text:
Read your latest personalised notifications
Sign in
No account yet? Start here
Don't miss out
Ok, got it
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the third most common cause of heart failure and the leading cause for heart transplantation (HTX), may be familial/genetic, viral and/or immune-mediated. Experimental and clinical data indicate that in a sizable proportion of patients myocarditis and DCM represent the acute and chronic forms of an organ-specific heart autoimmune disease, occurring in genetically predisposed subjects, with or without a recognized viral trigger. Autoimmune features in human myocarditis/DCM include: a) familial aggregation, b) a weak association with HLA-DR4, c) lymph mononuclear cell infiltrates, abnormal expression of HLA class II and adhesion molecules on endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) in the absence of viral genome by molecular techniques in index patients and family members, d) experimental models of both antibody-mediated and cell-mediated autoimmune myocarditis/DCM following immunization with relevant autoantigen(s) under control of both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and non-MHC genes, some of which are in common with those associated with genetic control of Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases, and e) increased levels of circulating cytokines and anti-heart autoantibodies (AHA), directed against multiple antigens, in patients and family members and in about 60% of familial and nonfamilial pedigrees. AHA in myocarditis/DCM may be directed against mitochondrial proteins, cardiac myosin heavy chain, cardiac b1-adrenergic receptors, muscarinergic receptors, the sarcolemmal Na-K-ATPase, cardiac troponin I (cTNI), and other yet unknown targets. AHA predict DCM development among relatives, years before disease onset. Some AHA, e.g antibodies against the ADP/ATP carrier, cardiac myosin, cardiac b1-adrenergic receptors, and cTNI have been shown to possess functional effects on cardiac myocytes in vitro, in animals and possibly in a DCM subset, responsive to extracorporeal immunoadsorption (IA). This is the rationale for the clinical application of IA in an ongoing randomized sham-controlled, double-blind multicenter trial in end-stage DCM. In addition, some AHA, being associated with phases of activation/relapse of the autoimmune process, may provide negative prognostic markers.
The aim of the study by Doesch et al. was to investigate the prognostic value of cTNI-autoantibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), including 249 patients with DCM and 141 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). cTNI-autoantibodies (titer of ≥ 1:40) were detected in 18.7% of patients. In TNI-autoantibody positive patients mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 27.6 ± 5.8%, compared to 25.8 ± 5.9% in TNI-autoantibody negative patients, P = 0.03. The combined end-point of death (n = 118, 30.3% of total) or HTX (n = 44, 11.3% of total) was reached in 162 patients (41.5% of total). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated superior survival (combined end-point of death or HTX in patients with DCM versus ICM (P = 0.0198) and TNI- autoantibody positive patients versus TNI-autoantibody negative patients (P = 0.0348). Further subgroup analysis revealed a favorable outcome in TNI-positive patients with DCM (P = 0.0334), whereas TNI-autoantibody status in patients with ICM was not associated with survival. In subsequent multivariate Weibull-analysis, a positive TNI serostatus was associated with a lower all-cause mortality in DCM patients (P = 0.0492), but not ICM. The authors conclude that this might indicate a prophylactic effect of TNI-autoantibodies in DCM.
The study by Doesch et al. apparently contrasts with most data published until now, showing detrimental effects of cTNI autoantibodies. There are explanations for this apparent discrepancy. Firstly, the number of autoantibody-positive patients (42 with DCM and 31 with ICM) was rather small for subgroup analysis of outcome. Association of negative autoantibody status with all-cause mortality was of borderline significance in multivariate analysis (p = 0.049). Secondly, at baseline the ICM group was older, had lower LVEF, lower VO2 max, a higher proportion of patients in NYHA class III-IV. Thus, it is likely to represent a more advanced heart failure cohort. In a prospective study by Caforio et al. AHA titers were reduced in end-stage DCM. Thus, DCM and ICM should be matched in terms of heart failure stage to detect potential differences in outcome related to autoantibody status. Thirdly, at least two epitopes of cTnI can induce myocardial damage in murine models. The exact binding site of the cTNI antibodies measured in the present study remains unclear, thus it may be that the cTNI detected by ELISA are not those that have been proven to be detrimental for cardiac myocytes in previous studies. Epitope mapping data on ELISA positive sera would be of interest.
Basic Res Cardiol. 2011 Jan;106(1):25-35. Epub 2010 Oct 20.
European Society of Cardiology
European Heart HouseLes Templiers2035 Route des CollesCS 80179 Biot
06903, Sophia Antipolis, FR
Tel: +188.8.131.52.76.00
Our mission: To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease
Contact us
© 2018 European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved


text:
Video Game art by downbeat
You may think your passion for video games may be enough to help you score a job in the industry, but employers take many things into consideration when it comes to hiring someone for an position at their company. In addition to the general business and industry-specific skill you'll learn in a video game degree program, there are several skills you must cultivate on your own and possess before you enroll in a video game school and launch a career in the video game industry.
Math Skills
First up, make sure you have excellent math skills. Math is more important in some areas of the gaming industry than it is in others. For instance, students interested in programming will need to take trigonometry, physics, and calculus. Still, everyone needs some skill with the subject. Many schools offer math classes at all levels to help students, but it's more beneficial to get learning about math out of the way so that you'll then be able to focus on just what you enrolled in a video game program for.
Art Skills
If you're planning on working in an area of the gaming industry that relies on the work of artists, make sure you're at least familiar with techniques and skills utilized most in gaming. Before you start school, get some experience by playing around with programs like Photoshop to learn how they work, as well as how you might use them when it comes time to launch a career in the gaming industry.
Team Skills
Make sure you're comfortable working in a group with other students. Many of the projects you'll work on in school as well as in the industry will be completed through the efforts of a team. It's important to be open to other's ideas and understand that your idea may not always be used. Good communication is extremely important, which you'll likely learn in your video game school courses before you even start your first job.
Other Skills
This may seem vague, but's also important that you don't expect to enroll in a video game school and do nothing but play games all day. Just because you enjoy playing games doesn't make you an expert at creating them, which is why school is extremely valuable for those who want to break into the industry. You should have a wide range of knowledge and skills that don't only apply to video games, as well as a dedication to learn and to work with others to be successful both in school and in the industry. Companies want well-rounded employers as part of their team, not just any gamer.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Photographer: Jacob Rushing
Photo provided by Ruby
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kauai and the Bay Area, Ruby Roth is a pioneer in the realm of vegan books, as a leading author and illustrator of vegan literature and cookbooks for children. Many of the women I am interviewing for this vegan parenting series have Ruby's books on their own shelves and it is a pleasure to welcome her into this series! I bought the "Help Yourself Cookbook For Kids" by Ruby this year and can't wait to use it in the kitchen on cooking adventures with my son so am also personally grateful for the wonderful work she is doing. Ruby currently lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Visit her on social media and at her sites:
Instagram @wedonteatanimals
Facebook at That's Why We Don't Eat Animals
Annika: When did you become vegan & why?
Ruby: In my early 20s, I was very involved in social justice activism and considered myself a health-conscious person—but I ate animal products. At some point, a vegan friend pointed out to me that my eating habits did not match my morals and my values and I took this charge very seriously. When I found out what I was participating in, it stopped me in my tracks. I went vegan as a health experiment and never want back, and the research I did solidified my commitment.
Annika: When did you first have the idea to write a vegan children's book?
Ruby: I was teaching art at an elementary school and the kids were very curious about my vegan eating habits. I searched for a book we could read together, but what I found were just a few books starring a talking animal or vegetable. I decided to write the non-fiction books I wanted to read to these kids, in the honest voice I felt they deserved.
Annika: You are one of (if not the most) well known vegan children's book authors currently! As a pioneer in vegan literature for children, what is your outlook for this niche of publishing?
Ruby: Thank you! It's a niche inside of a niche, but I am happy to be a part of it. It was always important to me to do something with art that had a purpose beyond self-expression. Anyone author will tell you there isn't money to be made in books, but these projects have been really meaningful to me. I hope more books, in general, will give children a little more credit for what they can comprehend.
Annika: In addition to the number of books you have written, you also have available at your website the "Young Activist 3-Book Gift Pack". In your engagement with children, do you think adults could learn anything from the younger activist generations?
Ruby: Kids are very diplomatic when they learn about animal abuse and environmental issues—much more so than adults, who think they know everything already. Children's first response is not defensiveness, but thought and consideration. Anyone, at any age, could benefit by mirroring that behavior.
Annika: Do you find on your speaking tours & gigs that people seem to generally be craving more media & literature for their vegan parenting needs & for their children?
Ruby: I definitely see an increase in interest everywhere for vegan information. Going vegan is a renegade thing to do in our societies, we have to collect our own information rather than rely on any given mainstream doctor or media outlet to help with any decent knowledge. So all these veg fests are really important gatherings of our own experts, brands, and people who have put a lot of effort into studying the right way to do veganism. I really want people to put their money where their mouth is and support each other as we all grow this movement.
Annika: Your books have been translated into several languages! How does it feel to know that children across the planet are reading your books & enjoying your illustrations & that vegan parents in many countries are discovering your titles?!
Ruby: It's mind-blowing. I'm really proud of this movement and the way people share and seek out information. Getting my books out to the next generation is a grassroots effort and I'm happy to be involved in this worldwide community of truth-seekers who value life so much that they're willing to change their own habits and the practices of future generations.
Annika: I saw one interview with you (I believe on a morning show) & loved how composed, straightforward & kind you were. What are your thoughts for vegans (particularly those in the public eye) for handling moments of great resistance or skepticism in discussing issues related to veganism?
Ruby: Thank you! You know what's coming, so stick to your guns and know what you want to say. The media has no shame about going full-force to oppose us, you can't let anyone throw you off your game. You know the frequently asked questions and concerns, come prepared!
Annika: My toddler son loves to be in the kitchen with me & I look forward to using your "Help Yourself Cookbook For Kids" with him soon. The recipes look delicious & the pages very fun & inviting! What was the process like for creating this cookbook. How long did you spend writing it & doing the illustrations? Did you have any taste test subjects?
Ruby: This project took a couple of years. The majority of that time was spent codifying recipes I make at home—turning them into a formula with directions when I usually don't have a formula at all. I would make them again and again in little batches. I would have my step-daughter read through the directions and follow the recipes so I could watch and collect feedback and made edits, and I had some adult friends do the same—some had kids, some didn't! Planning the artwork, the characters, the backgrounds, color-palettes, and plating was also tremendous work—everything had to be just right by the time we hit the photoshoot, because we wouldn't have a second chance to redo anything. We shot the cover, extra interior spreads, and 60 recipes in 5 days—it was a madhouse!
Annika: Did motherhood have any influence on your vegan outlook?
Ruby: I see how healthy, strong, even-tempered, and smart my girl is and I think that being raised on whole, unprocessed plant-based foods and superfoods must have played a role in all of it. I've never witnessed a tantrum at any point in her life, she has no ailments, and she's a competitive Jiu Jitsu champion, always super kind and caring to her opponents and teammates. She's an amazing specimen—like a new species of human! There's no way that food has NOT played a role.
Annika: Is your child's school very vegan friendly? How does the school accommodate them as vegans?
Ruby: Yes, being in L.A., the school is relatively vegan-friendly when they throw events, but we don't really look to school to be accommodating. We do what we do and we provide our own food if and when they might not.
Annika: What are some of her favorite foods?
Ruby: Kale salads, she loves raw sauerkraut, avocado, seaweed, veggie broths, soups, mushrooms, all fruit. She's a great eater, we've always made trying new things normal.
Annika: Is your child's pediatrician very vegan friendly? Did they express any specific concerns with your child being vegan?
Ruby: They look at her health statistics and even her blood tests, which we had done once, and they can't really criticize. She was a little low on Vitamin D, but still in the normal range. The majority of all Americans are deficient in D, so we got some mushroom-based supplements that we take from time to time, just to be extra cautious.
Annika: How do you navigate situations like your children attending peer's birthday parties where there may be predominantly non vegan food?
Ruby: It's never been a problem because Akira's vegan education is so deep. She's not tempted by anything that's clearly an animal product. And even when it comes to vegan treats, she doesn't go overboard. She knows what feels good and bad in her body. I always say, when we give kids the information they need to make educated choices, they choose wisely. She always has.
Annika: What are some of your favorite foods?
Ruby: Kale, quinoa, mixed greens, avocado, olive oils, smoothies, almonds, cashews, raw chocolate, hummus, parsley, mint.
Annika: Favorite meals to make for your family?
Ruby: Smoothies, lentil soups, brothy mushroom soups, quinoa bowls, giant salads.
Annika: Favorite restaurants?
Ruby: I mostly prefer to eat at home, but I can always enjoy something at Little Pine, M Café, and Crossroads. And my favorite "eateries" in L.A. are actually juice bars. The Punchbowl is my all-time favorite.
Annika: Any specific challenges you face as a vegan mother & how you handle them?
Ruby: I think we're all subject to questioning our choices at some point, we're still the first large group of people in a relatively new movement without much "official" support—but I think that's great. Pushback makes you double-check your research, do your homework, and get to the greatest information you can.
Thank You Ruby!
Check out Ruby on IG at@wedonteatanimals, on FB at That's Why We Don't Eat Animals & her website WeDontEatAnimals.com
Akira in the Kitchen
Akira in the Help Yourself Apron, available in Ruby's store
All photos provided by Ruby
This interview is part of an ongoing interview series by Annika Lundkvist with vegan parents around the globe. For more interviews and information please visit this page: Interview Series: Vegan Pregnancy, Parenting & Kids.


