize that because I have been so focused since the Summer on blogging and photography, I have hardly opened any of my books on holistic healing 🙁
Over the past week I have been looking back at my Dreamboard Goals, 2013 Goals Manifestation and trying to start my planning for the year. First I need to work on finishing up the last few goals and tasks from my list of Dreamboard Goals from last year:
Crystal Healing Courses
The Crystal Dragon College
January 15th was the one year mark since signing up for The Crystal Dragon College. I have already written the exams for the first two levels and I am about halfway through the material for the Level 3 (Master Diploma of Crystal Healing Practitioner). I should be finished within the next week or two including writing the exam.
Hibiscus Moon Crystal Academy
On January 17th, I got the "time is almost up to graduate" email which needs to be completed by the end of February. It will be a year February 10th since I registered for the course. I ate up the course material from Hibiscus Moon and passed all of the exams within three weeks. But it was not until this past Thursday and Friday that I finally completed the three crystal healing sessions required to graduate. Felt so good to finally cross that off my list! Now I just have to finish up my last assignment and apply for graduation!
Touch for Health
I was wanting to do my Touch for Health Proficiency this past Fall but didn't have the finances to do so but will shoot for later this year. As part of Proficiency, you are required to record five balancings for each of the levels for Touch for Health. I have completed them for Levels 1 and 2 but still need to do them for Levels 3 and 4. I will be auditing the courses in April and if I cannot get these balancings done by then, I should get them done during the courses. Auditing sounds bad but it just means I am taking the course again which is encouraged to help refresh your memory and give yourself more practice. I find them very beneficial because you tend to forget the simplest balancing techniques outside of just doing a 14 muscle balance.
In the meantime, I will dust off my Touch for Health manual and start working with it more regularly (along with my Crystal Healing). The next series of Touch for Health classes starts next weekend which I am very much looking forward to because it will get me back into the habit of using it. The Bach Flower Remedies workshop will be running on the Friday before. I have hardly looked at my handouts since I took the last one in August of 2011 and need a refresher.
This has been on my todo list for what feels like forever. I did take a good stab at completing it a year ago but was missing just a few pieces to complete it. Because I will be going back and re-visiting a lot of books I have read, I know this task will be completed soon along with me applying knowledge to be able to help manifest what I want in 2013.
The good thing is that even though I have not yet sat down to glue the cut outs from magazines onto a large piece of cardboard, more and more my vision for the future has taken form and some of the pieces have already started falling into place.
Because I am re-prioritizing what I will be doing on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I will need to pull back on my blogging and photography. I have decided to scale back from ten blog posts per month to eight. This means I will have to ensure I write two blog posts every Sunday and queue them up for the week.
Writing ten per month may still be feasible but I don't want to stress myself out about it and because I make no money from my blogging, I have to scale back from it. I have been and will continue to work on writing up one or two blog posts per month which are longer more informational type posts. I will also look into guest bloggers to help fill in some of the voids.
Photography will have to be a weekend activity and I might allow myself a day or two a month to go out with the camera for a few hours.
Writing the above up makes it seem like a lot of work but when I look at it, I am happy that I will have most of that crossed off over the next week or two! Enter 2013 Goals Manifestation.
The Transition Period
In looking over and updating my DreamBoard Goals and writing this blog post, I can't help but notice that the tasks above from 2012 are the completion points for transitioning into my new career. The ones I am touching on below for 2013 are about me putting all I have learned over the past two years into practice and stepping into the role of Practitioner which is very exciting but also very scary for me.
Exciting because it is a field that I very much believe in. I am looking forward to helping others facilitate their own healing, reduce stress and manifest what they want in their own lives. We have gone beyond the tipping point of modern medicine in over prescribing and people getting surgery that although considered "routine" is not always necessary. People are becoming more and more fed up with being over prescribed medicine and have started seeking out alternatives to toxic chemicals.
But also scary because the past 20 years of my life I have spent behind a computer screen and not having to deal with clients face to face. I will be going from hiding behind a computer screen to being behind a closed door, one on one with a client. I am also working in a field in which a lot of people don't believe in what I do. I used to also be skeptical of it until I started receiving my own sessions and saw the impact it has had on my own life (and the clients who come into our office).
I have currently set a goal of doing at least two sessions per week. Worst case scenario, I do one on myself and one on my partner. Best case scenario is that both (and/or more) of those are paying clients.
Health and Wellness
I have a few sub-points under Health and Wellness that I will push out into a proper goal that will be tracked on it's own page. I have felt a mental shift from my last BodyTalk session and feel as though I might FINALLY have the mindset to get into losing weight and exercise. The fact that it is starting to warm up and get brighter and knowing Spring is just around the corner, I am starting to feel my mindset shift. I hope to be clearing up our deck over the next couple of weeks so I can get to my weight set.
Because I will be fleshing this one out and setting proper goals with it, I won't go into much more detail since the fleshing out process has already started on my Dreamboard Goals page. Most of that will be cut and paste into page I will create for my goals but I will track my weight loss on my Dreamboard Goals page as well.
Boxer Quilt
I had felt very inspired heading into the Winter to complete my Boxer Quilt but have unfortunately not spent much effort on it since my last post other then Unboxing the last few pairs of boxers. I have set aside some time to work on the quilt and publish an upcoming post on where I am at with it.
Fishing and Finishing
In mid-April, I will re-visit these to see where I am at with my goals and see if anything needs to be added or tweaked. It will most likely not be until then that I will start back into fishing which I will start researching beforehand. It used to be March 31st that salt water fishing licenses expired and starting May 1st, there is a six week program that I can take my son to, to learn how to fish. I am wanting to get my license as soon as they expire for the year and hope to get out fishing shortly afterwards.
What are you goals/resolutions/hopes and/or dreams for 2013?


text:
|BY PHONE: Call us toll-free at 1 800-423-8273, 9a to 4p PST, Monday through Friday. To expedite your order, please have your credit card on hand. (International callers, please dial 1 626 441 2024.)
BY MAIL: Simply fill in the information on the order form below, including daytime phone number and shipping charges and print out the form.
If paying by check, please pay in U.S. dollars. Make check payable to: M2 Communications and mail to:
235 Bellefontaine Street
Pasadena CA 91105
BY FAX: Simply fill in the information on the order form below and fax it to us at 1 626 441 2694. Please be sure to include your own fax number and daytime phone number.


