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By Mark Hall, Guest Blogger. An e-commerce and Customer Research Expert who has consulted for over 20 years with a wide range of clients including AT&T, American Express, Edmunds, SpyTec and the California Lottery. When not working, Mark enjoys playing saxophone, mountain biking and reading biographies.
As any seasoned professional knows - whether a carpenter or a digital creative - your daily work is part procedural and part art. In this article I focus on the 'art part' of user testing; I offer seven tips for creating user test prototypes that will give you the feedback you need while keeping you on time and budget.
All too often over the years I've seen prototypes that are bloated and unfocused. As you plan the objectives and scope of your user test, your first question should always be, 'What am I most seeking to assess?' If you're redesigning a content-rich site, your users will need to clearly understand where they are as they do their tasks; contextual clarity will be key. So you'll need a broad-oriented test to assess navigation structure and sectional page layouts. On the other hand, if you're testing a learning application or an e-commerce checkout flow, you'll most want to assess task completion, and expose interaction-level issues. For this, you should design a conversion or workflow-oriented usability test.
Clearly your test scenario, tasks and questions all need to connect to your test objectives. So be crystal clear on those first. If you try to gather every possible type of UX feedback in a single test, bad things will happen, such as: your prototype will grow awkward in size and scope, your list of tasks will get long, and your sessions will run too long.
User test guru Jakob Nielsen's mantra, 'test early and often,' is as applicable today as it was fifteen years ago. So if you're not already running tests with 10 or fewer users, and doing multiple rounds, you should start doing so now, so that your prototype designs can 'fail fast,' allowing your production designs to thrive.
At the risk of sounding 'duh' obvious, I first want to emphasize that you need to test the actual user experience 'real estate' that's most pertinent to your website visitors. If 60% of your traffic is from smartphones users, and growing every week, you shouldn't test a desktop-sized prototype. Similarly, if you're creative team is designing an application that will only be used on laptops or larger devices, you should user test your design on a laptop viewport (screen resolutions), and make sure the UI elements remain intuitive as the screen size expands.
In some cases you may need to test with multiple viewport sizes: most typical smartphone (iPhone 7 or Samsung S6), a tablet (iPad or equivalent), or on a desktop. Only by getting this cross-device feedback will you know if the design is on track as future users move through the entire online journey.
Find your most common screen sizes by checking your Google Analytics account in the 'Audiences > Devices' section. Also be sure to adjust your prototype interactions based on the user experience guidelines published for each primary device you're design is targeting. You can find these on each brand's websites (e.g. search for 'iOS user experience guidelines' or 'Android user experience guidelines).
If you're both a research analyst and a designer, I know you want your prototype to be a thing of beauty - to show off its perfect, Photoshopped face to the world. But often a high fidelity design isn't the way to go when your design is in the evaluation phase. No, it's better to keep the design medium fidelity at most, or even a little 'sketchy'. In fact, the wireframing and prototyping tool Balsamiq has an option called 'sketch' for the Skin setting. Clicking this option gives your page borders and internal panels borders a hand-drawn look. Best of all, you'll likely find (as I have) that the rougher edges encourage your users to be more open and honest with their comments.
Here's the only time I can think of when it doesn't make sense to make your wireframes sketchy: when you're user testing a branded sales experience or a high-end consumer application. In these cases it's important to get users' perceptions of your visual design, and how details like the typography, line weights and gradients affect their trust in the brand and user experience. So in these cases higher-fidelity visual composites make sense.
Another thing to remember: 90% of the time your prototype is 'throw away' code. None of the HTML used in your prototype (unless it's for the actual site or application on your development server) will end up in the production environment. So focus your time in the 'visual editor' mode, where you don't have to worry about writing well-formed HTML code.
You don't always have to create a fully interactive prototype from scratch. Instead, for many early-design-phase tests, it's most expedient to just 'hook together' some screen images to simulate the behavior of an interactive prototype. This is what I call the 'clickable image map' method.
Here's how to do it:
In most cases you'll have a fully working prototype in 2 hours or less!
True, this method doesn't work in cases when you need to include the detailed interactions of a depth-oriented workflow. Or if you're working with users with little imagination, who get confused when nothing happens when they click in 'dead' areas (you can reduce this potential confusion, of course, by explaining this limitation during your test introduction). So use this method only for early-design-phase UX tests.
When seeking feedback on visual treatments, with the exception of highly branded sales experiences, you should test grayscale wireframes separately from your visual designs.
It may sound 'old school' to separate aesthetics from function, but I've found that doing so is very beneficial since:
That said, here's how I recommend collecting visual design feedback during a test. First, complete the task-based portion of the test. Then, after following up on usability issues, toss two or three visual composites in front of the user. Ask the user which one he prefers, and why. Granted, these comments are highly subjective, but after 5 or so participants you'll get a good sense of which design is most appealing and suitable for the site or application you're creating.
As Don Norman says in his book, Emotional Design, designs appeal to users on three levels: visceral ('gut' reactions), behavioral (interaction intuitiveness) and reflective (looking back). All designs should provide a strong behavioral experience - that's usability, the 'can do' part. For most designs, though, you should also capture feedback on the visceral level during testing - to gauge the motivational, or 'will do' part the design. (Reflective reactions are harder to gauge during user tests since they happen at a later time, and are influenced by users' broader experiences.)
To get affect, or emotional, feedback, first focus on establishing a good rapport with your test participants. During the test introduction, clearly communicate that this is a place where it's safe to share feelings. Think of the most attentive, caring conversationalist you know and you'll be on the right track.
Another great way to collect affect data: create a sheet that shows a wide range of facial expressions, characterizing the top 30 or so human emotions. During the test, tell the participant to circle the emoticon that captures their feeling at that point in time. And insert this step in various key points in the test script. There you have it: a quick, easy participant 'feelings' timeline.
Ever tried to complete a do-it-yourself job with second-rate tools? If you have, you know it can be very frustrating. As a user experience professional, you don't want to go there when you're reputation and other people's time is on the line. Before it's crunch time is when you'll want to research and choose a capable test administration and analysis platform.
Consider your analysis requirements. Most likely you'll want a tool that:
Whichever tool you choose, you should be able to obtain real participant qualitative and quantitative feedback within a day, even hours. So you can focus more of your time analyzing the top issues, affect and user's clever suggestions, and sharing these results with your team.
Creating a user testing prototype is part logical and part creative. But it's also 100% practical: you need to gather both metrics-based and subjective user feedback from users while staying focused on your main user research objectives. If you get carried away creating a prototype that's too visually sophisticated, or has too much layout or interaction fidelity, you'll waste valuable time (and money), time that could've been used on a follow-up test or another high-priority initiative.
So use these pro tips to keep you on track as you design and run your next user experience test. You'll not only get the traditional usability data you need, but will also gather user attitudes and feelings, emotions that will equally drive the success of your website, product or service.


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Anna Marie Wayne
Anna Marie Wayne (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA)
Anna Marie Wayne Poems
|What Will Last
|The Voice Of A Child
Comments about Anna Marie Wayne
Best Poem of Anna Marie Wayne
The Voice Of A Child
As one who is seen
But not often heard,
A Child can 'speak volumes'
Without saying a word.
In the eyes of a 'Little One'
Are seen thoughts never spoken
The revealing of truth,
In silence unbroken.
Acceptance and Guidance,
For these he cries out;
To know he belongs,
To trust without doubt.
These prayers of a child
Though quiet and small;
Are heard by the One
Who Created us all.
For God lives in fullness
That which we know in part:
The Voice of a Child
Is heard with the Heart.

subset: commoncrawl


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Pharmacists – A 'hidden Army' that could reduce GP waiting times
Charlie Cooper writing in the Independent Daily Briefing – Patients visiting their GP surgery with long-term health problems such as asthma and high blood pressure could be given an appointment with an in-house pharmacist instead of a doctor, according to radical proposals to bring down waiting times.
Many GP surgeries already have pharmacy counters, but under the new proposals, pharmacists themselves would take on a far more hands-on role in running the practice, and even consulting patients.
The plan, announced today by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, would see pharmacists take control of a GP practice's medicine stocks and liaise with local hospitals and care homes about prescriptions.
They would also relieve pressure on GP waiting lists by seeing those patient whose main reason for visiting was to get repeat prescriptions.
This could include large numbers of patients who have already been diagnosed with a long-term health condition, such as asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.
NHS England welcomed the "ideas" which it said complemented existing plans to increase the GP workforce.
A chronic shortage of newly trained GPs, coupled with a growing wave of retirements, mean that surgeries around the country are understaffed, despite the NHS recently singling out general practice as a key area with a £1bn funding boost.
By contrast, there is a surplus of pharmacists – health professionals who must train for five years, and some of whom are qualified to prescribe medicines.
GP waiting times remain a live political issue, with the RCGP estimating that there will be 67 million occasions in 2015 when a patient will have to wait a week or more to see their doctor or a practice nurse.
While there is no timescale to the proposals, the RCGP said that practices should start recruiting as soon as possible,. with a vision for every GP practice to have a pharmacist on staff within five years.
Dr Maureen Baker, chair of the RCGP, said the "hidden army of highly trained pharmacist" could be a solution to the GP workforce crisis. As well as seeing patients, she said the expertise of pharmacists could help GP practices' avoid purchasing more medicines than they needed, freeing up funds for better patient care.
"Pharmacists are an untapped resource and they will often know the patient better than the GP – especially those with long-term conditions," said Katherine Murphy of the Patients Association.
How they compare:
There are more than 65,000 GP's registered in the UK (around a quarter of all doctors) but the profession is still under-staffed. GP's are trained to have as broad a medical knowledge as possible and need to build strong relationships of trust with patients.
Average salary in the UK in 2012/13 was £92,900.
10 years: five at medical school, two in foundation training, and three in GP training.
Pharmacy involves the preparation and dispensing of medical drugs. Pharmacists play a major role but often forgotten role in healthcare, with 1.6m people visiting pharmacies in England each day. Pharmacists work in community dispensaries, but also in hospitals and in GP practices.
Starting salaries range from £20,000 to £35,000 but more experienced staff can earn £40,000 to £60,000.
Four years at an approved school of pharmacy followed by one year's work experience in a clinical setting. More experienced pharmacists can gain additional qualifications that allow them to prescribe drugs.
"Will this happen? – Don't bet on it just yet. To integrate these proposals into primary care would take quite a few years and in the coming years there are going to be upheavals as healthcare funding is starved and there is a seemingly unstoppable drift towards privatisation. "


