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The Milo® UHT Pack in the Energy for Champions Workshop was moderated by Sheahnee Iman Lee, emcee, media trainer and former TV host who did a wonderful job getting the audience to warm up to the session.
|Sheahnee Iman Lee, Puan Yan Diana and Puan Nurul Iliani
On this note, Puan Yan Diana an admin from Kelab Bekal/Bento Malaysia came on to show participants that packing to school doesn't need to be complicated and can be prepared in a flash. Puan Yan makes Bento Boxes on a daily basis for four of her school going children.
The creative Puan Yan Diana demonstrated how to make 3 creative Bento Boxes in quick succession. She made the adorable Giraffe Chicken Sandwich, a cute Japanese Doll Sandwich and an amazing looking Rapunzel Noodle Box in minutes.
|Giraffe Chicken Sandwich
|Japanese Doll Sandwich
|Rapunzel Noodle Box
Quick Tips From Pn Yan On Preparing Bento Boxes
- Ingredients. Do not be overwhelmed by using unusual items. Use normal items that your kids like to eat like fried mee hoon, spaghetti, fried rice, bread, beans etc and build on those
- Preparation. Ingredients may be prepared the night before or during the weekend to save time
- Involvement. Involve your kids in the preparation and the ideas for their Bento Boxes. They will be more likely to eat them that way
- Shaping Items. Use cheese and seaweed sheets to carve out or cut out unusual cartoon characters or shapes. Tomatoes may be used to carve out lips or ribbons.
- Appearance. Use flat boxes so that your creation will maintain its appearance at recess time hours later to avoid them from tumbling about.
- Vegetables. Introduce vegetables slowly but repeatedly for the reluctant vegetable eater
- Drying. Do not mix wet items with dry ones. Wipe dry first before working on your Bento
- Cleanliness. Make sure you wash your hands before preparing and keep them clean throughout
Puan Nurul Iliani stressed that a balance of protein, vegetables, fruits and carbohydrates should be kept in mind when selecting the ingredients for a Bento Box meal. She added that children can greatly benefit from the Activ-Go™ in MILO®, a unique combination of PROTOMALT®, minerals and vitamins such as Vitamin B, specially blended to provide efficient release of energy from food to help them take on a full day's challenges. MILO® also contains calcium to maintain stronger bones and teeth and Vitamin C for increased absorbtion of iron from food. You can easily add a convenient pack of MILO® UHT in the Bento Box or in your little one's school bag to ensure he/she has sufficient energy to take on the day!
Finally, parents and children worked together as a team to create the most creative Bento Box in the MILO® UHT Bento Box Challenge. Participants were provided with MILO® UHT's Bento Box, ingredients and a packet of of MILO® UHT that fits in nicely in the Bento Box..
Below are pictures of the ingredients, tools and Bento Boxes provided.
Watch the video below to see some of the creations by parents in the MILO® UHT Bento Box Challenge. You will be amazed at their creativity as many of them were preparing Bento Boxes for the first time. The video will also give you some ideas on what to prepare for your kids for recess.
Most importantly, everyone went home with new knowledge gained on the importance of packing balanced and nutritious meals for kids and how to do so in a non-stressful and fun way. MILO® UHT comes in convenient single serve packs of 125ml and 200ml and is available in all convenient stores, mini markets, supermarkets and hypermarkets.
For more upcoming initiatives of the MILO® UHT Pack in the Energy for Champions campaign, visit www.milo.com.my.
Pack a MILO® UHT in your child's bag pack for the energy they need to take on the day!
For more upcoming initiatives of the MILO® UHT Pack in the Energy for Champions campaign, visit www.milo.com.my.
Pack a MILO® UHT in your child's bag pack for the energy they need to take on the day!
|Congratulations to the winners of the MILO® UHT Bento Box Challenge
|MILO® UHT single serving packs in 125ml and 200ml.


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Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
San Juan Diego Friary - ABQ, NM
Needs for Fr. Robert's Kitchen
Clothing Bank & Hygiene Needs
Food Pantry Needs
Friar Needs & Wants
Donate Online
Photo Albums
Coffee of the Cross
Donate Online
Submit Prayer Request
Preaching Request Form
Site Information
NM CFR History
Local friars
What We Do
From the Friars eLetter
by Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
The time surrounding Thanksgiving is such a whirlwind of work and happiness in New York City. This year was no different. The Hurricane Sandy relief effort began the movement to reach out and help. Food was handed out, prayers were said, and thanks were given to God for it all.
On Thanksgiving day itself, we had our usual Saint Joseph's Table meal for the neighborhood. With the help of some dear friends who own a great restaurant (
Gino's Trattoria
), we offered the best meal in town! Thanks to the friars who were praying in Eucharistic Adoration throughout the day, no one got cut except the turkey.
This year was extra-special because Br. Timothy made a ghetto turkey piñata. With time running out and short on materials, he used newspaper and mortar paste. That was a tough old bird! It survived many a whack before it yielded the goodies.
When Brother announced that we were offering a turkey piñata in the back yard, no one made a move to join us. So, I got on the microphone and yelled, "Hey everybody, that thing is full of CASH MONEY!" Wow - that really got everyone's attention. I kinda stretched the truth knowing that candy is like money in Candy Land!
Anyways, our guests were really interested in getting that money. The Thanksgiving/Christmas season is a great time to look into your heart and discover what you are really interested in. Then, if you are like me and my neighbors, pray for the grace of a deeper conversion.
May God bless you,
Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
St. Joseph Friary
Harlem, New York City

subset: commoncrawl


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This is the active FM receiver antenna amplifier, used to boost the FM signal catch by the antenna, you may call circuit "FM antenna booster".
By working with only a small handfull of parts you can assembled this kind of reliable FM amplifier circuit. It runs with only 1 UHF/VHF type transistor, MFE201. This amplifier will pull in all distant FM stations clearly. The circuit is configured as a common-emitter tuned RF pre-amplifier wired around VHF/UHF transistor MFE201. You will find a couple different models that probably would work too, like the NTE107, 2SC2570, and so on.
Adjust capacitor trimmers C1 and C2 for the best gain. Input coil L1 consists of 4 turns of 20SWG enamelled copper wire over a 5mm diameter former. It is tapped at the first turn from ground lead side. Coil L2 is comparable to L1, but just has three turns. Pin configuration is shown within the diagram.


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1st-Submit is here to provide information to those looking into the world of content generation. We assume you have some technical training and want to break into the world of blogging and web marketing.
Check out our JOBS page for information on where to find jobs especially freelance opportunities.
We want to help you learn to be an effective content writer. We want to share information we think will help you because, trust us, we have gone before you in this endeavor. Please click here to review our Privacy Policy.


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With the advanced in technology, now no need to watch the TV sitting on the couch. Now, you can get the entertainment of watching the movies, music and more from where you are sitting. It is not so complicated setup, but needs a few pieces of equipment and you can use your computer network as the next-generation hub.
How to build home entertainment network
1. Install a network router
For this setup a network is needed which acts as the centerpiece of this operation and if high definition media is your requirement, then speed, bandwidth and range are very crucial. I recommend D-Link's DIR-825 router which offers all the bandwidth which is needed for HD media and television programming. It has the dual-band feature which allows the router to simultaneously manage the bandwidth intensive applications on the two different frequencies i.e, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This router can be providing the internet access for checking the email on the commonly used 2.4 GHz frequency and at the same instance it serves the HD video streams on 5 GHz frequency.
2. Extend network coverage
If your house is very large, then you can extend the range of the network with help of a bridge using the D-Link DAP-1522, which enhance the wireless signal and the signal can reach all the corners of the house. Just plug in the adapters into any socket on the walls and now the network is quickly up and running.
3. Allocate media storage
After configuring your network then it is the time to look at the media itself. You can access the media files stored on any computer, but the best solution is to use the network attached storage (NAS) device and stores all the files centrally in one place. By removing the storage from the PC, you can also prevent the large files from filling up your PC's hard drive and also achieve the better protection for that files by storing them on the storage device.
4. Connect your television
This is the final step, to get the entertainment to anywhere in the home then a simple media player like Boxee Box by D-Link can bring the content from the network and straight to your television. Just plug in your Boxee Box by plugging the SD card from the digital camera using the USB portable storage device.
Thats it, home entertainment network is setup. Home entertainment network doesn't just send the media files from the PC to your TV, it also offers the access to media from any device from anywhere in the house.


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Stevie Anderson / International Feel - Sketches From An Island (Side B)
Limited edition Giclee print on fine art paper, featuring the artwork from Mark Barrott's 'Sketches From An Island' LP on the International Feel label.
This print is available in two sizes:
'Album Sized'
Edition of 100 numbered copies.
14 x 14 inches
Blindstamped with the International Feel logo
This small print is available framed in two options - a hand-painted charcoal coloured frame, or a high gloss deep set white frame. Both frames are hand-made to Fine Art Trade Guild conservation standards.
The 'XL' sized print is an edition of 25 copies, signed by the artist (Stevie Anderson).
70 x 70cm
Blindstamped with the International Feel logo


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A probably fake photo from 1974 of HMS Tartar's trip there. 'A sentry-box was constructed on Hall's Ledge, with two marines in full ceremonial uniform posted alongside, and the Union Flag was hoisted above.'
Every now and again Britain lands some people on this lump and takes a photo to prove it is theres. 'Former SAS member and survival expert Tom McClean lived on the island from 26 May 1985 to 4 July 1985 to affirm the UK's claim to the island'. Waves roll over the island so he had to hide in a bolted down giant coffin for the duration.
They do this partly because owning the Falklands isn't grim enough for them. And partly for all the oil and gas and such that might be between Rockall and Ireland.