text:
Poorly implementing caching in python - eye opener
So after looking at some slides on caching function returns in javascript, I was keen on trying out so in Python. And LOL I came up with this logic -
if val in cache.keys():
return cache[val]
do the right thing...
But it seems, though "if val in cache.keys()" sounds very human friendly, it definitely would suck for a very big cache, and so it does in the following test.
I guess I'm not using timeit in the classical way where I would pass some statements in string and ask it to do them for N number of times, but it seems passing some variables from existing code to statement string is a pain, tried global etc, didn't work. Hence a simple time diff test.
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import random
from timeit import Timer
class PlainColorParser:
def parse(self,value):
rgb = int(value[1:], 16)
r = rgb >> 16 & 0xff
g = rgb >> 8 & 0xff
b = rgb & 0xff
return (r,g,b)
def __call__(self,value):
return self.parse(value)
class NoBitColorParser:
def __call__(self,value):
return (int(value[1:3],16), int(value[3:5],16), int(value[5:7],16))
class PoorCachedColorParser(PlainColorParser):
def __init__(self):
self.cache = {}
def __call__(self,value):
if value in self.cache.keys():
return self.cache[value]
self.cache[value] = self.parse(value)
return self.cache[value]
class CachedExceptionColorParser(PlainColorParser):
def __init__(self):
self.cache = {}
def __call__(self,value):
return self.cache[value]
except KeyError:
self.cache[value] = self.parse(value)
return self.cache[value]
class CachedColorParser(PlainColorParser):
def __init__(self):
self.cache = {}
def __call__(self,value):
if value in self.cache:
return self.cache[value]
self.cache[value] = self.parse(value)
return self.cache[value]
if __name__ == "__main__":
t = Timer()
pccParse = PoorCachedColorParser()
cecParse = CachedExceptionColorParser()
ccParse = CachedColorParser()
pcParse = PlainColorParser()
nbParse = NoBitColorParser()
# setup some random data to test
colors = []
for i in xrange(100000):
colors.append("#" + hex(random.randint(0xfe0000, 0xff0aff))[2:])
def timeDiff(obj):
start = t.timer()
for c in colors:
stop = t.timer()
return ((1000000*stop - 1000000*start)/1000000)
# ---- test poorly cached
print "Poorly Cached - %.2fs" % timeDiff(pccParse)
# ---- test exception cached
print "Exception Cached - %.2fs" % timeDiff(cecParse)
# ---- test cached
print "Cached - %.2fs" % timeDiff(ccParse)
# ---- test uncached
print "Non Cached - %.2fs" % timeDiff(pcParse)
# ---- test no bitwise, uncached
print "Not Bitwise, Non Cached - %.2fs" % timeDiff(nbParse)
So we've got
NoBitColorParser does string manipulations and parses 3 times before returning a tuple. PlainColorParser does better than that, it uses bit shifts and AND masks to filter out content after 1 round of parsing integer from string. PoorCachedColorParser does caching in an obvious way "if its there in cache keys... else ...", and
but recent findings reveal that CachedColorParser is the right, fast, pythonic way.
What the test does is - generate 100000 random color codes, pick them from a range of 2816 colors (0xff0aff - 0xff0000 + 1). Obviously many colors are bound to get repeated says pigeon hole.
Here's what goes on in an average run on my machine -
abhishekmishra@mbp [~/code]> python pycaching.py
Poorly Cached - 340.23s
Exception Cached - 0.30s
Cached - 0.18s
Non Cached - 0.15s
Not Bitwise, Non Cached - 0.16s
"if value in self.cache.keys():" in PoorCachedColorParser gives you a thumbs down with a sucky performance, obviously not the right thing to do!!! (I was mistaken)
CachedExceptionColorParser gives a sweet 0.30s, "Fail early, Fail often" works :)
But wait, CachedColorParser goes further even a bit more with just 0.18s.
NoBitColorParser is suckier than the Non Cached PlainColorParser, which points out that string ops, parsing integers is one costly affair.
So much for food to my sleeplessness. Oh I remember doing something similar in PyMos too :D.
More updates -
Looking at Dhananjay's code on BangPypers, I think I was too excited to throw in the idion of fail fast in this place, it can albeit be done in a cleaner way. So instead of -
return self.cache[value]
except KeyError:
self.cache[value] = self.parse(value)
return self.cache[value]
You could just write in much cleaner way -
if value in self.cache:
return self.cache[value]
self.cache[value] = self.parse(value)
return self.cache[value]
So the issue was with cache.keys(), which now seems like an obvious slow and shitty way.
New stats reveal that even Try: Except:... fail fast is even not the right way.
Notice the almost double time difference between "try.. except.." way and "if value in self.cache".
Lesson learnt :)
Labels: caching, experiments, memoization, python


text:
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) ? About a year ago, resident Ricky Cisco, now 26, brought new meaning to being a Facebook friend when he donated a kidney to the husband of an acquaintance, Roxy Kurze of Warren.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — About a year ago, resident Ricky Cisco, now 26, brought new meaning to being a Facebook friend when he donated a kidney to the husband of an acquaintance, Roxy Kurze of Warren.
Jeff Kurze, now 36, got the kidney and a new lease on life in a transplant surgery at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.
Daunted by the prospect of a three- to five-year wait for a kidney for her husband, Roxy Kurze posted a plea on Facebook. Much to the couple's surprise, Cisco replied that he was interested in being a donor.
The story, dubbed the "Facebook kidney," received worldwide media attention.
Nowadays, Jeff Kurze is saying goodbye to dialysis and hello to ice cream.
"One year has flown by," Jeff Kurze said. "Thankfully there are no rejection issues, my doctors are very pleased. I'm back to work full-time. ... I've got energy. I feel awesome!"
Before the transplant procedure, he would undergo dialysis three times a week for about five hours each session. He also had to be careful about what he ate.
"I had to limit my dairy products. And I love ice cream," he said.
Another post-transplant perk gives Kurze more freedom to travel. He and his wife and Cisco recently went to New York City.
The couple also has another big journey on their minds.
"Roxy and I want to start a family," Kurze said. "Now we're ready. I've got the energy to care for children."
Cisco said he may have given up an organ but he gained more.
"It's been quite a year," he said. "The what-ifs have become reality. I never imagined giving a kidney to a guy I barely knew would connect me to so many people."
"I encourage everyone to consider becoming an organ donor," Cisco said, noting that April is National Donate Life Month.
"There have been no down sides to giving Jeff a kidney. ... And it's cool that they're talking about children."
Source: The Daily Tribune,www.dailytribune.com
He is counting his blessings to be at this point.
"I'm forever grateful to Ricky for giving me his kidney and I'm also thankful for Roxy's Facebook post and tireless support," Kurze said. "And then there's the kidney transplant team at Beaumont, I can't thank them enough. They saved my life. My Beaumont experience was a 10."
He also has advice for others considering an organ transplant.
Kurze said, "Do your research. And get it done, don't wait. Regarding risks, I'm convinced there are more risks waiting to have the surgery."
His wife said she notices positive changes in husband.
"Since the transplant, Jeff's demeanor has changed," Roxy Kurze said. "He's more positive and confident. He's energetic and happier. Jeff wants to do everything — travel, hang out with family and eat. We love food so much."
"At first, I had my fears about donating a kidney, but the Beaumont staff put me at ease. Now after my and Jeff's surgeries, I take more calculated risks."
Because they removed his kidney using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, Cisco said he couldn't believe how fast he healed. He recalled two days after getting home from the hospital, he was cruising the aisles of Costco. Three months after his surgery, he went skydiving.
Since the procedure, he's been getting e-mail from people around the world, especially Europe and South America.