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13 February 2013
adrian tibu
13 February 2013
adrian tibu
Sibiu International Theatre Festival's prize, part of this year's edition of Yokohoma Dance Collection EX (February 2 – 17), was awarded to the young Japanese dancer Nakamura Yo.
This is the first prize awarded by Sibiu International Theatre Festival (SITF) within an international competition. Yokohoma Dance Collection EX, the most important contemporary dance festival in Japan, represents a unique medium for promotion for all choreographers. The event is annual and takes place in Red Brick Warehouse Yokohoma, the second most inhabited city in Japan. This year, the festival's program received 164 applications from five countries from Asia and was unfold into two sections: The 1st Competition, dedicated to professional choreographers who had their work already shown to the audience and The 2nd Competition, dedicated to young choreographers under the age of 25, whose artwork did not exceed 10 minutes.
SITF's prize is an invitation for a choreographer to hold a workshop and perform a show in Sibiu, in the year 2014, as its main purpose is to further contribute to the ever so important cultural dialog between the Romanian and Japanese artists. This prize is awarded to a choreographer from The 1st Competition with the support of EU Japan Fest Committee and Air France Romania and was awarded to Yo Nakamura. The young 24 years old dancer began her studies at Tokyo's Waseda University and since 2009 has worked with choreographers like Onodera Shuji and Kondo Ryohei and performed in several short television productions. The young dancer began creating her own choreographies last year when she took part in Yokohama Festival's 2nd Competition section and the in NEXTREAM21 Dance Competition where she was awarded The Jury's Prize.
Moreover, the Grand Prize of this years' edition of Yokohama Festival was also awarded to choreographer Nakamura Yo, acknowledging this young artist's talent and innovative approached of the production "Good Bye", an artwork that combines fragments of dance, theatre and film. The winner's production was shown on February 10th in front of a jury consisting of Shinji Ono (producer, Aoyama Theatre), Hiroko Shindo (dance critic), Fumio Hamano (senior editor for Shinshokan Dance Magazine), Keizo Maeda (director at Realcities), Ko Murobushi (choreographer), Rebecca Lee (Japan French Institute's director), and Aymar Crosnier (assistant director at Angers Contemporary Dance Center).
© Yoichi Tsukada


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Gil Scott-Heron, Poet, Dies at 62
Gil Scott-Heron, the poet behind the song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," has died in New York City. He was 62 years old.
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" was a blast at consumer culture and its ability to lead social change. "The revolution will not make you look five pounds/ Thinner, because The revolution will not be televised, Brother," go the lyrics. In the song, Scott-Heron warns listeners that "the revolution" won't be found in the pop culture all around them. "The first change that takes place is in your mind," Scott-Heron once said, explaining his words.
You can listen to the song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" after the jump.


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Auto-renew is the hassle-free system for ensuring you don't miss out on all the NFL action in the new-season by rolling over your annual subscription automatically from one season to the next.
Payments for auto-renewed subscriptions will be taken on 1st August 2019 (as indicated in our Terms and Conditions).
If you paid by instalments in 2018, your 2019 subscription fee will be split across 4 equal monthly payments. If you would like to update your payment preference to instalments, this can be done by following the steps we'll provide by email on July 1, 2019.
Your subscription will continue to include live games, including the Playoffs & Super Bowl LIV, Game In 40, condensed game highlights, NFL RedZone, NFL Network, NFL Programs and more.
We'll also be introducing a series of new features based on fan feedback that will help make the 2019 season our best ever.
Smart TV Apps
We are pleased to introduce new Samsung & LG Smart TV apps for NFL Game Pass. These will be available to download by the start of the 2019 NFL Regular Season, giving you the ability to watch the NFL on more devices than ever before.
Super Bowl LIV & 2020 NFL Pro Bowl Contests
As part of your subscription, you will have the chance to win one of two unique contests including 2 tickets for Super Bowl LIV in Miami and 2 tickets for the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl in Orlando.
To be eligible to enter, all you need to do is have your auto-renew settings turned on and successfully complete your payment ahead of the 2019 NFL season.
Full contest rules and details will be provided by email on July 1, 2019. Due to competition regulation, please note that the contest is only available to subscribers in Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Norway and Spain.
Scheduled Downloads
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NFL Game Pass: Film Sessions - Season 2
An NFL Game Pass exclusive! This year, there will be 17 new episodes of the hit series NFL Game Pass: Film Sessions. Catch the first two episodes available now featuring Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and Jets safety Jamal Adams, with new episodes available weekly.
Home of NFL 100
To celebrate the league's 100th season, there will be a host of amazing shows highlighting the past, present and future of the NFL. NFL Game Pass will be your one stop shop for everything NFL 100 all season long.
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All we ask is that you keep enjoying NFL Game Pass throughout the offseason.
We will be sending further information detailing the steps to amend or cancel your auto-renewal preferences by email on July 1, 2019.
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If you prefer not to return for the 2019-20 season, you have various options to opt-out:
- You will have the option to opt-out of auto renew via a link in the auto renewal reminder emails we'll send you, or
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By web (or device browser):
- Visit the NFL Game Pass home page and Sign In
- Click on the Account Icon at the top right of the page to drop down the window and click on MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT
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Finally, if you would like to opt out at any point and are having problems doing so, please contact customer services who will process your request.
Please note that auto-renew is not available for iTunes subscribers.