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It's a fairly common thing these days to see a video game modeled after some kind of short story or novel, but it's much less often that we get to see a new book created out of one of our favorite indie games to be released this year! Might and Delight, the indie developer behind last month's incredible survival adventure Shelter, has revealed a new illustrated picture book they've made for children called The Circle, which takes the same concepts of the PC and Mac game while putting all of its heart and essence onto digital pages.
While Shelter the game has players assuming the role of a mother badger as she tries to find food and protect her badger children, The Circle instead puts readers in the perspective of one of these little badgers, as they follow their mother and try to understand the dangers of the big open world. The overarching theme of the book is definitely the circle of life, in which plants and animals must feed off one another in order to survive: an important concept that is wordlessly and poignantly explained in the pages of the book.
The book's illustrations use that same beautiful and papery style that makes up the graphics of the game, and at only two dozen or so pages long, seems to be the perfect companion piece for any child (or Shelter fan) who loves a whimsical animal-fronted adventure. Luckily, the ending of the book has a much happier outlook than the game itself, and doesn't feature the inherently depressing possibility of Shelter where players can lose all of their badger babies to the wild and are forced to continue on alone.
The best part is that The Circle can be downloaded completely for free on the official Shelter website, so be sure to check it out and let us know how the mother badger survival adventure translates onto this different medium down in the replies!


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Through large-scale data research and in-depth interviews with clinical communication experts and senior healthcare executives, the Experience Innovation Network, part of Vocera, developed a framework for successful clinical communication. The framework includes seven key elements:
- Shared purpose
- Content and context
- Situation and task
- Mode
- Environment and infrastructure
- Personal and interpersonal factors
- Policies and guidelines
Complete the form below to view this webinar and learn from two leaders who are building clinical communication workflows into their efforts to create highly reliable human experiences that enable powerful, positive, and personal human interactions.
Marty Scott, MD, MBA, Chief Transformation Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health
Sue Murphy, RN, BSN, MS, Chief Experience and Innovation Officer at University of Chicago Medicine
Moderator: Liz Boehm, Research Director at the Experience Innovation Network, part of Vocera


text:
garden.com > Item # GRNGIFTCERT
promotional discount applied.
Cart total will reflect savings.
Sometimes, manufacturers require that products be advertised only at their suggested prices.
When we choose to sell these items for less, we display the sale price only in the cart. To see the price, click Add to Cart.
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Some items everyday price is so low we can't discount or we have marked down the item to a final sale price. These select items will not be included in your order total when determining if your order qualifies for a promotional event.


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Helsinki-based Japanese designer Arihiro Miyake was awarded 'Special Mention' at Salon Satellite in Milano for his designs this year. In his displayed collection were the 'Trush In' cable bags.
The recycled PET fiber felt bags are outfitted with 4 electric sockets. Electrical cords can be contained inside the bags to cut down on the tangle of electrical spaghetti that many of us deal with at our desks. As a bonus, the bright colors add cheery accents to the space where they're placed.
Cable Spaghetti Camouflage
More Stats +/-
Glowing Power Cable
Classy Way to Hide Gadget Cords
Knitted Power Cords
Computer Cable Organizers
Clam-Inspired Cable Clips
Free 2019 Report & eBook
Get the top 100 trends happening right NOW -- plus a FREE copy of our award-winning book.
Our Research Methodology
This article is one of 350,000 experiments. We use crowd filtering, big data and AI to identify insights.
Arihiro Miyake's 'Trush In' Electrical Cable Containers
- By: Katie CordreyOct 1, 2009
References: arihiromiyake & slideband
References: arihiromiyake & slideband


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Janssen Biotech Inc. entered into an exclusive license and research collaboration agreement with New York University School of Medicine (NYU) in October 2012 for the development of novel antibody-based biologic agents for the treatment and prevention of staphylococcal infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Under the license agreement, Janssen has exclusive access to intellectual property (IP) issued to NYU covering utilization of key leukotoxins in staphylococcal infections. Janssen BioTherapeutics (JBIO) was critical in the first phase of the program, identifying an initial series of biologic agents that target key S. aureus virulence factors, including the leukotoxins licensed from NYU, and continues to provide crucial support to the partnership. Characterization of the activity and efficacy of these prototypic agents led to additional involvement by the Janssen Incubator, which provided a platform for the program to be leveraged as an internal venture focused on MRSA.
" The people who I interact with at JBIO are leaders in their respective areas and they have a willingness to move things forward and remove boundaries. This partnership has been tremendous and I think it would be very difficult to find a better team."
Victor Torres, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology
New York University School of Medicine
Driven by collaboration, this partnership encompasses discovery and development activities executed by both Janssen and NYU. Janssen is focused on identification and optimization of the biologic agents and studies necessary to support development of therapeutic candidates for evaluation in clinical studies. Meanwhile, the laboratory of Professor Victor Torres at NYU is conducting key ongoing studies to further define the roles and mechanisms of leukotoxins in causing staphylococcal infections and testing lead biologic agents generated at Janssen.
The partnership with Janssen provides the team at NYU industry expertise and resources essential to the discovery and development of therapeutic agents, while NYU is giving Janssen access to critical targets. Throughout the partnership, the teams have communicated, shared data and attended in-person meetings far beyond the terms outlined in the license and collaboration agreement to build a valuable and mutually-beneficial working relationship.
Interested in partnering with us? Contact Janssen BioTherapeutics with your idea.


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Halifax Irish Club made it two wins out of two in the West Riding County Amateur League's top flight with a 6-3 win over Campion Reserves last night.
They were making it two wins in five days at West Vale after hitting back from 3-0 down to beat Golcar United 4-3 at the weekend.
Brighouse Old Boys and Huddersfield Amateurs each have just one point after their opening two West Yorkshire League games.
Old Boys lost 3-1 at home to Horbury Town in the Premier Division last night, a disappointment after their creditable 1-1 draw at Leeds City at the weekend.
Elland side Huddersfield Amateur, promoted to Division One as champions, started with a 1-0 defeat at Boroughbridge last Saturday.
They created four one on ones in the first half but could not convert any and the home side scored the only goal with 10 minutes left.
Last night they drew 2-2 at home to Hartshead FC.
All of the goals came in a 10 minute period midway through the first half. Hartshead scored following a hopeful long ball which caught out the home defence.
Matty Parker levelled within two minutes and almost immediately Sam Clarke scored directly from a free kick after good work from Chris Hockin.
Five minutes later a carbon copy of the visitors' first goal was scored.


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Erdoğan says Turkey gets close to producing its own engine
Speaking during a live interview on Turkish broadcaster Channel 24, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in his remarks that Turkey was about to produce a local engine.
Turkey is getting close to producing its own engine, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said late Wednesday.
"Turkey is about to produce a local engine," Erdoğan said, speaking during a special live broadcast on local channel 24 in northern Rize province.
Erdoğan's announcement comes in the wake of his recent remarks on the country's first indigenous automobile, which is expected to contribute 50 billion euros ($58.7 billion) to the country's GDP and hit the roads in 2021.
Speaking on Turkey's local defense industry, Erdoğan said his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has increased production to 65 percent from 20 percent during their time in power. He added the country was now independent from foreign sources.
He said Turkey is manufacturing its own drones and armed drones and the country produces its own rifles.
"Also, a prototype for a tank has been produced, and mass production will start," he added.
Noting that Turkey produces ATAK helicopters, Erdoğan said they have begun exporting them now.
Speaking about the opposition, he slammed them for not knowing the economy.
"They think that the economy is only the money you have in your pocket. [But the] economy is not limited to the money in the pocket," he said.
Touching on the recently opened historic Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), Erdoğan stressed the importance of the project.
TANAP is a natural gas pipeline that stretches from the Turkish-Georgian border to the Turkish-Greek border and supplies natural gas to Turkey and also European countries.
The 1,850-kilometer pipeline is the largest section of the 3,500-km Southern Gas Corridor, which was inaugurated on May 29 in Baku.
Also mentioning the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline, which will carry gas from Russia under the Black Sea to Turkish Thrace, Erdoğan said the two projects were not a substitute to each other and the Turkish Stream pipeline is just as important as TANAP.
The project agreement between Turkey and Russia for the Turkish Stream pipeline was signed on Oct. 10, 2016 and was ratified by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 7.
One of the pipelines, with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters, is expected to supply the Turkish market, while a second pipeline will carry gas to Europe.
"All of these are making Turkey a [gas] line. We are distributing it to Europe from here," he said, adding natural gas will no longer be an issue for Turkey, as it would have the authority to increase or decrease the amount of gas flow.


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Team communication app, Slack which is currently having a valuation of $2.8 billion, has launched a new $80 million VC fund to make investment in startups building apps on top of Slack. Alongside the investment fund, the company has also launched an app store called App Directory where users can download third party apps that integrate with Slack.
The new fund is backed by Slack with additional capital coming from its partners, including Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Spark, and Social Capital. It will primarily make investments worth $100,000 to $250,000 in seed stage startups that make Slack their core foundation.
The app directory includes more than 160 apps that integrate with Slack's platform including Twitter, Google Drive, Dropbox and Trello. The company has already made three investments out of the new fund including Howdy, an Austin-based startup that builds Slack bots, apps that automate certain tasks within the Slack environment; Awesome, which has created software for summarizing a user's activity within Slack; and Small Wins, a stealth startup founded by former Engadget editor-in-chief Ryan Block.
Other players like Salesforce, Box, Zendesk, and Atlassian also have their own app marketplaces. Atlassian, the Australian-based company behind tools like HipChat and Jira, went public on the Nasdaq last week.
Launching a VC fund is also a common tactic among enterprise players, like Salesforce, Cisco, and Intel have already launched a sizable investment arms.