text:
Tacoma Bike Ranch
Riding bikes more and driving cars less in Grit City
31 July 2011
Bike Racing in Tacoma
We cycled downtown for the 2nd Annual Tacoma Twilight Criterium bicycle race yesterday. It was awesome.
Gwen awaits the Juniors
Womens Cat 4/5
Tacoma Mobility giving out maps and directions
This is how we tailgate
A family of racers
Mens Cat 3 start
Mens Cat 3 race was excellent
Art Bike Parade
Kid race!
Posted by
Matt in Tacoma
1 comment:
Links to this post
Tacoma Twilight Crit
In Tacoma: Bike-In Movie
Posted by
Matt in Tacoma
No comments:
Links to this post
Tacoma MOB Riders
30 July 2011
Final Preparations and More Donation Matching
I'm one week away from riding 173 miles of mountains on my single-speed city bike, all in the name of Child Abuse Intervention. The Courage Classic is a ride I've done
, but always with derailleurs. I made the single-speed commitment as a challenge to myself, but also as a challenge to you, the donor.
I've revised my fundraising goal to $2000 and will be matching any donation made between now and August 8 by 10%. Even if you can only contribute $10, I'll donate $1 more and all $11 will go directly to supporting services that help to
Stop the Cycle of Child Abuse
in Pierce County. You can
donate here
Meanwhile, I've been training with the Harmon Bike Club, leading 20-25 mile rides around Tacoma on my single-speed. In an effort to find a more comfortable riding position, I've tried several different handlebars over the last few weeks, including a flat bar with bar-ends and even a
bmx bar
. They all had their pros and cons. Ultimately, I'm back where I started. So the bike looks like this:
The rear rack is gone, but it doesn't feel any lighter! It's geared 36x18 (54 gear inches) on the freewheel side of the flipflop hub, but my "bail-out" gear on the fixed side is 36x22 (44 gear inches). If it simply gets too steep, I can flip the wheel around and ride the low-geared fixed side to the top. I've tested it out on
Carr Hill
, one of the steepest climbs in town, and it worked well.
If you've read along this far and haven't donated, head
over here
and contribute what you can. It will only take a minute.
Many thanks! Full ride report to follow!
Posted by
Matt in Tacoma
2 comments:
Links to this post
Courage Classic
Cross Check
01 July 2011
Gearing Down for Courage Classic
With the
Courage Classic
just a month away, I've started wrapping my mind around the fact that I'm going to ride 170 miles, over the mountains, on one gear. For my training rides around Tacoma, I've been riding 36x18, which is about 54 gear inches.
Depending on how you ride, this gear might seem too small,
or too big.
I think this gear will give me the best range for climbing the hills, cruising the flats, and pedaling into the headwinds on the descents.
As a back-up plan, I will likely thread a 20T freewheel on the other side of my fixed/free flip-flop hub. That way I can just flip the wheel around and have an easier gear for the climbs if I simply cannot turn the cranks. The rear brake may have to be left open for this to work, but I can then flip the wheel back to the 18T side when I reach the summits. I hope to do the whole ride without flipping the wheel, but I'm just not sure which one gear I need.
Any thoughts? Have you done a mountainous road ride with one gear?
Posted by
Matt in Tacoma
2 comments:
Links to this post
Courage Classic
Tulsa Townies: An Un-Review
During a visit to Tulsa last week, my sister and I checked out the
Tulsa Townies
bike share program. The program was started by one of the local hospitals and allows users to check-out a cruiser bike for free from any of four stations along the River Parks Trail. Bicycling Magazine has even
listed Tulsa
as one of their top-50 bike friendly cities because they have this program.
We started at the southern-most station, which happens to be located next to a Trek bike shop. There were no bikes in the rack and no signs telling us that there were supposed to be any bikes. It was a sunny, hot day and, thinking that the bikes must be in use, we DROVE five miles to the next station along the trail to find some more. The trail is fully visible from Riverside Drive, and while we did see a handfull of bronzed recreational cyclists and a family of bikes along the way, there were no pink townies.
The second station looked like this:
There were 13 empty locks on these racks. For a city of half a million people, there are (were?) maybe 50 townies floating around the city. Knowing this and craving a bike ride, we pressed on to the third station...
Success! There were two bikes in the rack, perfectly sized for me and my sister.
Here's where the frustration set in. Bike #1 could not be removed because of "Card Error". We tried two different credit cards and received the same message. And Bike #2? "Bike Not In Inventory." Apparently there is a system upgrade coming soon to the Tulsa Townies program. It obviously needs it.
Looking to cut our losses, we drove in to the ghost-town that is downtown Tulsa on a Sunday, in search of something to make this car journey worthwhile. We stumbled upon
Dwelling Spaces
, an oasis with a decent coffee bar and gift shop with bike-Tulsa themed T's and stuff, as well as left-over jerseys and cowbells from the recent
Tulsa Tough
bike races. After talking with the baristas, is sounds like there certainly some enthusiasm for bikes in Tulsa. Hopefully it will be more apparent to us on our next trip.
Posted by
Matt in Tacoma
3 comments:
Links to this post
Tulsa Townies
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)


text:
(Redemption Book 1)Cara Marsi
Doriana Callahan's life is unraveling. Someone is stalking her; her teenage son is rebelling; and Logan Tanner is back in town. For sixteen years she's kept an explosive secret from Logan . He never belonged in Doriana's world, but he'd allowed himself to dream of a future with her, until the awful night he was forced to run. Despite the secret Doriana kept, Logan vows to protect her. He races against time to stop the culprit threatening her. Can the love and passion that still burn between Doriana and Logan overcome old lies and new dangers?
Logan's Redemption (Redemption Book 1)