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• The Burden of Uterine Fibroids
• Alkermes to Produce Both Addictive Drug and Treatment!
• Three Metabolic Risk Factors Could Account for Half of Coronary Heart Disease
Risk in Overweight Patients
• Vitamin D Supplements Don't Prevent Respiratory Infections
• Vitamin D–Binding Protein Levels Are Lower in Blacks Than in Whites
• Three Principles for Prescribing Antibiotics to Children With Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
• American Headache Society: Five Tests. Treatments that 'Physicians and
Patients Should Question'
• Bariatric Surgery Is Superior to Medical Management for Weight Loss
• Nut Consumption Tied to Reduced Mortality Risk
• Does Glucose Regulation Matter If You're Not Diabetic?
• Fuzzy Math: New calculator Seen as Overestimating cardiovascular Risk
MM: Although more than half of women under 40 who experience uterine fibroids request non-invasive options for treatment, many of the drug treatments that are typically provided do little to shrink the fibroids or have very nasty adverse effects. Fortunately, there is a simple treatment that we have had tremendous success with for many of these patients. That is Bio-Identical Progesterone Cream. It is an inexpensive treatment and has a very low incidence of adverse reactions in most patients. This product is available without a prescription but should have the guidance of a health professional such as the pharmacists at Mark Drugs in Roselle and Deerfield.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013 Oct; 209:e1
The Burden of Uterine Fibroids
National survey gauges symptoms and concerns associated with this common condition.
Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are the principal cause of hysterectomy in the U.S., and prevalence of this common condition is three times higher among black women than white women. In two related studies funded by Fibroid Relief (a program of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation) and supported by the NIH, investigators invited >140,000 U.S. women (age range, 29–59) to participate in a Harris Interactive online survey. A total of 968 eligible respondents (i.e., those with self-reported symptomatic fibroids) completed the survey; of these, 573 were white and 268 were black. Data were weighted using an algorithm reflecting a nationally representative sample.
Symptoms most commonly reported as severe or very severe were menstrual pain or cramps (29%), heavy or prolonged bleeding (29%), passage of clots during menses (26%), fatigue (25%), and abdominal discomfort (24%). Women younger than 40 were more likely than older women to indicate that their fibroids interfered with their quality of life, making them feel "not in control." Black women were significantly more likely than whites to report severe or very severe symptoms that interfered with physical activities, relationships, and work. Overall, 51% of respondents expressed a preference for uterine-sparing treatments, and more than three quarters considered it important to have noninvasive options. These concerns were significantly more prevalent among the youngest group of women. Black women were more likely than whites to express concerns about the effects of fibroids and associated treatment on future fertility and pregnancy.
Comment: Although uterine fibroids are common among women of all races, this condition disproportionately affects black women, who appear more likely to have severe symptoms and greater concerns about effects on physical activity, social relationships, and future fertility. Many women are interested in noninvasive treatment options. These findings should assist clinicians as they help symptomatic women choose appropriate treatment.
Citation(s): Borah BJ et al. The impact of uterine leiomyomas: A national survey of affected women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013 Oct; 209:e1. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2013.07.017) Stewart EA et al. The burden of uterine fibroids for African-American women: Results of a national survey. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2013 Oct; 22:807.
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MM: I have to question whether it is ethical to provide to the market both a drug with known addictive properties while also providing the treatment for the addiction. This is an example of life imitating art. A recent episode of the TV adapted graphic novel "Arrow" had this precise plot. The hero shot and killed the perpetrator of the addictive crime. I don't think that anyone in the audience had a problem with the hero's action. I wonder what would happen if a similar action (economic or violent - take your pick) was taken against Alkermes?
Alkermes to Produce Both Addictive Drug and Treatment!
Critics of the pharmaceutical industry have been known to accuse the industry of making drugs that cause side effects and then making more drugs to treat those side effects. A new example is the drug Zohydro, a new analgesic approved by the FDA last month. Concerned that the drug will result in more addicts, doctors point out that the company will also market Vivitrol, a medication designed to treat those very addicts.
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MM: Are we closing the barn door after the livestock has escaped? The authors of this study ultimately make the proper conclusion; i.e. Address the underlying problem of increasing obesity and the metabolic issues will also be addressed and it will be for the long term rather than merely giving drugs to treat the symptoms. Hopefully this data will not be twisted to justify increased metabolic drug treatments.
Three Metabolic Risk Factors Could Account for Half of Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Overweight Patients
By Kelly Young
Successfully controlling high blood pressure, lipids, and glucose levels could potentially reduce coronary heart disease risk by half and stroke risk by three fourths in overweight patients, according to a Lancet study.
Researchers analyzed the results of nearly 100 prospective cohort studies of adults with BMIs over 20.
Over a median follow-up of 13 years, the hazard ratio for coronary heart disease was 1.27 for each 5-unit increase in BMI, and the HR for stroke was 1.18. However, after adjustment for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose, the respective HRs fell to 1.15 and 1.04. The authors calculate that 46% of BMI's excess risk for coronary heart disease and 76% of the excess risk for stroke is mediated by these three metabolic risk factors. Blood pressure was the most significant mediator of the three.
They conclude: "Reliance on control of the metabolic mediators might be only a partial and temporary response to the obesity epidemic. Rather, creative and bold strategies are needed that can curb and reverse rising adiposity."
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MM: Based on this study I have to wonder why it is that we have had hundreds of patients who have increased their Vitamin D blood level to 60-80 ng/ml and who no longer have their annual episodes of colds, flu or other upper respiratory illnesses or if they do get a cold or flu, the duration is briefer and less intense that their episodes in the past. In this study the participants took only 1000IU of vitamin D on a daily basis. It is my opinion that they took an inadequate dose to improve their overall health and failed to get to that critical blood level of 60-80ng/ml where it truly seems to make a difference.
Clin Infect Dis 2013 Nov 15; 57:1384
Vitamin D Supplements Don't Prevent Respiratory Infections
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with many medical problems, but whether repletion improves clinical outcomes is still largely unclear. U.S. researchers who were conducting a large blinded trial of vitamin D3 and calcium supplementation for preventing large bowel adenomas included a substudy to look at rates of upper respiratory tract infection among participants.
Participants were healthy adults (age range, 45–75) whose initial vitamin D levels exceeded 12 ng/mL. During a period that spanned two winter "flu seasons," 399 participants who were receiving daily vitamin D (1000 mg) and 360 participants who were receiving placebo reported identical rates of both serious and trivial upper respiratory infections. These results were unaffected by adjustment for receipt of supplemental calcium, receipt of flu vaccine, or body-mass index. Rates were similar during the first winter of the study, which overlapped the H1N1 flu pandemic (2009–2010), and during the subsequent one without pandemic influenza. Mean serum vitamin D levels did not differ among participants who did and did not report respiratory illnesses.
Comment: This study joins others in suggesting that supplemental vitamin D doesn't prevent respiratory infections — at least in people without severe vitamin D deficiencies.
Citation(s): Rees JR et al. Vitamin D3 supplementation and upper respiratory tract infections in a randomized, controlled trial. Clin Infect Dis 2013 Nov 15; 57:1384.
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MM: It is interesting that nature has provided this protective adaptation for blacks. It is also not surprising as people, in general, - as we have known for a long time - have similar mechanisms to protect themselves from exposure to environmental toxins that mimic the negative effects of estrogens.
N Engl J Med 2013 Nov 21; 369:1991
Vitamin D–Binding Protein Levels Are Lower in Blacks Than in Whites
Black patients with low levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D might have normal bioavailable levels.
Compared with whites, blacks have lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels but higher bone- mineral density and lower risk for fragility fractures. How can we explain this apparent paradox? A new study of about 2000 middle-aged adults in Baltimore suggests that the answer might lie in vitamin D–binding protein. Black and white participants (about 1000 each) were closely matched for age, sex, and body-mass index.
Mean total 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were substantially lower in blacks than in whites (16 vs. 26 ng/mL). However, the mean level of vitamin D–binding protein in blacks was half that in whites, resulting in similar levels of bioavailable, or free, 25-hydroxyvitamin D in blacks and whites. Polymorphisms in the vitamin D–binding protein gene differed in frequency among blacks and whites; these polymorphisms explained most of the variation in vitamin D–binding protein levels.
Comment: The clinical implication of this study is that 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels might not accurately reflect the bioavailable component. Blacks in particular are more likely to be predisposed genetically to low levels of binding protein, resulting in low total — but sufficient bioavailable — 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. This observation might be why we often see bone-density preservation in blacks with low levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Citation(s): Powe CE et al. Vitamin D–binding protein and vitamin D status of black Americans and white Americans. N Engl J Med 2013 Nov 21; 369:1991.
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Three Principles for Prescribing Antibiotics to Children With Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
By Kelly Young
The American Academy of Pediatrics has laid out three simple principles for prescribing antibiotics to children with upper respiratory tract infections. The recommendations, published in Pediatrics, are intended to address the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
The principles include determining the likelihood that the infection is caused by bacteria, weighing the benefits of prescribing versus the risks, and prescribing antibiotics judiciously. In particular:
- For acute otitis media, the AAP recommends that clinicians consider watchful waiting for children aged 2 years or older and those with mild-to-moderate symptoms and unilateral disease.
- For bacterial sinusitis, antibiotics are recommended in children with clinical features of acute illness, particularly worsening or severe symptoms. Observation or antibiotics can be considered in patients whose symptoms have lasted over 10 days.
- For pharyngitis, the AAP recommends antibiotics after laboratory confirmation of group A Streptococcus.
Deborah Lehman, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist with NEJM Journal Watch, comments: "For some infections — severe otitis media, worsening or severe sinusitis, and strep pharyngitis — antibiotics are indicated, but physicians should apply stringent criteria when making these diagnoses, and the prescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics for these conditions is discouraged."
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American Headache Society: Five Tests. Treatments that 'Physicians and Patients Should Question'
By Amy Orciari Herman
The American Headache Society has released a list of five things in headache medicine that "physicians and patients should question." The list, published as part of the American Board of Internal Medicine's "Choosing Wisely" campaign, advises the following:
- Don't perform neuroimaging on patients who have stable headaches that meet migraine criteria.
- Don't perform computed tomography for headache when magnetic resonance imaging is available, except in emergency situations when hemorrhage, stroke, or head trauma is suspected.
- Don't recommend surgical deactivation of migraine trigger points outside of clinical trials, as the value of this treatment remains undetermined.
- Don't use opioids or butalbital-containing medications (e.g., Fioricet) as initial therapy for recurrent headache disorders.
- Don't recommend prolonged use (more than 2 days/week) of over-the-counter pain medications for headache.
BMJ 2013 Oct 22; 347:f5934
Bariatric Surgery Is Superior to Medical Management for Weight Loss
Surgical patients were more likely to experience remission of type 2 diabetes and improved quality of life.
Recent randomized trials have shown that bariatric surgery is more effective than nonsurgical therapy for various outcomes (e.g., weight loss, resolution of diabetes) in obese patients. In a meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials (nearly 800 obese participants; baseline body-mass index [BMI] range, 30–52 kg/m2), investigators summarized and quantified the effects of bariatric surgery compared with nonsurgical treatment. Follow-up ranged from 40 weeks to 2 years.
Compared with individuals randomized to nonsurgical treatment (i.e., diet, exercise, behavioral modification, medications), those randomized to bariatric surgery lost significantly more weight (mean difference, −26 kg) and were significantly more likely to experience remission of type 2 diabetes (relative risk, 22.1), remission of metabolic syndrome (RR, 2.4), improved quality of life, and reduction in medication use. Those randomized to bariatric surgery also exhibited lower triglyceride and higher HDL cholesterol levels; changes in LDL cholesterol level and blood pressure did not differ between groups. No adverse cardiovascular events or deaths occurred after bariatric surgery. The most common adverse events after bariatric surgery were iron-deficiency anemia (15% after malabsorptive surgery) and reoperations (8%).
Comment: In this meta-analysis, bariatric surgery was superior to nonsurgical management for multiple outcomes, including weight loss, resolution of diabetes, and quality of life. However, several limitations must be noted: Included trials were relatively small with short follow-up (2-year maximum) and were conducted at centers of excellence for bariatric surgery. Current guidelines recommend bariatric surgery evaluation for patients with BMIs >40 kg/m2 or with BMIs >35 kg/m2 plus obesity-related comorbidities such as diabetes, arthritis, or obstructive sleep apnea (Endocr Pract 2013; 19:337).
Citation(s): Gloy VL et al. Bariatric surgery versus non-surgical treatment for obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 2013 Oct 22; 347:f5934.
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MM: This is a study to be careful of. Nuts may be high in fats, may be salted or otherwise treated with sugar or high fructose corn syrup. None of which are particularly good for you. If you plan on eating more nuts, then use them as a substitute for chips or sweets and try to eat raw nuts as these are the most potentially beneficial.
Nut Consumption Tied to Reduced Mortality Risk
By Kelly Young
People who regularly eat nuts have a lower mortality risk than people who don't eat nuts, according to an industry-funded, observational study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers assessed the nut consumption of some 75,000 women in the Nurses' Health Study and over 40,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study via regular food-frequency questionnaires. Participants were followed for up to 30 years.
People who ate nuts once a week had a lower risk for dying during follow-up than people who abstained from nuts (hazard ratio, 0.89). Risks decreased even more as nut consumption increased. In addition, more nut consumption translated to lower risk for dying from cancer and heart disease. The benefits were similar for tree nuts and peanuts.
The authors caution: "Epidemiologic observations establish associations, not causality, and not all findings from observational studies have been confirmed in controlled, randomized clinical trials."
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Neurology 2013 Oct 23
Does Glucose Regulation Matter If You're Not Diabetic?
Better control is beneficial cognitively, even for individuals within the normal range.
Many studies have associated cognitive problems with high glucose levels in patients with diabetes. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), researchers have now examined the relationship of glucose to memory (on a verbal learning task) and brain structure in 141 individuals whose glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were within the normal range (72 women; mean age, 63).
Participants had a normal body-mass index and minimally used alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine. Higher levels of HbA1c and fasting glucose were associated with lower performance on all three memory subtasks, smaller hippocampal volume (on 3-Tesla MRI), and worse hippocampal density (measured via diffusion tensor imaging). Further analysis suggested that the effects of HbA1c on memory are mediated partly by hippocampal volume and density.
Comment: According to this study, glucose regulation even within the normal range is correlated with memory and hippocampal structure. Although the study population is small, these results should make us consider lifestyle and dietary changes that may optimize glucose control. These can include exercise, avoidance of sleep deprivation, and a diet that is not only lower in calories, but also, possibly, in simple carbohydrates.
Citation(s): Kerti L et al. Higher glucose levels associated with lower memory and reduced hippocampal microstructure. Neurology 2013 Oct 23; [e-pub ahead of print].
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Fuzzy Math: New calculator Seen as Overestimating cardiovascular Risk
By Joe Elia
The calculator that accompanies new guidelines on lowering cardiovascular risk could mistakenly make "millions more people" candidates for statins, according to a New York Times story.
The root of the problem may be that the numbers used to calculate patients' risks come from studies done in the 1990s when, for instance, more people smoked. Researchers using data from other cohorts found that the calculator overestimated risk by between 75% and 150%. Those results are due to appear in the Lancet on Tuesday, according to the Times report.
Whatever the cause, cardiologist Steven Nissen told the Times: "We need a pause to further evaluate this approach before it is implemented on a widespread basis."
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In this video you'll learn how to use some of the most common commands like ls, less, mkdir, cp, mv, clear, rm, touch and echo.
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ST. PAUL, Minn. - An election-eve terrorist strike. A tanking stock market. A stunner of a jobs report. An unscripted moment.
Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney are on guard for anything that could push the presidential race from its taut course. An autumn surprise is just that, making most late-breaking events tough to plan for.
"You can't overestimate how much the campaigns are sort of on autopilot. In some ways they're incredibly brain dead. They've got a plan, and they are now going to execute it," said Carter Eskew, a top strategist for Democrat Al Gore during a 2000 campaign that came up just short. "They basically trust that they have the system in place to deal with a crisis as best they can."
Late twists in a campaign take on many forms: a verbal stumble that reinforces an existing weak point, a brewing scandal where the murkiness can be as bad as the allegation, a foreign policy crisis few saw coming. Old scars can face fresh examination. Purported bombshells can turn out to be duds.
So the candidates need to be ready for anything.
A look at some possible events that could shake up the race.
Stock market swoon
As numbers go, keep one eye on the polls and the other on the Dow.
The stock market is naturally volatile, but big swings have been known to alter races. Four years ago, a skidding Dow Jones Industrial Average caused widespread panic about a seizing economy and proved damaging to GOP nominee John McCain, whose party held the White House at the time. On one September day alone, the index fell 778 points for a drop in market value of more than $1 trillion. Three more steep drops followed in October.
In the past couple of weeks, concern about a fragile U.S. recovery and worries about economic conditions in Europe sent the markets down noticeably.
The Dow closed just below 8,000 on Obama's Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009. It now tops 13,000.
Jobs jolt
Romney has pinned his campaign on the idea that Obama has failed to fix the economy and left too many people without work.
Throughout Obama's term, a high unemployment rate and joblessness caused plenty of consternation. He finally caught some good news in October, when the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent - below 8 percent for the first time in his presidency - as employers added 114,000 the month before.
The last jobs report before the election will be released Nov. 2, a week from Friday.
Democrats worry that even a small tick upward would have a psychological impact on fence-sitting voters anxious for clues about where the country is headed. Another notable drop in the rate could take steam out of Romney's argument.
Global malaise
Economists and investors are already warning of a slowdown in Europe and Asia and that matters because, in an interconnected world, U.S. companies could retract if their business prospects outside the U.S. look weak.
Europe has been a major source of problems, with several countries adopting harsh austerity measures or requiring massive loans to keep economic disaster at bay. A loan default here or a violent protest there could send shudders across the Atlantic Ocean.
Terror threat
Who would have guessed Libya would turn into such a fall flashpoint?
But the Sept. 11 killing of four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, served as a stark reminder that the long fight against terrorism is far from over.
Late in the 2004 race, Osama bin Laden released a video threatening more attacks on the United States. It caused some clenching by the electorate, with many late-breaking voters deciding to stick with Republican President George W. Bush and a terror policy they knew. Democratic nominee John Kerry later conceded the video altered the dynamics of the final week of the race.