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Set up up my email account using POP settings
You can use POP (Post Office Protocol) to set up your email account on most email clients. POP has it's limitations, and has can have issues trying to access your email from multiple devices. Learn about the difference between IMAP and POP and see what type of account settings you have.
- Open the Email Setup Center, you may be prompted to login to your Workspace account. (Learn about the Email Setup Center.)
- Locate your POP settings in the Email Server Settings section. Keep this info open, you'll need the Incoming server (POP) and the Outgoing server (SMTP) info to complete email client set up.
- Open your chosen email client and begin to create a new account.
- When you get to the IMAP/POP settings page enter your Incoming server (POP) and the Outgoing server (SMTP) info.
Server SSL port (secure) Standard port pop.secureserver.net 995 110 smtpout.secureserver.net 993 143
- Your email client may require password authentication for your Outgoing Mail Server.. If so, enter your Workspace email address and password in the settings area.
- Once your email account is on your email client, send yourself a test email from your Workspace webmail and respond to it. (Want specific instructions for your email client? See the More info section.)
Next step
More info
- Set up my email on Outlook 2010 (Windows)
- Set up my email on Outlook 2013 (Windows)
- Set up my email on Outlook 2016 (Windows)
- Set up my email on Outlook 2011 (Mac)
- Set up my email on Outlook 2016 (Mac)
- Set up my email on Apple Mail (Mac)
- Set up my email on Thunderbird
Note: As a courtesy, we provide information about how to use certain third-party products, but we do not endorse or directly support third-party products and we are not responsible for the functions or reliability of such products.


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Need more web traffic for your real estate investing business? Check out the following 5 ways to ramp up your traffic and really get leads coming through the door so you can make even more money from flipping houses…
PPC Advertising
While many have recently veered away from PPC advertising in favor of social media it still remains one of the few ways of guaranteeing traffic for real estate investing companies. Of course Google Adwords is the most used form of PPC advertising for real estate investing. Take your time to test out different keywords, bids, and ads in order to maximize your marketing ROI.
Paid Online Advertising
PPC advertising and Google are not the only options for paid online advertising by any means. There are many other ad networks offering ad space for banners and other image ads, often in the form of CPM. This means you pay in batches of 1,000 times your real estate investing ads are shown.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is the ideal front line tool for drawing in traffic to your real estate investing business. However this requires a lot more than a few random posts. You must have a strategy and be actively adding new followers everyday and effectively funneling them through to your conversion pages.
Email Marketing
Email marketing may not always result in instant deals, but it is a great way to get traffic to your real estate investing website and blog where you can lock them in as regular followers and turn them into real customers.
Blogging is a great way to keep your traffic coming back and get them interested and engaged once you get them there. Imagine what potential 1,000 blog readers a day has for your real estate investing business.


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Many of you are familiar with my photography, but this article aims to reveal a lesser know part of me.
My calf muscles are the same size as Arnold Schwarzenegger's!!
Although I have spent plenty of time in the gym like Arnie, my massive calves are the result of mountain hiking. No steroids! I measured them at 20 inches – the same size as Arnie's when he rose to fame as a body-builder.
Unfortunately, this story of bulging muscles is not as happy as Arnold Schwarzenegger's. These huge calves are the cause of much pain and suffering. If you want a happy story with a happy ending please navigate to another page now. I recommend this one about cats.
Once upon a time…
Lets wind back the clock to where this accidental body building started…
As a child I was a toe walker. This is a fascinating issue and although more is known about "toe-walking" these days, back then it was just considered an oddity. I remember my mother telling me to walk "heel – toe" to try to encourage me to walk normally. Other relatives tried to correct this also. This is the best thing to do for a toe walking child, because as you will find out the consequences of walking like this in early childhood can be horrible.
What causes toe walking in a child?
There are many theories out there that toe walking is a symptom of childhood anxiety, but also an indicator of Autism and Spina Bifida Occulta. One thing is for sure, my calves are too short. Whether this is the result of toe walking or the cause of toe walking, I'm not sure. It's a chicken and egg situation. Around 5 years old I started walking normally – could have been peer pressure. After this I suffered bad ankle sprains and ankle stiffness (aged 14) which is another syptom of short calves. Apart from this, my calves were fairly uneventful until I reached adulthood.
Adult hood – ouch!!
When I started driving, one of my biggest concerns was "How do I hold my foot on the gas pedal?". It seemed ridiculous to me that I would have to hold my foot in such an upward flex. I managed by resting the side of my foot on the foot-well panel.
As I reached my twenties, I became a walker. Sometimes I would go out for a 20 mile walk! This led to excruciating big toe pain in my early twenties. The doctored diagnosed this as Gout (in a 21 year old!!). Here started my relationship with ibubrofen – each visit to the doctors would end with a prescription for Allopurinal and anti-inflammatory drugs. The gout diagnosis stuck on my records for over twenty years as the pain in my toe steadily increased. The pain and suffering cost me jobs & relationships. Employers didn't want staff who take 2 week sick leave on a regular basis.
In 2014, my condition took a turn for the worse. I started waking up with crippling pain in my feet, ankles and Achilles tendon. I noticed hardly any circulation below my calf muscles. My feet were literally dying! This wasn't gout!
Ignoring the doctors (who hadn't even examined my feet), I decided to take my issue into my own hands. I was just fed up with the blood tests and ibuprofen prescriptions – why does it always have to be chemical? Nobody was addressing the mechanics of my feet and legs, so that's what I did. A few visits to youtube gave me more information than 30 years of going to the doctors.
So what did I find?
The closest explanation to what was going on is "Chronic Myofascial Syndrome". This is a condition where the sack that holds the muscles becomes out of shape. This leads to a form of Peripheral neuopathy and intense pain. The lack of circulation made this a downward spiral. Throw a serious Plantar Fasciitis into the mix for fun!! Spiraling out of control preventing me from living a normal life. And this was at the time when I was reaching my prime as a photo guide. Many tours had to be cancelled over the following 2 years, when I wasn't even able to put shoes on. Walking around my apartment on crutches is not fun when you are watching your colleagues earning a good living. I lost all my money – all I had was my tour business, but my income was severely reduced.
I still suffer, but I am pleased to report that I have reversed the condition somewhat. Using foam rollers, spiky massage balls, compression socks and massage therapists, I have brought the circulation back to my feet. This is key to recovery. There is no chance of recovering without circulation, but it was understanding the mechanics of my calf muscles and the Myofascial sheath that helped the most. The Myofascial sheath
I realise now that my life style of photographing the ice beach was to blame for the worsening of the condition. I was driving several hours (bad position for legs) then squatting on the ice beach to take those photos. This put extra strain on my Achilles tendon. Then the drive back for several hours (poor circulation again).
Myofascial Syndrome
I wouldn't actually say that this is a syndrome, rather symptoms of a poorly fitting fascia. The fascia has been severely overlooked. Just recently we are starting to understand how it acts as a neural net for the muscles. The best explanation for what is going wrong is if you put a glove on your hand wrong (like a small child) so that you have 2 fingers in one finger, leaving an empty finger. Wearing a glove like this reduces your dexterity and control, try playing the piano like this. Just like the fascia that is sending both contract and relax signals to the same muscle.
(maybe too simplistic explanation – but it might help someone)
Well maybe this will help someone in a similar situation. What ever your pain, don't give up.
Update: May 2019
I have dramatically recovered from my crippling condition after some spinal adjustments with a Chiropractor in Malaysia. I had a severely twisted vertebrae from applying ice crampons on a standing position. I have also recently confirmed Spina bifida occulta which could also have had an effect.
Landscape photography gear
by B&H


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A versatile actor, singer, music director and choreographer, Leigh has been active on the Vancouver musical theatre scene since the early 80s. Initially, she was cast in several Gilbert & Sullivan musicals, then turned her talents to comedy as a regular performer with the Vancouver-based Comedy Company.
Leigh has been involved in many shows produced on the Deep Cove Shaw Theatre stage (both for First Impressions Theatre and the Deep Cove Stage Society). Her most recent musical romps in Deep Cove include the rockin' 60s musical soap opera, SUDS (for DCSS, as Choreographer/Asst. Musical Director), and Always…Patsy Cline (for F.I.T., as Co-Musical Director). Favourite roles include Mae West (The Comedy Company), Lili Von Schtupp (Random Laughter – a DCSS/F.I.T. co-production) and Nancy (in First Impressions' production of the musical Oliver).
Following a short hiatus from performing, Leigh is very excited to have the opportunity to work with Peter Zednik and Barb Brolly, and to tread the Deep Cove boards again with the amazing cast of The World Goes Round.
The World Goes 'Round
Directed by Peter Zednik
Musical Direction by Barb Brolly
Set Design by Mitchell Mackay
Produced by Carolyn Coles
Stage Manager Christopher Key
Lighting Design by Glen Miller
The cast (in alphabetical order by surname) is


text:
From: Steve Puluka (email@example.com)
Date: Sun May 28 2000 - 07:34:59 EDT
----- Original Message -----
> <Dale>
> >>..I saw a suggestion ( think in this thread) of a Greek weekend where
> Greek would be permitted. Sign me up!
> <Bill>
> Has anyone got an available appropriate retreat facility?
> Bill Ross
The place is the easy part. There are several good retreat facilities in my
neck of the woods, western Pennsylvania. I'm sure there several everywhere
else too. The hard part is finding a good moderator to create and lead the
program for the weekend.
Steve Puluka
Consultar for Adult Education
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
B-Greek home page: http://sunsite.unc.edu/bgreek
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Apr 20 2002 - 15:36:27 EDT