text:
Samantha Whitney survived unimaginable tragedy only to discover she had been betrayed by a man who claimed to love her. Shattered, Sam spends months at a safe haven trying to piece herself back together. Ready or not, the time has come for her to return home.
As Sam struggles to resume a life that no longer feels familiar, she finds unwavering support in an unexpected, familiar face. Confronting Sam's raw emotions and open wounds head-on, Griffin manages to take two steps forward for every step she retreats.
But when Sam is once again threatened, Griffin must decide how far he is willing to go to protect the woman he wants…knowing the cost of her safety is the risk of losing her.
Pieces For You is a captivating journey of survival, healing, and sacrifice—teeming with honesty, humor, unexpected twists, and love's unsurpassed endurance.begin to plague Sam, it is Griffin she is forced to turn to.
• This story is appropriate for readers 18+
• Though Pieces For You is a part of the For You Series, the book can be read as a stand alone.
I have been waiting for this book for what feels like FOREVER! I read book one Only For You and fell in love with these characters, they felt like family from the very beginning and that same bond carries into book two, Pieces For You. This book picks up where Only For You left off except this time it's Sam's story, even though you still get a lot of Everleigh and Hunter a.k.a Huntleigh (I love the nickname).
Sam has to learn how to live again, to become a better stronger Sam than she was before. She had the unthinkable happen to her and when she needed them most her family left her high and dry. Her only family there to support her is Everleigh and Hunter, but there was only so much they could do. Being supportive and understanding as only best friends can be, Everleigh sets her up with a kick ass therapist who pushes her to try new things.
When Sam least expects it Griffin comes walking back into her life but this time she isn't looking at him through friendship eyes. This time she sees him as the sexy man candy that he is, but her head and her body are conflicted. Griffin helps Sam cope with these emotions and their friendship starts to grow into more.
Overall I give this book a solid 4.5 stars! Genna took a really hard subject and turned it into an inspirational story. I'm sure it wasn't easy to write but she did a fantastic job. I can't wait to read more of this series, the friendships and family continue to grow with each book. We are introduced to Meg and in the third book, Temper For You (expected release March 2014) we will find out her story and I am on pins and needles for this book!! If you loved Only For You, then you need to read this, it just gets better and better.
Find it on Goodreads:
Only For You:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18458057-only-for-you
Pieces For You:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18460174-pieces-for-you
Temper For You:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19305363-temper-for-you


text:
How to Clean Shower
It is nice to have a clean bathroom and shower, but it can be so hard to maintain as we all experience. Build up soap scrum, Mold, mildew, rust that can make cleaning your shower a real challenge, but with a little help, you can have your shower sparkling clean in no time.
So here we go:
Step 1- You need to prepare cleaning products you are going to use to clean shower. You need: vinegar, baking soda, natural bathroom cleaner (optional) Mold cleaner (if too moldy), disinfectant (optional) sponge, brush, squeegee, cleaning clothes. Mix water with vinegar 7:3 for glass doors. Mix baking soda with little vinegar to form smooth cream that is for walls and floors.
Step 2 - First turn on fans or open the windows, put on you gloves. Remove everything out of shower .
Step 3 - Shower shower walls and glass with hot water if there is no shower hose use cup or bucket. Spray vinegar mixture on walls and floors, spay mildew or mold with mold remover and let it rest for 10 min. If shower dried shower it again with hot water. Spray bathroom cleaner or use baking soda mixture (definitely use on the floors) on walls and floors and with sponge clean it properly you may apply more soda mixture if needed, use brush for corners and around holders and shower
, apply soda mixture on glass as well. Apply cleaner on shower curtain and wipe it as well.
Step 4 - Now shower with hot water to remove all build ups and dirt it's good to run through with wet towel to remove all build ups and soda and shower it again. Now use squeegee to remove water from walls and glass.
Step 5 - Now is time to apply disinfectant if you wish and vinegar mix to glass. With dry cloth wipe down all shower nice and dry.Well done, All done. Now return all things back and don't forget to wipe them with cloth sprayed with cleaner or vinegar mixture as well.
Tips to Keep your shower clean: Use squeegee after each shower it prevents glass from stains.
Spray vinegar mixture after shower it prevents build up.
Have your fan on when taking a shower.
Use dehumidifier in rainy wet days .
Most importantly clean your shower regularly.


text:
Latest Posts
Top 5 things that make a neighbourhood truly great
When you are looking for a house, you should remember that you are not only buying or renting, you will also become part of the neighbourhood. A good neighbourhood should match your lifestyle and cater to your specific needs. For example, if you have a family, you may want a
Great Group Weekend Retreats Near Boston
Boston is one of the busiest and most beautiful cities in America. While living in Boston means you get access to some of the best restaurants and hotels in the country, you can get tired of busy streets and 9 to 7 lifestyle pretty soon. Not to worry though, weekend
4 Magical Day Trips from London
Being in London can sometimes feel like you're in a completely separate universe. With over 300 languages spoken in this city of almost 9 million, it almost seems unnecessary to go anywhere else, since the entire planet is on your doorstep. However, sometimes the manic pace of life in the
10 Tips For Easier Travel In China
Exploring China can be daunting even for the most seasoned of travellers. It's a massive country with a myriad of different languages and dialects and travelling around can be a little scary, so here are some tips to make your visit much easier. Get extra beds. Rather than booking two
Being a Cautious Traveler Overseas
An overseas trip, no matter where, can be an illuminating and exciting experience to last a lifetime. The ability to step outside one's own cultural bubble and see another part of the world can not only be a fun vacation but can be an eye-opening experience that expands perspectives and
Fun things to do in Madrid, Spain
Madrid is more than about football. When you visit, there will be an unending list of things to do in Madrid. Since it is not possible to do them all on one single trip unless you have planned to settle in here for about three months, here is a list of
10 reasons that make Manchester the best City in the UK
There is no end to the list of best things in Manchester. However, you can only accommodate so much on a single visit. Stay for at least 10 days to be able to enjoy everything you must see before you return. Here is a list of our top 10 picks to
Top 5 London attractions for kids
Not everybody gets to go for a Europe trip on their honeymoon. Some wait for parenthood to visit with their children. But if you are taking your kids to London, you must have a few things to do with kids in London added to your itinerary so that they too can have
Incredible beaches in Bangkok you must check out
Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. The city is well developed in technologies and it is well equipped with modern facilities. Bangkok has been one of the favorite tourist destinations all over the world. Rapid growth in the economy of Bangkok is another reason for being a tourist destination.
Top 10 Places to Visit in India
India has always been a popular travel destination, whether it is amongst locals or foreigners. What makes India stand out from the rest of the world, is that it has something for everyone. In other words, whether you like beaches, historical locations or shopping paradises, you will be able to


text:
Review Of Controversial Fracking Study Finds Conflict Of Interest
Is or isn't fracking bad for the environment and for people? That is a question that has become central to many communities where fracking has become commonplace. One of the most controversial fracking studies has now come under fire after a peer review revealed that the author sat on the board of a drilling company, and had collected over $1.5 million in compensation.
The original report was authored by Dr. Charles "Chip" Groat, who was employed by UT Austin's Energy Institute. The report, entitled "Fact-Based Regulation for Environmental Protection in the Shale Gas Development", claimed that there was no evidence linking fracking with water contamination.
But the Public Accountability Initivative revealed Dr. Groat was sitting on the board of directors for the Plains Exploration & Production company, which is heavily invested in fracking, at the time he authored the study. He has been compensated $1.5 million for his work, and failed to disclose that he sat on the board in the report. While Groat claims his role in writing the report is small, the scandal was enough to seriously damage the reports credibility.
While Groat claims his position did not influence the report, it is a small wonder why the disclosure wasn't included in the report. The dishonesty of this report had put a big dent into pro-fracking politics, which commissioned this report specifically to counter other reports that showed fracking not only contaminates ground water, but has been linked to earthquakes and flammable tap water as well.
It's getting harder and harder to figure out who to trust these days, eh?
Source: State Impact


text:
Jean, 39, lover of sci-fi, horror and fantasy, reader of comic books, conqueror of genre fiction.
So, I actually started reading this, I think, three years ago, for my October TBR, and went into a really bad reading slump, so put it down. But the book left an incredible impression on me, and I've been looking for an excuse to pick it up again.
Tantih Lee justifies the existence of purple prose. She wallows in Gothic Victorian excess, and turns it into a lush sort of poetry. The book itself feels as if it could be put right beside Frankenstein and Dracula, the tone perfectly in step, the atmosphere rich if slightly more forthright than it was in the nineteenth century. It's a perfect companion to Shelley and Stoker, weaving werewolf lore seamlessly into the time period, bountiful with knowledge and appreciation with Gothic literature.
If I were to simplify, I'd call it Wuthering Heights with a werewolf, which is shockingly accurate. Subtext abounds, about marriage and sex, about traditional gender roles in the Victorian world. And the last hundred pages in particular descend into an almost feverish hypnagogic state.
And that was why it lost a star, too, because through all of this lushness of prose, through scenes of sex and viscera, the novel itself is kind of cold, and the characters most definitely are, to the point that it's difficult to guess what any one of them is really thinking, or why they do what they do. It's a fantastic novel to appreciate for its artistry, but, despite the passion it's meant to exhibit, an unemotional one. Beautiful and cold, just like the Worth household at the very end.