text:
Monsal Head
- Home
- Alsop en le Dale
- Ambergate
- Ashbourne
- Ashford In The Water
- Ashover
- Bakewell
- Baslow
- Chatsworth
- Cromford
- Denby
- Dovedale
- Grassmoor
- Hartington
- Hartshorne
- Hathersage
- High Peak Junction
- Hope
- Horsley
- Kedleston
- Little Eaton
- Matlock
- Melbourne
- Monsal Head
- Osmaston
- Rosliston
- Rowsley
- Shardlow
- Taxal
- Ticknall
- Tissington
- Torside
- Whatstandwell
- Weather
- Daylight Hours
|Walk Area
OS Map
Start Point
Altitude Information
Start Point
Low Point
High Point
Other Information
Tea Shops
Last Walked
| :
|Monsal Head
2.25 Miles (3.60 Km)
Explorer OL24 1:25000
White Peak Area
Monsal Head Hotel
764 feet (233 meters)
524 feet (160 meters)
764 feet (233 meters)
Pay and Display
Jun 7th 2012 Duration 1h 45m
This Walk.
A short walk that starts with what on a fine day must be one of the most awe-inspiring views in the country. From Monsal Head the route drops through woodland into the steep limestone valley along well established paths. Once on the valley floor the walk crosses the River Wye then passes beneath the towering Headstone Viaduct before rising onto the former railway tack bed that is now the Monsal Trail. Although this route does not directly pass over the viaduct it only a short diversion should you choose to do so. Returning to the valley floor once more the route crosses back over the River Wye before a short steep climb back to the start point. There are no stiles at all on this route, so this walk can be considered as dog freindly. Public toilets for this walk are to be found at the car park.
The tea shop for this walk is Hobb's Café located at the start/finish point adjacent to the Monsal Head Hotel, please note that Hobb's Café not usually open on Monday's or Tuesday's.
This walk can be seen as dog friendly, there are no stiles and only three stock gates along the route. The only areas to be careful of are the very steep drops immediately beside the path on the initial descent and final ascent to and from the dales below.
Monsal Head is located on the B6465 near to the village of Little Longstone, around a mile and a half to the north of Ashford In The Water. From either Bakewell or Buxton take the A6 to Ashford In The Water, then turn onto the B6465 and follow the signs for Monsal Head. From Sheffield, Castleton and the A623 turn off the A623 at Wardlow Mires and follow the signs to Monsal Head. There is also a bus (service 173) to Monsal Head from both Bakewell and Castleton, the timetable for which is available from the Derby Bus Info web site.
The Walk:
From the car park make your way to the front of the Monsal Head Hotel either by passing between the hotel buildings, or via the car park entrance turning left, then left at the far side of the hotel. In front of the hotel is a short stay car park and vantage points for the stunning views down into both Monsal Dale and Upperdale.Start the walk by passing through the gap in the wall near Hobb's Café and take the path to the left signed Ashford. After a very short distance the path splits, take the route to the right and begin the long steady descent into Monsal Dale. This path is in places rather steep, and in other spots has exposed tree roots, so please beware of tripping up given the steep drop into the woods to the right of the path. Eventually the roar of the Monsal Dale weir can be heard and the path finally levels out to arrive at the first of three stock gates. Once through the stock gate continue along the path to the weir, then on to a second stock gate and a narrow footbridge across the River Wye.
Cross the footbridge to the far side of the river then turn right and follow the path back towards the head of the dale, passing the weir and a third stock gate along the way. As the path becomes more grassy the route follows the course of the river to the left and the mighty Headstone Viaduct (often wrongly called Monsal Dale Viaduct) comes into view near the head of the dale. Follow the grassy path towards the viaduct and pass beneath the first arch.
Once on the other side of the viaduct continue to follow the path as it bends left loosely following the line of the river eventually arriving at a footbridge. Rather than crossing the river this walk now takes the path to the left up the embankment and onto the Monsal trail at the north-western end of the Headstone Viaduct, although this walk does not cross the viaduct it is only a short distance to the left should you wish to pay it a visit.
As Seen From Monsal Dale
On reaching the Monsal Trail turn right and walk along the former trackbed for a distance of a little over a quarter of a mile to a line-side hut, passing beneath a bridge along the way. At the hut leave the Monsal trail to the right then pass beneath the trail and follow the path down to another bridge over the river at Uppderdale farm. Cross the river and walk up to the road, there are no footpaths along this next section and the road does carry some light traffic so please take care. Turn right and walk along the road for a third of a mile to a point where a drive way drops off to the right, leave the road and walk down the drive to some buildings, then take the footpath immediately to the left of the building to begin the short but steep ascent back up onto Monsal Head. Part way up the slope the path splits keep left (the path to the right goes to the south-eastern end of the viaduct) and continue to climb until you reach the gap in the wall near to Hobb's café. From here retrace you steps back to the car park and the end of the walk.
GPS Track Of Walk
|Other Walks in Postcode Area: DE45
This sites OS navigation and mapping solution.
Credits: CSS Template and menus based on concepts from; Dynamic Drive CSS Library