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Most students who attend language courses at our schools also ask us to arrange accommodation, though students are naturally free to make their own accommodation arrangements, if they prefer.
The most common types of accommodation that we arrange are:
A 'host family' can be a married couple or a single person, with or without children. All host families are carefully selected by accommodation officers at our schools. If a student has a strong preference regarding the type of family that they wish to stay with (they may wish to be placed in a family with/without children, or be in a non-smoking environment), our school will do their very best to arrange this. Simply let us know at the time that you book your course.
You should also let us know if you have any allergies, special dietary requirements or medical conditions that you feel your host family or our school should be aware of.
Staying with a host family has the advantage of providing 'total immersion' in the language that you are studying, as the family will normally only speak to you in that language. This naturally helps you learn the language more quickly.
A 'shared student apartment' means sharing a self-catering apartment with other international students from our school. These apartments are not luxurious, but have fully-equipped kitchens and bathrooms, providing basic, reasonably priced student accommodation.
Private 'studio apartments' are self-contained 'mini-apartments', with private bathroom and private kitchen or kitchenette. These studios are comfortably furnished and are available as singles or twins. This type of accommodation is ideal for students who are looking for private self-catering accommodation.
The 'student residences' are ideal for students who do not wish to share an apartment or stay with a host family. Student residences vary in their facilities, depending on the location. Some of our student residences have private swimming pools.
Several are located on the same site as the school. In some residences, rooms have private bathrooms and even kitchenettes. Sometimes meals are available in the residences and in other cases students eat out. Please contact us for precise details regarding the student residence in which you are interested, when making your booking.
Sharing an apartment with a local person means precisely this. You use the apartment as your own, cooking for yourself, but you are sharing with a local person, rather than with other international students. This option is ideal for students who wish to cook for themselves, but do not want to share an apartment with other international students.
We also arrange accommodation in private apartments and hotels.
Some of our schools offer 'executive suites', 'superior apartments' or 'executive host families', for students who require a higher standard of accommodation.
When deciding what type of accommodation you require, we would strongly suggest that you should contact us to discuss the possible options. It is very important that you choose a type of accommodation that meets your needs, and we will help you do this.
Our experienced Language Travel Advisors know our schools well and will be happy to answer any questions that you may have regarding our courses.


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Since 1985, March has been filled with sound as music in our schools is celebrated around the nation. Sponsored by the National Association for Music Education, the event focuses the nation's attention on the need for and benefits of quality music education programs. Schools and community groups celebrate with creative activities and events, based on a designated theme.
Here's my music themed card that I made using Cricut Lite Chore Chart. I cut the piano at 3-1/4". This cute little card is 3.5" x 5". The paper is from Grade School matstack. I printed the sentiment on white cardstock using my computer and punched it with an oval punch. Voila!
Our Sponsor for this challenge is Circle B Enterprises who is providing a $10 gift certificate for merchandise.
Hope you will join us this week and submit your music themed card, layout or altered project. You will have one week to plan, create, and submit your project. The winner will be announced next Tuesday. Please remember to include which die-cut you used and a link back to Die Cuttin' Divas.


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Do you know what it is like for your child to not be able to speak to you? To not be able to tell you how his day was? What he wants to be when he grows up? What his favorite color is?
Do you know what it is like to have your child talk to you? To say that he doesn't want to miss the bus...That he wouldn't like to live in Texas because it is a desert and after 5 pm you can't go out because the snakes will bite you, they have plants with things on them that can hurt you ( but he forgot what they are called--cactus)....
Maybe I am lucky, because I know what both of those things are like...At eight years old, my child could not have a conversation with me. Just two short years later, he is so different. God has shown us mercy. Do you know what it is like to have God put His hands on your child's face and breathe life into his nostrils--for a second time?
Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. ...Genesis 2:7


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Five reasons to visit The Ocean Lodge
- By Mary P
- Travel Tips
- 11.05.2016
A beachfront resort is the perfect summer hotel, so check out these five reasons to visit The Ocean Lodge.
Visit Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach is a beautiful place on the Pacific Coast where many tourists choose to spend their vacation. If you are one of them, grab your towel and spend a day surrounded by the ocean waves. You will return home with a deep tan and a more relaxed mood. If you book a room at The Ocean Lodge you will have the beach only one minute away.
Do some shopping
The Ocean Lodge is strategically placed in an area packed with small boutiques and art galleries. If you like art check out the numerous stores spread along the way and maybe you will find an antique to take home with you. The shops also carry beachwear, apparel and even designer bags. If you are lucky you can even find a gift for someone back home.
Bring your pets
One of the advantages of staying at The Ocean Lodge are its pet friendly options. If you want to take your furry friend with you, the resort offers space for them and several games you can play together. There is nothing more fun than spending a day at the beach with your dog, and the hotel can ensure your pet is safe at all times.
Attend a festival
There are many festivals taking place in Cannon Beach, during summer or fall. November brings the cool Annual Stormy Weather Art Festival, where local artists come to display their pieces. Other events happening here are Women Only Weekend and Haystack Holidays.
Family friendly place
The Ocean Lodge gives you the chance to spend some quality time with your family. You can bond while playing water sports, read books at the library and build sand castles.


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An important part of a weight loss journey is realizing that it won't happen overnight as it requires dedication, motivation, and effort. But, after a few weeks of months of sticking to a healthy low carb/ keto diet your scale decides to stop moving. Not seeing results may become frustrating and overwhelming.
Here are a few tips & tricks that will help you get past your weight loss plateau.
Reason no. 1: You're eating too many sweeteners
It's fantastic to treat yourself to something sweet now and then. Sweeteners are safe to use for most of the people, but for some, it causes intense cravings for real sugar.
As I love to experiment on myself first and then show my results, along with following strict ketogenic macros, I ditched all the artificial sweeteners from my diet for a few weeks (including diet sodas, which yeah I know contain aspartame that's very harmful, but oh well, we're humans).
I can relate that I didn't have sugar cravings anymore, my headaches were gone, and I dropped a few pounds even I didn't want to. Every person reacts different to sweeteners, and I recommend you to limit your daily consumption and focus on real food.
Reason no. 2: You're eating too many calories
I know you've heard that on a low carb way of eating such as the ketogenic diet or Atkins diet you only have to stay under the daily limit of carbs and eat as much protein and fat as you can and still lose tons of weight.
Fat is twice more dense caloric than carbs, so therefore the calories add up quickly. No diet in the world recommends unlimited calories for weight loss.
So if you are not losing weight, you should consider finding your ideal macronutrients (here's the best keto calculator) and stick with them, because calories matter even on a low carb diet.
Reason no.3: You are having too much protein or not enough protein
In the book "The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living," Dr. Phinney and Volek recommend eating 0.6 – 1 gram of protein per a pound of lean mass and 1.3 – 2.2 grams of protein per a kilogram of lean mass every day (lean mass = total body weight without fat).
Be sure you are eating enough protein because it will make you feel satiated.
The lack of protein can lead to muscle loss and also all the exces1s protein converts into glucose and can kick you out of ketosis. But we're not taking of 15-20g excess, but way more.
In keto, reaching your protein macro is a goal.
Reason no.4: You are eating too many carbs
Every person has a different level of carb tolerance. Try to eat fewer carbs than you are already eating.
For example, if you are eating 30-40g carbs, go for 20-25 for a while and see how your body reacts.
Also, be aware of the hidden carbs in sauces and processed products that can sabotage your carb counting. Use an online calculator, like myfitnesspal.com and track all your foods to make sure you are getting enough of the other nutrients.
If you are eating fruits like berries, try to eliminate them for a while and see how your body reacts.
Reason no.5: Cheat Meals
Cheating on a ketogenic diet will take you out of ketosis and cause severe sugar & processed food cravings.
A cheat meal can turn into cheat days fast.
Going back on track brings the keto flu symptoms which are not that pleasant. Who wants headaches, dizziness, and low energy levels?
It will take longer to become fat-adapted and to enjoy all the real benefits of this way of eating.
PS: If you want
Reason no. 6: Too many keto desserts/ low carb treats
Protein bars, shakes, ice-cream, sauces and most pre-packed foods should be used in moderation, as a treat.
More and more products appear under the label of "KETO FRIENDLY," "LOW CARB", "PALEO", but if you take a look at the ingredients list, you will notice that most of them aren't allowed on a keto diet.
Eating them on a daily basis can cause cravings. It would be an impressive thing if you could try to stay away from this kind of snacks and focus on eating real foods like high-quality meats, healthy sources of fat and green vegetables.
Also, take a look at how much you indulge in homemade sweets like low carb pancakes, brownies, cookies, etc.
Reason no. 7: Overeating nuts and dairy
Nuts are packed with a lot of healthy fats and nutrients, for sure.
Nuts taste great, are crunchy, and you may eat a large amount of them without even notice.
The best example it's myself because I can empty a bag of almonds or hazelnuts in no time. And there are more calories and carbs that I would allow myself getting in one day.
Let's not forget to mention how much I love Nut Butters which are easier to overeat too, and they are very calorie dense. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, we're all been there.
Make sure you portion your nuts & cheeses wisely. If you are like me and have no self-control when it comes to nuts, eliminate them from your diet or eat them only on special occasions like when you are in a hurry, or there's nothing else to eat.
Reason no. 8: You are close to your goal weight
You've come a long way, and you are now close to your goal weight. Things get harder as you approach your ideal weight because your body tries to keep you at a healthy weight. I know from my experience that it took forever to lose my last 10 pounds. You should be very careful with your calorie intake so you can create a deficit. Always recalculate your BMR as you are losing weight.
Reason no. 9: Elevated stress levels
Stress is well known for causing many illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. The way you can manage the daily stress can affect your weight loss progress.
To understand how stress is sabotaging your diet we have to learn about cortisol.
What is cortisol?
Cortisol is a hormone made by the adrenal glands. Cortisol has many roles. It helps the body to manage stress. It's a diurnal hormone. That means that there are high levels of cortisol in the morning, and during the day it slowly drops down, so your body can go to sleep at night.
If you are worried that your cortisol levels are too high or too low, you can always ask your doctor for a cortisol test.
The normal values are:
- Adult/Child | Morning | 5-23 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) or 138-635 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L)
- Adult/Child | Afternoon 3-16 mcg/dL or 83-441 nmol/L
Depending on the results, the doctor will tell you if your cortisol levels are an impediment to your weight loss process.
If you feel that coffee is essential for you in the morning to get you going, your cortisol levels are definitely lower than it should be. A small amount of cortisol is released after drinking coffee, which will give energy for the morning. But coffee overstimulates the adrenals, and you become addicted to coffee, needing more and more during the day. Try switching coffee to a cup of green tea.
The main three ways that cortisol affects weight loss abundance of emotional and physical stressors:
- Cortisol makes your cells less responsive. If your body can't receive the signals from insulin, the fat stays trapped in your cells. Also if your body can't receive the signals from leptin, which is the satiety hormone, you will be hungry all the time, and you will need to eat more and more until finally feel full after a meal.
- Cortisol increases inflammation.
- Cortisol interferes with hunger hormones.
Another way the cortisol negatively affects your weight loss is the interference with your hunger hormones: Ghrelin and Leptin. Leptin helps to control appetite. When you're too stressed, leptin levels will drop and will make you hungrier.
Ghrelin is a hormone released anytime you're hungry and has a huge increase when you're under too much pressure. The combo between a lower amount of the hormone Leptin and an increase in the "hunger hormone" Ghrelin causes people to over-eat. As a result, you get to store more fat even you are keeping your meals clean.
There are a few things you can do. Try to relax, do things that your love, read or spend time with your family and friends. You can also try a light form of exercises like brisk walking or jogging. And always be thankful for what you have.
Reason no.10: You're not getting enough sleep:
Poor sleep it's a major stressor that can cause your weight to stall.
You will maximize your results if you sleep at least 8 hours at night. Getting more sleep overall may fix the problem and may help you lose weight.
Reason no.11: Drinking Bulletproof coffee too often
You enjoy your cup of coffee with butter, coconut oil, and cream. I love it too, especially with some cinnamon and vanilla extract. Sounds delicious, right?
This drink is promoted as a breakfast replacement for faster weight-loss. Having multiple cups of keto bulletproof coffee won't help you through the process. Ditch the bulletproof coffee and fat bombs for a while, stay under 20g carbs, and your scale will move in no time.
PS: If you don't want to get so technical with your macros and are still confused about your daily requirements, but want to achieve excellent results, you can consider joining my program Keto For Fat Loss for expert help & daily motivation. This program is designed to you THE FAST RESULTS YOU WANT, REDUCE YOUR BODY FAT, IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL HEALTH & ENERGY LEVELS.
Hope you enjoyed the article and were able to learn something that you can apply to your life.
Do you have any more tips that I forgot to mention? Leave a comment!