text:
Bermuda's Coral Reefs provide $722 million in value per year
|BREAM contributed our coral reef and fish data to aid in the Assessment of the Total Economic Value of Bermuda's Coral Reef (click for executive summary), described in the Bermuda Sun article (link) out Feb 4th ; and Royal Gazette article out Feb 5th (link)
Bermuda Sun
Feb. 4th 2010
|Coral reefs worth an average of $722 million per year
Economic benefits include tourism, fisheries and storm protection
THURSDAY, FEB. 4: The Department of Conservation Services within the Ministry of the Environment and Sports today released a study on the Total Economic Value (TEV) of Bermuda's Coral Reefs which shows that the annual value of the coral reef ecosystem averages $722 million, potentially amounting to $1.1 billion per year.
Bermuda's coral reefs provide substantial economic benefits through coastal protection from storms and hurricanes as well as supporting both the tourism industry and commercial and recreational fisheries. In short they are a fundamental contributor to a quality of life envied worldwide.
The Total Economic Value for Bermuda's coral reefs represents on average 12% of Bermuda's Gross Domestic Product (GDP in 2007 was of US$5.85 billion).
In summing up the aims of this economic valuation, Dr. Samia Sarkis of the Department of Conservation Services commented: "This first environmental economic valuation for Bermuda is paving the way for an alternative approach to conservation of natural resources.
"The recognition of the value of a natural resource or ecosystem is a fundamental step in considering the impact we have on the environment, the loss of ecological functions and the economic losses that ensue. This study has demonstrated the importance that coral reefs hold in the eye of the community and the tourists - reflected in their willingness to trade off monies (up to $50 million per year) for conservation and management of the reef system.
"The increased awareness will continue to generate support among the community and policy and decision-makers for ensuring sustainable development. For policy makers, and local businesses, the study also provides a tool enabling the integration of environmental concerns in the decision-making process and places it on a comparable (monetary) basis with economic and social impacts.
"It is hoped that these results on the TEV of Bermuda's coral reefs will assist in identifying and implementing more sustainable policies and activities, balancing environmental, social and economic goals for the long term sustainability of our most prominent marine asset, the northernmost coral reef system in the world."
This project was initiated and coordinated by the Department of Conservation Services (Government of Bermuda) in collaboration with environmental economists from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (U.K.) and implemented by the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of the Vrije University (Netherlands) and a Bermuda-based scientific team.
It was funded by the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme (OTEP, U.K.), XL Foundation in Bermuda, and contributed to by the Bermuda Government for initial framework development.
The study's progress was overseen by a Steering Committee composed of Bermuda Government representatives (Department of Marine & Ports, Tourism, Finance, Environmental Protection, Forward Planning, Conservation Services, and Sustainable Development Unit), and well-respected members of the community.
Results of the study are published in a 200 page report "Total Economic Value of Bermuda's Coral Reefs: Valuation of Ecosystem Services" written by Pieter J.H. van Beukering, Samia Sarkis, Emily McKenzie, Sebastiaan Hess, Luke Brander, Mark Roelfsema, Loes Looijenstijn-van der Putten and Tadzio Bervoets.
The Executive Summary of the report will be available at www.gov.bm under The Ministry of Environment and Sports.
Royal Gazette Feb 5th 2010
Report puts $700m 'value' on our reefs
By Amanda Dale
For centuries myths have abounded about lost treasure beneath the Island's waters, but today a survey shines a light on riches of a different kind.
We are not talking doubloons, gold or precious gems, but a treasure chest bursting with colourful marine life.
A team of environmental economists has now placed a value on Bermuda's coral reefs, estimated at more than $700 million a year.
An in-depth survey estimates the Total Economic Value (TEV) of the ecosystem to be $722 million, rising to a potential annual $1.1 billion. Based on 2007 figures, this equates to 12 percent of the Island's gross domestic product (GDP) of $5.85 billion.
Teaming up with Bermuda-based scientists, environmental economists conducted in-depth research into all aspects of the Island's coral reefs.
This included their importance in shielding homes from storm surge and their role in tourism and fisheries.
The survey results could result in legislation inflicting fines on those damaging coral reefs and greater environmental protection and enforcement.
Initiated by Government in partnership with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (UK) and the Institute for Environmental Studies at Vrije University (Netherlands), the research was funded by the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme and XL Foundation in Bermuda.
The 'Total Economic Value of Bermuda's Coral Reefs: Valuation of Ecosystem Services' states its purpose is "to address the lack of environmental consideration in current policy and decision-making for the marine environment, by providing a means of recognising the value of the range of ecosystem services provided by Bermuda's coral reefs".
Recognising that the Island is one of the most densely-populated countries in the world, the report says establishing a monetary value on the reefs will ensure greater inclusion in future planning and development decisions.
As the northernmost coral reef system in the world, it adds "Bermuda's reefs are of global importance". Their northerly latitude has offered protection from climate change events such as coral bleaching and the system is considered one of the healthiest in the region.
It is hoped the survey will also bring improvements in coral reef management, and it is noted that residents and tourists would be willing to contribute $50 million a year to conservation.
Among the report's recommendations are an environmental tourist tax and the creation of marine protected areas.
Samia Sarkis, of the Department of Conservation Services, said yesterday: "This first environmental economic valuation for Bermuda is paving the way for an alternative approach to conservation of natural resources.
"For policymakers, and local businesses, the study also provides a tool enabling the integration of environmental concerns in the decision-making process, and places it on a comparable (monetary) basis with economic and social impacts.
"It is hoped that these results on the TEV of Bermuda's coral reefs will assist in identifying and implementing more sustainable policies and activities, balancing environmental, social and economic goals for the long-term sustainability of our most prominent marine asset, the northernmost coral reef system in the world."
Triangle Diving owner Graham Maddocks was one of the survey participants.
"There is no such other coral reef system in the world which can sustain such a temperature transfer," he said.
"Around the world coral reefs are dying because they're not used to temperature change. But while reefs in the Caribbean only experience changes of a couple of degrees, in Bermuda our reefs go from 63 to 83 degrees. They are therefore of global importance."
Ina-Bianca Kuesters, manager of Blue Water Divers' Elbow Beach branch, said: "The coral reefs are not only important to tourism but to everyone in Bermuda. That's why it's important not to overfish or litter the ocean and our beaches.
"I hope this study will make people more aware."
Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce chairman Stuart Hayward said: "Bermudians know that the reefs are essential to our survival. We know that without them, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for the Bermuda seamount to have survived the onslaught of ocean waves and swells.
"This understanding has grown over the years, making us more aware of the need to protect and preserve our ring of coral reef protection, and to be wary of schemes that might adversely affect their integrity.
"The study's emphasis in its recommendations on sustainable management of the reef ecosystem and in exercising extreme care when pursuing activities that impinge on the reefs is highly welcomed.
"We trust it will lead the way to further studies and a more research-based foundation for marine and terrestrial policies."
Acting Environment Minister Zane DeSilva was unavailable for comment.


text:
PerformanceMotorcare | Products by Brand | Meguiars | Meguiars STEP 2 - Deep Crystal Polish
Meguiars Deep Crystal Polish is not a wax and doesnt cut - it is a pure polish that conditions and nourishes the paint and is the secret to creating an awesome, deep, wet-look shine. Ideal for applying after cleaning your paint with Meguiars Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner and before applying Meguiars Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax.473ml Bottle.
Exellent service a1thanks Exellent product deep shine in my experience 5 stars. David - Northern ireland
Great when used as part the the 3 stage process Gives a lovely deep shine and is really easy to apply. Great service from these guys - super fast delivery Vincent - Herts
High Gloss WOW.........This product ,especially when applied with the meguiras polisher gives a mirror like finish to the paint before your final wax coat,really deep shine with lots of reflections,first class quality,and a little goes a long way so dont over do it. great product Lady Kristal Martin - ESSEX
As with part one this is easy to apply and remove Another easy to apply liquid polish leaving a lovely smooth shine ready for waxing. Part of the 3 stage system from Meguiars. Jim Nicholls - oxfordshire


text:
Reviews stars filter
About CyanDark
CyanDark, Inc. was founded in December 2012 and is the fruit of a constant devotion and perseverance, and since then we have offered everything you need so that you can develop yourself on the internet with security and confidence. The domain name that identifies you to your visitors, your email service, hosting plans from the simplest solutions so powerful and flexible as our dedicated servers. We are committed by our own technology and the development of solutions always from your perspective and real needs.
CyanDark hosting plans
Select product
100 GB Bandwidth
5 FTP Accounts
5 Addons Domains
5 Subdomains
5 Emails Accounts
Start your presence on the web, order a web hosting package today! With our plans you get a Premium Hosting for your projects. Get the promotion using "WHGEEKS" at the checkout. Our servers are located in Atlanta, US with a 1Gbps uplink. We are CloudFlare Certified Partners and CodeGuard Partners.
24/7 Monitoring
24/7 Priority Support
Free DNS
IPv6 Available
Is Shared Hosting not enough for you? Get your own Virtual Private Server. Our nodes are located in Kansas, City, All our servers have a Dual Intel Xeon L5630 and 32GB of RAM. Get all advantages of Cloud hosting! .
Free 4 IPv4
24/7 Monitoring
100 Mbps Uplink
Full Root Access
Servers Located in Seattle
Hardware RAID (Add-on)
KVM over IP (Add-on)
Shared hosting not enough for you? For customers who are not lovers to share. Take the step and get a premium dedicated server with the best conditions for your project. You can choose a dedicated server where are you who manages it and who decides which technology to use.
CyanDark customer reviews (2)
Cristobal AlvarezSantiago, Chile www.paginademo.comAbout cyandark.comAugust 11, 2015
It is a very good host , very stable , good panel , and appropriate prices in relation to quality. I recommend it 100%.Is this review helpful to you? Helpful?G
Yeyo MorenoColombia cyand00r.comAbout cyandark.comAugust 10, 2015
I love the service they offered me, the quality of work is very goodIs this review helpful to you? Helpful?G


text:
Beware of Consumer Council Impersonators14/12/2011 14:54
The Consumer Council of Fiji would like to warn the public to be wary of impersonators who claim to be working for the Council and carry out unscrupulous activities along the Suva-Nausori corridor.
The Council has received a complaint from a Narere family whose house was visited by an impersonator claiming to be employee with the Council as a Health Officer. The impersonator falsely claims to carry out pest control checks around the house and the compound area at a fee of $30. This check, he says is a must and a directive from the Council.
The suspicious residents refused the service and contacted the Council.
There are concerns that the impersonator is not working alone but in a group as two different men have been spotted during early morning and afternoon hours.
According to the complainants, the impersonators are well dressed with navy blue shirts and black pants like a formal uniform. They talk in an approachable manner with politeness and claim that they have visited a number of houses already when they approach home owners.
The Council is extremely concerned with such behaviour that will not be tolerated. The Council would like to clarify that we do not deal with any sort of pest control checks or charge fee for any of our services.
Consumers are advised to be cautious of such impersonators who would be moving around more during this festive season to make some quick cash. We request members of the public to please contact the Council and the Police if they are visited by these impersonators.