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The older I have become, the more I have realized that my momma truly knows what she is talking about and that I truly do not know what I am talking about.
Something the Lord has been teaching me is that the world does not revolve around me.
I know what you're thinking. "Hold up! You mean to say that Lauren is not the center of our universe??????"
I hate to break it to y'all, but yes, it is true that I am not the foundation on which this world stands upon. In all seriousness, my two greatest struggle areas, that have become overwhelmingly obvious in the last couple of months, have been pride and fear.
Out of fear, I have wanted everything to go as I wanted it to go.
This is what I want…
I'M going to do this…
I think this…
I feel this…
Now, thinking for yourself, feeling a certain way, or making your own decisions are not always bad. However, when they begin to replace or contradict what God thinks, feels, or decides, then you have an issue. It wasn't until my momma and I hit a bump in our relationship that I realized this grossness of pride and fear was a strong stench I was wearing in my life. My mom could see it though.
Out of love, a woman who knows me better than I know myself, who has shouldered more pain with me than either of us would like to admit, sat me down and confronted my sin.
As I reflected on her remarks and concerns, the hidden pieces of my sin were unraveled farther than I expected. These were not areas of struggle that only recently popped up. No, these were areas of sin that I had been hiding in the deepest, darkest places of my heart for years. I had been welcoming lies that downplayed my God-given abilities and "drenched the fire of my callings." (Beth Moore) I had been too afraid of what I did not know and could not see that I began to stop saying "yes" to God, and instead began to say "yes" to my flesh. I let the enemy play me and I eventually let it manifest itself into my relationships with other people.
In complete vulnerability, I confess that I turned from listening to God and listened to myself. I confess that I inhaled the lies that the enemy breathed my way like an asthmatic. I confess that there were mornings where I read my Bible and sifted through passages to confirm what I had already decided to do. I was addicted to doing my own thing, living by my rules, and being my own boss.
But let me tell you something, beloved. The Lord is a jealous and just God. When His children do not have their priorities straight, He will hunt them down like a dog and bring their ugly sin patterns to a screeching halt.
Can I encourage y'all today to learn from my mistakes? Or, if you are already here, can I encourage you with what the Lord has taught me in just these last few weeks?
There are two things I know the majority of us want: freedom to live happily and peace about our future.
Innately, we believe freedom is found by our own self-paved paths. Our culture has convinced us that the only person we should and need to be obedient to is our own self. However, when we follow the world's idea of freedom, we develop a debilitating sense of entitlement. We puff ourselves up with pride and cripple our ability to bear any sort of godly fruit. Friends, we must understand that the only true source of actual freedom is found in Jesus.
"the truth will set you free…so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
(John 8:32, 36)
When we keep God's commandments, as He has called us to do, and when we follow His leading hand, we experience more freedom and more life than we could ever experience on our own.
I want to pose a question to you that has ministered to my heart tremendously: Why would we choose our insignificant, powerless, limited-knowing, flesh designed plans over God's mighty, powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing, miracle producing, good, glorifying plans?
Trust me, I get it. Saying "yes" to God is difficult, scary, and may seem like the exact opposite way to find real freedom. However, whether we realize it or not, when we limit our future to our finite, ill-equipped hands, we are telling God His plans are not good enough. As silent as that may be, it is hauntingly loud to God.
As followers of Christ and children of God we must stop being afraid! That's much easier said than done, but here is why God explicitly declares 350 times that His children be not afraid. God declares "the end from the beginning and from long ago what is not yet done, saying 'my plan will take place, and I will do all my will'" (Isaiah 46:10)
God knows what tomorrow holds, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day, etc. He knows how everything is going to turn out and He has the absolute best in store for his children.
Jesus says in Luke 12:32 to "Fear not, little flock for it is your Father's [God's] good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
The Lord is a good God and there is no one like Him. He has and never will fail us, and He has not given us a "spirit of fear." (2 Timothy 1:7) God has called us to not fear because He is our Redeemer, Maker, Keeper, Helper, Peace, and Strength. Moreover, our God is with us and He is for us.
So, dear friends, do not lose heart. Keep seeking the Lord because "even though [we] walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [we] will fear no evil, for [God is] with [us], [His] rod and staff, they comfort [us]." (Psalm 23:4)
Lord, there is no one like You. In You, we have eternal life, true joy, complete freedom, and total security. Thank You for being the God of the whole earth. Thank You for holding everything in Your right hand. You know everything, I do not. Please allow me to dwell in Your presence all the days of my life to gaze upon Your beauty and to inquire in Your temple. Fill me with Your desires; convict me when my desires do not align with Your's. Replace every square inch of fear in my life with complete faith in You. All to You, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.