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By purchasing, booking, redeeming or participating in a Miny & Mo Limited ("M&M") Experience or by accessing, browsing and using www.minyandmo.co.nz ("the website") you agree to be subject to the following terms and conditions.
1 Returns/Refunds Policy
1.1 An Experience/Gift Card is unused if the Experience has not been booked and participated in before the Expiry Date.
2 Prices
2.1 All prices include Goods and Services Tax at the current rate of 15%.
2.2 All transactions are in New Zealand dollars.
3 Availability
3.1 All M&M Experiences are subject to availability and shall be booked in advance. M&M make no claim or guarantee as to the availability of any Experience.
4 Weather
4.1 Certain Experiences are weather dependant. Do not assume that weather conditions will result in a cancellation of a booked Experience. Always contact the Experience Provider with any questions regarding weather conditions.
5 Cancellations/Re-bookings
5.1 Each individual Experience Supplier's terms and conditions will apply to any cancellations/rebookings.
6 Lost or Stolen [Gift Cards]
6.1 M & M recommends registering gift cards at www.minyandmo.co.nz/register-your-card. Card registration protects the card against theft or loss, as M & M will replace unused registered missing cards.
6.2 M&M will not be responsible for the loss of, or theft of, or damage to any M&M Experience/Gift Card including, but not limited to, as a result of identity theft or fraud.
7 Expiry Date
7.1 M&M's Gift Cards are valid for redemption between the date of issue to Expiry date as set out on the Gift Card. The Expiry Date is the date by which the Experience must be booked and participated in. The Expiry Date is twelve months from the date of issue, except where otherwise expressly stated. To verify the Expiry Date for an Experience or to inquire about extension options visit www.minyandmo.co.nz. It is at M&M's sole discretion whether to grant an extension request.
8 Acceptance of Risk
8.1 You understand and agree that you must evaluate and bear all risk associated with purchasing, redeeming, participating in, or otherwise using any Experience provided through M&M's Gift Box/Website.Without limiting the foregoing, you understand and agree that, depending on the Experience you select, the Experience may include activities with significant safety risks to you. You and any other participants in your Experience represent and warrant that you and they:
a. reasonably anticipate these safety risks and accept them;
b. have had time to consider and review all relevant information regarding participation in the Experience;
c. voluntarily choose to participate in the Experience; and
d. knowingly and voluntarily assume `all risks associated with selection, purchase, redemption, and/or participation in any Experience.
9 Return Policy
9.1 Prior to expiry, M&M will exchange any unused Gift Card for another Gift Card of the same value or with a balance payment, a Gift Card of greater value without question or penalty.
9.2 M&M will refund any unused Gift Card within 30 days of purchase. After 30 days an exchange only is permissable. All refunds will attract a $20 card cancellation fee to be deducted from the refund amount.
9.3 Purchase transactions made on the website can be cancelled without penalty up to one hour after payment receipt notification by telephoning 0800 646 966.
9.4 Cancellations made after one hour from payment reciept notification may be deemed as a refund and as such may incur a $20 card cancellation Fee.
10 Complaints
10.1 You must immediately notify M&M and, if on the day of the event, the Experience Provider, if you have any concerns or complaints regarding an Experience in which you have participated. M&M has no obligation to address complaints or concerns that are not brought to its attention in a timely manner.
10.2 M&M, together with the Experience Provider, will endeavor to resolve any complaints in a fair and timely manner.
11 Delivery times
11.1 The estimated delivery time is 1 to 3 working outside of peak trading, otherwise 2 to 4 working days. For same day service, the order needs to be completed before midday and the purchaser needs to contact M & M for price and availability.
11.2 M & M will contact purchasers if there are any delays expected beyond the usual delivery times if contact details have been provided with the order. If the delay is unacceptable to the purchaser, a refund will be offered.
12 Availability
12.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected. The failure of you or M&M to enforce any of the provisions of these Terms and Conditions shall not be construed to be a waiver of such provision or the right of you or M&M to enforce such provisions in the future. M&M disclaims all responsibility for any errors stated herein, on the the website, or in any other documentation or other information provided by M&M or an Experience Provider.
12.2 These terms and conditions are governed in all respects by the laws of New Zealand.
12.3 The name of Miny & Mo Limited will show on the purchaser's bank statement.
12.4 M & M's address for notices and service is Level 4, 2-8 Chancery Street, Auckland, 1010.
12.5 M & M is a New Zealand owned business and all transactions are in New Zealand dollars.