text:
Entries in "wisdom"
June 21, 2007
benefits of daily writing
Liz Strauss has written a neat post on reasons to write which echoes my post from a while back about why I ask students to blog. Although management is often described as primarily an oral craft, I continue to insist to my students that the ability to write well is a great ace in the whole. That skill impresses others who value critical thinking and attention to detail, helps one make a good first impression, and sharpens the ability to think analytically and critically. All this is true not just for current students, but also for those who are already in the workplace. If you're not happy with your writing skills, then take Liz Strauss' advice, and begin a daily practice -- it can only yield positive rewards!
June 14, 2007
work and life as two balls....
... one of rubber, one of glass. A great metaphor, from Sandra Pianalto, in her speech to the graduating class at John Carroll last month:
Imagine that in one hand you hold a rubber ball and in the other hand you hold a beautiful fragile glass ball. The rubber ball represents your work life. The fragile glass ball represents your personal life - your family, your health, your friends.
What happens if you drop the rubber ball? It will bounce. Someone will pick it up for you, or it will just stay put until you are able to pick it up again.
But if you drop the glass ball, it may smash into a million pieces. If you are lucky, it will only crack - but either way, it will never be the same again.
Don't allow your justifiable concern with your career to cause you to drop the precious ball that represents your family, your friends, and your health.
I want to end today by wishing you, our graduates, not just a successful career, but a successful life. Take a few risks - bounce that rubber ball if you need to. Learn from everyone you meet. Be kind. And be happy. Do these simple things, and we will all be astonished by what you accomplish.
March 16, 2007
when do managers decide based on evidence?
In my workplace flexibility course, we had an interesting discussion of Bob Sutton and Jeff Pfeffer's Harvard Business Review article on evidence-based management a few weeks back.
More recently, I stumbled across the blog for the Evidence-Based Management book, and was intrigued by this entry on Lovaglia's law. Professor Lovaglia, a sociologist, asserts that people are least likely to make decisions based on evidence when it seems most crucial -- when the outcome of the decision seems most important.
With my students, I discussed when managers make use of the evidence about the benefits of flexible work practices, and when they ignore the evidence (and suffer the consequences in terms of lower morale and productivity, higher turnover and worker stress and burnout).
We also talked about the kinds of evidence available to managers, and the possibility of gathering evidence as organizational changes are implemented that would allow managers to assess wither the interventions are having the desired effects.
I'd be curious to hear from managers about how and when they use evidence in their decision-making, and from others about how they see businesses making decisions. What kind of evidence counts for you? What kinds of evidence get ignored?
November 14, 2006
challenging students, supporting students: reflecting on the HR simulation
Have you ever read the research of Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi? He's the director of the Quality of Life Research Center at the Drucker School of Management (and he must know that the spelling of his name overwhelms people, because his bio on that site is labeled about Mike.)
Csikszentmihalyi's research over the last few decades has examined the role of flow in human life. Flow is a state of consciousness in which our attention is fully invested in the task at hand, and when we are in flow, time seems to disappear or to stand still. When we are in flow is when we do our best, most creative work. Flow is a natural high.
I don't often think about it this way, but my purpose as a teacher is to create the context in which my students can engage in learning management in a such a way that they experience flow. When I can do this -- when I can balance the challenge that students experience when they encounter new concepts or practice new skills against the support that they receive from me, from each other, and from their learning context -- that is when students get turned on to management. If they have that experience often enough, then they will become intrinsically motivated to learn more, and to pursue mastery of the field of management.
Of course, it would help a lot of I had had this revelation in August, rather than in November. There are signs in many student blog entries that the balance of challenge and support is out of whack. This is especially true with regard to the HR simulation. (Click through to read more.)
(With thanks to the Mutual Improvement Blog, which linked to this post on self-awareness and staying engaged, which, in turn, linked to this Kathy Sierra entry on keeping users engaged, which reminded me of what I had learned long ago, and then forgotten, about the research on flow.)
Continue reading "challenging students, supporting students: reflecting on the HR simulation"
November 10, 2006
a noble profession
Which is the most noble of professions? Certainly, medicine is a top contender -- and one of the reasons is the Hippocratic Oath. In the next 100 years, though, it's possible that management will give medicine "a run for its money", so to speak. Here's a quote from my colleague, Julia Grant:
"all business schools are under an imperative to try to get better at teaching strong ethics, at teaching strong business values that do have to do with creating a better world. Business cannot be just about profit."(from Peter Krouse's October 28 article in the Plain Dealer, "Honor among managers")
The dean of Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management, told the story of Thunderbird's new oath during the BAWB conference in Cleveland last month. Some are skeptical about the ability of a voluntary oath taken by students at one management school to change the practices of managers around the world. Normally, I'm known for my skepticism. In this instance, though, I believe it's more important to match the high intent of those students with practical actions which will reinforce their intent.
I'm lining up beside those recent Thunderbird graduates who signed their oath, and beside any Weatherhead students who will draft and then sign our own version. I will do whatever I can to make management practice more ethical, day by day, so that we can truly say, 100 years from now, that management is a noble profession.
November 03, 2006
the journey toward perfection: a status report
On Sept. 1, I posted a blog entry about the speaker at Fall Commencement, entitled food for thought. In it, I discussed speaker Michael Ruhlman's words, both during his speech and in his book, which was assigned as a common reading for all entering first-year undergraduates in August of 2007. The book is entitled The Soul of a Chef: The Journey Toward Perfection. One week later, an article about Fall Commencement was published in the Case campus newspaper, the Observer -- Soul of a Chef Author Addresses Case.
One week before, Mano Singham had also written about his reactions to the book, as a professor who teaches first seminars here at Case. He tells a bit of the story of how Ruhlman's book was selected as a common reading for Case first-year students, and outlines how he dealt with his initial lack of enthusiasm for reading the book. Professor Singham makes two important points which may be helpful reminders for students in MGMT 250: (click through to read more)
Continue reading "the journey toward perfection: a status report"
October 22, 2006
BAWB event open to NEO community coming up...
I will have handouts at BAWB on Tuesday or Wednesday, with the table of contents for the forthcoming Handbook of Transformative Cooperation. It is expected to be in print next summer at Stanford University Press.
I hope you see some of my BFD and/or REALNEO connections at the regional event! If you don't know what I'm talking about, please leave a comment and I'll find out if there is still space available for you to join us at Veale on Tuesday.
For now, let me leave you with a teaser about the forthcoming Handbook:
Continue reading "BAWB event open to NEO community coming up..."
September 01, 2006
food for thought
NB: This blog entry was redistributed with permission in the CoolCleveland eNewsletter, also available online.
Yesterday I attended Convocation, drawn by the promise of ritual and the prospect of hearing Michael Ruhlman, author of Case's Common Reading for this year, speak. He wrote The Soul of a Chef: The Journey Toward Perfection more than 5 years ago, and so I hoped that his speech would go beyond the book into more elaborated thinking about what it takes to become an expert in one's chosen field. He did not disappoint.
He addressed head-on a criticism he has probably heard many times about his writing on cooking: Isn't it frivolous to write about fancy food in a time when there is so much serious stuff happening in world politics? His answer started with this assertion:
"Great cooking, in the end, has such power because it allows us to connect with our past, our future, and all of humanity, if we let it. I believe that America's insatiable appetite for food and cooking know-how is really the beginning of a spiritual quest for the bigger things: a search for meaning, order and beauty in an apparently chaotic and alienating universe."
President Eastwood looked quite comfortable listening to Ruhlman's speech up until that point, but when Ruhlman made his next main point, suggesting that sharing what he learned about master chefs brought into relief how all of America has become a culture of mediocrity, the President started to look a little nervous...
Continue reading "food for thought"
July 08, 2006
what is an organization?
David Pollard says it is "an instrument for doing something a particular way."
This is a great definition, very similar to the one I use in my introductory classes in organizational behavior. (I talk about an organization as a group of three or more people, working toward a common goal or set of goals, in a consciously coordinated way, on a more-or-less continuous basis.)
Pollard goes on with a provocative argument:
Organization does not mean order or structure. When we say "let's get organized" we are not saying let's decide how to structure ourselves, we're saying let's make ourselves an instrument to do something specific. The fact that the first step in so many new organizations is establishing a hierarchy shows how well we've been brainwashed to believe that 'anarchic' self-management is impossible, when it is the natural order. This is perhaps why Open Space is so subversive and unaccepted in the political and corporate mainstream -- if frees people from the false belief that they need someone else to impose order and structure on them in order to be an effective organism, an instrument of action.
What do you think? Can groups of people organize themselves organically, without hierarchy? Do you question that assumption that self-management is impossible in larger groups, or do you accept it unthinkingly? Do you believe that you can be effective outside of an authority structure imposed by others?
Be sure to click through and read the rest of Pollard's entry on the meaning of words, including community, family, freedom, and wisdom.
April 21, 2006
responsible capitalism: employee-owned companies, and how they support one another
Did you know that Ohio is home to a Center for Employee Owned Corporations? Are you planning to attend their conference today in Akron?
Companies with ESOPs suggest a more socially responsible variant of capitalism, where the interests of the stockholders and of the employees need not be divergent. When employees have a stake in the corporation, the long-term interests of investing in a particular region can be taken more seriously when members are elected to the board of directors, and when decisions about relocating facilities or changing working conditions for employees are considered.
Want to learn more?
Continue reading "responsible capitalism: employee-owned companies, and how they support one another"
February 20, 2006
Global Discover Contest
The Weatherhead School of Management's Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit (BAWB) has partnered with Net Impact to develop the Global Discover Contest, which invites people to offer suggestions on new ways for business to live in mutual benefit with the earth's ecosystems and world's societies. The deadline is April 1. Learn more at this URL.
December 23, 2005
People will listen when they're ready... above all, listen.
"People will listen when they're ready to listen and not before. Probably, once upon a time, you weren't ready to listen to an idea than now seems to you obvious, even urgent. Let people come to it in their own time. Nagging or bullying will only alienate them. Don't preach. Don't waste time with people who want to argue. They'll keep you immobilized forever. Look for people who are already open to something new.
When presenting a new idea, you don't have to have all the answers. It's better to say 'I don't know' than to fake it. Make people formulate their own questions. Don't take on the responsibility of figuring out what their difficulty is. We each internalize information differently. If you don't understand a question, keep insisting they explain it until it's clear. Nine times out of ten they'll supply the answer themselves.
Above all, listen. Your close attention is sometimes more important than your articulateness in winning converts. And learning is always a good thing."
-- Daniel Quinn
December 21, 2005
I learn so much from teaching
"My best is not nearly good enough. To improve my life from good to great and great to best, I should not see my limit, but look at the whole picture of the direction and keep walking toward my setting goal. It will be risky and long journey to establish and walk my way. Looking back my values and basic principles, what I would like to do is to contribute to the society by helping people in the world through my business. This is what I want in my life. I have challenged many things that other people don't. And, I will continuously put myself in risky situations in order to keep challenging myself. As now I am young, I have nothing to lose or conceal, and only hope and passion to be happy make me satisfied in my life."