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« AnteriorContinuar »
at Oxford. From Abel Evans,
II. To Signior Antonio Verrio,
IV. Description of a voyage to
mouthshire. By S. Davies,
XII. The Pleasures of the Mind 102
XV. The Traveller; or, a Pros-
Thank Heavent at last our wars are o'er;
Rise, rise, ye Britons, thankful rise Extol your Empress to the skies; Crown her with laurels ever green, With olives fair inwove between :
Her courage drew the conquering sword;
Long, wond'rous Anna may'st thou live,
Farewell, ye camps and sieges dire,
An honest Muse alike disclaims
Betwixt the subječt, and the verse;
To peace, my Friend I that thou and I, oA. . . ." o No colors fluttering in the sky; * fo With frightful faces, glittering arms s (Bellona's military charms); May undisturb'd and studious rove, O'er every lawn, through every grove.
See various Nature, in each field,
With golden hair the God of day


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Regular price
Healing Methods:
Our personal growth can be blocked by trauma, emotional and mental stress stored in our energy fields, our Aura. This will impact our ability to face our day to day challenges in life and show in how we react to simple daily processes.
Energetic healing and reading will clear years of built-up blocks and repair and restore balance in your life, thoughts and emotions. This type of healing will also help you identify issues before they can manifest in your physical body.
Connect by video messenger call or FaceTime


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Before launching the X21 in India, Vivo has just launched another smartphone in China called the Vivo Z1. The phone is also the first smartphone to be a part of Vivo's Z-series lineup.
When it comes to looks, the Vivo Z1 looks almost identical to the X21, featuring a horizontal dual-camera setup on the back and a notch on the top of the display. Launched in a single variant with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage, the Z1 has been priced at CNY 1798 (approximately Rs 19,000). The phone will be available in three colour " Porcelain Glaze Black, Hyun Screen Red and Sapphire Blue.
Inside it gets the same chipset that powers the X21, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 and an Adreno 512 GPU. It also comes with a 6.26-inch FHD+ display with a 19:9 aspect ratio.
In terms of optics, the Z1 features a dual camera setup with a 13 MP primary sensor along with a 2 MP sensor. The camera also gets an LED flash. On the front, the phone features a 12 MP camera for selfies and video calls.
The Z1 also features a 3,260 mAh battery unit to keep things chugging along and runs on Funtouch OS 4.0 which is Vivo's skinned UI built on top of Android Oreo 8.1. Pre-orders for the phone have already begun in China, while sales are expected to begin on 4 June.
Also See: Vivo X21 to be launched in India on 29 May and will be sold exclusively on Flipkart
Vivo Apex expected to be launched on 12 June in China as FIFA World Cup ads begin featuring the smartphone
Vivo announces three-day Vivo Carnival from 16-18 May on its online store
Read more on News & Analysis by Firstpost.


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|Check Point Reference:
|Date Published:
|5 Nov 2007
|Last Updated:
|5 Nov 2007
|Industry Reference:
|Protection Provided by:
Security Gateway
|Who is Vulnerable?
|Vulnerability Description
|The Microsoft Foundation Class Library is a library that wraps portions of the Windows API in C++ classes,including functionality that enables them to use a default application framework. The vulnerability is due to an error in the FileFind Class that can be exploited via applications that use the FileFind class and pass user provided data to the affected function.Successful exploitation may allow execution of arbitrary code on the vulnerable system.
This protection will detect and block the vulnerable ActiveX Control.
In order for the protection to be activated, update your Security Gateway product to the latest IPS update. For information on how to update IPS, go to SBP-2006-05, click on Protection tab and select the version of your choice.
This protection's log will contain the following information:
Attack Name: Web Client Enforcement Violation.
Attack Information: Microsoft Windows MFC library FileFind class heap overflow


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Hi this is Felix Wong calling again. I'm still in Big Springs, ID. I just wanted to thank every one for leaving messages on the blog or text messaging me. A friend of mine has been reading them to me. I really appreciate the support. I just wanted to thank you all. Hope you are having weekend and a good time following this race which has been very exciting for me. I hope for you too. You guys take care.
(recorder time: 2008-06-22 16:03:56 EST.)
HI this is Felix Wong calling on Sunday, June 22nd 2:38pm. I'm just west of Big Springs, ID. I finally made it out of MT. It has been a gorgeous day. Great Weather unlike yesterday. Yesterday was very hot with armies of blood sucking mosquitoes swarming on me anytime I would stop. But today has been absolutely gorgeous. This part of ID is really beautiful. This has probably been the most enjoyable day of the Tour so far. I've been taking it easy all day just because I've put in a pretty hard effort the last 4 days. It has been nice not having any major climbs today. A couple of coincidences I would like to mention, yesterday at Lima right after I called in a woman got out of her van and ask me if I was Felix then she handed me a phone. I thought that was pretty funny. It turned out that it was Mike Dion's mother who had a friend by complete coincidence who was driving from Salt Lake City to Montana (they were moving) and by complete coincidences was passing through Lima and she found me in the parking lot and apparently knew I was Felix. Then, today when I crossed into ID I saw a guy named Rich. He was wearing a Fat Tire Jersey. Fat Tire is made in my home town Fort Collins, CO. So I really enjoyed seeing that and we talked. I met his brother-in-law, Todd and Todd's lovely daughter, Chelsea. We talked for a bit. It has just been an all round pleasant day and I hope it continues that way. I'll call in later. I'll talk to you later. Bye.
(recorder time: 2008-06-22 15:41:56 EST. )
HI this is Felix Wong calling at 7:05 on Saturday, June 2lst from Lima, MT. I've had a good couple of days riding. Yesterday, despite starting about 8:15 I managed to cover about 110 miles riding until about 11 pm. The only spot that seemed to be really slowing me down was this absurdly steep downhill which I had to be weaving while walking my bike down. Otherwise, I felt like I was flying pretty much for the rest of it. I've been really feeling strong. This morning, well today, I cranked out about 108 miles and its still pretty early so I'm probably going to carry on. Read more »
Hi this is Felix Wong calling on Friday at 1 o'clock. I'm still Butte. I'm on my way out but I wanted to tell you about the most amazing thing. I stopped by The Outdoorsman. Its a bicycle shop. A gentlemen when he found me said you must be Mr. Wong. I couldn't believe that he knew who I was. He has been following the race on line. Levi Leipheimer's (couldn't make out name) older brother Rob. So if there is anyone behind me, I believe only Steve is behind me know. Defintely stop by there. I stopped by there to get some tubes. I'm on my way. I'll talk to you later. Bye.


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Product details
No surfer worth their sea salt should be without a quality rash vest. Made of fabric with sun-safe protection, this streamlined style is just the thing for keeping warm and comfortable in the water. What's more, the sporty colourblocking stands out from the shoal.
- 80% polyamide, 20% elastane
- Machine washable
- Do not tumble-dry
- Rinse thoroughly in fresh water immediately after each use, to remove any traces of chlorine or salt water
- Dry away from direct sunlight and heat
- Do not iron
- Conforms to EN13758-2 UPF 40+
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We operate a no-quibble returns policy. If you return an item within 3 months of receipt, we'll give you back the amount you paid for the item or offer an exchange. Whichever you prefer.
Our exchange service is temporarily unavailable, but please don't worry, as your returns will automatically be refunded according to our generous returns policy. Take a look below for more information.