text:
When ever the world grows darker
from death, war and gloom.
Hearts must heal from all these pains
for flowers still bloom.
Music of soul must journey so far
out through clouds of dust and ages passed.
We shall walk, dance, pray, and sing,
for a heart's joy brings what will surely last.
Recesses of anger, shame, guilt and blame
shall not hide nor rule in our lives forever.
This day we shall decide for pure love
for we're all in this garden together.
Celebrating our blooming essence of giving
beautiful joy everyday in life we're living.
For when night shall come to fall,
we can rest in peace as we lay.
Grateful our flowering
pink lotus life
is bringing us a new dawn.
Happiness sings its
in our blossom's fragrant song!
Poem and Photo by: Jen Walls


text:
U.S. Weighing the Cutback of Deportations
Thousands of undocumented immigrants illegally in the United States that do not have any serious criminal record could be given a shield from deportation under a change in policy being weighed by senior government officials in the U.S.
If a change is adopted following the review that President Barack Obama ordered, it could limit the number of deportations of people whose criminal record is minimal or none existent, but have committed repeated violations of the immigration law, such as entering illegally into the country on a repeated basis after being deported or by failing to comply with an order of deportation.
The new move, which was confirmed by people close to the matter, would not be considered sweeping changes that activists are seeking. They want the President to expand the program of two years, which grants work permits to the immigrants that were brought to the U.S. illegally when they were children, to include more groups, such as the parents of any child born in the United States.
John Sandweg was the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director until February. He recently said he promoted those policy changes in immigration for the immigrants that did not have serious criminal records prior to his departure.
Sandweg said Jeh Johnson the Secretary of Homeland Security was weighing the possible changes.
An advocate for immigration who discussed the review the White Administration confirmed the changes were being considered.
The policy changes that the advocate for immigration and Sandweg outlined would change an existing priority category that now includes any immigrant that has re-entered illegally after being previously deported and those immigrants who are did not leave after receiving a deportation order. These people would have their names removed from the priority list.
The rest of the priority categories are focused on people who recently crossed the border as well as immigrants who pose a national security risk, public safety risk or who have previously been convicted of a crime. Some of the categories might be changed or refined, and other could also be added.
The possible changes come during a review ordered by the president on how deportation policy can be made more humane.
While at the same time, comprehensive legislation on immigration reform has been stalled in the House by Republicans after being passed last year by the democratically led Senate.


text:
Dreamweaver and WordPress – a workflow
WordPress is, undeniably, the most popular CMS in use today. With the lion's share of the market (47.5% of the top 10k sites, according to BuiltWith.com), vast array of templates and plug-ins, not to mention an ever-evolving ease-of-use, WordPress offers a direct route to a wide spectrum of site destinations. But what if you don't want to go exactly where a WordPress template says you should? What if your client—or your own personal design sense—requires a custom online presence? Then let me introduce you to the best design and coding partner WordPress never knew it had: Dreamweaver CC.
What does Dreamweaver bring to the table that makes it so well-suited to WordPress development? The key is the combination of Live View and PHP support. WordPress is a PHP/MySQL framework and Dreamweaver's ability to process the server-side language is critical. Dreamweaver's Live View executes the PHP code, integrates the MySQL data, and displays the output HTML5 and CSS 3 design with browser-compatible precision—all while keeping everything interactive and editable.
WordPress is an incredibly complex templating application that depends on almost 100 included and interwoven separate files to generate a single page. How do I know this? Just open an index.php file from a WordPress site root and give Dreamweaver the go-ahead to discover dynamically related files. You'll soon see a multitude of available files—PHP, CSS, JavaScript, and XML—atop the Document Window in the Related Files toolbar. And Dreamweaver not only gives you access to each and every one of them, but processes them all and presents the rendered result faithfully. Very powerful.
Read the full article Establishing a Dreamweaver CC and WordPress Workflow…


text:
|Sighting Report
|Occurred : 6/6/2009 09:15 (Entered as : 6/6/09 9:15)
Reported: 6/6/2009 8:23:51 PM 20:23
Posted: 6/9/2009
Location: Chicago Ridge, IL
Shape: Fireball
Duration:1 minute
|Airplane looking orange fireball, like a plane going down.
I had stepped out on the patio in my yard and seen what I thought was an aircraft approaching for landing at Midway. It was decending in the distance. It was orange in color. As it was supposed to come closer it rose in elevation and appeared to make the normal turn towards our house. It then dropped out of the sky like a fireball. I am awaiting bad news on the television. I hope it was not an aircraft.
((NUFORC Note: Witness elects to remain totally anonymous; provides no contact information. PD))


text:
What's the skinny?
Remi Nicole is the latest London based singer-songwriter to get a buzz going about her. Signed to Island Records late last year, Remi is 23 and a veritable London melting pot of Austrian, English, Trinidadian and Jewish backgrounds. But she's a North London girl through and through having lived in Holloway, Islington, Highgate, Tufnell Park and Highbury.
She might be young, female and sassy, but Remi Nicole isn't just the "new Lily Allen". For starters, forget the backlash we're still very happy with Lily herself, but while Lil makes our pop side dance with glee, Remi instead belongs on the indie side of the fence, citing the Gallaghers as major influences.
And as you'd expect from any candid star, she's well aware that preconceptions about her colour probably mean everyone is expecting her to make hip hop singing "They said you're not normal, why don't you sing R&B?/ I said I got no rhythm and I got no blues, I'm as happy as can be.'" in the marvellous "Rock and Roll"
Why do we want to know this?
Her first single "Fed Up" is out this week on Island Records. It's a bit too acoustic for our likings much preferring the infectious b-side "Go With The Flow". And if you've got tickets to those rescheduled Amy Winehouse gigs at the end of the month, Remi will be Amy's support act. Alternatively catch her at Chalk at The Scala on May 26th or Proud Galleries on 20 June.
Check out her myspace, and official page.


text:
Kelantan can boast of a rich and colourful history. Often intriguing, some times controversial, but always fascinating.
For centuries, Kelantan was all but separated from the rest of the country by the Main Range, a series of mountains running from north to south through the peninsula. Weeks of hard travel were required to reach Kelantan. The "easy way" to Kelantan was to sail around the peninsula, braving the sea and pirates. For this reason Kelantan's history often involves the sea, and boats. Even today, many of its people are very much tied to the sea. A discussion with many coastal residents will confirm that their ancestors as far back as they know, were "of the sea."
Kelantan's history will begin to give you a glimpse of what makes Kelantan that it is today.
The early history of Kelantan is rather obscure. The territories of Kelantan and Patani came under Siam in the 14th century. Around 1411, Raja Kumar, the ruler of Kelantan, became independent of Siam and Kelantan became an important centre of trade by the end of the 15th century.
In 1499, Kelantan was conquered by forces of the Malacca empire and
became its vassal state. With the fall of Malacca in 1511, Kelantan was
divided up and ruled by petty chieftains.
In the 1909 Anglo-Siamese treaty, Siam surrendered its claims over Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis in exchange with the British government for territorial claims in Siam. Kelantan thus came under the control of the Straits Settlements as one of the Unfederated Malay States.
Kelantan was occupied by the Japanese on 8th December, 1941.
After the defeat of Japan on August 1945, Kelantan and the rest of Malaya came under the British Military Administration in September 1945.
Kelantan became part of the Federation of Malaya on 1st February, 1948 and together with other states attained independence on 31st August, 1957. On 16th September, 1963, Kelantan became one of the component states of Malaysia.
edited from http://www.geocities.com/kelantan2000


text:
Cain Issues Absurd Non-Apology For "Princess Nancy"
Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) may have "stepped in it" when he froze up during last night's GOP presidential debate, but Herman Cain didn't do himself any favors by referring to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as "Princess Nancy" — a nickname he uttered repeatedly when he hosted a radio show before launching his campaign. Today, Cain issued an insincere apology, equating what he said with Pelosi's description of the Tea Party as "AstroTurf" in 2009:
"I apologize for calling her 'Princess Pelosi,' if that's the biggest story you all have, OK?" Cain told reporters after addressing supporters at a diner in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
When asked why he apologized, the former pizza executive said, "So you all will stop asking me about it, OK?" [...]
"I remember when Speaker Pelosi called me and the tea party people 'Astroturf,'" Cain said. "I don't remember anybody asking about that story."
Obviously, Cain can't expect to be taken seriously when he admits his only reason for apologizing is to shut people up. But it's downright bizarre for him to suggest that mocking the former Speaker of the House as a "princess" is no more inappropriate than Pelosi's characterization of the Tea Party.
It's well established that conservative groups backed by the Koch brothers, among others, organized and funded Tea Party events across the country. In fact, a leaked internal memo from GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney's campaign describes David Koch as the "financial engine of the Tea Party." So Pelosi's claim — which Cain likely only heard because of media coverage he denies ever happened — was rooted in fact.