text:
Joseph Leitgeb Jr., 34, was sworn in last night as the newestmember of Northampton Borough Council by Mayor Paul Kutzler.
Leitgeb, of 1252 Newport Ave., was appointed last month to fill the council vacancy in the 4th Ward created when Gene Zarayko was made borough manager. The new councilman, a Democrat, will serve until the Nov. 4 election.


text:
5 Strategies to Combat an Employment Gap
|Take Steps
5 Strategies to Combat an Employment Gap
By Jessica Holbrook Hernandez
Historically, having a significant gap in your professional employment has been viewed as a draw back or potential red flag on your professional resume.
However, given that a May Gallup poll showed that 19% of the American population is underemployed (either not working or working part-time instead of full-time), there are many, many job seekers out there wondering how to handle this resume issue. The good news is that there are ways to present gaps in employment that minimize their impact on your resume.
To Read the Full Article Click Here


text:
|Production Manager Craig Ahneman solves all his lighting needs with an all Vari-Lite rig
|Published Thursday, October 17, 2013
As one of the largest music festivals held in Colorado, the annual Country Jam features four days of performances by some country music's hottest stars. With a 2013 festival headlined by Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert, Kid Rock and Rascal Flatts, the event once again lived up to its reputation as one of the premier festivals in country music. But before the award-winning artists could take the stage, it was longtime festival provider StagePro who oversaw the creation of all the production elements which included an all Vari-Lite automated lighting rig complete with 12 VL3015LT Spot, 16 VL3500 Wash FX, 16 VLX Wash, six VL880 Spot, and 16 VL3000 Spot Luminaires.
"This was a festival rig which was not designed for any one specific band," began Craig Ahneman, StagePro Production Manager. "As a full service production company, the one thing we fought for on the project was to design a true festival rig where the bands would not need to hang any of their tour lighting since that would cause an indeterminate weight to be placed on the overhead truss every day. When you are requesting that artists leave their rigs in the trucks, you have to have top-of-the-line equipment and this is why we went with an all Vari-Lite automated lighting rig."
With a total of 22 different artists scheduled to appear at the festival, StagePro understood the need to create a diverse lighting rig to fulfill all the various design needs. Conversely, since they have been working with Country Jam for a number of years, they also knew there were common lighting elements often seen with each artist.
Ahneman continued, "We have done the Country Jam festival for the past 21 years and what we have seen year-after-year was Vari-Lite products coming off the trucks. So in putting this year's rig together, we first looked at our headliners, what their touring rigs were, how they were laid out, and then we conducted a conference call with the lighting designers to go over the rig we wanted to put up. In the end, we came up with the all Vari-Lite automated rig that everyone agreed upon and was excited to work with."
With the lighting plot now finalized, Ahneman and the StagePro crew got busy putting together the comprehensive rig which could create a variety of looks for the multitude of artists using them. While each product would have a specific purpose within the design, they all also had to offer other capabilities which could be called upon on demand, plus offer consistent color-matching, which was no problem for the VL3015LT Spot, VL3500 Wash FX, VLX Wash, VL880 Spot and VL3000 Spot luminaires.
He explained further, "Our biggest concern when putting the rig together was consistent color-matching across all the automated luminaires, but what we have found over the years is that Vari-Lite products have impeccable color and optics systems that are second to no other manufacturer. Plus all their lights are extremely versatile allowing you to get so much out of one light which is why we decided to go with the VL3015LT Spot in the rig because we could get the effect of their super tight and strong beams, but still have the wide zoom and horse power of a 1500W lamp whenever we wanted it. With the VL3500 Wash FX luminaires we used them mainly for their wash and gobo effects, but some LD's used them for their tight columns of light as well. The VLX Wash fixtures eliminated our need for Par Can's and gave us a great front wash light with virtually any deep and rich LED color available whenever we needed it. We then used the VL3000 and VL880 Spots as our key band lights, but then also for any special accents that we needed for any individual artist, eliminating the need for any other lights for gobo effects."
Using a highly reliable 1500W double-ended short arc lamp to produce 41,487 lumens of output, the VL3015LT Spot features 10:1 zoom optics, CYM color mixing, variable CTO wheel, two five-position color wheels, three gobo/effects wheels, a beam size iris, and separate dimmer and ultra-fast strobe mechanisms. The zoom range of 6° to 60° allows for use in a multitude of applications from stadiums to arenas or theatres.
With an output that exceeds 70,000 lumens, the VL3500 Wash FX luminaire features internal zoomable beam optics with either Fresnel or Buxom options, an interchangeable front lens system, and a pattern wheel that allows users to harness the tremendous intensity of the luminaire to project effects patterns making it one of the most versatile wash luminaires available today.
The VLX Wash luminaire incorporates the most attractive benefits of LED lighting technology with the product quality only found in Vari-Lite automated luminaires. The internal beam homogenization system creates rich and smooth color mixing, plus the VLX Wash also allows for operation of all seven light engines as one, or for completely independent control of each. With stunning colors, powerful intensity, a multi-year source life, and low energy consumption, the VLX Wash is a remarkable LED automated luminaire.
The VL880 Spot utilizes an 800-watt MSR Platinum 35 lamp to produce 19,000 lumens of output, plus it has a zoom range from 15º to 36º, a mechanical iris for continuous beam control, and brilliant color mixing through its three-wheel CYM color assembly. When combined with the eight standard colors on a fixed wheel, the color options of the VL880 Spot are practically limitless.
The VL3000 Spot luminaire features CYM color mixing, variable CTO color temperature correction, a six-position color wheel, three gobo/effects wheels, a beam size iris and separate dimmer and ultra-fast strobe mechanisms. With its 20,000 lumens of output and 6:1 zoom optics, the VL3000 Spot is an industry favorite that has set the standard for imagery, beam control, color and brightness in automated spot luminaires.
Ahneman concluded, "This show was a true group effort with our lighting technicians AJ Avery and Cole Crockett working tirelessly to get the rig in the air and programmed. They did a great job in helping me put together a rig that could literally handle the needs of any type of song. Whether it was a dark and moody piano ballad with gobos and deep color saturation, or an upbeat song that called for vibrant colors and powerful intensity, none of the Vari-Lite fixtures are a one-trick pony. When you look at other lights many of them have one thing that they do well, but that's all they can do. With Vari-Lite luminaires, I can get so many looks from the same set of incredibly versatile fixtures, and that is why we were able to go with an all Vari-Lite automated lighting rig."