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Conditii neasteptat de bune. Camera a fost curata iar personalul excelent
The hotel is located in the Diaspora College of Szamosújvár. Accordingly, we can provide accommodation during weekends and on holidays.
3 years ago
as couple
business purpose
Conditii neasteptat de bune. Camera a fost curata iar personalul excelent
3 years ago
with a group
leisure purpose
Nagyon kedvesek és rugalmasak az itt dolgozók.
|110 (19 rooms, 12 bathrooms)
|Operating period
|open throughout the year
|before 11
|Accesible for disabled guests
|Pets allowed
|not allowed
|Spoken languages
|Hungarian, Romanian, English, German
|No booking deposit required!
The booking does not require any deposit or debit/credit card, so it can be cancelled anytime!
Whole amount should be paid to the accommodation on site.
|Accepted payment methods
RONHUFEURUSDBank transfer / PayPal
Téka House is a cultural complex established and maintained by Téka Cultural Foundation. The foundation was established in 1993 as a result of local initiative. Its general aims centre around educating the public and organizing the community. Owing to applications and supports it has managed to come by a landed property of its own. This is where you can find the headquarters of the Foundation as well as the Téka Cultural and Educational Centre.
We offer Hostel for different groups during the summer time and weekends ( 74 quarters)
Our offer for the tourist groups:
- the town is the only baroque –structured establishment in Central-Europe, Armenian-catholic baroque churches, Rubens –painting
- trip to Cluj-Napoca ( Kolozsvar), to the spiritual capital of Transylvanian
- trip in the region Mezőség ( Transylvanian Plain), opportunity to meet alive local archaic tradition, the ethnographic values of the Hungarians and Romanians
Facilities in the Teka Hostel:
- accommodation in rooms with separate bathroom
- meals with the special dishes of the local Hungarian, Armenian and Romanian communities
- regional folk song, folk music and dance presentation
- Internet access, telephone/fax facilities,
Facilities: Free internet; Fully equipped kitchen; 24-hour reception or key storage; TV in the rooms or the lounge; DVD players in the rooms or lounges; Towels and linen change; Central heating; Artificial sports arena.
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text:
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In terms of creature comforts, most canines would choose their own yard over a kennel any day. Because of pet sitters-who take care of pets whereas their owners are out of town or busy-Fido can have his kibble at dwelling. This enterprise isn't just for the canines, nonetheless; gear your providers towards all creatures nice and small for maximum earnings.


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The Irish Loop
4 hours ago
How interesting! I would prefer coins to credit cards, but I'm old fashioned.
Great urban photo. Don't you wonder how the trees get enough water?
I wonder that all the time. I presume that the City gardeners know how to get water to these trees, I haven't seen any keel over from dehydration. But when you look at the expanse of concrete and asphalt on downtown streets, and the near absence of open dirt, it sure is a mystery!


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Answer: GeoCities
In the mid-to-late 1990s, an explosion of free, host-supported web hosts was causing hundreds of thousands of people to create personal websites. Among these free hosts, like Angelfire and Homestead, GeoCities was by far the largest.
GeoCities was the third most visited site on the Internet at the height of its popularity in 1
Because GeoCities served as such a field of activity In such a large piece of Internet history, various attempts have been made to archive them. As the upcoming shutdown of Yahoo! (Yahoo acquired GeoCities in 1999 from the founders David Bohnett and John Rezner), several groups, including The Internet Archive and Archive Team, tried to download all the content before the lights went out.
Closed for the first anniversary of GeoCities, Archive Team released a 641 GB torrent file, which is available on The Pirate Bay and contains millions of GeoCities websites. In this compressed and distributed fashion, the most popular web host of the 1990s – and one of the most popular travel destinations in the early World Wide Web – lives on.
Source link


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Although it's easier to notice the "pinchable" subcutaneous fat that's right under your skin, it's not as damaging to your health as fat deposits stored deeper inside you. Visceral fat surrounds the organs in your abdominal cavity (known collectively as "viscera"), is readily converted into "bad" cholesterol by your liver, and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and a range of other health problems. Fortunately, switching to a healthier diet and getting regular exercise, along with a few other lifestyle changes, can help you reduce visceral belly fat.
Method 1 of 3:
Improving Your Dietary Choices
Method 1 of 3:
1Limit your consumption of simple sugars. Eating too much sugar often results in your body storing it as fat. Cutting out sugar can help you improve your health and shed the extra fat.[1] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Make sure you're checking nutritional data and reading labels to monitor how much sugar you consume.
- Cut back on how much dessert you eat, and switch out sugary sweets for healthier options, like a piece of fruit.
2Cut back on saturated fats and eliminate trans fats. Not surprisingly, consuming too many fats in your diet increases your likelihood of having excess visceral belly fat. Not all fats are created equal, though, and it's saturated fats and trans fats that you really need to work on reducing. Aim to have 20-30% of your total daily calories come from fats, no more than 7% come from saturated fats, and as little as possible come from trans fats.[2] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- So, if you consume 2,000 calories per day, you should eat around 44-67 grams of fat per day, including no more than 15 grams of saturated fat.
- Red meat (like burgers and steaks) and full-fat dairy products (like cheese and ice cream) are high in saturated fat, and processed foods (like cookies and other snacks) are often high in both saturated and trans fats.
3Eat fewer processed foods. While there's no doubt that they're convenient, the fact remains that processed foods are rarely if ever healthy choices. They're often packed with added sugars, which are harmful to your health. Additionally, they are commonly high in sodium and may contain high levels of unhealthy fats. Processed foods also usually provide a lot of empty calories with limited to no nutritional value.[3] X Research source
- Planning ahead is one of the best ways to reduce your intake of processed foods. Pack your lunch for work and make fresh fruits and veggies the stars. Plan your meals and your shopping list for the week, and stick to the list as you shop. Eat a healthy snack at home instead of loading up on junk food at the movie theater.
4Cut back on your alcohol intake. Excess visceral fat can cause what many people call a "beer belly," and there is a grain of truth to the name. Alcohol is high in calories but low in nutritional value, making it a prime source of "empty calories."[4] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Drinking alcohol can also make you more likely to overeat by reducing your willpower.[5] X Research source
- You don't necessarily have to cut out alcohol entirely, but making lifestyle changes that help reduce your alcohol intake can help you in your battle against visceral belly fat.
5Add more lean proteins and healthy fats to your diet. Cut back on red meat like burgers and steaks, and reach for lean proteins like chicken and fish. Cook with olive or canola oil instead of butter, and add healthy fat-rich foods like nuts and avocados to your dishes.[6] X Research source
- For vegan protein options, choose foods with tofu, seitan, edamame, lentils, chickpeas, etc.
- If consumed in excess, even healthy fats will likely add to your visceral belly fat. Make sure no more than 30% of your dietary calories come from fat.
6Enjoy lots of fresh produce and whole grains. Fresh fruits and veggies are low in fat and calories, chock full of nutrients, and rich in fiber that helps you feel full faster. Whole grains (like oatmeal and brown rice) also are good sources of fiber, and are more nutritious overall than processed grain products (like white bread and pasta).[7] X Research source
- Since fruits contain sugar, you may want to limit how much fruit you consume daily. However, keep in mind that studies show eating fruit is generally good for maintaining a healthy body weight.[8] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
- Many of the tricks parents use to get their kids to eat more fruits and veggies are actually useful for adults as well. For instance, look for ways to add more fruits and veggies into your recipes—in sauces and batters, for example.
- The more variety in the colors of fruits and veggies you eat (for instance, strawberries, carrots, peppers, squash, blueberries, oranges, etc.), the greater variety of beneficial nutrients you'll consume.
Method 2 of 3:
Engaging in Aerobic and Strength-Building Exercises
Method 2 of 3:
1Work with your doctor to develop the best exercise program for you. Before dedicating yourself to a new exercise regimen, talk to your doctor about your overall health. This is especially important if you live a sedentary lifestyle or have underlying health conditions. It's important to craft a program that suits your current health status.[9] X Research source
- Also keep in mind that, despite what all the ads say, you can't spot-reduce fat in your belly or anywhere else. Overall fat reduction through a balanced diet along with an exercise program is your best bet.
- If your waist measurement is above 35 in (89 cm) as a female or 40 in (100 cm) as a male, you may have excess visceral belly fat.[10] X Research source However, you should allow your doctor to make that determination.[11] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
2Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This is a standard exercise recommendation for adults, due in part to its benefits in both preventing and reducing visceral fat. While getting the 150 minutes total in any fashion is helpful, the best results for visceral fat reduction seem to come from engaging in 30 minute sessions, 5 times per week.[12] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Biking, swimming, and brisk walking are all examples of moderate-intensity exercise.
- How can you tell if you're engaging in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise? You should be able to talk comfortably, but be too winded to belt out your favorite song.
3Do 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise as another option. High-intensity aerobic exercise can be a beneficial part of your belly fat-busting plan. If you're doing high-intensity exercise, you can shorten your workouts. In general, people need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week to support good health.[13] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Engaging in high-intensity interval training (HIIT)—which combines short bursts of intense activity with longer stretches of moderate exercise—at least twice per week may provide added benefits toward visceral fat reduction. However, make sure you discuss this plan with your doctor first.
- You might prefer to do moderate-intensity workouts on certain days and HIIT workouts on others. As a sample weekly plan, you might do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (like brisk walking, aerobics, swimming, biking, or jogging) on Days 1, 3, 5, and 6; do 15 minutes of HIIT on Days 2 and 7; and rest on Day 4.
4Add in strength-building workouts 3 times per week. Adding muscle helps you to burn calories more efficiently, which in turn makes it easier to burn fat. Plus, resistance training helps strengthen your bones. Try to fit in 2-3 strength training workouts lasting 20-40 minutes per week, and make sure you're working all your major muscle groups.[14] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source
- Work your core and your abs as part of your workout, but don't think that doing endless crunches will burn visceral fat faster. In fact, a well-rounded strength-building workout will provide greater fat burning benefits.
- If you're doing strength training 2-3 times per week, you might aim for full-body workouts (that is, working all your major muscle groups) during 20-40 minute sessions on Days 1, 3, and 5.
Method 3 of 3:
Making Additional Lifestyle Adjustments
Method 3 of 3:
1Work on reducing your stress levels. If you're under too much stress you're more likely to overeat, especially "comfort foods" that are often laden with fat, calories, and sugar. It's also possible that excess stress may cause your body to redistribute fat to your abdomen, as a way to build up your energy stores during potentially threatening times. Therefore, keeping your stress in check may help control your visceral belly fat in multiple ways.[15] X Research source
- You can relieve stress in numerous ways, including by getting better organized, journaling, talking to someone you trust, exercising, trying yoga or meditation, and many more. The key is to find the strategies that work for you and stick to them.
2Make sure you're getting enough sleep. Being short on sleep can increase your stress levels and make you more likely to overeat, both of which can contribute to visceral fat production. In the long term, not getting enough sleep is, like excess visceral fat, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.[16] X Research source
- Generally speaking, adults should aim for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night.[17] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
- If you have trouble sleeping, try setting a consistent bedtime routine and keeping your bedroom dark, cool, and free of electronic screens. Talk to your doctor about other options for improving your sleep.
3Be realistic but not defeatist about your genes. Some people are simply more genetically predisposed to having visceral belly fat. If this is the case for you, it will be more difficult to both prevent and reduce visceral fat buildup. However, that doesn't mean it's impossible or not worth the effort. The healthy choices you make in your efforts to reduce visceral fat will provide overall health benefits regardless.[18] X Research source
- People who naturally have an "apple" shaped body tend to be more predisposed toward accumulating visceral fat.
- Even if it's not in the cards for you to get a washboard stomach, any amount of visceral belly fat that you can reduce by making healthy choices will benefit you.
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- Don't believe the ads for "ab blasters" and "fat busting" supplements—you cannot spot-remove body fat, visceral fat included. Your goal needs to be overall fat reduction through increased exercise, improved diet, and positive lifestyle choices.Thanks!
- Visceral belly fat surrounds, among other organs, your liver, which processes some of this fat into cholesterol. Increased cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and raise your risk of heart attack and stroke. Excess visceral fat also makes it harder for your body to use insulin, which makes you more susceptible to type 2 diabetes. It may also increase your risk of some cancers.[19] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks!
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19403712
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/belly-fat/art-20045809
- ↑ https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20807507,00.html?slide=129696#129696
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8653140
- ↑ https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/a20458064/new-research-on-how-to-lose-belly-fat/
- ↑ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320929.php
- ↑ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320929.php
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5084020/
- ↑ https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/a20458064/new-research-on-how-to-lose-belly-fat/
- ↑ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320929.php
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/belly-fat/art-20045809
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/belly-fat/art-20045809
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/belly-fat/art-20045809
- ↑ https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/strength-and-resistance-training-exercise
- ↑ https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/a20458064/new-research-on-how-to-lose-belly-fat/
- ↑ https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/a20458064/new-research-on-how-to-lose-belly-fat/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4434546/
- ↑ https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20807507,00.html?slide=129696#129696
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/belly-fat/art-20045809
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Bathrooms 4U are HRI contractors
The Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme provides for tax relief for Homeowners and Landlords by way of an Income Tax credit at 13.5%.
This tax can be claimed on qualifying expenditure on repair, renovation or improvement works carried out on the main home or rental property by qualifying Contractors.
The amount of the HRI tax credit depends on the amount spent on qualifying works. Tax relief can be claimed on qualifying expenditure over €4,405 (before VAT at 13.5%) per property.
The tax credit is only available against Income Tax paid.
Examples of repair, renovation or improvement works that qualify under the Incentive scheme include: painting and decorating, rewiring, tiling, supply and fitting of kitchens, extensions, garages, landscaping, supply and fitting of solar panels, conservatories, plastering, plumbing, bathroom upgrades, supply and fitting of windows and doors, attic conversions, driveways, septic tank repair or upgrade, supply and fitting of built in wardrobes, conversion of a residential premises into multiple rental units, supply and fit of alarm systems.
The great news is the scheme extended to 31st December 2018. Homeowners can combine a few jobs together as long as they will all be finished in one calendar year (1/01/2017 till 31/12/2018) and done by HRI registered contractors.