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6.1 Abiotic stresses
6.1.1 Nutrient stressThe cultivation of sugarcane relies on the extensive use of fertilizers. It has been estimated that a crop of 74 tons of cane ha-1 removes 107 kg nitrogen, 60 kg phosphorus oxide and 300 kg potassium oxide ha-1 (Purseglove 1972). The sugarcane plant requires nitrogen for optimum development for yield and sugar content of the canes. Symptoms of nitrogen deficiency are thin, stunted stalks, yellowing leaves with necrosis at the edge and tips and reduced root mass (Calcino et al. 2000). However, excess nitrogen can prolong the crop maturation, resulting in a plant with an excessive leafy canopy, which in turn can make the plant more susceptible to leaf diseases and attack by pests (Bakker 1999). It can also cause excess growth with little storage of sucrose (Irvine 2004).
Phosphorus is required for optimum growth. Deficiencies may manifest in plants with short, thin stalks and stools with a low number of primary stalks, a poorly developed root system and sometimes leaves that are green-blue in colour. Conversely, an excess of phosphorus can lead to a deficiency of other trace elements such as zinc and iron, thus reducing sugar yields (Bakker 1999).
Potassium is required for many physiological processes. It helps to promote the formation and translocation of sugars, and thus may improve the extraction and purity of the cane juice. Supplementing sugarcane plants that are exposed to excessive nitrogen with potassium can alleviate the symptoms of over-supply of nitrogen. Potassium deficiency results in depressed growth, thin stalks and yellowing of the older leaves with chlorotic spots and ultimately death of the leaf (Bakker 1999). Potassium may also play a role in the ability of sugarcane to withstand dry conditions (Wood & Schroeder 2004). An excess of potassium increases the ash content of sugarcane juice and reduces the recovery of sugar, and, as with phosphorus, it may also lead to a deficiency of other trace elements (Calcino 1994).
Calcium is an important element for plant growth and also a regulator of soil acidity. A deficiency in calcium results in leaf chlorosis and reduced stem diameter. Increasing soil acidity, often due to lime application, can result in an increased fixation of phosphorus, aluminium, iron, manganese and nickel, which may lead to toxicity (Bakker 1999).
Magnesium is important for photosynthesis, being required for chlorophyll function, and is responsible for the green colour in the leaves (it absorbs the blue and red light spectrum). Deficiencies result in leaf chlorosis and stalks of reduced diameter with internal browning (Bakker 1999). Magnesium is usually abundant in Australian soils, although it may become depleted in old canegrowing soils (Calcino 1994).
Other micro element requirements include sulphur, iron, aluminium, zinc, copper, boron, silicon, molybdenum and manganese. Both deficiencies and toxicity to these elements can occur, resulting in symptoms such as reduced growth, reduced root development and a reduction in photosynthesis (Bakker 1999).
6.1.2 Temperature stressLow temperatures
Sugarcane cultivars differ in their degree of temperature sensitivity but in general sett germination is slow at soil temperatures below 18�C and the setts may succumb to attack by fungal pathogens before they germinate. Sett germination is increasingly rapid up to about 35�C (Bull 2000).
Experiments have shown that sugarcane plants grow more slowly and have fewer, shorter internodes and fewer leaves at 15�C than when grown at 27�C. The low temperatures also inhibited sucrose export from the leaves to the stalk so the leaves accumulated sugar and starch (Ebrahim et al. 1998).
Flowering is also affected by low temperatures. Cool night temperatures, high day temperatures and lack of moisture interfere with both flower initiation and sucrose accumulation. Temperatures below 18.3�C are non-inductive for flower development (Coleman 1963). In temperate South Africa, pollen fertility has been shown to be limited at temperatures below 21�C (Brett (1952) as cited in Berding 1981). In Meringa, in QLD, artificially increasing the night-time temperature of sugarcane plants to 22–23�C led to increased and earlier flowering (Berding 1981). Experiments have also shown that heated pollen lanterns, used for crossing, can increase seed setting, due to improved fertilisation and embryo development (Berding & Skinner 1980).
Preliminary data from on-going experiments has shown that seed germination is reduced by 60% at temperatures below 30�C (Powell et al. 2008).
Sugarcane is susceptible to frost damage (Griffee 2000). Freezing reduces yields by delaying crop development in spring and by terminating sugar accumulation in autumn (Moore 1987). In northern NSW about a third of the cane is affected by frost, leading to yield losses of 10–30% annually. Frosts may also affect production in southern QLD and limit the growth of sugarcane in southern regions of Australia (Weaich et al. 1993). The degree of damage varies with the severity of the frost. Leaf browning occurs at temperatures from 0 to -2�C, with temperatures down to - 4�C causing damage to terminal and lateral buds and death of some young internodes. Temperatures as low as -11�C can cause freezing and subsequent cracking of entire stalks. The cracks or damaged buds can allow entry of anaerobic bacteria such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides which can replicate in the damaged tissues and produce dextran. Dextran reduces the sucrose yield at the mill by preventing the crystallisation of sucrose (Irvine 2004). Frost damage varies between sugarcane cultivars, and this is thought to be due to differences in tolerance, rather than differences in morphology which might protect against frosts (avoidance) (Weaich et al. 1993). Management practices, such as retention of a trash blanket increases the susceptibility to frost by preventing radiation of warm air from the soil (Kingston 2000).
Hot temperatures
Sugarcane can survive temperatures as high as 45�C, or higher for short periods of time but growth slows at temperatures above 40�C (Moore 1987). However, in Iran sugarcane is grown in the Hapft Tappeh region where the average temperature over the summer months is 45.8 �C (Sund & Clements 1974). Sugarcane grown in the Ord River region of WA, which has a mean November temperatures of 39.4�C Bureau of Meterology accessed 17 Sept 2010, has a lower sucrose content than that grown in cooler regions (Bonnett et al. 2006). Sugarcane exposed to temperatures between 25–38�C had a larger number of shorter internodes which contained lower sucrose levels than similar sugarcane plants grown at 23–33�C (Bonnett et al. 2006). High daytime temperatures (above 31�C) may also inhibit flowering, and very high temperatures at anthesis may reduce seed set. However, it has been suggested that these responses to high temperatures may be due to a water stress effect (as discussed in Moore & Nuss 1987).
6.1.3 Water stressSugarcane is relatively drought resistant but water stress results in a reduction of sugar production (FAO 2004). It is estimated that irrigation can add 3 t sugar ha-1, a figure modelled on an average irrigation of 500 mm (Meyer 1997). Sett germination does not occur in dry soil (Smit 2011). Sugarcane flowering is also reduced by water stress (Moore & Nuss 1987) with watered crops showing a greater number of panicles and a higher percentage of plants flowering (Berding 1995).
6.1.4 Other abiotic stressesFire
Fires do not generally kill sugarcane plants, in fact fire may be used to facilitate easier harvesting. It does not destroy the suckers and the plant will subsequently shoot from the nodes or regrow from the stools (FAO 2004).
Sugarcane plants can withstand short periods of flooding (FAO 2004). After four days the growing point of the sugarcane plant will die, but it may continue to grow from side shoots once the water has receded (BSES Ltd 2008a). Generally yield loss will be 15–20% after five days submergence, 30–60% yield loss after ten days and 37–100% after fifteen days, but this depends on the height of the stalks, with younger cane being more affected than those at 2.5 m tall (BSES Ltd 2008a). Prolonged periods of waterlogging will result in a decline in sugar content (FAO 2004). Waterlogging also results in cooler soil temperatures so germination of setts will be slower and losses from disease may be higher (Ridge & Reghenzani 2000).
Sugarcane can be grown in a range of altitudes from just above sea level to as high as 3000 m above sea level (FAO 2004).
High winds, especially when combined with heavy rain, can lead to lodging of cane stalks in the field. This leads to problems with harvesting, reduced cane yield and reduced CCS. In northern QLD (an area of high rainfall) a 15–35% decrease in sugar yields have been recorded in a lodged crop compared to an unaffected crop (Singh et al. 2000; Singh et al. 2002). This may be due to rat damage, suckering, and stalk and stool death following lodging (Inman-Bamber et al. 2008).
Soil pH
Sugarcane prefers a soil pH of 5.0–5�.8, although it will tolerate between pH 4�–10 (Fauconnier 1993).
Salt tolerance
Sugarcane is sensitive to soil salinity. It has been estimated that it will show no reduction of growth in soil with salinity up to 1.1 decisiemens per metre (dS m-1) and a 10% growth reduction at 2.2 dS m-1 (Evans 2006). Sugarcane production is not economic in areas with soil salinity above 4.0 dS m-1 (Rozeff 1995). It has been further estimated that 10% of the area under sugarcane cultivation in Australia is affected by salinity (Christiansen 2000). Field studies in the Burdekin region showed a negative correlation between cane yield and soil salinity, and showed yield reductions even at salinity levels usually considered too low to be detrimental (Nelson & Ham 1998). It was estimated that for the Burdekin area, there is a 14% decrease in yield for every 1 unit increase in ECe (saturation extract electrical conductivity) of the 0–�0.5 m depth soil layer (Nelson & Ham 2000). Salinity affects both growth rate and yield of sugarcane, but also the sucrose content of the stalk (Rozeff 1995). Shoot growth has been shown to reduce, although the severity varies between cultivars (Akhtar et al. 2001b), and root growth may be stimulated by increased salinity (Gerard 1978). High salinity has been shown to reduce stalk height and weight, due to reduction in both the number of internodes and the internode length, but not the number of stalks, and may be related to reduced water content (Lingle et al. 2000; Akhtar et al. 2001a). Different life stages may have different sensitivities to salinity, with seed germination showing the least sensitivity (Wahid et al. 1997). In experiments under saline conditions, ratoon crops have shown 2.2–3.7 times greater yield loss compared to plant crops (Bernstein et al. 1966). The addition of potassium and silicon have been shown to help ameliorate the decreases in plant growth and juice quality caused by salinity, and actually have more effect on salt sensitive genotypes compared to salt tolerant genotypes (Ashraf et al. 2009).
Aluminium tolerance
High aluminium levels are associated with acid soils, and aluminium toxicity can cause a major reduction in yield in many crops (Delhaize & Ryan 1995). Sugarcane is relatively tolerant of high aluminium levels, although differences in tolerance have been seen between cultivars (Hetherington et al. 1986). Cultivars of the S. officinarum parent species generally have higher levels of tolerance than the S. spontaneum parent species (Landell (1989) as cited in Drummond et al. 2001). In an experiment comparing the aluminium tolerances of sugarcane, navybeans, soybeans and maize, which may be grown in rotation with sugarcane, the sugarcane cultivars showed the greatest tolerance. The concentration of aluminium which led to a 10% reduction in root growth were up to ten-fold higher for sugarcane than the other crops tested (Hetherington et al. 1988). Symptoms of toxicity include root stubbing, which leads to susceptibility to water stress and yield loss (Calcino 1994).
Other metals
Sugarcane has been shown to tolerate up to 100 μM copper in laboratory experiments (Sereno et al. 2007). Tolerance to cadmium is higher, with laboratory experiments showing no toxicity at 500 μM cadmium (the highest concentration tested). Plant damage was seen in other experiments at 2 mM cadmium (Fornazier et al. 2002). The high tolerance to cadmium, and the observation that the sugarcane plants can accumulate cadmium have suggested its use in phytoremediation (Sereno et al. 2007).