text:
In August, Electrolux produced the 10 millionth Ergorapido. Since its launch in 2004, this vacuum has been sold in more than 70 countries across all continents from Argentina to Yemen, making the Electrolux Ergorapido...Read more
Topic about: Ergorapido
Electrolux Ergorapido turns 10 and 10 million sold
Ergorapido: New third generation of Electrolux best-selling vacuum cleaner launched
A global success during the last ten years, sold in 70 markets, the third generation of the instant battery stick-cleaner Electrolux Ergorapido is now being launched around the world.Read more
Electrolux celebrates 100 years since the launch of the LUX 1 vacuum cleaner. During the last century Electrolux has contributed to vacuum cleaner milestones and sold over 350 million vacs all over the world.Read more
Electrolux introduces unique brush-cleaning function
The new Ergorapido 2in1 with BRUSHROLLCLEAN™ TECHNOLOGY addresses a problem that no other vacuum manufacturer has been able to solve. With a new unique brush cleaning function from Electrolux, fibers and entwined hairs are...Read more
Electrolux early on realized the importance of attractive home appliance, and has worked with some of the world's leading industrial designers.Read more
Electrolux receives several Plus X Awards
Four small appliances from Electrolux has received the prestigious German Plus X Award® for 2011. The appliances were honored with 'Best Product of the Year 2011'.Read more
Ergorapido available in four new colors
The Ergorapido instant cleaner are now able to choose among four new colors in addition to the previous ones. The new colors are Aqua Blue, Olive Green, Chocolate Brown and Clear Blue.Read more
Electrolux has now developed a Green Range version of Ergorapido, its popular instant cleaner.Read more
To commemorate the wedding between the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling on June 19, Electrolux has developed the new "Swedish Crowns" design concept.Read more
Ergorapido has best performance in category, according to independent test institute
Electrolux vacuum cleaner Ergorapido outperformed its main competition in three of four categories, according to performance tests conducted by the independent German test institute SLG.Read more


text:
I have had some health problems for a few years now. I didn't share much of this because I guess I was kind of embarrassed and felt like my body was a failure. Now, looking back, it's totally not true and hopefully by sharing my story I can encourage someone to seek help if they aren't feeling their best.
I started having trouble a little over two years ago. I went on vacation for 10 days and about a week after we came home I had emergency surgery appendicitis. Shortly after I started bloating after eating anything. I remember running at night and being so uncomfortable because my belly looked super pregnant. After some food elimination I realized I had became intolerant to gluten. That was an easy fix – I became gluten free. But about 6 months later my symptoms (bloating, headaches, tiredness, irritability) came back. It felt like my body had hit a wall.
A few months later, I got a blood test for food allergies. When I went in to get my results, the doctor handed me the paper saying she was so sorry. My tests came back saying I was allergic to about 30 foods. A lot of the foods that I was sensitive to were foods that I ate almost every day. So elimination diets happened and I physically felt better but got depressed because I could only eat a handful of foods. It was a huge challenge to eat and I wasn't able to go out to eat at restaurants because of cross contamination. Any small amount of the "forbidden foods" would cause major bloating, pain, headaches, and sometimes I would end up in the fetal position in bed crying.
I was caught in a vicious cycle. I would binge for a few days on the foods my body hated (which wasn't exactly unhealthy foods either. Things such as tomatoes, peppers, cheese, peanut butter, bananas…) which cause my body to be in pain. Then I go back to eating right to just binge a few weeks later. There were so many restrictions in my diet that I had a hard time mentally living like that.
About a year after my initial testing, I went back in because I was bloating and in pain AGAIN after eating and came back with 10 more foods that were irritants. I was so tired that I could hardly wake up and spent all day on the couch utterly exhausted. It was rediculous & depressing! I just couldn't take it anymore. I felt old, lost my joy out of life and, honestly, I didn't want to keep living the way I was but I couldn't feel better no matter how hard I tried.
I was told about a local holistic chiropractor and decided to give him a try (there was nothing left to lose). In early May I saw him and after explaining what I felt like he pretty much knew right away what the problem was. He had me hold different minerals in my hand and did tests to see what my body was deficient in. He also had me spit into a Kleenex and hold that and ran a test (which I failed). I was basically allergic to myself. His tests showed many things weren't working right in my body – problems were with my digestion, endocrine system, autoimmune, thyroid, and adrenals – which all were under the main problem with my hypothalamus. So I saw him weekly as he adjusted different things and I was put on a RNA supplement until I passed the tests!!
It was a difference of night and day- like the dark cloud had parted and the sun came shining thru after 2 years! I had honestly never felt better. I was able to go to sleep at a normal time, fall asleep, stay asleep, AND feel well rested when I woke up (something I have had problems with as long as I can remember). I was able to eat foods again (and did go a little crazy with my new freedom) and just felt lighter and more balanced.
But, the last few weeks had been getting harder and harder and the food bloating and the insomnia and tiredness have been coming back. I was blaming on the summer time stress, juggling more work than usual, and lack of sleep. But no matter how much rest and relaxation I just wasn't feeling 100%. I decided to go back in to the chiropractictor to rule out any internal body issues. Unfortunately, what I didn't want to happen did in fact happen. I failed some of the tests and needed an adjustment. We are not sure why after only 5 weeks (3 of them with me feeling bad) I regressed so much. He wants to figure out the root cause of what is going on. So that brings you up to date. I haven't noticed much difference from the adjustment the chiropractictor did a few days ago but he did say it will take a few weeks to feel better again.
As for now, I am cleaning up my eating and trying to cut out processed foods to see if that helps my healing along. I'm using Betty Rocker's Body Fuel System and after reading her ebook, I am committed to cutting out the junk that I have overloaded my system with. Hopefully within the month I will start feeling the benefits of the chiropractictor and healthy eating again!