text:
Thursday, March 02, 2017
Dry Bohns
D.S. Carne-Ross (1921-2010), "A Modest Proposal: To Whom It May Concern," Arion 4.3 (Autumn, 1965) 358-360 (at 358):Newer› ‹Older
The Greekless public asks for bread and it is given—what? Not even dry Bohns (which at least never claimed to be anything else), but harlot shapes pretending to a virtue they do not own, their rumps stamped with the impudent claim that they "give you the spirit" of the original.Related posts:


text:
- Home
- Bargaining Units
- Contracts
- Benefits
- PPAs
- News
- Contact Us
- Join Local 1101
- Plant Pride
CWA/AT&T Mobility Orange Contract Bargaining Report 59
They emailed this proposal to you, our members and to the public via SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) filings and tidbits picked up by reporters.
It makes us proud to say our membership stands united and won't fall for bullshit pranks like this.
We let the company know we were available to meet face to face as soon as they were, and we are travelling to New Jersey to be prepared to meet with them this coming Tuesday.
AT&T has the audacity to go to you, the members, and ask you to tell CWA to put this offer that was not presented to the Bargaining Committee out to a vote. There is nothing to vote on. We will put out an Agreement for you to vote on when we have an Agreement that meets your needs, based on member surveys. Today AT&T continued their dirty, sneaky campaign to peddle their funky math to you directly in an email from AT&T President of Sales and Distribution Brian Shay. Don't believe it!
When we negotiate general wage increases, they do compound on each other, but it seems that AT&T is including wage table step increases that have already been negotiated to create an illusion that is an artificially higher number. In their example, if you are at Step 10, they are including money you already have coming to you that was won in previous negotiations. If you are an RSC, they are counting in $2,000 that is not new money but money simply being moved from commissions to base pay. We would guess that these calculations even include the $1,000 they say they will offer as a signing bonus.
This all looks like fuzzy math to us. We do have to thank AT&T for pointing out what we already know: That they control your commission money and as Shay says in his email "it" (the money in your base pay) is money you can count on regardless of where you land on your goals. Thanks for making our point on this Brian. They change the goals at will. What good is a commission plan if it's not negotiated and AT&T changes it every month to take money away from you.
Next week you can count on us to review and accurately assess the company's so called "Final Offer" when we finally get this proposal passed to us and we have the opportunity for live dialogue. We will do the math correctly! Please check in with your Local and your mobilizers for the latest information on FYFO. Thank you for your continued support, because when we FIGHT, we WIN!
In solidarity,
Mike Baxter, Local 1101
Frank Oliva, Local 1298
Deb Casey, Local 2204
Jeff Reamer, Local 13000
Julie Daloisio, Local 13500
Holly Sorey, Local 4202
Glen Skeen, Local 4320
Hector Capote, Local 7250
Debbie Goulet, Local 7803
Joe Sison, Local 9412
Brandon Beck, Local 9511
Pat Telesco, District 1, Chair
Tonya Moore, District 1


text:
Don't Build Bridges Where There's No Water to Cross
At work we've been employing RxJava across our codebase. This means that most methods we write, especially those involving database or network calls, will return an Rx type (e.g. Observable, Single, Completable).
For example, there's an operation to delete a credit card from a user's virtual wallet. This requires sending a request to our server to delete the card. As a side effect, we also want to delete this card locally from our database when the network call completes successfully.


text:
Browse Ageing Researchers
Univ.Prof. Dr. Ilse Kryspin-Exner
Centre for Human and Social Sciences, Spanish National Research Council, CCHS-CSIC
Need some help?
If you find yourself getting a bit lost, try using one of the links below to get back to the beginning:
- ◀ Go back to the start page
You can search the whole database for specific search terms, choose a country or browse by category.
- ◀ Perform an advanced search
Useful when you know what you're looking for, and where the data might be stored.
- Browse all Research Centres and Funders
See a list of all centres from where you can view details and the programmes and projects that are associated with that centre/funder.
- Browse all Research Programmes
See a list of all the research programmes in the database. When you look at one you will automatically see which Research Funder/Centre it belongs too, and you can explore this programme's projects or see other programmes within the same funder/centre.
- Browse all Researchers
Individual researchers are not "attached" to any particular project or programme. If you want to narrow down the list you could choose a country on the start page and look at the list on the left of the page..
University of Vienna
Job title
Head of Clinical & Health Psychology
Liebiggasse 5/3
1010 Vienna
Psychology, Rehabilitation, Technology
Specialist areas
Vital vs. Virtual communication (within ambient assisted living)
Gender gap in ageing
Methodology areas
Empirical approach
Professor for Clinical Psychology, Head of research area of Clinical & Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University Vienna
Clinical and Health Psychologist, Psychotherapist (emphasis: behaviour therapy)
Professional Development:
Studies of Psychology and Anthropology in Vienna
Employment as Psychologist at the University Clinic for Psychiatry in Vienna and at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Addiction Research
University Assistant at the University Clinic for Psychiatry in Innsbruck
1988 Postdoctoral Lecture Qualification
1996 Conferment of the title "Associate Professor" at the Medical Faculty of the University Innsbruck
1998 Full Professor and Head of Department for Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University Vienna
Study visits to London, to various institutions in the USA and lecturing at the University Sao Paulo, Brazil
Founder and Member of the management-team of the Curricula for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy from 1992 to 1999
Since 1991 delegation to the Advisory Board for Psychologists and Psychotherapists of the Federal Ministry for Health, Family and Youth
2006 Founder of an Ethic-commission at the Faculty of Psychology in Vienna
Since 2007
Advisory Board for Psychic Health and
Advisory Board for Ageing in the Federal Ministry for Health, Family and Youth
Member of the "Substitution-board" (quality control in addiction) in the highest board of health at the Federal Ministry for Health, Family and Youth
Member of the steering committee ENSN (European Neuroscience and Society Network), European Science Foundation
Member of the Advisory Board within the AAL initiative
1999 Leopold Kunschak Award for Public Health
2004 "Wiener Preis für humanistische Altersfoschung" (Vienna Award for humanisitc approach in Gerontology) sponsored by the Austrian Society for Gerontology and the Department for Cultural Affairs of the township of Vienna


text:
Distance: 140 kms.
Short and sweet ride. Met up with a few friends from Siem Reap again so it was nice. The city was just a stop over for the next day to cross over to Laos from the border.
There is a nice river in the city so it was good to take a dip in. Probably not the cleanest but who cares 🙂
I did get some new food in the city. Sticky rice with beans inside a bamboo stick and a fried patty that had spinach inside.


text:
Tested, Reliable and Trusted for the Professional User
Iridium is the only satellite phone service provider that offers truly global, truly mobile satellite voice and data solutions with complete coverage of the Earth (including oceans, airways and polar regions).
Using your satellite phone is as simple as using a cellular phone and all satellite phones include a variety of lightweight accessories for easy charging and set-up.
To rent a sat phone from ekit.com is easy and convenient. Our rentals include an international plug adapter kit and come in a sturdy Pelican carrying case.
Your rental fees are calculated per day, not per week. And there is no minimum airtime requirement throughout your rental, you only pay for the minutes and texts you actually use.
|5 to 21 Days
|22 to 56 Days
|57+ Days
|$7.99 / Day
|$6.99 / Day
|$5.99 / Day
|Outgoing Calls
|Incoming Calls
(Direct Dial)
|Incoming SMS,
Text & Email
|Outgoing SMS,
Text & Email
|$1.69 / min
|$0.69 / text
Airtime will be billed on the 15th of each month for the previous calendar month.
For Example: If your rental is in three calendar months, you will receive three airtime invoices. The last airtime invoice will be received on the 10th of the month following the calendar month the phone was returned.
1Call rates from a landline or cell phone to a Iridium Satellite Phone can be costly. Help your callers avoid high fees by providing them with the +1 access number. Once dialed and connected, callers will then be required to then enter your number. Calls are charged to you at $1.69/min.
This map depicts Iridium's expectations of coverage. This map does not represent a guarantee of service.
Iridium complies with US embargo restrictions and as a result the following countries may not permit the use of Iridium Satellite phones or coverage may not be available: Cuba, Iran, North Korea. For some countries a permit is required in order to possess and operate a satellite phone, i.e. China, India, Myanmar. Please check either with the state department or local authorities if a permit is required.