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Day 1: Monday, May 23 1977
The checking-in booths at Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport seemed unusually crowded on that sunny morning when our intrepid party gathered to 'vene, vide', and if possible, 'vici' in Rome.
Our group included a few journalists, a small number of sight-seers who wanted to visit Italy on the cheap (?), but the majority were your true dyed-in-the-wool Liverpool fans.
They would have made the pilgrimage if the game was scheduled to take place in Outer Mongolia or the dullest industrial city in Western Europe. It later transpired that the crowd of ladies, who so staunchly occupied the best places in that queue, and later on the Jumbo jet, were nurses of indeterminate age, on their way to a convention in Hong Kong. They were charming to me - or rather to my judiciously selected 'World of Sport' tie, but were rather haughty and condescending towards the Liverpool fans. "Do we have to put up with this drunken, unruly mob?" was the unspoken, but clearly discernible question on their apron-starched-hard lips. The mere fact that the lads behaved, impeccably, had no relevance to their prejudice which was originated from the casual reading of bloodthirsty headlines in their local papers. I realised for the first time that English football fans 'Mark 1977' are a persecuted race. Like an ethnic minority, they are judged by their very worst representatives. Generalised condemnations confront them, and their own supposed ignorance is no greater than that of their critics.
This impression was confirmed, when on arrival, we boarded our air-conditioned coaches, only to be given a lecture by our English courier. Worthy gent, as he is, he assured us that he had signed a declaration on our behalf, which had been handed over to the Roman Police. In it, he promised that we will not defile the sanctity of the Vatican, get drunk and roll down the Spanish Steps, violate the serving wenches in the hostelries, and most of all, will not reduce the Olympic Stadium to ashes and dust. He also told us that the Italians hate the English, and that we had better be at our seats early, because "here, they do not have much respect for tickets." Prejudices, oh, damned prejudices!
Firstly, the Italians do not hate the English or anybody else in such idiotic 'wholesale' terms. If anything, they dislike each other – the Milanese do not care for the Venetians, etc. In this beautiful city, where the phrase 'panem et circenses' was invented, the wise ones knew, that when the 'panem' became harder to earn, the 'circus' had to play an even bigger part in the life of their people. I felt sure that the 'Open City', which withstood the ravages of history, Nero, Caligula and even Mussolini, would be able to put up with the excesses of a few thousand basically well-intentioned 'scouses' from Mersey-land. Although as we passed the Coliseum, someone inevitably remarked that Manchester United must have played there recently.
Day 2: Tuesday, May 24, 1977
A cut-price trip to Naples, Capri and Sorrento. Some of the lads are on the coach. Others prefer to go to the Railway Station to greet the newcomers (after all, they haven't seen a fellow Liverpool fan for two whole days), or to the Holiday Inn where the team are staying, to pass on last minute messages of goodwill and some unsolicited tactical advice. Our trip is quite hilarious, with an Italian guide whose elongated "Hell-o-o-o" and mincing walk reminded us of Danny La Rue. He describes the Bay of Naples as "quite nice", and a spaghetti factory as "beautiful".
The startled look of the waiter in Capri clearly shows that he has never served a red-and-white totem pole before. Especially not one who wore a British flag on his back, and had his chest tattooed with such sage observations as "Joey Jones is the greatest". But the population of Sorrento weren't unduly concerned when they were told that "Everton are tragic", and when a typically 'well-proportioned' Italian Mama marched past us with her five children and got a chorus of "You'll never walk alone", I began to feel' sorry for the Germans. How can Moenchengladbach win a match when their opponents are backed by such an irresistible bunch of good-humoured lunatics?
Of course, the forthcoming match was the main topic of conversation. They all felt sorry for Toshack for missing the game of a lifetime, and they all loved Jones, whom they regarded as one of them - a mad Kopite, fallible, over-enthusiastic, but essentially reliable. "He would die for you" I was told time and again. Who could ask for more?
Skill? It does not come into it. Curiously, the eventual result didn't worry them over much. Hungarians, Spaniards etc. would have been concerned only about winning first, and playing well as a bonus. But these Liverpudlians, and for that matter, most English fans, have a more stoical approach. "Che serra, serra - whatever will be, will be" is their admirable philosophy. To be in the Final enough for them. As long as the 'Reds' do their best tomorrow in that massive Stadium on the bank of the Tiber, their fans will be happy.
Day 3: Wednesday, May 25, 1977
A day to be a professional. The parting of the ways sends my mates and 20,000 others on to the terraces with their brand-new chequered tablecloth-like flags - marking 'the finishing line' of a momentous season for Liverpool Football Club. I dutifully attend the usual UEFA Press Conference.
Un-asked questions in the back of our minds dominate the proceedings, which amicably drown on until the iced Campari's are served. Perhaps the one noteworthy notion that emerged from the Conference was UEFA's insistence that the field of the 1982 World Cup should stay at 16. They oppose the increase of numbers, because this would make the tournament too long, the qualifying competition less competitive (therefore less lucrative). In any case, it can be taken for granted that the UEFA v FIFA behind-the-scenes battle has been won by the Europeans for the time being anyway.
Late afternoon, I set out to find the offices of the Italian F.A. to collect my Press ticket. The hotel clerk tells me that it's at a walking distance, all I have to do is to turn right, then the third on the on the left, and at the traffic lights. Tums out to be a hopeless task, and I soon discover that Romans know their own town even less than Londoners do theirs. Finally, after passing the same unshaven newspaper vendor seven times, a lady with a rather badly trained dog comes to my rescue and leads me into a doorway. It is guarded by a woman dressed in black (Anna Magnani's mother?), who nods happily, "Si, si, calcio!" But upstairs I find only two commissionaires playing cards - and the notice on the wall bears the legend, 'Ladies' Football Association!
At the ground Bill Shankly, like Hannibal, is 'ante portas' - he is waiting outside the gates because he hasn't got a ticket! This is the man who made Liverpool one of the greatest clubs in Europe, and in their finest hour, he had to wait for a journalist to go in and fetch a pass for him. (In a country where they have no regard for tickets?) I do not wish to imply that this momentary indignity was Liverpool's fault. Indeed, Secretary Peter Robinson is a thoughtful, kind efficient man, and he did absolutely everything humanly possible to make the occasion entirely trouble free.
It must be said that the Roman Police somewhat over-reacted to the threat posed by the exuberant Liverpool fans. The thick black line of uniformed might, reinforced by fierce dogs straining at the leash surrounding the pitch, wasn't a pretty sight. Herding the supporters out of the ground after the match like cattle was also totally unnecessary. But to be fair, who can foretell the correct balance between 'adequate' and 'provocative' policing of a crowd?
The match is ancient history by now. Suffice to say that Liverpool were tactically brilliant, and the Germans did everything wrong. Apart from that excellent Simonson goal and the run by Stielike, which brought out a world-class save from Clemence, they were slow, hesitant, even over-anxious. When Liverpool's back-four or midfield men had the ball, they were given time to dwell on it (have you ever seen Hughes walking?), but when Moenchengladbach were in possession, they were pressurised by the English players, who found some reserve energy despite the heat and humidity.
Goalkeeper Kneiband, full-back Klinkhammer were the main culprits you cannot win the European Cup with such third-rate footballers in your side. Kevin Keegan, who has never played better, and is sure to become the next 'European Footballer of the Year', handled the after match Press conference just as well as he did Bertie Vogts during the game.
An example: Question by an Italian. "Why can't you play as well as that for England?" Keegan: "It is much easier to play well for my club side with players I am used to playing with. I know exactly what I have to do. England have had too many changes recently, it is very difficult to play well in the present national side." Another question: "What did you think of the referee?" Keegan: "Well ..." At that point, UEFA Press Officer, Rudolph Rothenbuhler stepped in, and said that questions concerning the referee were forbidden! Why, I wonder?
After the game, I was invited to travel back to the hotel (and the party) on the team's coach. There we were with the European Cup safely locked-up in the boot, but the players were surprisingly subdued. "We have to do better next season!" said Ray Kennedy. "Yes, we've got to win the League Cup!" came Steve Heighway's rejoinder. Perhaps not very funny, but this 'exchange' demonstrated the realistic views of the pros in general, and the insatiable appetite for success of the Liverpool players in particular.
Day 4: Thursday, May 26, 1977
Back in the hotel, the fans, who were truly magnificent, are looking at the reviews of the match. They are mainly concerned about their own performance - whether they get a mention or not in the popular English dailies. "We have done as much as the team. We have spent our money, we behaved ourselves. We want some recognition!" was their perhaps understandable attitude. Frank McGee did them proud in the 'Mirror', and the paper is passed from hand to hand, the relevant passages underlined - with a red biro, naturally.
During my afternoon stroll, I see a large crowd around the famous Fontana De Trevi. Fully clothed Liverpool fans are jumping in - celebrating or looking for coins? Their dry (outside) friend sings "Three nutters in the fountain", while the American tourists click their cameras in bewilderment.
Then the trip home - without the two guys who went missing, and the other two who lost their passports. The plane is waiting to take-off. Suddenly the door flies open, and Tony, the biggest drinker, the most wholehearted supporter, staggers in. "Sit down, sir'' lisps the pretty Japanese air stewardess. "No, luv", says Tony, "I'd rather stand. I've got to be at work at 9 o'clock."
Arrividerci, Roma…
This article originally appeared in the July 1977 edition of World Soccer Magazine. You can subscribe for a ridiculously low sum by clicking here.