text:
Ludicrous E-Cigarette Conspiracies
Ever since the FDA announced its new e-cigarette regulations, vapers across the US have been in uproar. As a vaper, you almost certainly only see the positive benefits of using an e-cig instead of traditional tobacco. So, any regulation must have reasoning behind it and if e-cigarettes are a positive force, who do you blame for this lack of foresight?
This way of thinking has led to some increasingly popular conspiracy theories being floated about the vaping industry. We've outlined three of the theories below and shown the minimal evidence often involved in each case. All blame another group for the FDA regulations as an attack on vaping. Read on to discover if you believe these are true.
Big Tobacco Killed Vaping
Allegation: Big tobacco was harming revenues and advancing too fast.
In many vaping circles this an accepted line of thinking, it is almost a resolute point rarely challenged. This all pivots on the claim that the FDA regulatory framework puts unbearable strain on independent e-cigarette manufacturers. There is some truth to this with the estimated costs of FDA market approval between $300,000 and $2 million.
It is true that big tobacco is unbelievably wealthy. According to the World Lung Foundation, in 2010 the combined profits of the six leading tobacco companies were equal to the combined profits of Coca-Cola, Microsoft and McDonalds. This should provide big tobacco with plenty of money to get its e-cigarette products through the approval process. Its products will also go through the approval process faster because they tend to sell closed cigalike products with limited flavor selections.
In comparison, e-cigarette manufacturers tend to be small businesses, with more products to go through the approval system. In many ways this is a symptom of money in politics undermining the democratic process, this has been happening in other industries for years.
Some weight is added to the conspiracy by the comments made by big tobacco on the FDA regulations. In 2014 several tobacco companies suggested that open system mods should be banned. There is still no evidence that this is a conspiracy organized by big tobacco on purpose but you can see why some vapers are frustrated by their attempts to capitalize on this lucrative market.
Big-Pharma Killed Vaping
Allegation: Vaping is more effective than NRT and harmed revenues
Big-pharma has a lot of ties to major lobbying organizations like The American Lung Association. A quick look on its website will show that its sponsored by Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Other organizations like The American Heart Association and The American Cancer Society have similar deals in place. Companies like Pfizer produce patches and gum to help smokers quit, making it naturally opposed to any alternative measure that may suit some smokers better.
Leading market research firm Mintel revealed that there was a 4% decrease in sales of NRT products in 2014 in the UK. A similar pattern emerged on a global scale. Considering it is a multi-billion-dollar global market this represents a significant loss of earnings for big-pharma. It has spent money supporting anti-vaping politicians. Again this is not enough of a case for a conspiracy theory, it further demonstrates the ways in which money is corrupting politics.
The Tobacco Control Lobby Killed Vaping
Allegation: Organizations against tobacco view vaping as one and the same and refuse to admit mistakes.
Unlike the previous entries this one is not about money but is in fact about morality. To accept this conspiracy, you have to come to the view that tobacco control groups are heartless, with little interest in the overall state of public health. This theory is impossible to prove or disprove but is almost completely illogical.
Tobacco control groups are generally opposed to vaping. However, you could argue that the reluctance of these groups is simply a response to the facts at hand. Yes, there are many studies that highlight the benefits of vaping but there are also studies that show it in a negative light. There is every chance that these groups will come around to a more enlightened way of thinking when more evidence is presented to them. Only time will tell whether it is opposed on principle or because of the current state of research.
Michael Grey
Latest posts by Michael Grey (see all)
- Why Black Note Is The Perfect Gift To Send This Holiday Season - Dec 9, 2016
- How E-cig Flavors Can Help You Kick Your Smoking Habit - Oct 25, 2016
- Should 'Kid Friendly' Vape Flavors Be Banned? - Oct 24, 2016


text:
On 12th July 2013, Senior Corporal (Caporal-chef) Loureiro, a legionnaire from the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG), have died in an accident during the four-month mission in French Guiana. On July 25, the ceremony to pay homage to the dead Senior Corporal was organized within the 2e REG. The Irish legionnaire blogging about his life in the Legion was also present. See images.
2e REI at Kidal camp in Mali
A few images of legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) at their camp in Mali. The camp is placed close to Kidal, a small town in the desert region (Kidal region) of northern Mali. At this time, the 2e REI has been for two months in Mali already.
French Foreign Legion on the Belgian National Day
On the 21st of July, the Foreign Legion Music participated on the Belgian National Day in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. The legionnaires showed their well-known excellent abilities to make the local visitors happy. See video.
1er REC official video clip 2013
Today, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) has launched its new videoclip. See the fresh presentation of the only cavalry unit of the French Foreign Legion.
The 2e REP and 1er REC were decorated
On the 11th July 2013, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) and the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) of the French Foreign Legion were decorated by Army General Bertrand Ract-Madoux, commander of the French Army, at Les Invalides in Paris. The regiments also participated at the Prises d'Armes military ceremony in the garden of the French Senate two days later. See a few images and videos.
Foreign Legion Bastille Day parade 2013
See the images of the French Foreign Legion marching on the 14th July 2013 on the Bastille Day parade, during this French National Day.
Parade training video
A few images of the legionnaires preparing for the tomorrow's Bastille Day military parade, the most important and awaited French event of the year.
French Foreign Legion Tattoo and Tattoo Policy
French Foreign Legion and the tattoo. Are legionnaires tattooed or not? Are you allowed to be tattooed, when you are joining the Foreign Legion? Which is the French Foreign Legion tattoo policy?


text:
Why you MUST watch capacity to foster growth
New Patients, Inc.
5935 Edmond Street Suite 105
Las Vegas, NV 89118
Telephone: 866-336-8237
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
New Patients, Inc. is a full service dental marketing company, exclusively for dentists. In short, dentists hire us to manage their marketing budgets. This makes perfect sense. Our clients focus on the patients in the chair. We focus on getting the right patients in the chair. We have been promoting dentistry to the dental consumer since 1989. We provide dental marketing services to individual dentists all throughout the US & Canada. www.NewPatientsInc.com


text:
Keeping your house warm in the winter without watching your heating bill go through the roof is a task that nearly everyone can relate to. We often forget that a few small, everyday tasks can contribute to a lower bill each month. Here are a few common sense reminders for how to keep your bill as low and your house as warm as possible during the winter months.
1. Open your curtains and shades. Let a little light in! Remember, on a sunny day, nature can handle a little of the work of warming your home. Get up early, and let the sun permeate your house throughout the day while you're at work. Remember to close them again at night, when the temperature will drop.
2. Reverse your ceiling fans. Most ceiling fans have a setting specially designated for the winter months. The switch will reverse the direction that the fan blades move in, causing the cool air to rise, and the warm air to fall-like pennies into your pocket. Again, you will want to be sure to remember to switch your fan back to the regular setting when the temperature changes.
3. Move your furniture away from vents. Heating vents may seem unsightly, or bothersome when thinking about the layout of your rooms and furniture. However, with a little energy-focused redecorating, you may find that one of the secrets to heating your home more efficiently lies in the arrangement of your furniture. Give floor and wall vents plenty of room to push the air out into the home without any obstacles to hinder its work.
4. Cover your hard floors. Where you don't have floor vents, rugs can work to both store heat by preventing warm air from escaping through the floorboards. It can also make your wood or tile floors feel warmer to your feet. Just as a pair of socks will keep your toes nice and cozy, so will a few smartly placed rugs.
5. Programmable thermostats. Programmable thermostats are designed to make your central heating work more efficiently while your home and when you're away. For a small installation fee, you can lower your energy bill considerably each month by lowering the temperature of your home while you're away. Keep it just warm enough while you're at work to make your pets happy. It will also feel inviting when you get home, and you can raise it to a more comfortable temperature while you're at home.
6. Seal air leaks around your home. The great thing about this energy-saving tip is that it will make your home more efficient year-round, not just in the winter months. Some may want to invest in a professional to help detect where large leaks are causing heat and cool air loss, but many leaks can be spotted visually. Leaks usually occur in places where siding, foundation, and chimneys meet floors or other surfaces. A caulk gun and caulk are relatively inexpensive to buy and easy to use. Make sure to clean all your surfaces before you caulk, and enjoy your savings!


text:
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Posted by The Gene Pool at 11:38 AM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Where is Gene? That's what everyone is asking at Lambeth! Has there been a Gene sighting? Where will he turn up next? It's all here. Better yet, find out here who Gene is, and why he loves Jesus.


text:
|From the shore
The bottom detail is of a piece I am still working on which is for the exhibition in Street starting early April. The colours are all wrong they are deeper than these, I will post again when it is finished.
I also took two small pieces in today that are for an exhibition opening on Wednesday.
Once the April exhibitions are both on I shall be solely working on the July exhibition which I am really looking forward to and have lots of ideas running around in my head. It is called 'Shoreline'.