text:
Member access
Terms of Use
1. Acceptance of Terms.
By choosing to use the EADO web site, you acknowledge and agree to these Terms of Use. We encourage you to read them carefully and, if necessary, to seek legal advice before accepting them. EADO, respectively as owner and Webmaster of the EADO web site, reserve the right to modify these terms and recommend that you periodically review them, because if you use the site you will be expected to comply with these.
2. Description of Services.
Access to and use of the EADO web site is a free of charge, non-commercial service. Its sole purpose is to provide general educational information to individual professionals, researchers and students in the field of health sciences. This site is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide specific medical advice, and should not be used to make a diagnosis or to replace or overrule a qualified health care provider's judgment. Nor should users rely upon the EADO web site if they might need emergency medical treatment. Use of programs on the EADO site does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. We strongly encourage users to consult with a qualified health care professional for answers to personal questions.
3. Registration Obligations.
In consideration of your use of EADO, you agree to provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself as required in the registration form. Moreover, you agree to maintain and promptly update such information to keep it true, accurate, current and complete. Each registered user of the EADO web site is entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of his/her password and account, and for any and all activities that occur under such account. Each password and account are personal and non-transferable.
4. Third party contents and services.
EADO supporters are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or content of those external sites, nor does it endorse them.
5. Ownership.
All materials on the EADO web site are owned by EADO and third party content and service providers, and are protected under national and international copyright and trademark laws. Altering, recompiling, systematic or programmatic copying, reselling, redistributing, publishing or re-publishing of copyrighted material or any part thereof without the explicit permission of the copyright holder is strictly prohibited. Unless otherwise stated, users may print or download information from this site for personal, free of charge, educational, non-commercial use only, provided they use them for such purposes only and identify the source of the material and include a statement that the materials are protected by national and international copyright and trademark laws.The text, images, drawings, layout and graphical identity of the association and of this site are protected by intellectual property legislation.
6. Disclaimer, Waiver and Release.
While we try to keep the information on the site as accurate as possible, we disclaim any warranty concerning its accuracy, timeliness, and completeness, and any other warranty, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability for a particular purpose. EADO supporters also do not warrant that access to the site will be error-, trojan-, worm- or virus-free. You agree that neither EADO or its officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, information providers or suppliers shall have any liability to you under any theory of liability or indemnity in connection with your use of the EADO web site. You hereby release and forever waive any and all claims you may have against EADO, its officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, information providers or suppliers for losses or damages you sustain in connection with your use of the EADO web site.
7. Personal Data of each user.
Personal data of each user are and will be hosted on servers managed by EADO which is bound to the ordinary privacy rules.
Nevertheless, each user must know that his personal data will be sent to the credit card provider (the system used for the on line payment) in order to have payments processed.
8. Jurisdiction.
The EADO web site and, specifically, these Terms of Use shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Switzerland (Canton Zurich) and governed by them, except for any conflict of laws rules, which are expressly excluded.


text:
- Overview
- Location & Map
- Highlights & Reviews
- Amenities
- World's Best Awards
Four Seasons Resort Lana'i The Lodge at Koele
On the private Hawaiian island of Lana'i, a gracious country manor awaits, hidden within the lush central highlands. Set amidst manicured lawns and gardens, Four Seasons Resort Lana'i, The Lodge at Koele blends peaceful tranquillity with two world-ranked golf courses and exciting adventures on land and at sea. Infused with upcountry plantation charm, the Resort's 102 luxurious rooms and suites, some with a stone fireplaces, are set on two levels within the main building and in the north and south wings. Residential-style furnishings and colourful decor are inspired by the natural surroundings. Every room has ceiling fans, paintings by local artists, a cozy window seat and carved pineapple finials on the two-poster bed. Technology includes a 40-inch (101-centimetre) LCD television and high-speed Internet access.
Location & Map
Hotel Address:
- Four Seasons Resort Lana'i The Lodge at Koele
- One Keomoku Highway
- P.O. Box 631380
- Lana'i City, HI 96763
- United States
Location Summary
At the centre of the Hawaiian Lana'i is an unspoiled paradise The island is 98% privately owned within the Hawaiian islands. Lana'i is approximately 13 miles (21 kilometres) wide and 18 miles (29 kilometres) long, with ground elevations varying from sea level to more than 3,400 feet (1,036 metres). The central landscape offers mist-shrouded mountains and forests of Cook Island pines where wild deer roam freely. The coastline is ringed by secluded white-sand beaches, rugged red lava cliffs and crystal-clear waters. A place of deep cultural significance, Lana'i features many historic sites, old fishing villages and unique topographical attractions. The island's only community is the quaint plantation town of Lana'i City, with a full-time population of just 3,000.
Highlights & Reviews
Note Bene
Lawn bowling and croquet available.
Business Center
24-hour business services.
Banquets & Meetings
A total of 40,579 square feet (3,770 square metres) of function space is primarily located outdoors in picturesque garden settings.
Fine Dining On Site
Showcasing the diversity of Lana'i, Four Seasons offers a remarkable range of restaurants and lounges.
Fitness Center
The state-of-the-art Fitness Center features separate rooms for cardiovascular exercise, weights and stretching, as well as men's and women's locker rooms.
High Speed Internet
Wired or wireless Internet access.
Child Programs
Kids For All Seasons programme.
Pool Outdoor
With views of rolling hills and lush landscaped gardens, the Lodge's pool and two whirlpools are designed for quiet and relaxation.
Tennis Courts On Site
With views of rolling hills and lush landscaped gardens, the Lodge's pool and two whirlpools are designed for quiet and relaxation.
At the foot of Four Seasons Resort Lana'i at Manele Bay is Hulopo'e Beach, an idyllic stretch of white sand with picnic facilities, shady palms and gentle waves for swimming and splashing.
Fishing - Ocean
Anglers seeking small or big-game fish enjoy a sportsman's paradise on Lana'i, where the quarry is mahi mahi, wahoo, yellowfin tuna or even the Pacific blue marlin.
Two world-class golf courses.
Enjoy the seclusion of Lana'i as you hike to the Koloiki Ridge. This 5-mile (8- kilometre) hike offers the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the neighbouring islands of Moloka'i and Maui.
Scuba Diving
With its protected bays and coves, Lana'i is the perfect location for first-time and experienced scuba divers alike.
For a leisurely afternoon of shopping, visit charming Lana'i City. Centred around Dole Park, the city offers everything from fashionable island apparel and souvenirs to handmade gifts and art.
Guest Review Highlights
50 reviews
by TrustYou™
Four Seasons Resort Lanai The Lodge at Koele
The TrustScore is the standard for reputation, summarizing verified reviews and comments from various sources.Learn more »
Hotel Amenities
- - Banquets & Meetings
- Business Center
- Meeting Space
- Disabled Access
- Fine Dining On Site
- Fine Dining Nearby
- Fitness Center
- High Speed Internet
- Child Programs
- Pool Indoor
- Pool Outdoor
- Spa Facility
- Tennis Courts On Site
Available Activities
- - Beach
- Boating
- Ecological Tourism
- Fishing Ocean
- Golf Driving Range
- Golfing
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Sailing
- Scuba Diving
- Shopping
- Windsurfing
World's Best Awards
Conde Nast Traveler 2014 Gold List for Best Hotels in the United States
Conde Nast Traveler 2014 Gold List for Best Hotels in the United States
The Most Exotic, Unusual, and Remote Luxury Hotels
Interested in a luxury experience that's off the beaten path? Maybe you want to heli-ski, wander through the desert, get lost in a lush tropical forest, sleep in a tent, or arrive by float plane. Here...


text:
Jinny Beyer, in her instructive and beautiful book Quiltmaking by Hand talks about how she finds the time to sew large quilts without the use of a machine. "You would be amazed at how much sewing you can get done in found moments throughout the day. I sew in doctor's offices, in the car, on trains, on airplanes, in airport, and in traffic jams.... I always have a little bag of stitching with me wherever I go. I advise you to do to the same, because you never know when you might have a little bit of time to take a few stitches.... you will come to cherish the times when you can quietly stitch- and your final quilt will have so many more memories attached to it because of where you were when you pulled out your little bag of sewing." She goes on to talk about how the key to being productive in your "found moments" is having spent some time in preparation. She has pieces cut out and placed in a small bag along with a needle and thread, pins and a small pair of scissors. She can then pick up her bag and stitch while waiting in line to get gas, talking on the phone or sitting with her husband while he watches a game.
This idea of found moments inspires me. I think this must be how women of earlier generations were able to accomplish the amazing handiwork and quilts we see in museums now. (Of course, they made such things out of necessity, but I would still prefer to lay my children down under a quilt stitched with love by their mama then one bought at Stuff-Mart.) Peregrine and I are reading Farmer Boy, and I love the description of a winter's evening with the whole family around the woodstove: "Mother knitted and rocked in her high-backed rocking-chair. Father carefully scraped a new axe-handle with a bit of broken glass. Royal carved a chain of tiny links from a smooth stick of pine, and Alice sat on her hassock, doing her woolwork embroidery. And they all ate popcorn and apples, and drank sweet cider, except Eliza Jane. Eliza Jane read aloud the news in the New York weekly paper."
I've found what Jinny Beyer said to be true; when I have things prepared I can get a lot done in a few moments on the couch or while riding in the van, watching a movie with Erik or talking together in the evening. And the memories attached to something do become more special- I remember stitching on Peregrine's baby quilt on the way to Crater Lake, and working on Alethea's on a road trip to California when I was six months pregnant with her. I also remember somehow managing to take a few stitches here and there while breastfeeding babies as I never seem to quite finish them before they're born! Some crafts lend themselves more readily to found moments than others, but there are many things that can be done in those small snatches of time. It's very satisfying, and almost feels like a necessity to me, to create beautiful things; things to keep or give away, things that will bring joy and beauty and comfort. And while I can't usually find hours to work on these projects, I can quite often find a few moments.