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Firefighters are investigating a fire that charred a building at San Jose's Independence High School.
Fire Capt. Reggie Williams tells the San Francisco Chronicle ( https://bit.ly/Z1pYTA ) the blaze Sunday caused significant damage. Flames were knocked down in less than an hour.
Williams said sprinklers helped control the fire, which was sparked outside what he described as a common or multiuse building.
No injuries were reported.
Williams said Independence High School has been the scene of several small fires in recent years.
Last summer, a small fire broke out by a side door of the theater building. Investigators suspected that blaze was the work of arsonists. It was doused by sprinklers by the time firefighters arrived. No one was injured.
Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, https://www.sfgate.com


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Pew report: Record numbers of Latinos in U.S. colleges, public schools
Style News Wire | 8/21/2012, 3:27 a.m.
By Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN
Style News Wire
Latino student populations have been on an upward trajectory in the U.S. for decades, and a report released Monday says the group's growth reached record levels last year, both in public schools and colleges.
The number of 18- to 24-year-old Latinos in college topped 2 million in 2011, accounting for 16.5% of all enrollments, according to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center. The number means Latino representation in U.S. colleges and universities is on par with the percentage of Latinos among the U.S. population, also 16.5%.
Record numbers of Latinos are also finishing college, with 112,000 earning associate degrees and 140,000 earning bachelor's degrees. Pew states both statistics are new highs, yet Latinos still lag behind whites (1.2 million bachelor's degrees and 553,000 associates) and blacks (165,000 bachelor's and 114,000 associates) in degree attainment.
"Some of the growth in Hispanic college enrollments simply reflects continued growth in the nation's Hispanic population - since 1972, the number of Hispanic 18- to 24-year-olds has grown nearly five-fold, rising from 1.3 million then to 6 million in 2011," the report said.
However, population alone cannot explain the numbers, as eligibility to attend college also is a factor. In 2011, 76% of Latinos age 18 to 24 had completed high school, another record and a 3.5% improvement over 2010 numbers.
At the pre-kindergarten-through-12th-grade level, Latinos made up 23.9% of students in 2011, another record, according to the report from the nonpartisan Washington-based think tank.
To break the 2011 numbers down further, Latinos made up 26% of the country's nursery school and kindergarten students, 25% of elementary school students and 21% of high school students, the report states.
The number is primed to continue increasing for the next two decades, with the U.S. Census Bureau forecasting that Latinos will make up a third of the nation's 3- to 17-year-old children by 2036.
The numbers confirm Latinos as the largest minority group on American campuses, and they show what appears to be a growing divide between Latino students and their African-American counterparts.
Black college enrollment in 2011 was down 3% from 2010, dropping from 1.69 million to 1.64 million, while Latino enrollment was up 15%, from 1.81 million to 2.08 million. At four-year colleges, Latino enrollment jumped from 1 million in 2010 to 1.2 million in 2011, while black enrollment held steady at 1.1 million.
While the numbers are records, according to Pew, Latino students have been outpacing blacks in some student population categories for years.
In 1975, 6.94 million adults who finished high school went to college. About 309,000 were Latino and 665,000 were black. Thirty years later, the overall number jumped to 10.83 million, with 1.22 million of them Latino and 1.3 million of them African-American.
Latinos first topped African-Americans in public school enrollment in 2001. Back then, the respective numbers were 8.82 million to 8.65 million. Today, the number is 12.45 million to 8.27 million, according to Pew.
And while there's a starkly lower dropout rate among African-American youngsters (399,000, or 9%, of all students in 2011) than Latinos (975,000, or 16.3%, of all students), Latinos have been sending more kids to college for the last two years as well.


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Service Opportunities
The Importance of Service
The Bible likens the church to a body (1 Corinthians 12:14-26). Bodies have many different parts, yet each is important and contributes to the healthy function of the whole. In the same way, each person in the church is important and can contribute in important ways that add to the overall health and growth of the church. At Trinity we recognize that there is no cookie-cutter approach to serving. God has given a variety of gifts to his body.
Please look through the list below and see if there is a way you might be able to contribute to the body. Contact the ministry leader listed to volunteer to serve, or email Sarah for more information.
- Serve on the Music Team
- Teach Discipleship Classes*
- Be a Helping Hand on Sundays
- Set up/take down on Sunday mornings
- Assemble Sunday Communion trays
- Prepare Sunday Coffee
- Greet
- Usher
- Distribute Communion
- Work in the Children's Ministries*
- Nursery
- Children's Worship Training
- Sign up to pray for a child through the Children's Prayer Partners
- Support the Youth Ministry*
- Host a social event (volleyball, movie night, sledding, camping, etc)
- Lead a youth prayer group
- Be a mentor
- Help with youth retreats
- Lead a Growth Group
- Serve in the Mercy Ministries
- Meal Ministry
- Laundry Love
- Love INC and ZoeCare
- Flower Ministry
- Organize Retreats
- Women's retreat
- Men's retreat
- Family camp
*According to Trinity's Trinity Youth and Children Safety Policy, all who volunteer as a youth worker must be screened, which includes a background check.
Christ's Hands and Feet
The vision of Christ's Hands and Feet is to help our church family serve one another well and walk alongside each other with a sacrificial love. As the church grows, it is easy for some people to be overlooked, and for some needs to go unaddressed. Our goal is to meet as many of these needs as possible beyond the scope of what our growth groups are already doing, and as an extension of how our deacons are already serving.This ministry is being carried out under the guidance of our deacons.
Toward that end, we need a pool of volunteers who are willing to serve, possibly on a one-time basis, or possibly as part of an ongoing need. Some examples of ways to serve include
- providing someone with a ride to the doctor's office
- cleaning someone's house who has a short-term inability
- visiting the elderly or infirm
- providing hands-on support to someone with a long-term illness
- or a myriad of other possibilities.
If you are interested in volunteering to serve, please sign-up to be part of our email list. We will notify you when a need arises, so you can decide if you have the time and skill set to help meet that need.
If you have any questions, please email Kirsten Schneider or Jeanine Allen at email@example.com
New Ministries
If you know of a need, but don't see a ministry to meet it, perhaps God is calling you to start a ministry at Trinity Church. If you are interested in starting a new ministry, please contact Sarah.