text:
David W. Hecht, MD Named Loyola's Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer
Article ID: 599770
Released: 28-Feb-2013 4:35 PM EST
Source Newsroom: Loyola University Health System
Available for logged-in reporters only
KEYWORDSHecht, Infectious Disease, Chief Medical Officer, Loyola
Newswise — MAYWOOD, Il. - David W. Hecht, MD, MS, MBA, has been named Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer for Loyola University Health System (LUHS), effective immediately. Dr. Hecht has been serving as interim Senior VP for Clinical Affairs since January, 2012.
Dr. Hecht, who joined Loyola in 1988, is the John W. Clarke Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Department of Medicine of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Hecht will continue to serve as department chair until a replacement is named. Dr. Hecht, an infectious disease specialist and internationally known researcher, is also a staff physician at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, Wayne PA.
In his new position, Dr. Hecht serves as Loyola's senior physician. Reporting to Dr. Hecht are the Chief Quality Officer, Vice President for Clinical Affairs, Chief of Staff, clinical medical directors and other medical officers. In addition, and in conjunction with the Dean of the Stritch School of Medicine, Dr. Hecht will be responsible for overall leadership of clinical department chairs. Dr. Hecht will report to Larry Goldberg, president and CEO of LUHS.
"After a nationwide search, we identified Dr. Hecht as the top candidate for this extremely important position," Goldberg said. "Quality of care and patient safety are our highest priorities, and Dr. Hecht has done an exemplary job in the months he has served as interim Senior VP for Clinical Affairs. He is a recognized leader in academic medicine, and is well liked and respected by colleagues and patients alike."
Dr. Hecht said he felt honored to be named Senior VP for Clinical Affairs. "I am privileged to work with some of the top physicians in their fields," he said. "I look forward to continue working with my colleagues to make Loyola a leader in quality of care, access and patient satisfaction, as well as a preferred physician employer."
Dr. Hecht added that Loyola's progressive model, in which physicians are fully integrated with LUHS, "will be an advantage to us as we face the changes and challenges of healthcare reform and patient care. Loyola physicians have forged a unique partnership with the administration to provide the best care for our patients."
Dr. Hecht's responsibilities include working with senior management on finance, quality of care and patient safety; overseeing service line development; facilitating strategic partnerships; leading the ongoing development of integrated academic faculty management; and the recruitment and credentialing of clinical faculty. Dr. Hecht will work collaboratively with the Dean of the Stritch School of Medicine on issues related to academic agenda of the institution including graduate medical education, clinical research initiatives and Loyola's relationship with the Hines VA Hospital.
As a physician, Dr. Hecht's clinical interests include HIV/AIDS and general infectious diseases. He has published numerous scholarly articles in both basic and clinical sciences, and has been a guest lecturer at dozens of medical symposiums and conventions worldwide. Throughout his entire career, Dr. Hecht has had research funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Veterans Administration. His current research grants include studies of antibiotic resistance genes and their dissemination in colonic bacteria.
Dr. Hecht earned his masters degree in microbiology in 1979 at the University of Missouri, Columbia and medical degree in 1982 at Stritch School of Medicine. In 1985, he completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, followed by his fellowship in infectious disease and geographic medicine and molecular microbiology at Tufts University, Boston. He joined the faculty at Stritch School of Medicine and Hines VA in 1988. In 2009, he earned an MBA in health care at Loyola University Chicago School of Business.
### Loyola University Health System (LUHS) is a member of Trinity Health. Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, LUHS is a quaternary care system with a 61-acre main medical center campus, the 36-acre Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus and more than 28 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. The medical center campus is conveniently located in Maywood, 13 miles west of the Chicago Loop and 8 miles east of Oak Brook, Ill. The heart of the medical center campus, Loyola University Hospital, is a 569-licensed-bed facility. It houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Burn Center and the Ronald McDonald® Children's Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center. Also on campus are the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine and Loyola Oral Health Center as well as the LUC Stritch School of Medicine, the LUC Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Loyola Center for Fitness. Loyola's Gottlieb campus in Melrose Park includes the 255-licensed-bed community hospital, the Professional Office Building housing 150 private practice clinics, the Adult Day Care, the Gottlieb Center for Fitness, Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center at Melrose Park.


text:
This article is a collaboration between MedPage Today® and:
Childhood obesity not only increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in later life but also is linked to cardiovascular damage before adulthood, researchers argued.
"Clinical evidence is accumulating to suggest that the cardiovascular damage, once only observed in adults, is also occurring in obese children," noted Angela Devlin, PhD, and colleagues at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
In a review of that evidence, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Devlin and colleagues called for a research program that would tease out the mechanisms involved, identify effective prevention schemes, and establish norms that would take into account the changes associated with growth and development.
Despite some important knowledge gaps, Devlin and colleagues argued, "research to date illustrates that obesity during childhood and adolescence is associated with various measurable alterations in cardiovascular structure and function."
An important implication, they concluded, is that "early identification of cardiac dysfunction in children with obesity is warranted to mitigate long-term complications."
But they cautioned there is "limited" understanding of the combined effects of multiple risk factors, how much weight should be given to individual risk factors, and the effect of length of exposure.
Moreover, many of the tools used in research -- with the exception of measuring left ventricular mass -- are not routinely employed in the clinic, they noted.
"Thus," they argued, "the extent of obesity-related cardiovascular changes (is) likely under-recognized and therefore under-managed."
Devlin and colleagues noted that childhood obesity has been rising, reaching nearly 17% in 2007-2008 in the U.S., although a recent CDC report suggested the trend may be waning, at least in some groups.
And there is increasing evidence that childhood obesity affects both cardiac and vascular structure and function, although many of the mechanisms remain unclear in the absence of longitudinal studies, they reported.
Among the alarming clinical studies, obese children:
- With risk factors for atherosclerosis had a "vascular age" similar to that of a 45-year-old healthy adult.
- Had significantly greater left atrial and left ventricular dimensions than those with a healthy body mass index.
- Had higher levels of epicardial fat, which has been proposed as a cardiovascular risk factor.
- Had altered cardiac mechanics, including diastolic dysfunction and systolic dysfunction at rest and during exercise.
Missing from the evidence is a clear understanding of what is normal in children and what can be expected as they grow and develop, Devlin and colleagues reported.
Indeed, a recent study suggested that -- especially for boys -- childhood obesity can resolve itself when growth spurts occur.
"The cascade of events leading to cardiovascular disease may vary in response to genetic and environmental factors as well as the presence or absence of other comorbidities such as hypertension or dyslipidemia," they wrote.
While some of the important factors are known, they commented, "many of the specific mechanisms and interactions are incompletely understood in children."
Importantly, Devlin and colleagues argued, prevention of obesity in children is needed but "the indications for intervention and the most effective therapy for obese children with cardiovascular abnormalities (have) not been adequately elucidated."
The researchers had support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, British Columbia Mental Health and Addiction Services, MITACS, the Canadian Diabetes Association, and the Child and Family Research Institute.
The authors said they had no conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Reviewed by F. Perry Wilson, MD, MSCE Instructor of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner
last updated
Primary Source
Journal of the American College of CardiologySource Reference: Cote AT, et al "Childhood obesity and cardiovascular dysfunction" J Am Coll Cardiol 2013; DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.07.042.