text:
Quest for kokanee (video)
By Chris Henderson
Went to Clear Lake again for this week's fishing adventure. After my success last week I was feeling very confident. It was a confidence that was misplaced. Kokanee are sometimes a big challenge to catch. The challenge is often not getting them to hit the lure but in landing them. They are incredibly athletic fighters (for their size) and they have very soft mouths. Combining the two means that you can have a day like I did. I went 1-9 on hooked up fish. The rest all came off before I could get them in the boat! I will be changing out my hooks to a different style before I go back. I did manage one kokanee and a nice 15 inch trout.
Because the Wavewalk is so easy to troll with, I was able to stay out all day and not get tired.
I still need to get some grip tape for my paddle so I am not fighting it all the time, but it is on the list!
Keep fishing!
More kayak rigging, fishing and bow duck hunting with Chris »


text:
Would you like to find yourself at such a fuck party? People are getting drunk and do everything to please themselves, there're no complexes, no prejudices, no moral barriers, all they care about is satisfying their dirty desires, sucking and fucking, licking and violating each other, that's what it is! This wild party gangbang pictures has 400 x 510 161 kb Jpeg. Wild party gangbang is a popular picture for wallpaper. If you have a problem about intellectual property, child pornography or immature images with any of these pictures, please send report email to webmaster at Farimg.com, we will remove it immediately.
- Previous Ftv Nice Teen Ginger


text:
A candy store chain takes off at national airports, with a little help from Texas Capitalism™.
A regional distributor corners the national beer market, with a little help from Texas Capitalism™.
Don't just take our word for it — see what our clients have to say about their experience with Texas Capital Bank.
Our founders tell the story behind one the fastest growing and most successful banks in the country.
Hear what makes Texas Capital Bank one of the top places to work from the people who know best: our colleagues.
Browse By Location:
scroll for more
Located in two of Houston's busiest commercial districts, our Houston bankers serve the needs of the region's booming energy industry and other local businesses that make the city the largest in Texas and one of the greatest in the world. In addition, our private wealth bankers are here to provide you with the same level of service and expertise you've come to expect from Texas Capital Bank.
Our banking center hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find a surcharge-free Houston Allpoint® ATM, click here.
John Sarvadi, Managing Director
Send an Email
Bill Wilson, Chairman
Send an Email


text:
Louis Van Gaal lined up for Man Utd job after holding crunch talks to replace David Moyes
LOUIS VAN GAAL is being lined up as the long-term successor to David Moyes.
The Holland boss has made no secret of his interest in the job and wants a chance to manage in the Premier League following this summer's World Cup.
He has been courted by Tottenham but is understood to prefer the Old Trafford post.
And according to reports in Holland, he met with United chiefs TEN days ago to discuss the role.
Moyes was shown the door this morning after a horror 10 months in charge. Ryan Giggs has subsequently been named as caretaker boss.
United owners the Glazer family decided to cut their losses and call time on Moyes' disastrous reign in a 33-word statement.
It read: "Manchester United has announced that David Moyes has left the Club.
"The Club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role."
Moyes learnt his fate after holding training-ground talks with vice-chairman Ed Woodward at 8am this morning. The news was made public half an hour later
United then released another statement confirming club legend Giggs as the man to take over.
It read: "Following the departure of David Moyes as manager, Manchester United has announced that Ryan Giggs, the club's most decorated player, will assume responsibility for the first team until a permanent appointment can be made.
"The club will make no further comment on this process until it is concluded."
But it is van Gaal who is being lined up as the permanent replacement.
Other contenders include Laurent Blanc and Diego Simeone as United face the ultimate humiliation of having to admit they made a huge mistake in giving Moyes the job in the first place.
Borussia Dortmund chief Jurgen Klopp has appeared to rule himself out of the running.
United's American billionaire owners have been left shocked by the rapid decline of the team this season.
Moyes won 27, drew nine and lost 15 of his 51 games in charge.
The Scot was dogged by claims he was not up to the job ever since he took over last July.
Moyes had enjoyed 11 critically-acclaimed years at Everton, leading the club to five top-six finishes. The Toffees qualified for the Champions League for the first time under Moyes' stewardship - although they lost in the qualifying stages of the competition - and he also took the Merseyside club to the FA Cup final in 2009.
But all those achievements were small fry compared to what his predecessor achieved.
The enormity of the task in hand seemed to overwhelm Moyes from day one.
Moyes upset some within the club by bringing in his own coaching staff, while the likes of Rene Meulensteen, Eric Steele, and Mike Phelan departed.
Moyes also botched his first transfer window as United boss. The Scot pursued Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas when the Spaniard had no intention of leaving the SpaniSh giants.
Thiago Alcantara joined Bayern Munich ahead of United, while the club made a real hash of their attempts to sign Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines on the cheap.
United's bid of £28m for the pair was branded "derisory and insulting" by Everton.
Baines stayed and United ended up buying Fellaini for £27.5million when they could have bought him for £4m less had they acted quicker.
Moyes rarely looked comfortable in front of the cameras, and for that reason many felt Jose Mourinho, who left Real Madrid to rejoin Chelsea last summer, would have been a better option.


text:
When God restores, it's better than original. It's better than you could ever have dreamed or thought of. It's with more peace, more power and more grace than you could have ever worked to earn. When it's the work of His hands, it's lasting, eternal, full! Nothing missing, nothing lacking, nothing broken! No faded and torn parts of the picture.
His restoration is all about His love! He is a God of new! I'm thankful for His restoration love. I want all He has in store. The laughter, the dancing, the joy!
Restoration Song - Clay Edwards
You bring restoration,
You bring restoration,
You bring restoration to my soul!
You've taken my pain,
You call me by a new name,
You've taken my shame
And in its place,
You give me joy!
You take my mourning turn it into dancing,
You take my weeping turn it into laughing,
You take my mourning turn it into dancing,
You take my sadness turn into joy!
You make all things new!
You make all things new!


text:
Get your library card to check out materials, access online resources, renew materials, and place holds.
who can get a card
Anyone four years and older can get a JCLD library card. Parents must sign for minors under 18.
library card fees
Patrons who live within the library district boundary
Patrons who live outside of the library district boundary
how to get your JCLD library card
Next time you visit the any of the JCLD library branches, bring a photo ID. If your ID does not reflect your current address, bring another form of address ID, such as a recent utility bill. If you prefer, click to download and complete the Library Card Application (pdf, 266kb) ahead of time.
You can also pick up an application at the JCLD Welcome Desk at the Grants Pass branch of Josephine Community Library District or the Circulation desk at the rural branch libraries. The volunteer will enter or update your information in the computer, enter your selected password for your patron account, and issue your JCLD library card.
borrowing limits
There are no limits on the number of books you can check out. However, music CDs and video cassettes are limited to five each, and DVDs are limited to three at a time. Books and music CDs are loaned for 21 days. DVDs and Library of Things are loaned for 10 days.
Click to learn more about renewing items, placing holds, and library fines.


text:
Still looks a complicated solution and wonder what a foiling cat with similar rig power can do. But the SuperFoiler was born to put on a show so perfect stability is second to raw speed and wild rides.
Video above shows a bunch of excellent takes and plenty of speed. Glad the project is finding its way, lots of work to put this together for all involved.
More info on the SuperFoiler at facebook.com/SuperFoiler/


text:
These Squirrels are wild but very much used to being fed by visitors to the Grosvenor Park, some are incredibly brave and will take food from ones hand, others will merely approach and collect food near your feet. This obviously allows for great photo opportunities, if you can a) get them to stop squabbling, and b) find a spot where you are alone to feed them as you want them. Some of the best shots though come when they are not aware that you are near.
This one was having a little scratch.
This one was burying its nut, they are quite busy at this time of the year, storing up for the winter.
This one was eating a fungi or mushroom.
The only examples I could see were this one.
It looks like a puffball but I know someone will tell me its not.
When they were burying their nuts there were raiders waiting to steal the stashes. It was quite amusing watching the magpies following the squirrels around, and the squirrels seemingly unaware what was happening.
All in all, I had a very enjoyable time watching the squirrels. I fully appreciate that they are vermin and that the lack of Red Squirrels in the country is largely down to their presence, but they are incredibly cute.
Click on pictures for larger versions.


text:
Björk - Family
"Björk and visionary director Andrew Thomas Huang have collaborated on another new video. They recently released "Black Lake" as part of Björk's retrospective at the MoMa and now we have a visual for "Family" from her album Vulnicura. Watch "Family" and the trailer for "Black Lake" below!" via Booooooom


text:
Updated on December 8, 2009
Sullivan reflects on lessons learned
Sam Sullivan's somewhat dark reflection on his three-year term, published in today's Sun, is cast as advice to future mayors. In reality, it is an effort to spread the blame for the fate he suffered at the hands of his own party even before the election began.
Lesson 1: Don't trust senior staff, particularly when it comes to labour relations. "I deferred to the experts on collective bargaining but asked them to inform me when the time was appropriate." The resulting strike was not the worst in the city's history, but the worst in recent memory. Concludes Sullivan: "I could have learned just how poisonous the relations had become between the union and some senior management." Sullivan had already been a councillor for more than 13 years at the time.
Lesson 2: Don't let others, including the media, lie about you. "There is a whole industry devoted to making the mayor look bad." Case in point: the allegation he tried to trademark Ecodensity. Sullivan regrets that he had a tendency to "disregard ridiculous accusations." Big mistake. Not explained: why the Canadian Intellectual Property Office published a notice of the application it received on Sullivan's behalf from Boughton Law Corp., thus triggering the "accusations."
Lesson 3: watch out for other municipalities. After Sullivan naively followed staff advice on collective bargaining and wound up in a bruising strike (see Lesson 1), Richmond settled with its unions at a level that is now triggering service cuts and tax hikes across the region. Future mayors should try to make other cities hold off their bargaining until Vancouver has settled. Question: how?
Lesson 4: Don't trust senior staff (financial department): The Olympic Village project should have been run by the private sector, instead of in-house. Remember, "city processes can take forever and the costs remain buried." Sullivan says his council rejected a private sector plan, leaving the project "vulnerable to politicians loading it with extras." (Details of Sullivan's fight to turn back the extras have never been found. He chaired the key meetings where the "extras" must have been loaded on.)
Lesson 5: schedule time for family and friends. "And remember, the job of being former mayor is much more pleasant." There are no worries on the staff front, if nothing else.