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Happiness (or not) after rape: hysterics and harpies in the media versus killjoys in black women's fiction
This paper argues that Sara Ahmed's theorizing of the feminist killjoy is very relevant to the treatment of the rape victim in public discourse. The analysis draws on Ahmed's categorization of different kinds of killjoys to consider how, in media representations, rape victims are confronted with particularly reductive and simplistic happiness scripts. These scripts present victims as being unreliable, because they are seen as irrevocably harmed, or they supposedly cause their own unhappiness with their refusal to move on from the pain of their experiences. Having established the ambivalences of the media framing of rape survivors, fictional representations reveal the true complexities of happiness for rape survivors in the discussion of two novels: The Color Purple by Alice Walker (born 1944) and Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat (born 1969). Walker and Danticat emphasize that heteronormative scripts of happiness are inadequate in such cases, and that survivors must be allowed the right to be unhappy in a quest for justice. Ultimately, a more complex understanding of happiness admits that while the process of healing is not necessarily simple or swift for victims, there are possibilities for joy beyond normative understandings of what contentment might mean. [Access the full article at the website for The Journal of Gender Studies.]
Beyond Symbolic Rape: The Insidious Trauma of Conquest in Marguerite Duras's The Lover and Eileen Chang's "Lust, Caution"
This article contrasts two visions of trauma: a symbolic imaginary on film where women's violated bodies stand in for philosophical ideas about sex, violence, and politics; and a more complex literary imaginary using what Ann Cvetkovich calls an "archive of trauma." The starting point for discussion is troubling representations of women on film; The Lover (1992, dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud) and Lust, Caution (2007, dir. Ang Lee) both portray their heroines falling in love with their abusers, men whose shame and vulnerability are expressed through a symbolic rape. Rather than dwelling on this dubious aspect of the films, the main discussion returns to the more nuanced view of trauma in the source texts: The Lover (1984) by Marguerite Duras (1914–1996) and "Lust, Caution" (1979) by Eileen Chang (Zhang Ailing) (1920–1995), neither of which include sexual violence in an obvious way. Duras's traumatic portrait of French colonialism and Chang's sinister portrayal of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai refuse symbolic rape as shorthand for conquest. Instead, these stories present an archive of trauma through a series of objects that represent emotional value, and provoke affective responses. Duras and Chang lament what Cvetkovich labels "insidious" or everyday trauma—the impossible histories—carried by women as a result of colonialism and war. [Access the full article at the website for Feminist Formations.]
Breaking the Bonds of Domination: Embodied Heroines, Rape Culture and Possibilities of Resistance in Short Stories by Isabel Allende and Rosario Castellanos
This article explores representations of rape culture in short stories by two iconic Latin American women writers: 'Fleeting Friendships' and 'Cooking Lesson' by Rosario Castellanos (1925–74); and 'Revenge' and 'The Judge's Wife' by Isabel Allende (born 1942). Though Castellanos and Allende have different theoretical and stylistic approaches, both writers initially present uncomfortable pictures of women's disempowerment and sexuality. This, however, unease with women's sexual agency interrogates, challenges, and ultimately subverts the rape script. To address the question of whether the heroines of the stories comply or resist sexual domination and violence, two related feminist theories of intersubjectivity and embodiment frame the analysis: Jessica Benjamin's intersubjective space and Ann Cahill's theory of intersubjectivity and embodiment. [Access the full article at the website for Contemporary Women's Writing.]
The Life and Death of Language: A Kristevan Reading of the Poets Gwyneth Lewis and Medbh McGuckian
This reading of Gwyneth Lewis (born 1959) and Medbh McGuckian (born 1950) considers language and identity through the frame of Julia Kristeva's ideas about foreignness, strangeness and abjection. For Lewis, the focus is the loss of Cymraeg (the Welsh language), while McGuckian's key poems present lost languages and minor modes of speaking… [Read the full abstract for this article on Academia.edu or access it on the Orbis Litterarum website.]
Confessing the Secrets of Others: Pascale Petit's Poetic Employment of Latin American Cultures and the Mexican Artist, Frida Kahlo
In her 2001 collection, The Zoo Father, the poet Pascale Petit (born 1953) directs her words to her abusive and neglectful father. In one particular poem from this volume, entitled 'The Fish Daughter', she is moved to reflect upon the power and effect of these words: "You could make a rasp / from the teeth on my tongue, / with the things I'm saying, / and grate the past with it. / I open my cavernous mouth / so you can see how everything / is toothed: my jaws, / palate, pharynx . . ." (11.6-13)The power of speaking is reified in this poem, as the tongue becomes a tool for shaping wood that can obliterate the past suffering. [Read the full article online on the Journal for International Women's Studies.]


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I've noticed a pattern in my literature preferences lately. Each book that I read and love exceeds the one before in brutality and violence. And I just can't get enough! First I read The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, which is a post-apocalypic and dystopian series for teens that is so clever and creepy and unique, I never could have come up with his ideas in a million years. Then I read The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness, a teen dystopian series about human life on a different planet. The corruption in this series, namely caused by the Mayor and his supporters, is just the most fascinating and frustrating thing you can imagine. And I love it.
Now, I'm reading the Escape from Furnace series by Alexander Gordon Smith. I read the first book, Lockdown, and I'm about halfway through the second, Solitary. This series isn't so much a dystopian as it is a horror/thriller. But it has some of the most creepy creatures, brutal practices, and gruesome settings that I've ever seen in teen lit. My 18 year old cousin was never much of a reader. Nothing was ever fast-paced or well-written enough to capture his attention. But this series did. He called me up one night after finishing the first book hoping (with desperation in his voice) that I had the second. I didn't at the time. But after hearing his eagerness, I knew this was something I would like. So I went out and bought both books, and I honestly can't get enough.
Furnace Peneteniary is a prison for troubled youth, built in the depths of the Earth. It was created after the Summer of Slaughter, when teens went on a murderous rampage. After that horrible season, people were quick to get rid of the troubled youth, even if they were innocent.
Alex, the protagonist, fell into the wrong group of friends and began stealing from kids at school and breaking into houses. But one night, he and his friend Toby discovered that they weren't alone in the house they were robbing. A handful of Blacksuits, massive men with bulgding muscles, along with a small man wearing a gas mask, showed up and framed Alex for murder. Despite his denial during his trail, Alex was sent to Furnace with no possibility of parole. His life might as well have been over.
They say "beneath Heaven is Hell and beneath Hell is Furnance" and I have no doubt that that's true. Furnace makes regular prison look like a day at the spa. I don't want to get into any of the gory, ruthless details, but I will say this. What goes on down there is horrifyingly brilliant: horrifying for the prisioners, brilliant for the readers! So if you like horror novels, or even if you like the first two series' I mentioned above, you will love this series. Love, love, love.


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Every once in a long while I'll write about Flood insurance–subsequent, usually, to either a flood of great proportion or another government attempt to fund an existing or potential deficit. This time, Harvey in Texas and Irma rapidly approaching from the Atlantic, provide impetus on both fronts. [Read more…]
FLOOD…A Carrot & A Stick!
PUBLIC ADJUSTERS…On the Attack!
There's been much ado between public adjusters and insurers of late. PA's don't like managed repair programs (MRP's). Insurance companies do like them–a lot–especially in Florida.
Sparring was ignited by an op-ed from the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) that was highly critical of MRP's and which, in typical PA fashion, also bad-mouthed insurers. [Read more…]
Assignment of Benefits–The Bone Dry Rebuttal!
Most of us know what happened to AOB reform bills during this year's regular session. Meaningful, helpful, changes were approved in the house. However, fearing the senate might follow suit, two trial lawyers—Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami) and Sen. Gary Farmer (D-Ft. Lauderdale) teamed to shut down the companion bill by Senator Dorothy Hukill (R-Port Orange) and Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples). No senate vote. Not even a debate.
Oh well! [Read more…]
AOB… Lawmakers need to solve the problem!
Someone's been brewing the stew. Since lawmakers came to town nearly 70 articles and/or editorials favorable to reforming Assignment of Benefits (AOB) have appeared in the mainstream. Recently, others have popped up including radio ads, YouTube video's and more.
And, they all blame the abuse on 3rd party vendors and their trial attorneys. [Read more…]
Gottlieb's Golden Goose!!
While studying for his law degree Californian Kenneth Gottlieb (not to be confused with former Representative and current Circuit Judge Ken Gottlieb of Florida) often bragged to fellow students that he would put his diploma to a somewhat unusual purpose. He would avoid the typical, reputedly lucrative fields: medical malpractice, contract law, Real Estate or administrative law. He'd focus instead on the most profitable specialty of all.
His career, indeed his life plan, would be to commit insurance fraud–as diabolically and as often as he possibly could.
Shamelessly he opined to all who would listen that he could so abundantly profit stealing from insurers, and do so quickly enough, that the wealth he would amass before being apprehended would far exceed the meager penalties doled out for insurance fraud. [Read more…]
Assignment of Benefits—It's the data stupid!
When it comes to legislative reforms of Assignment of Benefits (AOB), everyone attending the Florida Chamber of Commerce's Miami Insurance Summit noticed a brighter light at the end of a shortening tunnel.
Despite distractions of Workers Compensation and the potential repeal of No-Fault (PIP), AOB stole the Miami show; including noted reform endorsements from Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Atwater and Insurance Commissioner, David Altmaier and others.
Even unrelated panels and/or presentations morphed, to one degree or another, into an AOB discussion. Including one noteworthy collection of media experts proving some in the mainstream have firmed their grip on the problem. The Chamber's newest video is a composite of a few TV expose's revealing the need for reform. Check it out. It's a good one. [Read more…]
Attorney Fees, AOB reforms & AOC!
I heard a commercial on my car radio by John Morgan of Morgan & Morgan. I'm pretty sure I got it exactly right. Without a scintilla of equivocation, he affirmatively stated as fact… "Insurance companies are our enemy and they are your enemy. Do not trust anything they do or say!"
While thinking he likely trusts insurance companies enough to pay premiums for the protection of his home and business, I also thought of the response those he insulted might render. I knew there would be none—it's the lack of fear that there would be any consequence whatsoever that creates the necessary hutzpah to say such a thing on the open air. [Read more…]
Bad Apple Attorneys!
This post is about the bad apples who employ every delay tactic they can, including lying to a court, to force settlements under Florida's one-way attorney fee statute–avoiding actually having to "lawyer" a case to court. [Read more…]
Assignment of Benefits— Lawyers "lie to court"
You've read my past opinions on the reprimands judges have given to some Florida plaintiff's attorneys. In describing their bad behavior court documents contain phrases like "trifled with the justice system" and the words "perpetrated", "fraud" or "deception" –all to describe trial attorneys and firms doing what they too often accuse insurers of doing; "acting in Bad Faith."
Nothing confirms bad faith by some plaintiff firms and their complicity with public adjusters more than the recent case of Auto Owners vs. Summit Townhomes—a Colorado suit involving one of Florida's leading lawsuit mills, the Merlin Law Group. (See Note #1 below) [Read more…]
The War Against Managed Repair!
While I write these words millions of homeowners are still mopping up after Hurricane Matthew. Some have lost their homes. Others their lives. Concomitantly, after meticulously implementing their Cat Plans, Florida insurers, agents and emergency personnel of every breed worked, literally 24/7, to return property and persons to pre-storm condition. (See Note #1 below)
Shameful that too many responders are of a different persuasion–Matthew is to them, what the civil war was to carpetbaggers—a disgraceful occasion to profit.
Always in the name of consumers! [Read more…]