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Being pregnant and knowing that we do have things we need to buy is absolutely making me more conscious of how much money we have coming in and going straight back out again. I also know we need to budget better so we can afford a few purchases that we would like to make before our baby boy is here. I know there are a lot of ways we can get a bit of extra money coming in between now and then to allow us to save a bit better and afford some of the bigger purchases. Here are some of the ways I am planning on saving and earning money over the next few months.
Continuing with paid blog work – this is a big one for me because it allows me to bring in an income and contribute to the family budget. It takes a bit of pressure off Adam when it comes to the more day-to-day or weekly purchases plus I have my own share of the bills to pay for.
Continuing working with brands to review products – this helps me so much because it means I can give my family a product they might need. We've been really fortunate to get a few baby essentials thanks to my blog work which is something I didn't have with Evie as I wasn't really blogging to earn when I was pregnant the first time around.
Asking for a loan – some people can ask friends and family to help with new baby purchases and I've started to gather together discount codes for new products. For others, a short term loan might be something to consider. If you are considering a short term loan then it's worth looking at the consumer city index before you do. This gives you a great idea on how much people in your local area are borrowing, average income and plenty of reasons why others might consider a short term loan. The biggest reason people choose to use a short term loan is an unexpected expense. I do think we can get a bit carried away with needing everything brand new sometimes but I can see why some people get these loans, especially when it comes to bigger, high cost purchases like a new pram. Or if you're expecting twins, double buggies can cost quite a small fortune. The most important thing when considering a short term loan is doing your research and I think checking a consumer city index can play a big part of this. Another great resource when it comes to considering how to budget your money is Money Saving Expert which goes into loads of great detail about financial advice, budgeting and finding people in similar positions to you.
Selling stuff – There are a few things we are planning to get rid of to make a bit more space and a little bit of cash. We sometimes head into CEX to trade in some games which usually comes out with a nice bit of money. We've decided to get rid of our dining room table too because we don't use it and it will free up a lot of space in our living room. Other things we can sell on are clothes. I really need to go through my wardrobe and list things that don't fit me or Evie anymore.
Buying Second Hand – whilst there are a few things we would like to buy new, there are items that actually we could look into getting second hand. Good places to check are the NCT nearly new sales, local selling groups and eBay.
Nappy & Sling Libraries – a great way to try products before you buy. Also, if you're planning on using reusable cloth nappies then it's worth checking to see if your local authority has a voucher scheme in place or incentive for this as you'll be saving them collecting waste. Not every local authority or council does but it's a nice way to get a bit of your money back or even a heavily discounted cloth nappy kit.
Offers from friends – I'm very thankful for the kind offers I've had from friends to gift and sell their pre-loved items to me. I think this really comes in handy with outgrown baby clothes because they grow so quickly and just get messy. You always need a change of clothes with a baby!
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European consumers are hungry for trustworthy food labels. According to the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), a recent survey shows 85% of consumer respondents in the Netherlands and 84% in Germany distrust food labels due to "misleading tricks" by food makers to conceal the quality of their products.[i]
Given the growing consumer demand for healthy food options amid a booming health and wellness lifestyle, food labels are now a hot topic in Europe, where more companies are starting to use Nutri-Score. Nutri-Score is a voluntary nutritional product labeling system that makes it easier for retailers and suppliers to inform consumers about food products. Using Nutri-Score can help consumers make informed choices by using a standard, straightforward way to share nutritional information. As more consumers demand to know exactly what they're buying, there is growing momentum toward such transparent information-sharing in the grocery sector.
How Nutri-Score works
Nutri-Score is a simple front-of-pack labeling system that classifies foods and beverages according to their nutritional information. To inform consumers about product nutrition, Nutri-Score uses a colour-coded labeling system of letters and colours that range from A (healthier choices, associated with the colour green) to E (less healthy choices, associated with the colour red). The label evaluates food ingredients for positive ratings (fibres, proteins, nuts, fruit and vegetables) and deducts points for less healthy ingredients (saturated fatty acids, sugar and salt).[i]
Governments support Nutri-Score
Nutri-Score originated in France as a creation of the French Public Health Agency and French public authorities.[i] It was chosen as France's official nutrient logo in October 2017.[ii]
Since then, public health authorities in Belgium, Switzerland and Spain have also recommended its adoption within the food industry to support consumer wellness and protect public health.[iii] The labeling system has also been validated by the Ministry of Health and the EU and has earned support from the World Health Organization (WHO).[iv]
Their rationale is clear: healthy food can keep consumers healthy. Helping consumers make healthier food choices is a key issue to prevent cancer and other diseases. One study found that foods with lower nutritional quality were associated with a higher risk of cancer. This finding supports the adoption of Nutri-Score for front-of-pack nutrition labels as a clear, simple system to encourage consumers to make healthier food choices.[v] Additional research proves that Nutri-Score has a positive effect on what consumers buy and it can influence food manufacturers to adapt their product recipes by reducing the amount of salt or sugar.[vi]
Consumers crave data
Consumers want more information about products, including nutrition, for health and wellness reasons ranging from disease prevention to weight management and feel energetic. A survey of 300,00 consumers showed it is the best nutritional labeling system to encourage healthy food choices. The study found Nutri-Score is most popular among younger shoppers and consumers with lower socio-economic status.[i]
Notably, in May 2019, seven member organizations of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) launched a petition to make the Nutri-Score label mandatory in the EU as a common standard for communicating nutritional information.[ii]
Nutri-Score can also help retailers communicate with customers and take advantage of the healthy food trend. Adopting Nutri-Score helps retailers and suppliers to remain responsive to consumer needs, by being more transparent in their product communications, which can help them to earn consumer trust, sales and loyalty.
Business considerations for Nutri-Score
Retail companies see the benefits of Nutri-Score, including how makes it easier to inform consumers about food products' nutritional data. Since Nutri-Score is not mandatory, there is no obligation for manufacturers and retailers to use it. However, proactively choosing to adopt Nutri-Score can differentiate retail companies. It can also give them a competitive edge by demonstrating their commitment to supporting consumer wellness and public health.
However, retail companies face challenges, as it takes time and effort to collect and verify product information to ensure accurate Nutri-Score results. In addition, products in certain categories like confectionary and salty snacks will likely receive lower Nutri-Score ratings, as these goods often contain above-average amounts of fat, sugar and salt.
Retail companies embrace Nutri-Score
Given the political and consumer forces influencing companies to share more product information, many European grocery retailers and suppliers have already embraced the Nutri-Score system.
For instance, French retailers include Auchan, Casino and Intermarché Have demonstrated leadership by using Nutri-Score for their private label products.[i] Leclerc has adopted Nutri-Score, which has rolled out across the retailer's private label Marque Repère mobile app. It will appear on all Marque Repère food products by 2020.[ii] Franprix has a mobile app that allows consumers to scan a product barcode to obtain the item's Nutri-Score.[iii]
Ahold Delhaize has introduced the Nutri-Score nutritional information labels across the own-brand product range of its Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium. Delhaize's goal is to introduce the system to its entire range of own-brand products within the next two years.[iv] Eroski, a Spanish supermarket chain, has introduced its own-brand products featuring Nutri-Score labeling. This makes Eroski the first distribution company in Spain to incorporate this "advanced nutrition" labeling.[v] Hak, a Dutch vegetable supplier, and Iglo, a Dutch frozen foods supplier, will introduce Nutri-Score in the Netherlands, a market struggling with low vegetable consumption.[vi]
Several suppliers, including Fleury Michon, McCain and Danone Fresh, have added Nutri-Score to their product labels.[vii] The most convincing evidence that Nutri-Score is gaining momentum is the recent announcement by consumer goods giant Nestlé that it has adopted the Nutri-Score labeling system for food and beverage products in continental Europe.[viii]
Given the growing demand for international adoption of Nutri-Score to protect consumers' health, grocery retailers and suppliers can see this trend as an opportunity to stand out from rivals by giving consumers the data they seek. To help global retail companies adapt to consumer demand, Trace One's solution already allows customers to implement Nutri-Score for the products they enter into the system and publish it on product labels using an efficient, streamlined process. In addition, retail companies can proactively prepare a Nutri-Score strategy, including collecting relevant product data attributes.
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